Music Theory- The basics updated V7

[The Rockerfly]

Le snip

It's very true and that depends on what they were taught too, I think it's actually a combination of both memory and who you were taught by because you can learn techniques and reading drum sheet music but you need to learn different playing styles from a genre and that comes learning new songs and memorising features of that style

I don't suggest avoid teaching but learn the basics yourself and the go to a drum teacher to criticise playing technique and to develop your skills further

With the playing thing learn the technique your drum teacher said but slow it down to like 0 or even 40 bmp and just keep increasing the speed with the technique

 

[Berethond]

Artists include; Turnabout Jazz Soul, Al Bowlly, the Andrew Sisters, Bing Crosby, Charles Mingus and John Coltrane

So, for the recommended jazz artists...
Yeah...
Not the best.
It should be Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Wes Montgomery, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea.

Also Duke Ellington Orchestra and the Count Basie Orchestra.

That covers all the major genres.

 

[The Rockerfly]

Artists include; Turnabout Jazz Soul, Al Bowlly, the Andrew Sisters, Bing Crosby, Charles Mingus and John Coltrane

So, for the recommended jazz artists...
Yeah...
Not the best.
It should be Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Wes Montgomery, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea.

Also Duke Ellington Orchestra and the Count Basie Orchestra.

That covers all the major genres.

Tell you what, I won't get rid of them because they are my favourite Jazz artists but I will add them to the list

 

[Stealth Prawn]

I'd just like to get in on this self taught/ teacher taught debate. I've been playing guitar and other instruments for about 3 years, so I'm by no means as advanced as many of you. However I do like to jam with some of my college level friends, so I'm also no mook. I used online lessons for the very basics and took my schools guitar class for a little more advanced stuff, but I find the best stuff I've learned is from messing around myself. I look up lots of theory stuff cause things like harmonizing the fifth and using relative minor/major keys is really helpful, but as for incorporating it I just put on a backing track and dick around for a bit. I think the best way to learn how to jam is to play along with your favorite mp3s, and especially get into bands that do lots of improv. I used to be super big on the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and I'm no so much into them nowadays, but I still endorse some of their live performances as a great example of how to jam.

Oh and joining a local big band can be very helpful to learning how to play better. I joined my schools jazz band and it basically forced myself to learn standard notation and advanced chords like ninths, sevenths, ect.

 

[The Rockerfly]

le snip

We have been over this but most of the time if it sounds good then it obeys a music theory rule. Musical theory is also not neccesary however it will help develop as a player and learn to play a wider variety of music

I have always found with music and a lot of other things (such as guitar hero) play outside your comfort zone always play something that you struggle at. You will adjust to it and from that become a much better player

 

[The Diabolical Biz]

Your bit about Hip-Hop made me 'lol':

Lyrics usually found are about crime, women, dances, problems, cars, guns and money.

I think that you're thinking of mainstream hip-hop here, and 'Problems' is a bit of a generalisation?

But apart from that, great thread. I got my Grade 5 theory exam outta the way a loong time ago, and am cruising my GCSE but I know this'll be helpful for A Level

 

[The Rockerfly]

le snip

Okay I may be generalising but it's also the easiest place to start on writing lyrics for it. All of the genre writing is a bit general but it is meant to get you started so you can continue you own that path and create your own songs, own styles and own lyrics

I also did suggest using poems, emotions and various other methods in my lyrics section however if you have suggestions for the hip hop lyric section I would love the input and would give you credit in the special thanks section

 

[Kif]

It is as titled beginners theory and most useful, a lot of people underestimate how useful the foundational theory is. Just because you can play Coldplay from a tab or YouTube video doesn't mean you know your way around the Instrument.

Personally I've always found the best music I've written or heard from others has come just from general piano practice and/or improvisation rather than sitting down to intentionally write a tune. I can imagine it being different for lyrics though as I've never tried to write any lyrics and am confident if I did it would just be embarrassing.

