Music Theory / Learning and instrument

dj tinman · Post by **dj tinman** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:12 pm

So I've decided I want to learn more about music theory (chords, scales etc etc) and I don't know whether to learn to play an instrument, such as guitar, and go for lessons, or learn how to play pieces on my midi keyboard?

In your own experiences what do ya'll reccomend?

Do you know of any good video tutorials that I could follow?

Cheers.

bandshell · Post by **bandshell** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:22 pm

Depends if your learning it for computer production or you want to be able to play guitar as well.

For production on a computer I'd say learning piano/keyboard would be the most useful but if you don't have a midi keyboard then any sort of knowledge of music theory is beneficial.

86. · Post by **86.** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:27 pm

Woodwind instruments are the shit.

Sorry that doesnt help does it.

It definitely helps if you know theory...but then again, I'm sure some of your favourite producers don't know shit about music theory whatsoever.

But yes, learn the keyboard

vivace · Post by **vivace** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:44 pm

Be a man, play melodica:

.klimaxx · Post by **.klimaxx** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:34 pm

piano is the best instrument for learning about chord structures, scales, melodies etc.

it's much easier than a guitar for the simple reason that every note is laid out in front of you. with a guitar, there is the problem of different tunings etc.

also, if you learn piano, you learn to read music. with guitar, you learn to read tabs. there is also the fact that you can get a much richer sound from a piano (a maximum of 10 notes compared to the 6 possible on a guitar)

so basically, learn piano. don't do it the crap way by trying to learn off youtube; you'll learn much faster and improve your technique if you get a proper teacher. also, i can not stress enough how important scales are in music. they not only boost your technique, they also teach you how music is made up. from scales you make chords, from chords you make chord progressions, from chord progressions you make songs.

finally, after a few years at the piano, guitar is extremely easy to pick up, because you have more strength in your fingers, as well as more dexterity and speed.

hope this helps!

Sharmaji · Post by **Sharmaji** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:09 pm

take piano lessons.

dj tinman · Post by **dj tinman** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:48 pm

Yeah I hear ya on the piano lessons, looks like that is the way foward!!!

Basically I want to be able to play complex pieces which progress and maintain interest rather than just bash keys aimlessly until I come up with a boring loop!!

Cheers for the help tho, gonna look into piano lessons.

vertex · Post by **vertex** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:27 pm

pretty much any instrument apart from things like bongos or digeridoo will be ok

go for a tuba for those big basslines!

dignan · Post by **dignan** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:42 pm

I've been playing guitar for six years now and the thing that got me over the hump of being a crappy guitartist to what I would consider a good guitarist was learning theory. more specifically, scales. but be careful, you have to strike a good balance between theory and creativity. if you strictly think in theory, then you're limiting yourself quite a bit IMO.

slothrop · Post by **slothrop** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:28 am

It's important to remember that a) theory is about describing things that have worked in the past and might work again, not deciding what is and is not allowed and b) there's a hell of a lot of theory, a lot of which you probably won't find out in a hurry, so if you learn about eg how to construct major and minor triads and sevenths and think that theory is a bit limited, it's probably because there's a lot of it that you don't know.

If something sounds good and doesn't make sense in terms of the theory you know, either there's some theory that you don't know that explains why it sounds good, or someone needs to come up with some theory that explains why it sounds good. It never means that you shouldn't do it because "it's not allowed."

karmacazee · Post by **karmacazee** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:43 pm

I've just started getting piano lessons, and it's already inspired atleast three tunes.

It's also making me more creative on the geetar

JFK · Post by **JFK** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:54 pm

I have played guitar for ten years so have a pretty decent understanding of musical theory.

Question:

I was thinking about piano lessons but I dont have a piano to practice on. I have a midi keyboard, not a full size one, would not having a piano to practice on hinder me in a massive way?

Sharmaji · Post by **Sharmaji** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:24 pm

^ eventually? maybe. now, just go for it. find your limitations later.

Music Theory / Learning and instrument

Music Theory / Learning and instrument

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