Andrew Huang's Music Theory Crash Course

Introduction

• Goal: Complete walkthrough of basic music theory in 30 minutes.
• Context: Bonus content for Andrew's online music production class.
• Music theory is described as the language behind music, aiding in understanding, interpreting, and communicating about music.
• Emphasis on practical usage: Once integrated into your practice, music theory acts like a superpower.

Basics of Music Theory

What is a Note?

• Sound: Made up of vibrations; interpreted by ears/brains.
  • Faster vibrations = higher pitch.
  • Slower vibrations = lower pitch.
• Consistent Pitch: Perceived as a note.
• 12 Notes: Common in popular music; named in relation to a piano keyboard.
  • White keys: Named A-G.
  • Black keys: Named using sharp (higher) and flat (lower).

Octaves and Intervals

• Octave: Distance of 12 notes up or down to the next identically named note.
• Semitone (Half-Step): Smallest interval between notes.
• Whole Step (Whole Tone): Two semitones.

Keys and Scales

• Key: Group of notes that sound good together.
• Scale: Set of notes played in conjunction with a key.
• C Major Scale: Uses all white notes.
  • Formula: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half.
• Major Scale Degrees: Number the notes starting from the root.

Exercises

• Apply the major scale formula to different notes.
• Practice identifying notes with absolute names and numbered scale degrees.

Chords

Basics of Chords

• Chords: Multiple notes played simultaneously.
  • Common chords: 3 notes (root, third, fifth) forming triads.
• Major and Minor Chords:
  • Major: Happy sound, formula: 4 semitones, then 3.
  • Minor: Sad sound, formula: 3 semitones, then 4.

Relative Minor

• Every major scale has a relative minor starting on the 6th degree.

Triads and Chord Progressions

• Triads: Construction based on the 1st through 6th degrees of a scale.
• Numbering System: Using Roman numerals.
  • Capital letters for major chords, lowercase for minor.
• Common progressions: e.g., 1-5-6-4.

Exercises

• Create triads from different major scales.
• Practice naming chords both by root note and type (major/minor).

Inversions and Chord Variation

Inversions

• Inversions: Changing position of notes so the root isn’t the lowest.
• Create smoother transitions between chords.

Practice

• Create progressions, using inversions to keep notes closer together.

Melodies

Creating Melodies

• Melody: Single sequence of notes over chords.
• Use notes in the key, experimenting with tension and stability.
• Major Pentatonic Scale: Remove 4th and 7th degrees for a simplified melody.

Exercise

• Pick a key, create a chord progression, and overlay melodies.

Rhythm

Counting and Rhythm

• Bars/Measures: Typically four beats per measure in Western music.
• Note length: Whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes.
• Subdividing beats:
  • 1, 2, 3, 4 for quarters.
  • 1 and 2 and for eighths.
  • 1-e-and-a 2-e-and-a for sixteenths.

Practice

• Use rhythmic notation to jot down musical ideas.

Conclusion

• Music theory as a crucial tool for music creation, interpretation, and learning.
• Encouragement to practice exercises and review material.
• Invitation to Andrew's full online music production course.