music theory for music producers (you'll actually use this)
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music theory can be a really complex, and confusing subject - but I've got quite a few request to dive in and talk about the music theory that I use in my day to day music production. This is only the first step - learning major scales.
► Keep up with the series!
Part 2 - • music theory you can a...
Part 3 - • music theory producers...
Part 4 - • the tool every produce...
Part 5 - • understanding basic rh...
FOR ALL THE THEORY NERDS OUT THERE - yeah I know I gloss over some things and over-simplify at times, but I'm trying to make this accessible and PRACTICAL for beginners.
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Enjoy the FULL 5 part series! SECRET FORMULA - kzhead.info/sun/dtCupayqqWl-emw/bejne.html CHORDS - kzhead.info/sun/fc6mZ7ihZJutrWg/bejne.html CHORDS PT. 2 - kzhead.info/sun/ktOIhJeGep2Bd6M/bejne.html EAR TRAINING - kzhead.info/sun/mb6SorWFfX-nhn0/bejne.html RHYTHM - kzhead.info/sun/jL2bm616kIunaXA/bejne.html RULES WE ALWAYS BREAK - kzhead.info/sun/dN2apsqJaJ1op2w/bejne.html
tankiu
Hy
Thank you so much you are a great teacher your videos are top notch 👌
you're making legends out here
Hey man love the channel and Price for learning from you. Can't wait to learn!
What I find surprising is that even after playing piano for 20+ years, being taught by professionals from Julliard, Bard College and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory; music theory has NEVER been explained to me in such simple/understandable terms before.
it's crazy right!
They say if you can’t explain it to a child you’re not a good teacher. Something that’s been true to my personal experiences. Some of my best mentors can break it down so well.
I've played bass guitar since I was 10 years old. I'm now 33. Every time I've attempted to learn music theory I've been overwhelmed and quit before being able to understand the very basics. I've heard of keys, intervals and modes before, but I've only just realised that if you take a scale and change the tonic or root note, even though you are playing those very same keys, they sound and feel very different...it's basically helped me understand modes. Then you can transpose to get the pitch you like. I know this isn't ideal, but just understanding that helps me understand how music theory works, and that now I can learn scales which will allow me to write music without the need to transpose. All the years of confusion have just disappeared...and you've basically explained this concept in one video. I wish I'd have seen this years ago. Great video and +1 subscriber.
Word I’m in a class for it now and it slips out of my mind. Professor is dope, but I don’t grasp the complicationz
Gotta agree. Straight to the point and great information. Subscribed.
0:00 intro 1:46 what is a scale 3:20 note/key names 5:23 half and whole steps 8:00 major scale formula 13:55 sharps and flats 15:05 using major scale formula to find notes in scale 18:25 finding relative minor scales from major scale 20:25 minor scale formula 20:45 recap
thank you
thx broo
What a god 😂❤
Thank you i was searching
People who write comments like that ❤
This is so helpful. I have been into being a DJ and mixing music (as a hobby) for 20 years and I am just now getting into actually making music (as a hobby) and your channel has been great, especially for a beginner like me. Thanks for the content.
oh sir u r here
oh.... look who's here 😍😍. My fav instructor on KZhead 😍😍🔥🔥.
hey Brad. glad to find that u are also into music as a hobby....
I smell a music production course coming soon lol. Legend!
Didn't expect to see you in a section that isn't Tech related, lol.
I think its much easier to remember it by using numeric patterns like this. Major = 2212221, Minor = 2122122, Harmonic Minor = 2122131 in that way it also tells you how many notes to count upwards each time instead of having to think W = 2 and H = 1 the other benefit is you don't have to worry about what letter to use if a scale contains an interval greater than W, the number way you just use the appropriate number in place of a letter. Additionally numbers are easier to remember like phone numbers, especially if you split them up into logical patterns like this for example: Major = 221-2221, Minor = 2-122-122, Harmonic Minor = 2-122-131 😀👍
Fantastic!! Thank you!!!
