This is such an informative video. I'm a classically trained pianist as well and now I'm currently going through this awkward stage of having a hard time composing and writing music, especially for video (films, background music). This video just gave me a huge insight on what to expect with learning theory and how to grow with the help of it. Nice work, Nathan!
As someone who has also got a degree in music composition (as you know from the PA group of course), I 100% with everything you said! There is a mathematical aspect to theory, but learning how it impacts on then creative side really opens everything up. People say things like "well I can can write something just fine without knowing all that" and act as if you are a s nob for advocating its importance, but when people say this to me i just say well yes, you can still write music not knowing much about that side. But you'll be able to stretch your capabilities and keep creating more and more and bettering yourself as a composer, songwriter or producer so much more if you have all of that as a reference and know how to use it as a creative standpoint, and can use it as a reference for your creative decisions. It speeds everything up so much as well - if you want a certain sound - you can add in that major seventh or whatever it is, without having to go through a long process of trial and error. So yeah - great video. I think this helps to explain the actual POINT of music theory for those who are perhaps a little confused about what the actual importance of it is with regard to creating musically. It's not snobbery - just knowledge to help you progress. And it's true, being able to play music just from sight reading and knowing how it all works from the creative angle are very different things and different types of the brain that are used as well.
You know why lawyers make the best criminals? Because they learned and understood the laws to break them. Same could be said about composers and writers. When you understand the logic of music theory, you can break the musical “rules” to make something sound more interesting. Of course, if you’re a pop musician, there’s really no need to actually learn theory. Hit songs just require good production and sounds. Theory also teaches you the hard way that modern pop songs sound the same musically. I strongly encourage learning theory, as it broadens your musical horizons for what is possible. But if you’re trying to be the next pop idol, just take some basic progressions from the internet and hire a good producer. To the people saying it hinders your work, yeah, it will. For a bit. But when you go through the writing process enough times, more complicated and interesting progressions will come to you naturally. Speaking from experience at college.
Totally agree, first year of college music theory was great, after that the most valuable things I learned came from songwriters and just picking apart music.
This is an awesome video! Basics of theory will absolutely help create music but it can take you down a very deep rabbit hole. Great job making theory sound very appealing 👍🏻
People talk about theory as if it's separate from creativity - theory is simply a way to explain creativity. An artist is gonna learn how to work different strokes (basically artist theory) but that doesn't mean learning strokes is different than using creativity.
Your videos are very well recorded and professional. You deserve far more clicks for your quality. Keep it up. Because of that I am thinking about enrolling in your music production course. But i don‘t consider myself ready yet to fully appreciate this content. Furthermore i just missed the 100$ discount from end of January. Next discount i will be ready. I really enjoyed all your producer battle videos.
I took my first Music Theory class at an advanced Arts high school in 1978. It was intense - but do you know what was the MOST presented ideology? Simple Four- Part Writing! Fast-forward 3 decades later, I find myself working toward a Bachelor's Degree, suffering through 3 semesters of Music Theory, taught by a Ph.D. way younger than me. One day, after class, we were discussing chord progressions and resolutions, and I just happened to mention that in ANY case, if there is a half-step between chords, you must take it - all other notes will find themselves. This Professor went into notation calculator mode, and told me, "You're right - how did you know this?" I replied, "What have you been insisting all the time? -"Intuition". It's simple math - almost Physics - let the law of gravity be. So - Secondary Dominants, Neapolitan, Diminished 7th chords - blah, blah, blah . . . Yes, Music Theory education has its place, but if you cannot 'instinctively' hear how notes should flow, one to another, (you cannot write effective harmonies without this knowledge), your production efforts will forever bear the evidence of the novice. If this comment seems to incite a sense of ignorance, crack a book.
