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Ask HN: Tools to learn music theory?

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Re: Ask HN: Tools to learn music theory?

#91

Post by altgeek »

wallstprog wrote: post #10

You might want to give Rick Beato a try: https://rickbeato.com/ He does interesting YouTube videos on music topics, but also sells theory and ear-training courses online.

Guitar-related, Tommaso Zillio (https://www.musictheoryforguitar.com/abouttommasozillio.html) is pretty good for intermediate to advanced topics. I haven't looked at his courses; I use him for more composition ideas.

Signals Music Studio is also thought provoking for ideas (https://signalsmusicstudio.com/) ; check out his incremental approaches to writing with the Locrian mode.

Re: Ask HN: Tools to learn music theory?

#92

Post by davidrupp »

adamquek wrote: post #23

I started piano about the same time too. I was a non-reading player of other instruments before though, and I wanted to use piano as the instrument to properly guide me along my musical theory path. Yes, it's a slow journey. Repetition is key. And even though I still considered myself a slow learner, my teacher has been quite hands off these days whenever I am given a new piece. He would still put in the fingering, b…

Friendly vocabulary note: I think what you mean by "pneumonics" is https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mnemonics .

Re: Ask HN: Tools to learn music theory?

#94

Post by LegitShady »

shirleyquirk wrote: post #47

I grew up in a family of classical musicians, got a degree in music, and was briefly a professional classical musician myself. So my advice may be very out of touch with the experience of someone learning for the first time, but my experiences learning beyond European classical music theory left me feeling insulted. The basics of music theory are presented as though they are the foundations upon which all subsequent…

I think when you're advanced enough to have been a professional musician the criticisms of classical theory are more useful than when you're struggling to produce or reproduce music you enjoy, or even recognize what theoretical underpinnings other people are using. Learning about electron orbits is pretty useful to recognize basic chemistry stuff - going straight to quantum theory is probably not a good way to learn.

but fair nuff.

Re: Ask HN: Tools to learn music theory?

#95

Post by davidrupp »

brylie wrote: post #50

I've really enjoyed reading the Hooktheory interactive textbook and using their Hookpad tool for composition. https://www.hooktheory.com/

I like both Hooktheory and iReal Pro [1] for hearing what chord progressions sound like in practice.

[1] https://www.irealpro.com/

Re: Ask HN: Tools to learn music theory?

#96

Post by Lewton »

ocimbote wrote: post #35
Mr-Frog wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Michael Jackson never learned to read or write sheet music.

Out of curiosity, is there any source to endorse that? I mean, it certainly takes a MJ to get to this level without music theory, but if the fact is confirmed... wow! (Tried to phrase it properly but "wow" conveys best that I'm speechless)

"without music theory"

Reading sheet music is not music theory

Re: Ask HN: Tools to learn music theory?

#97

Post by analog31 »

k__ wrote: post #49
shirleyquirk wrote: post #47

I grew up in a family of classical musicians, got a degree in music, and was briefly a professional classical musician myself. So my advice may be very out of touch with the experience of someone learning for the first time, but my experiences learning beyond European classical music theory left me feeling insulted. The basics of music theory are presented as though they are the foundations upon which all subsequent…

"they are the foundations upon which all subsequent music is derived" I had the impression music theory was used more to analyze existing music, and less so to create it.

It can be both. For instance you can choose to work within a particular framework when composing and arranging, and this will lubricate some aspects of the process, and give you the confidence that you can actually do it. I'm not a composer myself, but the two bands I'm in both play some original jazz compositions and arrangements. I imagine that trying to come up with a new chart, completely ab initio would be a phenomenal chore. And possibly unplayable. One that we played last night for the first time is about 50 pages of music all told.

Perhaps another explanation is that in between analyzing and creating is the "trick" of borrowing from the past, that is a staple of virtually all creative endeavor.

But people have told me that theory won't help you write catchy melodies. Those come from somewhere, and some people are just good at it. But filling out the 19 parts of a big-band arrangement involves that framework.

Re: Ask HN: Tools to learn music theory?

#98

Post by bajsejohannes »

leetrout wrote: post #81
raincole wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tonesavvy looks like an ugly clone of https://tonedear.com/ear-training/intervals

> ToneSavvy, the for-teachers version of this website On the page you linked

I wonder why the for-teacher version uses chords to establish the tonic, and the other uses just a note. I find the latter much easier (but probably only because that's what I've practiced). I assume there's great benefit in being proficient in both.
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