making beats

Out of context: Reply #1776

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  • mg330

    How many of you know nothing much about music theory and have evolved just by ear over the course of making music? I keep thinking it might be helpful to take a music theory course if it simply helps with dexterity and comprehension of the piano keyboard, scales, etc.

    I first played trombone in jr high around 1989-1992, knew how to read music and such, but once I got a guitar in 92 I’ve been completely self taught. Had a band pretty quickly in 93 and we were making our own songs and playing club shows in Dallas before we were even 18. Learned to sing and play guitar at the same time during 5 years in college, started doing open mic originals in Chicago in 2001, had a band from 2004-2010. Been doing my own stuff ever since and making progress towards finishing a project and putting new music out there.

    All the while, I’ve never known any music theory and have always had a good ear for making songs. Like a lot of you who listened to music from a young age I’ve absorbed so much influence over the years that’s had an impact on what I make.

    So I guess my question is, how many of you are theory-based music makers vs. non-theory and just play more based on feel and what sounds good?

    I don’t think it would hurt for me to learn some basic theory, especially as applied to piano, which I’m slowly learning more of in terms of playing and my comprehension of more complex and repetitive playing. Thoughts?

    mg33 0Permalink
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    • No music theory here. The best art comes from chaos ;) I tried bass lessons when i was 16 and lost interest in doing repetitive stuff over and over ...microkorg
    • ...I just wanted to play! so bought the bloodsugarsexmagic tab book and taught myself how to play from there ;)microkorg
    • WIsh i could play piano like a pro though. That'd be fcking awesome.microkorg
    • I have enough to know the scale I'm playing, what scale degree each not is, and what chords are supposed to be in said scale. The rest is off the cuff.section_014
    • i know absolutely nothing. i can hear things being in key/tune etc.. but as for instruments, notation, reading.. nup. 20 years deep and nadaautoflavour
    • machines do all the workautoflavour
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