In other words you wanted to boast your knowledge on the one thing you knew that your professor didn't. And then decided to answer back with a question to ridicule them. I understand that there are irrelevant topics in music theory depending on your objective but there are standards that must be met in order for it to be an eligible course. You also have to understand they are professors in music and are forced to follow guidelines for their job. The best musicians are more than likely working on their careers and not teaching unless they enjoy it, so you're basically challenging the wrong person which is foolish and disrespectful. Naturally the best musicians would have an excellent sense for music and will distinguish themselves from others by also knowing the relevant parts of music theory. So components from both areas are important and by neglecting one side you limit your growth.
My ex-GF was a great singer. She sang by ear. Every now and then she cant hit certain notes ( out of her vocal range) We also had MAGIX. It was theraputic for her to write/music with whatever samples. She created alot of cool sounding songs...but every so often..The samplers/loops were Limited. Tho LOOPS simply went it LOOPS...it Never resolved or went anywhere. She knows as a singer/listener..Songs dosnt go in loops. She always asked me to Weak/FIX her songs. It was trial becuase I didn't want to mess with her songs/art..or didnt know what she hear in her head. I use simple question/answer CADENCE variations. We both grew up in the 80's...as children we both heard a lot of 60/70s music on the radio. I like the background symphony from CARTOONS. A lot of the songs we hears had a lot of ACCIDENTAL NOTES outside of the MAJOR scale. Anyways..as a GUITAR player. It was EASIER for me to play in Different KEYS or down tune my guitar a semitone. I GF loved me for many reasons. I can play in any KEY without using a capo. I also SING now too..So I can easily play whatever songs I like to match my vocal range. Ive been playing guitar for almost 50 years ( Guitar mastery is a life time goal) I also had alot music classes, one on one lessons daily from grade school to college. I can play in almost any style..be it metal , rock, country. jazz. classical, blues, spanish..ect I wrote and recorded hundreds of original songs...and still write songs simply becuase I enjoy creating music/ART. I too always thought the way music is taught turns off a lot of people. Little informations or using TERMS/JERKINS to make one feel smart. Ive always tried to KEEP it SIMPLE as much I can when i pass on INFORMATIONS. Not all people can afford lessons, be in music classes or attend college. It's never been about the money. It's always been about making MUSIC avaliable for anyone that wants to learn it. Making it more SIMPLE and FASTER to learn it than I did. Making life better as we EVOLVE as humans. With that being said. I have to know my SHIET. All 12 notes/chords works in my world. I know more about music then most college professors.
I mean obviously you do NEED it in order to make things harmonize and such. but do you need to actively KNOW it? that is debatable. does it make it easier? absolutely. but can you make great music 100% based on feel with no music theory knowledge? yes. my composition teacher actually made it way more fun by actively incorporating music theory concepts into assignments. like you'd learn about how different modes work and how they have different feels, and then you needed to make a song using a mode other than minor or Major.
Theory happens whether we know it or not - like you mention. Absolutely agree. But having familiarity with the concepts is super valuable - and I'm ALL for a more practical approach like you mentioned
Music theory isnt how music "works" by definition though. Many different cultures have different "rules" for music. I get that in your audience there probably arent many from these other cultures but I wouldve mentioned it since it puts the rest into a new perspective.
Great video. One thing though, I believe structural engineers design buildings so they don’t fall and architects draw the blueprints. I might be wrong thou.
This was a great video OR This was an great video You know that one is wrong because it kind of sounds wrong. But you know where the mistake is and why one sentence doesn’t work and what you need to change right away, that’s because you understand basic English Theory. Apply that to music and songwriting.
You mean....I shouldn't buy that Midi Pack? Music Theory is important. Practicing Chords and scales to understand how notes can play together is the most important thing in my opinion. If you put this to task knowing your chords and scales, you can do a lot. My music teacher is going to kill me for saying that. If a painter didn't know their colors, how can they properly paint a picture? Notes are colors in your arsenal. The more you know, the more you can blend and create a picture. Bob Ross used to blob his paint out and flash the names across the screen of each color. All to be mixed in perfect amounts to get the desired affect. The mixing is up to you. What colors will you produce?
i think Music Theory will be very immersive and interactive....if they include ALL GENRES NOT JUST CLASSICAL ONLY!!!!!! and imagine rap stepping into the equation........oh what that's not "real" music??? FUCK MUSIC THEORY!!!
