Music Theory Thread?

Salami · 03-18-2012, 05:14 PM

To be fair, I think the demand for information on these matters is not particularly high on this forum in my opinion.
If you think about it, the people who would need information on music theory will likely be limited to people studying it as a university course, who will have probably a few, specialised questions that even on a big forum will come in at a rate of about once per week or so.

Everyone else will have questions on music theory which won't range much more than "what is an anacrusis?" for example, which was one of my questions three years ago, and that's easily solved by a simple google.

The long and short of it is that the kind of questions you'll get will probably fill up a single thread very slowly, never mind an entire forum.

Freebase Dali · 03-18-2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venjacques

Suppose the one question turns into a discussion spanning 20+ comments. This is now mixed in with 10 other questions. Wouldn't it be difficult to filter through and follow the course of just the one question?

If I were to make one thread myself, where do you feel I should place it? I'm thinking General Music would be the best bet.

And as for being able to know theory... yes. It would be beneficial for anyone playing any instrument. Music is a language. If you can give a good public speech, but can't read or write, are you really that good?

I have a similar thread for support resources regarding production, mixing and mastering, and what I aim to do is compile and categorize replies that deal with a particular area, in the main post.
This might be a workable solution for you.
The easy way to do that is to simply link to a particular post in the thread. When you have a few pages of theory, then you'll be able to edit your first post with the categorized links so that others can conveniently jump to any particular reference.

In addition to this, you can also create a FAQ section in the first post that addresses short questions and answers that don't require a link in one of your categories.

Dr_Rez · 03-18-2012, 06:41 PM

Well I like the idea of a thread like this. Im not sure if this is the best forum for it. Certainly a few of us who care somewhat about theory and enjoy learning about it.

GuitarBizarre · 03-18-2012, 08:46 PM

Honestly, my take on this is that its going to die immediately. The vast majority have no interest in music theory. Most of the remainder are already in university for this, myself included, and of the few who aren't, there are far more resources available through google than a thread could provide. Largely more reliable resources too, rather than the half remembered ramblings of three or four different people in an informal thread.

TockTockTock · 03-19-2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

Honestly, my take on this is that its going to die immediately. The vast majority have no interest in music theory. Most of the remainder are already in university for this, myself included, and of the few who aren't, there are far more resources available through google than a thread could provide. Largely more reliable resources too, rather than the half remembered ramblings of three or four different people in an informal thread.

This... I've actually been studying music theory on my own time, and I just use internet sources (as well as books) as teaching tools.

However, it would be a whole lot more satisfying discussing this sort of thing with people whom I know (as far as knowing people on the internet) and respect... So I'll definitely be asking a few questions every now and then.

Burning Down · 03-19-2012, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

Lets be honest here, I'm finishing up a music degree and I have no idea what that is without looking it up

No worries, I'm also finishing up a music degree and had no idea what it was until 3 months ago!

steve0211 · 03-19-2012, 10:40 AM

so at this point we have 3 full pages of comments about whether or not we should be talking about the topic of music theory on mb.

nice.

go for it is what i say.

Guybrush · 03-19-2012, 11:01 AM

I'd suggest a thread in the Song Writing, Lyrics and Poetry forum. I mean, if you want to write a piece for flute and guitar and need to learn some music theory first, that's related to song writing .. right?

venjacques · 03-19-2012, 01:31 PM

Theory isn't just for song writing and composition. If you're learning to play a piece of music, say for piano, it can be beneficial as well.

Imagine you have 64 bars of music to learn. You realize easily that the form is AB with repeat signs. Now you have 2 sections of 32 bars to learn. Smaller pieces.

Then you realize that each of those 32 bar sections are just made up of 8 bar phrases, 4 each. Simpler still. Then you realize that the phrases are actually duplicates of each other, in some regards. Without playing a note, you are able to break it down in to just having to learn about 22 bars of actual music instead of 32.

From there, you look at the first phrase. It starts with the notes C D E F G and then a high C on top. The left hand has C E G E G E G E. Well that's 13 notes. 13 things to memorize, right? Not if you know your theory!

I'd look at that, and say "oh there's a C major five finger pattern in the right hand, topped off with a high tonic note. And the left hand is just an alberti bass in C major. 13 notes, turns into "C major" to me. 13 has turned into 1.

The next measure does something like A G F E D (descending) C in the right, with F A C A C A C A in the left hand. Now anyone worth their salt would see that it's just a similar function as the first measure, just in F major.

If you do this throughout the piece, you can turn a significantly intricate sounding piece into about 10 concepts in your head. The simplification sums it up, makes you think in a large scope, and makes it easier to digest, rather than the novice that's still stuck in the first measure trying to remember that C goes to D then to E then to F and then G, and then it goes to (counts the lines and spaces...)that's a D I mean C!.

KJones · 03-20-2012, 01:15 PM

Hello. I am a guitar teacher at my city's First Assembly Church for a living. Any instrumentalist of any age and of any experience can learn to play music by ear or of any other means. You do not need theory to learn how to play a certain instrument, or to sing, that is why it is called MUSIC THEORY and not MUSIC LAW. Until music becomes I law I do not condone that people need to learn it in order to actually play or understand music.