"the other benefit is you don't have to worry about what letter to use if a scale contains an interval greater than W, the number way you just use the appropriate number in place of a letter." wait what do you mean by this.. this part confused me but the numbers seem a lot easier thank you for this
@@IVI444IVI because in the Harmonic minor there is a jump of 3 half tones, and a W only means 2 half tones, there is no “Whole and a Half” designation in letters
@@Ces911 ohhh I see thank you 🙏
Your wonderful at being super smart and crazy cool at the same time. Appreciate the knowledge. Had to write this one down on pen and paper.
Taetro: "...this song is written in C" Me: * confused software developer noises *
Lol
Lol sorry I meant C++ obviously
Better plus plus than... C# 🤣
@@ArvindJuneja good one lol
sad F# noises
taetro is 100% correct. I have 10 years of music theory, but i don’t use half of it!! Scales and chords and notes are all very fundamental. Some theory also helps only on piano playing (useful, but not needed.) Needing to know how to read music on a staff might be useful for live instruments, but you don’t need it if you’re just starting out. 🔥🔥
I disagree. Learn how a music staff works is different from developing the reading - which is smt only a instrument player will use. You can just learn staff as you learn music theory. There is no harm on it and it's quite easy actually. And that will open some doors for you regarding stuff you will actually use.
You use it more than you think, even if on a subconscious level.
Just learn every scale on piano, that's all u need lol
Interesting
@@lunchNsinners and modes and chords and types of chords and inversions and tonal harmony...
This is legitimately the most well explained video about theory that I've come across so far. Thank you so much for this.
Wow, thank you!!!
@@Taetro he is right!!
Definitely, I've watched at least half a dozen other simplified theory videos and hadn't even heard of that formula for major and minor scales, that part made the whole video's information click for me.
Agreed!
I read music, played violin in an orchestra, played acoustic guitar, got into producing and engineering. This video encourages me to practice scales when I used to DREAD how boring they were in school. Now I want to go back at it with this new perspective and insight! Thank you!
That's because you were correct. They're boring. Music is changing we now know you don't need to have a song stick to the same keys. You can be as creative as you want
I am a classically trained musician but took music theory in high school to fill out my electives and man you would've been so much better than my teacher was explaining basic theory in a simple non-frustrating way dude keep it up this is awesome
my theory teaching was so frustrating i wanted to slap the shit outta him. would always start with "im going to explain this in the most simple way i can" then proceeded to use words i cant even say. ended up failing it cause i spent 90% of the time trying to remember wtf all these terms mean and even when i did i forgot all of them as soon as i went into a studio anyway
This an old comment but same, music theory is one of those things you need to time to learn and to go over and over again in practice When I learnt music theory in school it felt easy and then it suddenly jumped to stuff that was incredibly difficult to wrap your mind around, all with very specific terms and we never went over them more than once (also not to mention the other subjects I was doing) Needless to say, because I wasn’t that bothered about my music grade, I failed Now coming back to learning music theory 3y later on my own time and relearning my passion for it too!
as a person that knows NOTHING about music theory, this helped me so much. Thanks Taetro 🌸
Omg, same here. This brought so much clarity and I'm only 8 min in. I've been looking for something like this for years, thank you so much bro!!
I was in band for 7 years. I was in Choir and Musical Theatre for 3 years. I even took piano lessons off and on for those 3 years. And you my sir, have taught me more in 10 minutes than I ever actually learned while I was in school. Kuddos to you!
sounds like you didn't pay attention until now then lmfao...13 years of music and you learned more than that in a 23 minute vid?
@@thelambsauce7223 You don’t need music theory to be in a band. Derp.
@@FantasticOtto never said you did, "derp"
This is the FIRST video out of DOZENS on the topic that I’ve finally managed to grasp a concept and have it stick. You explain things so eloquently it’s fantastic. Genuinely thank you so much.