@@kazvanrooij absolutely not... you may PREFER to have their under your belt, and it may be great if you want CONVENTIONAL sounding results... but i will defend my position, that a knowledge of music theory is NOT NECESSARY to "orchestrate" (which is nothing more than _arranging)..._
Theory was taught to me as a math problem. And it really got in the way of my creative process. For me it slowed down my process. I just hear the music and play it out on my guitar. I write the lyrics to the melody. Essentially I write music like George Harrison did. It’s really not that complicated if the music is inside of you.
Yeah - and like I said - I think that teaching that way IS harmful. What I am saying is that learning chords, chord progressions, melodies, etc. is a good thing. Naturally - there is a creative process and sometimes it just happens. But had I not been taught FIRST - I never would be able to "just play" in the first place
Amen, I gotcha. Thank you so much for your channel. I am getting closer to finishing my first EP thanks to the advice you give. Blessings to you and your family.
It's not that important to learn I guess I have been making music for two years I did not learn even tho learn it most of the stuff comes from experience and experiment
This is such an informative video. I'm a classically trained pianist as well and now I'm currently going through this awkward stage of having a hard time composing and writing music, especially for video (films, background music). This video just gave me a huge insight on what to expect with learning theory and how to grow with the help of it. Nice work, Nathan!
As someone who has also got a degree in music composition (as you know from the PA group of course), I 100% with everything you said! There is a mathematical aspect to theory, but learning how it impacts on then creative side really opens everything up. People say things like "well I can can write something just fine without knowing all that" and act as if you are a s nob for advocating its importance, but when people say this to me i just say well yes, you can still write music not knowing much about that side. But you'll be able to stretch your capabilities and keep creating more and more and bettering yourself as a composer, songwriter or producer so much more if you have all of that as a reference and know how to use it as a creative standpoint, and can use it as a reference for your creative decisions. It speeds everything up so much as well - if you want a certain sound - you can add in that major seventh or whatever it is, without having to go through a long process of trial and error. So yeah - great video. I think this helps to explain the actual POINT of music theory for those who are perhaps a little confused about what the actual importance of it is with regard to creating musically. It's not snobbery - just knowledge to help you progress. And it's true, being able to play music just from sight reading and knowing how it all works from the creative angle are very different things and different types of the brain that are used as well.
You know why lawyers make the best criminals? Because they learned and understood the laws to break them.
Same could be said about composers and writers. When you understand the logic of music theory, you can break the musical “rules” to make something sound more interesting.
Of course, if you’re a pop musician, there’s really no need to actually learn theory. Hit songs just require good production and sounds. Theory also teaches you the hard way that modern pop songs sound the same musically.
I strongly encourage learning theory, as it broadens your musical horizons for what is possible. But if you’re trying to be the next pop idol, just take some basic progressions from the internet and hire a good producer.
To the people saying it hinders your work, yeah, it will. For a bit. But when you go through the writing process enough times, more complicated and interesting progressions will come to you naturally. Speaking from experience at college.
wise said man, much respect
Totally agree, first year of college music theory was great, after that the most valuable things I learned came from songwriters and just picking apart music.
Really great video Nathan. I appreciate that you are doing this, following your passion with RUclips Career.
This is an awesome video! Basics of theory will absolutely help create music but it can take you down a very deep rabbit hole. Great job making theory sound very appealing 👍🏻
It really makes sense to know music theory but not to rely on it for everything perfect balance.
People talk about theory as if it's separate from creativity - theory is simply a way to explain creativity.
An artist is gonna learn how to work different strokes (basically artist theory) but that doesn't mean learning strokes is different than using creativity.
music theory is more of a tool of reference than creativity. But that's why it can be very important.