With that aside. My main purpose of going to this forum was to discuss my passion of music and see other's relativity to my own. I did not come on here with music theory in mind, If anyone wanted to learn music theory they would not go to a forum like Music Banter which is generally well -- bantering about music, its genres, its styles, its people, its general application in today's society.

As for me, if I need anything I go to see my mentors, my colleagues, or teor&a to brush up on music, even though I have posted in one of the general music theory friends in the boards.

03-18-2012, 06:41 PM	#23 (permalink)
Dr_Rez Registered Jimmy Rustler Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 5,360	Well I like the idea of a thread like this. Im not sure if this is the best forum for it. Certainly a few of us who care somewhat about theory and enjoy learning about it. __________________ Best chance of losing virginity is in prison crew Always Checks Credentials Crew nba > nfl crew Shave one of my legs to pretend its a girl in my bed crew

03-19-2012, 11:01 AM	#28 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	I'd suggest a thread in the Song Writing, Lyrics and Poetry forum. I mean, if you want to write a piece for flute and guitar and need to learn some music theory first, that's related to song writing .. right? __________________ Something Completely Different

03-19-2012, 01:31 PM	#29 (permalink)
venjacques Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 48	Theory isn't just for song writing and composition. If you're learning to play a piece of music, say for piano, it can be beneficial as well. Imagine you have 64 bars of music to learn. You realize easily that the form is AB with repeat signs. Now you have 2 sections of 32 bars to learn. Smaller pieces. Then you realize that each of those 32 bar sections are just made up of 8 bar phrases, 4 each. Simpler still. Then you realize that the phrases are actually duplicates of each other, in some regards. Without playing a note, you are able to break it down in to just having to learn about 22 bars of actual music instead of 32. From there, you look at the first phrase. It starts with the notes C D E F G and then a high C on top. The left hand has C E G E G E G E. Well that's 13 notes. 13 things to memorize, right? Not if you know your theory! I'd look at that, and say "oh there's a C major five finger pattern in the right hand, topped off with a high tonic note. And the left hand is just an alberti bass in C major. 13 notes, turns into "C major" to me. 13 has turned into 1. The next measure does something like A G F E D (descending) C in the right, with F A C A C A C A in the left hand. Now anyone worth their salt would see that it's just a similar function as the first measure, just in F major. If you do this throughout the piece, you can turn a significantly intricate sounding piece into about 10 concepts in your head. The simplification sums it up, makes you think in a large scope, and makes it easier to digest, rather than the novice that's still stuck in the first measure trying to remember that C goes to D then to E then to F and then G, and then it goes to (counts the lines and spaces...)that's a D I mean C!. __________________ It's just another day.

03-18-2012, 05:14 PM	#21 (permalink)
Salami Get in ma belly Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 1,385	To be fair, I think the demand for information on these matters is not particularly high on this forum in my opinion. If you think about it, the people who would need information on music theory will likely be limited to people studying it as a university course, who will have probably a few, specialised questions that even on a big forum will come in at a rate of about once per week or so. Everyone else will have questions on music theory which won't range much more than "what is an anacrusis?" for example, which was one of my questions three years ago, and that's easily solved by a simple google. The long and short of it is that the kind of questions you'll get will probably fill up a single thread very slowly, never mind an entire forum.

03-18-2012, 08:46 PM	#24 (permalink)
GuitarBizarre D-D-D-D-D-DROP THE BASS! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,730	Honestly, my take on this is that its going to die immediately. The vast majority have no interest in music theory. Most of the remainder are already in university for this, myself included, and of the few who aren't, there are far more resources available through google than a thread could provide. Largely more reliable resources too, rather than the half remembered ramblings of three or four different people in an informal thread.

03-19-2012, 10:40 AM	#27 (permalink)
steve0211 Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Düsseldorf and Detroit Posts: 84	so at this point we have 3 full pages of comments about whether or not we should be talking about the topic of music theory on mb. nice. go for it is what i say.

03-20-2012, 01:15 PM	#30 (permalink)
KJones Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Northeast Michigan Posts: 12	Hello. I am a guitar teacher at my city's First Assembly Church for a living. Any instrumentalist of any age and of any experience can learn to play music by ear or of any other means. You do not need theory to learn how to play a certain instrument, or to sing, that is why it is called MUSIC THEORY and not MUSIC LAW. Until music becomes I law I do not condone that people need to learn it in order to actually play or understand music. With that aside. My main purpose of going to this forum was to discuss my passion of music and see other's relativity to my own. I did not come on here with music theory in mind, If anyone wanted to learn music theory they would not go to a forum like Music Banter which is generally well -- bantering about music, its genres, its styles, its people, its general application in today's society. As for me, if I need anything I go to see my mentors, my colleagues, or teor&a to brush up on music, even though I have posted in one of the general music theory friends in the boards.