Thank you so much I feel like I’m learning a lot honestly this is such a big help!! Thank you Taetro! This series honestly is just what I’ve been looking for! Again thank you! 🙏😁
This was super helpful TAETRO. I really appreciate this tutorial on music theory. I knew a little about keys and scales, but this “formula” method really makes a lot of sense to me. Keep up the great work! Thanks again!
Hi! I am so glad that I found your channel while searching for videos on music theory and on MIDI keyboards. There is so much useful content on this channel. Thank you so much for creating the Music Theory For Beginners series!
I took a music theory class for a semester and everything I learned in this 20 minute video is the same I learned in a couple months. Good video man you can teach! Practice makes perfect
Nice!
you had a definitely bad teacher, but probably not bad musician
He might've had a bad teacher, but classes need to be stretched out over the course of a semester. This video is straight to the point and only teaches what's necessary. A course at school is gonna have a lot of filler and teach stuff you probably won't even need to know. They'd have you learn how to read sheet music and remember "every good boy does fine" before they even tell you how to make a major chord... When you truthfully don't need to know how to read music to make chords. The notes don't even matter, it's the intervals between the notes.
@@vvp726 no music related schooling is just a scam im sorry u got scammed bro . but its the truth .
Dude this is the best explanation of how scales and notes work! super simple and quick way to understand this. i just learned more in 20 minutes than in hours and hours of reading music theory books and taking lessons. You rock, Thanks Bro!
Hey Taetro, I just wanted to say that this music theory series has really really helped me. Not just with my music production, but with my bass playing, too. I was jamming with some friends today and I realized that I was having an easier time improvising my bass lines, and I think that's because of your videos. So just wanted to say thanks for what you do :)
Man, seriously, thanks a lot. That was crystal clear and fluid. Been avoiding music theory for a while (esp as I'm french and note are god damn more confusing than abcdefg, but not only). So huge thanks!
this is a great video really well explained!! however i would add, one of the things that frustrates people about music theory is that it's presented as rules to follow - i prefer to think about it as shortcuts to find things that are guaranteed to sound good. so rather than being "limited" to the notes of a certain key when you're playing in that key, those are just the notes that will definitely sound good together, and it's ok to experiment with adding other notes here and there as well!!
This comment is a good addendum to the video.
Sound comes first. Theory is for notation.
Thank you for this!
Anyone who thinks music theory is a bunch of rules to follow isn't learning/using it correctly. Also, of course it seems very limiting at first. These are the basic fundamentals from which everything else builds off of, including what many people think of as "breaking the rules." Plus, most people who brag about "breaking the rules" just don't know shit about music theory. They make fairly typical compositions, but then claim they did it "without any rules."
When i first started making music i just went on feel, as in how it sounds, you can tell when you use a off key.
I really appreciate your perspective on how to uncomplicate learning the major and minor scales. I learned here from you about the 'relative' minor scales, so thank you for that little step forward for me.
OK, in 30 yrs, you're the first to explain this beautiful math so easily. I'm using it to learn chords from every song, and I couldn't be more happy, thank you!
Man you’re so chill! This is the first theory video I’ve watched through without skipping once regardless of whether I already knew what you were teaching, you’re amazing!
Needed this!! Just started producing for the love of music and have been stressing about music theory but its really all so simple when you know the basic formulas!! Thanks.
i’m trained in music theory as a classical musician and this video would’ve helped me so much when i was starting up
You truly found a way to explain music to absolute beginners (such as myself). I've never seen such a clear, straightforward and simple explanation about major scales. BTW your Ableton for beginners series is also amazing. Thanks so much!
Im 14 minutes in and felt like I had to leave serious love for you and this video. This is perfect thank you. Very easy to follow and understand everything and I am day 1 with this coming in with no previous background. This was the video ive been hunting for!
I can't thank you enough dude. I was bummed that I didn't start learning music earlier in school but luckily you exist!
Cool! I knew about scals already, but mostly used on guitar. Refreshing formulas and using them on keyboard is gold! Thank you )
u created a new synapse in my brain 4 years of note breakdown never did in under 10 minutes. Your explanation was so precise thank you!