Your videos are very well recorded and professional. You deserve far more clicks for your quality. Keep it up. Because of that I am thinking about enrolling in your music production course. But i don‘t consider myself ready yet to fully appreciate this content. Furthermore i just missed the 100$ discount from end of January. Next discount i will be ready. I really enjoyed all your producer battle videos.
Excellent vid!! Thanks for the insight. Now to get my learn on. Lol. Much ❤️ Nathan!!
Hey Nathan you are looking good with that new haircut 💇♀️ ❤️
I took my first Music Theory class at an advanced Arts high school in 1978. It was intense - but do you know what was the MOST presented ideology? Simple Four- Part Writing! Fast-forward 3 decades later, I find myself working toward a Bachelor's Degree, suffering through 3 semesters of Music Theory, taught by a Ph.D. way younger than me. One day, after class, we were discussing chord progressions and resolutions, and I just happened to mention that in ANY case, if there is a half-step between chords, you must take it - all other notes will find themselves. This Professor went into notation calculator mode, and told me, "You're right - how did you know this?" I replied, "What have you been insisting all the time? -"Intuition". It's simple math - almost Physics - let the law of gravity be. So - Secondary Dominants, Neapolitan, Diminished 7th chords - blah, blah, blah . . . Yes, Music Theory education has its place, but if you cannot 'instinctively' hear how notes should flow, one to another, (you cannot write effective harmonies without this knowledge), your production efforts will forever bear the evidence of the novice. If this comment seems to incite a sense of ignorance, crack a book.
In other words you wanted to boast your knowledge on the one thing you knew that your professor didn't. And then decided to answer back with a question to ridicule them. I understand that there are irrelevant topics in music theory depending on your objective but there are standards that must be met in order for it to be an eligible course. You also have to understand they are professors in music and are forced to follow guidelines for their job. The best musicians are more than likely working on their careers and not teaching unless they enjoy it, so you're basically challenging the wrong person which is foolish and disrespectful. Naturally the best musicians would have an excellent sense for music and will distinguish themselves from others by also knowing the relevant parts of music theory. So components from both areas are important and by neglecting one side you limit your growth.
The only thing I appreciated out of theory is to use the augmentated 4th or diminished 5th.🧨 Always enjoy your videos.🐞
Is the piano course still available 🐤
this video should have a million views!!!
WOW such a good video Nathan thank you sm for posting this.
👏😌 it’s for sure how it’s taught!
Thanks for the informative videos man
Just to know, where did you studied?
My ex-GF was a great singer. She sang by ear. Every now and then she cant hit certain
notes ( out of her vocal range) We also had MAGIX. It was theraputic for her to write/music
with whatever samples. She created alot of cool sounding songs...but every so often..The
samplers/loops were Limited. Tho LOOPS simply went it LOOPS...it Never resolved or went
anywhere. She knows as a singer/listener..Songs dosnt go in loops.
She always asked me to Weak/FIX her songs. It was trial becuase I didn't want to mess with
her songs/art..or didnt know what she hear in her head.
I use simple question/answer CADENCE variations.
We both grew up in the 80's...as children we both heard a lot of 60/70s music on the radio.
I like the background symphony from CARTOONS.
A lot of the songs we hears had a lot of ACCIDENTAL NOTES outside of the MAJOR scale.
Anyways..as a GUITAR player. It was EASIER for me to play in Different KEYS
or down tune my guitar a semitone. I GF loved me for many reasons.
I can play in any KEY without using a capo.
I also SING now too..So I can easily play whatever songs I like to match my
vocal range.
Ive been playing guitar for almost 50 years ( Guitar mastery is a life time goal)
I also had alot music classes, one on one lessons daily from grade school to college.
I can play in almost any style..be it metal , rock, country. jazz. classical, blues, spanish..ect
I wrote and recorded hundreds of original songs...and still write songs simply becuase
I enjoy creating music/ART.
