Music Theory Cheat Sheet

[elser]

Us NTSU guys know a little about theory. Of course it has very little value in itself unless it helps you to make better music. For some types of music it's not very helpful or necessary at all. But once the music starts getting more complex it can help you understand it and learn it more quickly. As a writer I don't use it that much. One place where it can be helpful is if I write a melody first. It can help me to find chords and harmonies that might not come to me intuitively. Or say I want to do an untraditional arrangement of a Christmas carol or something like that. But then you have guys like Danny Elfman (although I think he's rare) who writes very complex music and claims to do it completely by ear. In the end it's just another tool.

[Len911]

But then you have guys like Danny Elfman (although I think he's rare) who writes very complex music and claims to do it completely by ear.

That's actually probably the most common method, would be my guess.

[Paulie]

Agree. So many writers do it purely by ear. As long as it sounds good it works, right? Having the education/foundation makes it easier to remember what it was that you did, or better yet, lets you write it out so you can repeat later as needed. Musical literacy is a thing.

[elser]

But then you have guys like Danny Elfman (although I think he's rare) who writes very complex music and claims to do it completely by ear.

That's actually probably the most common method, would be my guess.

Naw. Most of the younger guys these days have degrees from USC or comparable. And the established guys like John Williams, Thomas Newman, James Newton Howard, Howard Shore....not only do they know theory, but they can orchestrate, in some cases conduct, many know electronic music. Yes of course they use their ears first, but they also have huge arsenals of traditional knowledge.

[Len911]

Having the education/foundation makes it easier to remember what it was that you did, or better yet, lets you write it out so you can repeat later as needed. Musical literacy is a thing.

I thought that was what daws were for, lol!
Daw literacy??

Computers and software have revolutionized music and theory. I remember a field trip in high school to visit a man in his basement, I think they called a "transcriptionist"?? Just up the road from my home. Hopefully he retired before notation software would have put him out of business.

There's a lot of knowledge to be found on the internet as well, both traditional, and junk, but better than what the local libraries around here contain.

[mojobone]

Theory is all good, but I work with so many 'wild' musicians who are unicorns precisely because they have no training. Take a theoretical look at Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line"; as far as I can tell, that E to C modulation never occurred in popular music, before. (and if Mozart's third cousin did it already in a Simpsons episode, please don't write me letters) Comparatively speaking, it's easier to come up with new melodies and harmonies than new changes. The great thing about theory? If you're stuck for an idea, there's a roadmap. Trouble is, it won't take you anywhere new.