Thank you so much. You’re so engaging and literally the only person who has made any kind of sense teaching music theory. I’ve been a musician for two decades and I’ve never understand it. From the first five minutes, your energy captured me. Well done.
I appreciate so much how you explained this. I'm a musician of over 20 years and it's hard for me to get back to the basic basic explanations and you did SUCH a great job!
You really do a great job of making this approachable for beginners. You make more sense to me and I walked away with more actionable knowledge than years or band class and piano lessons.
Thank you and looking forward to the monthly progression on this topic! 🧡🙏
This has been the most intuitive and helpful video I’ve ever watched on music theory! I actually left truly learning something, after 100’s of attempts to start understanding theory. I have zero music expertise and have taught myself production solely from KZhead and this has been incredible! Thank you!
There's something very admirable about people who want to share their knowledge + make information accessible for everyone. You are a G. Thank you so much for everything - helped me like you wouldn't believe!!
it's important for me to share everything I know!
You’re a legend, you’ve gained a sub. Everything was explained perfectly. I usually flip samples but soon wanted to write my own stuff or combine my own stuff with samples. You’ve opened up my options alittle more so thank you!
wow i grew up knowing music theory my entire life but i still learned so much from this video so thank you for this. the formula is so helpfullll
Dude it´s so easy to understand these things when you explain them, I´ll definitely go through your whole series, ty
Massive help mate thank you! Looking forward to watching the rest of the series 👊🏽
Legit I cannot thank you enough for this vid. I legit bought a book on music theory. And I started to lose all hope since all it talked about was reading musical notes. But your vid legit motivated me to try and make music again.
Dude you are a genius. Thank you for explaining it in a way that actually makes sense. You got yourself a new sub.
I can't believe I finally understand how scales work. Tried so many times learning and always just could not wrap my head around it no matter how hard I tried, and then just gave up eventually because it didn't feel worth the hassle. Then I randomly come across a 20 minute video and everything just makes sense and instantly clicks in my brain. Actually just incredible.
Dude! I've been struggling with music theory for sometime now. You just made those basic concept so simple and easy and completely demolished the intimidation factor. Thank you!
well structured, extremely informative and I can assure you that you will learn music theory right after that video especially if it has been confusing for you. thanks, mate.
damn man. 3 years bachelor education in music, and you explained it in minutes and it made sense. Great job!
@@d42 fax 💯💯
I could do alot of this but didnt really understand the scales and KEYS I was using, I just played by ear. but this video right here! This man Is a great teacher and just helped me understand music theory like no other has. A great teacher he is for sure. Thanks man!
Duude, thank you so much for this series, finally a music theory explanation i can wrap my head around. Been looking for something like this for quite some time 😅
This video was so incredibly helpful and well made. Thank you sir!
Probably the best way I have heard music theory explained and even understood some new things, have been playing since I was a kid, but just now really taking theory seriously and music, thanks for the great info.
thanks so much! be sure to check out part 2 I posted yesterday as well
Thank you for helping "an amazing artist/beat maker" who has always been way too scared or lazy to attempt any music theory education!!! You really helped to change my game of understanding!
🙌🏾 I have been waiting to hear this in such a simplified way. Thank you 🙏🏾
Awesome video! I didn't know any of these things and I'm glad I do now. I wonder how much time you saved me!? Better yet I immediately went and tried this out on my Akai mpk and it was inspirational to say the least! You've unlocked so many doors for me with this video, I'm being serious like I'm so happy I found this and that you explained it as smooth as you did! Anyways, thanks again and I can't TY enough! Good luck!
Dude this is actually amazing and so many of us non-musicians need this! THANK YOU SO MUCH
Dude this was so friggin helpful!! I’ve been winging it for around 25 years singing covers on my guitar and writing the odd song. I love the water and can keep myself afloat, but never had the confidence in all that time to actually learn how to swim, until now. This video and others on your channel are helping me so much!! You are a fantastic teacher and I know will go far helping people with this incredible skill. It’s a rare gift. Thank you so much for sharing 🙏🤘✌️
Best video about music theory ever, simple, direct and your voice makes it so involving, this should blow up, thank you Taetro!