 

[The Diabolical Biz]

le snip

Okay I may be generalising but it's also the easiest place to start on writing lyrics for it. All of the genre writing is a bit general but it is meant to get you started so you can continue you own that path and create your own songs, own styles and own lyrics

I also did suggest using poems, emotions and various other methods in my lyrics section however if you have suggestions for the hip hop lyric section I would love the input and would give you credit in the special thanks section

I would suggest something along the lines of (paraphrase as you would)

Hip-Hop lyrics cover a vast array of topics, varying from more mainstream song, which cover simple topics like women, money, cars and the like, whereas slightly less mainstream songs can cover subjects like dead friends, street life, or more interesting songs, like, for example a story told backwards. There is of course one last type of song, the 'diss' track. This has been around since almost the start of hip-hop/rap, when MCs used to engage in 'battles' to determine the better lyricist, however it has evolved to the stage where if an MC finds reason to have a dispute with a fellow rapper, they will write a song viciously criticizing their music, their style, and their life.

Thoughts?

 

[The Rockerfly]

I would suggest something along the lines of (paraphrase as you would)

Hip-Hop lyrics cover a vast array of topics, varying from more mainstream song, which cover simple topics like women, money, cars and the like, whereas slightly less mainstream songs can cover subjects like dead friends, street life, or more interesting songs, like, for example a story told backwards. There is of course one last type of song, the 'diss' track. This has been around since almost the start of hip-hop/rap, when MCs used to engage in 'battles' to determine the better lyricist, however it has evolved to the stage where if an MC finds reason to have a dispute with a fellow rapper, they will write a song viciously criticizing their music, their style, and their life.

Thoughts?

Yeah that sounds great, I will add it into the section and feature your name in the special thanks section as soon as possible. It will help me develop as a musician and others writting hip hop music

 

[wasteoftiamat]

can any of this really be considered musical theory? it does not explain chord functions and progressions, voice leading, dissonances, etc. i find it more to be a guide to speaking the language of music, a good one at that, but perhaps it should be labeled as such. the fundamentals of theory should not be confused with the theory itself.

 

[The Rockerfly]

can any of this really be considered musical theory? it does not explain chord functions and progressions, voice leading, dissonances, etc. i find it more to be a guide to speaking the language of music, a good one at that, but perhaps it should be labeled as such. the fundamentals of theory should not be confused with the theory itself.

I give you the information and you can go and create. If I told you literally everything I know about music, it would spoil the adventure of learning your own instrument and learning music. This is a basic guide, most people who will read this just want to learn a write a few songs and this can help them and even improve those songs with a bit of knowledge.

I might one day write an advance guide to music theory when I have the time

 

[mrprincipal07]

I just discovered this site on Stumbleupon. As I was reading your information regarding music theory I got to the part about intervals and hope you will clarify your definition of interval from the difference between notes to " an interval is the space between two notes" Utilizing the music staff would clarify it further illustrating what an interval looks like on manuscript. As to time signatures it would me most helpful if you would state what the top and bottom number of the time signature mean. Top = number of counts in a measure Bottom: The type of note that receives one count.

Use of the circle of fifths would help also in many areas - key signatures, chords, etc.

 

[The Rockerfly]

I just discovered this site on Stumbleupon. As I was reading your information regarding music theory I got to the part about intervals and hope you will clarify your definition of interval from the difference between notes to " an interval is the space between two notes" Utilizing the music staff would clarify it further illustrating what an interval looks like on manuscript. As to time signatures it would me most helpful if you would state what the top and bottom number of the time signature mean. Top = number of counts in a measure Bottom: The type of note that receives one count.

Use of the circle of fifths would help also in many areas - key signatures, chords, etc.

I was thinking of adding bits on the circle of fifths but originally I took it out due to making this more simple but I might as well add it. Intervals were originally added because a few members were asking how to work them out but I might as well throw in a definition as well

Sure I will throw that in, I might mention your name in the thanks section. I had completely forgot about this thread and I'm delighted that it has such good feedback and so many views

 

[Idlemessiah]

I have to go to work now, but this is totally getting bookmarked for later so I can have a proper looksee.

 

[Mau95]

Quite alright, I didn't see this coming. Well done. Bookmarked.

 

[The Rockerfly]

I have to go to work now, but this is totally getting bookmarked for later so I can have a proper looksee.

Quite alright, I didn't see this coming. Well done. Bookmarked.

Glad you both enjoyed it, good luck writing for the future