I too always thought the way music is taught turns off a lot of people.
Little informations or using TERMS/JERKINS to make one feel smart.
Ive always tried to KEEP it SIMPLE as much I can when i pass on INFORMATIONS.
Not all people can afford lessons, be in music classes or attend college.
It's never been about the money. It's always been about making MUSIC avaliable
for anyone that wants to learn it. Making it more SIMPLE and FASTER to learn it than I did.
Making life better as we EVOLVE as humans.
With that being said. I have to know my SHIET. All 12 notes/chords works in my world.
I know more about music then most college professors.
I mean obviously you do NEED it in order to make things harmonize and such. but do you need to actively KNOW it? that is debatable. does it make it easier? absolutely. but can you make great music 100% based on feel with no music theory knowledge? yes. my composition teacher actually made it way more fun by actively incorporating music theory concepts into assignments. like you'd learn about how different modes work and how they have different feels, and then you needed to make a song using a mode other than minor or Major.
Theory happens whether we know it or not - like you mention. Absolutely agree. But having familiarity with the concepts is super valuable - and I'm ALL for a more practical approach like you mentioned
Thanks again, I saw you reuploaded it
Yes - I forgot the examples 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Lack of theory is the reason PAMs have become the official Tritone Gang Club
Music theory isnt how music "works" by definition though. Many different cultures have different "rules" for music.
I get that in your audience there probably arent many from these other cultures but I wouldve mentioned it since it puts the rest into a new perspective.
Great video. One thing though, I believe structural engineers design buildings so they don’t fall and architects draw the blueprints. I might be wrong thou.
100% on the money with all of this.
This was a great video
OR
This was an great video
You know that one is wrong because it kind of sounds wrong. But you know where the mistake is and why one sentence doesn’t work and what you need to change right away, that’s because you understand basic English Theory.
Apply that to music and songwriting.
Omg that is so true and well said!! Totally agree there.
Boom
You mean....I shouldn't buy that Midi Pack?
Music Theory is important. Practicing Chords and scales to understand how notes can play together is the most important thing in my opinion. If you put this to task knowing your chords and scales, you can do a lot.
My music teacher is going to kill me for saying that.
If a painter didn't know their colors, how can they properly paint a picture? Notes are colors in your arsenal. The more you know, the more you can blend and create a picture. Bob Ross used to blob his paint out and flash the names across the screen of each color. All to be mixed in perfect amounts to get the desired affect. The mixing is up to you. What colors will you produce?
i think Music Theory will be very immersive and interactive....if they include ALL GENRES NOT JUST CLASSICAL ONLY!!!!!!
and imagine rap stepping into the equation........oh what that's not "real" music??? FUCK MUSIC THEORY!!!
You don't *need* theory to do _anything_ in music (except maybe teach theory).
Orchestrating?
@@kazvanrooij absolutely not... you may PREFER to have their under your belt, and it may be great if you want CONVENTIONAL sounding results... but i will defend my position, that a knowledge of music theory is NOT NECESSARY to "orchestrate" (which is nothing more than _arranging)..._
well, you do NEED it, but you don't actively need to KNOW it.
Re-upload
(mic drop)
Theory was taught to me as a math problem. And it really got in the way of my creative process. For me it slowed down my process. I just hear the music and play it out on my guitar. I write the lyrics to the melody. Essentially I write music like George Harrison did. It’s really not that complicated if the music is inside of you.
Yeah - and like I said - I think that teaching that way IS harmful. What I am saying is that learning chords, chord progressions, melodies, etc. is a good thing.
Naturally - there is a creative process and sometimes it just happens. But had I not been taught FIRST - I never would be able to "just play" in the first place
Amen, I gotcha. Thank you so much for your channel. I am getting closer to finishing my first EP thanks to the advice you give. Blessings to you and your family.
It's not that important to learn I guess I have been making music for two years I did not learn even tho learn it most of the stuff comes from experience and experiment