I NEEDED THIS!! i finally got my Akai MPK and needed someone! Thanks!!
bruh video hasn’t even been out a minute
we love the energy
@@Sanders_Media i have a boring life ya'know
How is the Akai, and why did you chose that one and not something else?
@@magnuseriksson8081 The Akai is pretty cool. It may not have other features like maybe the sea block or some other incredible musical piece. And I don't have a very good music theory and I've only been playing piano for less than a year, but the Akai can get me going. The music program i use is called MPC beats. And there is a simple video on how to use it via youtube, but it's not hard to use. All i have to do is plug it up, get some headphones and fidget around a little bit. Lemme know i'd d you have more questions! edit: sorry i meant the digitize audio workspace i use is MPC beats, and i chose the Akai mini because it was in my budget and I'm only 13👍🏽👍🏽
I've been a musician since 09' and been producing since 2020. I always found music theory to be boring but on the other hand, always wanted to learn it. Stumbled across this video and just in 20 minutes learned how a scale is set-up. I definitely have to keep watching your videos!
How does this relate to chords? I'm not sure how to ask the question, but I guess how is this applied to creation of guitar melody/riffs
Thank you for this series! Please do more music theory in the future!
I don't know what to say besides thank you so much man, you're amazing! :) I've tried watching other videos and nobody taught me as well as you did! I was pretty lost on the other videos and just stopped watching them, I'm so glad I've found you're videos :)
Thank you so much, I´m a starting music producer on my own and your videos helped a lot!!! Will support this channel always!
thank you!!
My mane! I wanted to thank you for helping my son and I understand our piano a lot better. playing by ear is fun, but memorizing all of those songs has become quite the headache over these past 32 years of my life.😂 Music production will be so much more fun Now that we understand what the hell we’re playing 😂thank you!! New subscriber and I’m sharing your video to my channel!🙌🏽💚🌍🙏🏽
You are an excellent teacher. Looking forward to doing the rest of this series, thanks.
Thank you for making this very easy to understand! I purchased a MPK mini yesterday and I look forward to more of your videos helping complete beginners create music.
That wwhwwwh is so usefull. I play bass, and my teacher told me bc and ef are connected. But that tip you just gave ,would've helped me so much back then. Pff oldschool teachers. Tbh learning the scales out of your head is very usefull tho. You dont have to think anymore that way, you just know and do it.
This is amazing. I've learned music pretty much the same as most of the people who commented in here. I'm a percussion director at a high school and we get students all the time who don't know their all their scales or none at all. I teach them how to recognize keys the same way. "Musical alphabet". I ask them, "Do you know your alphabet?" Yes, good! Then you can learn this" Anyway, this "formula" was something I never paid attention to, but makes much more sense and easy to digest and will save me hours of teaching new students. Thanks!
Omg you just unlocked my mind. I really needed this for my music production. You’re so generous to share this for FREE. New subscriber ❤️
Wow, thank you so much for this. I have always struggled with music theory and until this video, I couldn't quite connect the dots even though my brain retained the information. THANK YOUUUU. Amazing beginning video, I am looking forward to the rest of your series ♥
You're very good at being a teacher. I really appreciate your video. Thankyou! I liked and subscribed and I hardly ever do that lol.
🖤🖤🖤
Where was this video six months ago when I started trying to learn how to make music? Wish I could have seen this back then - super simple and easy to understand!
Haha sorry I was late, hopefully it’s still helpful to solidify your foundation
This just might be the most vital part of my beginning. Specifically mine. I appreciate you so much for dumbing it down so much to the point i feel i have a grasp on it. i will remember this forever.
