I reckon you can learn theory all you want but you have to feel the notes working, there's nothing wrong with throwing notes around to see what works well, that way you could as well stumble on something you never intended.

I haven't read any books/magazines on production, software or anything and it's working ok for me.

I do think you have to be musical in the first place though, too many people are far too technical these days and lose the flare of originality cause they're so textbook.

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i think the problem with trance is that most of the guys don't know anything about theory and keep relying on the same chord progressions. Learning theory increases your harmony vocabulary enabling you to step away from the tired progressions everone is using.

if you want to make better music. Learn music theory. It will pay off.

quote:

Originally posted by RichieV what feels right tends to follow tonal music theory 99.0% of the time. Knowing theory helps you be able to just hear something in your head an know exactly what chords to use. Basically there is no guess work. There is no fumbling around with chords to see what works. TO me that is powerful. IF you are only making trance music , then i don't think music theory is that important. You probably only use the basics anyways.

ok i took ap music theory so i guess it just happens automatically. i know this stuff by heart for the most part. im not much use here, then... *leaves thread*

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quote:

Originally posted by RichieV i think the problem with trance is that most of the guys don't know anything about theory and keep relying on the same chord progressions. Learning theory increases your harmony vocabulary enabling you to step away from the tired progressions everone is using. if you want to make better music. Learn music theory. It will pay off.

Exactly. I am reading a book on it now. I am learning a great deal. Knowledge is power. I really feel people that refuse to learn it are only hurting themselves. It's not that complicated to learn the basics.

I will say that while reading this book, I just want to learn theory and not how to read sheet music. Can someone give me a good reason on why I should learn sheet music?

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quote:

Originally posted by David Adams Exactly. I am reading a book on it now. I am learning a great deal. Knowledge is power. I really feel people that refuse to learn it are only hurting themselves. It's not that complicated to learn the basics. I will say that while reading this book, I just want to learn theory and not how to read sheet music. Can someone give me a good reason on why I should learn sheet music?

well if you plan to broaden your horizons and make other types of music , getting the actual music on paper will help you understand what is going on as far as harmony and orchestration. Your ears are only so good. Having the music in front of you will really help you understand what is going on.

i guess it all depends. If you just plan to make trance all your life, then no i suppose knowing how to read music isn't that important.

quote:

Originally posted by RichieV well if you plan to broaden your horizons and make other types of music , getting the actual music on paper will help you understand what is going on as far as harmony and orchestration. Your ears are only so good. Having the music in front of you will really help you understand what is going on. i guess it all depends. If you just plan to make trance all your life, then no i suppose knowing how to read music isn't that important.

Thanks for the response. I would like to get into other music genres as well - limiting myself to only trance is not a good way to grow. I guess I am just used to working with MIDI (like most of us here), and I can see the notes for all the different instruments in each track.

Maybe I just started out learning the wrong way with modern software. I can easily, however, convert my songs into sheet music from within my host - Sonar.

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quote:

Originally posted by David Adams Thanks for the response. I would like to get into other music genres as well - limiting myself to only trance is not a good way to grow. I guess I am just used to working with MIDI (like most of us here), and I can see the notes for all the different instruments in each track. Maybe I just started out learning the wrong way with modern software. I can easily, however, convert my songs into sheet music from within my host - Sonar.

i started that way too. I started out producing electronic music then got into making classical. But when you are doing like lets say a full orchestra score , using the piano roll just won't work. Its way too cumbersome. Sheet music is just easier to represent all the information. I only start using that method for more traditional types of music with alot of harmony layering and stuff like that.

quote:

Originally posted by RichieV i started that way too. I started out producing electronic music then got into making classical. But when you are doing like lets say a full orchestra score , using the piano roll just won't work. Its way too cumbersome. Sheet music is just easier to represent all the information. I only start using that method for more traditional types of music with alot of harmony layering and stuff like that.

Oh, I can definitely see why you would need that for orchestral compositions. They are just massive.

Take care,
Adam

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quote:

Originally posted by RichieV that is a way too open ended question To make it simple i suppose you can just use the chords built on the minor scale altho these are only a small fraction of the possibilities i : G Bb D ii6 : C Eb Ab III : Bb D F iv : C Eb G V : D F# A VI : Eb G Bb VII : F A C here are a few possibilities off the top of my head that will sound ok i - iv - V - i i - VI - iv - V - i i - VII - III - VI - VII - i i - III - iv - VI - V - i VI - i - VII - III - V - i there are alot of combinations without ever even touching inversions , applied chords and 9ths and 11ths. If you are really interested , you should get a music theory book. Will take all the mystery out of how to make a good melody with proper chords. I think it would be easier to use a a key like A minor or C major and just transpose everything. That way you won't get bogged down with trying to figure out what is flat and what is sharp.

I'm a little confused.

The book I have lists all the Major scale based chords, but does not list the minor based chords.

For example, C Major chords are:

I - C
ii - D minor
iii - E minor
IV - F
V - G
vi - A minor
vii - B dim

What would the Roman numeral progressions be for a minor chord progression? The book also states that for minor chords progressions, the 'home' is the vi of the relative major scale. Does this mean that the 'home' of the C minor scale would be the A minor chord?

Can someone shed some light on my ignorance here? I'm really confused.

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for minor key in lets say A

i - A minor
ii - B dim
III - C major
iv - d minor
V# - E major
VI - F major
VII - G major


notice how vi in the major mode is the same chord as i in the minor mode. THe progressions i gave above where for the minor mode.

Thanks so much, Richie!!!

Do you know where I can get a good list online of all the minor scale chords with the Roman numeral progression next to them? I would love to insert it in my book.

I'm assuming all minor scales are set up like:

i - ii - III - iv - V - VI - VII

Just like major scales are set up like:

I - ii - iii - IV - V - vi - vii

Is my assumption correct?

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