Jump to content
Science Forums

Do you know music theory?


Tormod

Recommended Posts

Most of the people I know who play instruments have a basic knowledge of music theory. Usually it's limited to scales and chords. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that they have some basic music skills with a touch of theory.

 

Guitar has always been my main instrument (with voice and piano in a tied second place), and I know a fair bit of music theory. I use some theory when I write music, but I find that most of the time I don't really worry too much about theoretical approaches. Maybe it's a result of having played for a long time...but sometimes I wonder that it may be because I have forgotten much of it. :hihi:

 

So - what instrument do you play (if any), and how much theory do you know?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cool thread Tormod, and appropriately timed. :)

 

I play guitar and also compose music on my computers (+MIDI controller).

I have a bit of a zen approach when it comes to music theory. Sort of like:

 

The one who plays all notes, knows no notes

A scale is a snake's skin, beware the snaking scale

Beats are of the heart, the heart is unforgiving

etc.....etc....

 

I'm certainly no Mozart or Django, but I do enjoy a good song. :(

 

Oh yeah...

I started messing around with alternate scales and tunings and it REALLY opens your eyes to what is possible with music. The western-based equal temperament is so bach-ovian. :hihi:

 

Here's a tune I did a little while back using an alternate tuning:

 

FAWM.ORG :: Songs 2007

 

Anyhow...

 

Should we start with the circle of fifths/fourths? :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guitar mostly, played bass in a garage band in high school, some keyboards, but mostly "sequencer"! Its been too long since I've done anything much with it (moving put a lot of equipment in storage), but Real Soon Now....

 

I've also always been facinated by just *sound*: I'm a bit of an analog synth maven, as I had extensive access to an old Arp 2600 when I was in high school...

 

I've never formally studied music theory, but I did study it because I'm theoretical about everything. But I only know enough to be dangerous. I can read all the squiggles, know my scales and modes, but it gets fuzzy beyond there...and again, its been ages: I'm rusty.

 

This should be fun though....

 

Well, there *ought* to be a B#, :hihi:

Buffy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dont Bb

dont B#

just B (natural sign not available)

 

It's a fun joke. :(

 

But to avoid confusion, there is a Bb and a B# just like any other variations. In notation notes may be written differently but sound the same (C# = Db etc) but in fact the sharp and flat notes are not 100% equal. I remember that in college we had a keyboard with "split" black keys, one for # and one for b. :shrug:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As a young drummer, I neglected much of my theory classes, thinking it wouldn't help my drumming all that much and I truly regret it. I just wasn't interested in playing tympani or mallet instruments, and only studied lessons I thought would help my trap set playing.:shrug:

 

Although I neglected a lot of music theory in school, I've noted that my strengths (note value, syncopation, dynamics, etc.) are what many non-percussion musicians have problems with. With the exception of a musician who can't tune their instrument, there's nothing worse than a band member with bad time.

 

Anyway, here are some wonderful rhythmic lessons from Dr. Norman Weinberg, Associate Professor of Percussion at The University of Arizona. Norm Weinberg's WebRhythms: Introduction These lessons go from mind numbingly simple to ridiculously complex (check out the final exam!). Although designed with the percussionist in mind, the lessons can certainly benefit all musicians. I guess I'll go check out this mystical "circle of fifths" thing you guitarists talk about.:(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The flute is my main instrument which I learnt at high school, and continued to play after school in an orchestra, so for about 15 years. I studied music theory for 4 years while at school, but that was 16 years ago, and I've forgotton what isn't essential for me to be able to play now. I remember something about alberti bass and balad bass...

 

I also learnt the violin which I miss playing, and I'm currently learning the piano. I'd like to get back to learning theory, then maybe I can figure out those augmented and diminished chords.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
What you need is one of these:

 

 

A 53-note-per-octave organ...

 

Sonically seasoned,

Buffy

 

A 53-step Equal Tempered Harmonium!!!

No thanks, I have enough trouble with my twelve keys!! :hihi:

But seriously, imagine the theory involved with playing that "thing" well...

Microtuning is something that has been interesting to me lately, but I suppose that is for another thread...;)

 

Tuning -- At the Crossroads,

Freezey

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...