Spectacular video! I was a flautist for about 6 years so I'm very much familiar with the core foundation of music theory. I've taken up music production for game development as a hobby now and had no idea where to start. Your explanations were flawless and helped me figure out what I can do with my knowledge, and gently pushed me in the right direction. As a result, I completed my first beautiful tune. I'm so happy! You got yourself a subscribe :)
So groovy fam, you made this so simple now I'm going to be like WWHWWWH in my head every time 👍
Finally a video like this from a guy that I trust! Thank you
Glad I could help
I have been in and out trying to find a good explanation to the start and basics of music theory for about a year, and I kept just giving up because it was always in a way that I couldn’t quite comprehend. This is the first video I have ever come across that I have been able to click instantly with al Almost everything that was said with barely any second thought. Thank you so much
I just wanna tell you that I've never watched any of your other videos but your voice is really comforting
An even easier way to find the relative scale of any major scale is just count 3 semitones/3 half steps back from the root note E.g. the relative minor of the C Major scale is A Minor by counting 3 half steps back from C
Thank you for this. This is brilliant. 👍
appreciate it austin!
I just saw this video on my recommended and I gotta say. this makes me feel a lot better about music theory. this is all the knowledge that I've retained after spending some time learning. after trying to make my own music, I always thought that I would be left behind since I didn't know/learn more. this makes me feel more confident in being creative. thank you
I just want to thank you. Been researching music theory and everybody else makes this shit super difficult to comprehend. Thank you brother for sharing this. Very concise and to the point. ⚡️💯
The way I remember how to find a major scale. Ho Ho: a delicious snack cake. Half. Ho Ho Ho: from Santa. Half. Minor just flat the third
I enjoy learning music theory
Music theory has always put me off starting my production, i cant describe how inspired and motivated i am after watching this tutorial, the way you explained that was flawless. Thank you!
I've watched so many videos and so far you're making the most sense. Thank you so much
i’m mainly looking forward to working on bass lines using this series
Slap it
@@styweed17 hahahahah
Can we all agree that taetro is such a calming person
Congrats on 200k I’ve just found your channel! This video is super super helpful! I’m going to watch this whole series 👍🏻 Keep up the good work
You are a very good teacher. Going through it at a good pace, nice & easy. And very good at explaining it.
I'm shocked that this was 23 mins long because it went by so fast! Time sure flys when you having fun and I guess more importantly if your not having fun while learning its the teacher's fault 🤣
lmao 💀
Thank you so much for this video! I'm a beginner with music and I've been trying to find a good explanation on chords and keys for a while and this is the best I've found!
Wow, this is something that I can actually learn. I'm diving into future garage and music production now, and this is pretty much the fundamentals for understanding how to produce. Thank you for making this video!
I learned this interval notes in a guitar lesson, but now I also know how to play it piano. Thanks a lot man
if this video helped you please consider donating to our fundraiser this month!! Raising money to create free music programs for teens across the country :) Any amount helps, click DONATE on the video
I donated 21.31 since you taught me W W H W W W H.
I had to round it up to 22 because it wouldn't take partial dollar amounts.
@@CryptoJones thank you James!!
I've binge watched tutorials on KZhead on a wide variety of subjects but not one is explained as clearly as this. Huge hat tip to you sir!
the first 15min alone helped make my first coherent beat. thanks a lot for your skilled simplicity in teaching us this information. you're the man!
Thank you so much! I just purchased an Akai MIDI keyboard and while I have some limited piano experience, I’m still a beginner and this video just taught me so much. Do you think running through these scales using this formula would be good for practice daily?
As a piano player, daily practicing of scales is absolutely useful, both to commit the keys, key signatures and keyboard to memory as well as improve playing technique and muscle memory.
always wondered why my piano teacher never taught me to discover scales on my own, the other day I asked how to make a major or minor scale and she just then told me. I had been taking lessons for more than a year though, so maybe I just forgot or zoned out when she explained it. Probably that actually.
I so appreciate your ability as a teacher. I hope you become a major educator of educators, you have a unique skill. Thanks so much for your hard work and passion, it really shines through.
Just getting into sound production and this video was insanely insanely helpful. I took notes and feel like I can really apply twos to what I want to do. Thank you, solid work.