Post subject: Why do I need music theory when I have "Scale" and "Chord"?

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Post subject: Why do I need music theory when I have "Scale" and "Chord"?
Posted on: 14.07.2011 by Brook Denier
So I've been learning music theory, relative and perfect pitch, etc. in order to give me a solid musical basis for my production. But today I just discovered the scale and chord functions in Ableton, and all of a sudden I can create all these wicked chords--the very reason for my interest in music theory. I know I'm playing devil's advocate here, but if Ableton can virtually lay out my melodies, harmonies, and basslines for me all in whatever key I want, why should I continue to learn music theory?
Brook Denier
18.07.2011
Originally Posted by dryzero
I guess we've already answered this but there is more to music than all the notes being on key. it's more about how the note relates to the notes that come before and after it.

However this is a guide to the scale plugin though so you don't get stuck with the presets
http://abletonlife.com/midi-effect-t...abletons-scale
his minor scale is incorrect. D'OH!
Lavenia Neild
15.07.2011
Originally Posted by Lambox
sometimes the right note is one that's out of key.
Quote for truth.
Brook Denier
15.07.2011
Originally Posted by padi_04
So did Hendrix. But both have/had trained ears.
I don't know much about Jimi, but how does Markus have "trained ears" with no formal training?

Originally Posted by Remote
Man you post in a lot of community s....
But what/where's the scale and chord functions?
in Ableton under "MIDI effects"
Verona Fashbaugh
14.07.2011
Originally Posted by padi_04
I'm not saying don't use those tools because it's your workflow, but the only one who loses if you drop the theory learning is yourself.
Yep. Not to mention you become even less of a musician (in my opinion) by doing this. Aren't there some things you would rather do yourself than simply let the computer do? Learning some basic music theory isn't hard at all. Not to mention that sometimes the right note is one that's out of key.

You're only cheating yourself if you rely all the time on those plugins. Sometimes I use them if I'm working on a remix that sounds out of key, just to experiment. I would never depend on them, or compose a track entirely with them.

Even if you plan on always using them, you should still try to learn some music theory. If nothing else, learn major and minor scales, and how to build chords. It's really quite easy, I promise. People having been using them for hundreds of years.
Brook Denier
14.07.2011		So I've been learning music theory, relative and perfect pitch, etc. in order to give me a solid musical basis for my production. But today I just discovered the scale and chord functions in Ableton, and all of a sudden I can create all these wicked chords--the very reason for my interest in music theory. I know I'm playing devil's advocate here, but if Ableton can virtually lay out my melodies, harmonies, and basslines for me all in whatever key I want, why should I continue to learn music theory?
Brook Denier
18.07.2011
Originally Posted by dryzero
I guess we've already answered this but there is more to music than all the notes being on key. it's more about how the note relates to the notes that come before and after it.

However this is a guide to the scale plugin though so you don't get stuck with the presets
http://abletonlife.com/midi-effect-t...abletons-scale
his minor scale is incorrect. D'OH!
Brent Dierken
18.07.2011		I guess we've already answered this but there is more to music than all the notes being on key. it's more about how the note relates to the notes that come before and after it.

However this is a guide to the scale plugin though so you don't get stuck with the presets
http://abletonlife.com/midi-effect-t...abletons-scale
Dana Ordinario
15.07.2011		Some people are born with perfect pitch or the ears that can tell when something sounds perfect or needs a little bit of something but for the other 99.99% of the population they need to train, study and learn all these things. There are some great producers out there who can make some great music without ever picking up a book or taking a class and that's all well and good but to say that's how it should be done I believe is shortsighted. Just IMHO.
Lavenia Neild
15.07.2011
Originally Posted by Lambox
sometimes the right note is one that's out of key.
Quote for truth.
Nedra Fresneda
15.07.2011		Let's just say learning music theory points you in the right direction, having a program "fix" these kind of things for you will limit the creative process IMO. Unless you want to be part of the huge group who produce tracks instead of writing them.
Brook Denier
15.07.2011
Originally Posted by padi_04
So did Hendrix. But both have/had trained ears.
I don't know much about Jimi, but how does Markus have "trained ears" with no formal training?

Originally Posted by Remote
Man you post in a lot of community s....
But what/where's the scale and chord functions?
in Ableton under "MIDI effects"
Shirlee Depiazza
15.07.2011		Man you post in a lot of community s....
But what/where's the scale and chord functions?
Nedra Fresneda
14.07.2011		So did Hendrix. But both have/had trained ears.
Brook Denier
14.07.2011		These are awesome examples, thanks guys. But I know that many of today's producers don't know much about music theory. I asked Markus Schulz in person and he said he took one music theory tutor class and quit--but still makes beautiful, epic trance leads and melodies....
Chantelle Dellosso
15.07.2011		Imagine a master wall builder looking at a wall while visiting a foreign country. Because he knows about layering techniques, brick positions & cement composition - he is able to not only appreciate the wall on a more technical level; but he is able to take ideas from it; to believe about how he would have done things differently.

Like the Borg, he is able to assimilate (by being aware of) the creativity of others and to incorporate it into his own imagination. The more you know about something - the more you're able to identify - and the more crayons you add to your box.
Verona Fashbaugh
14.07.2011
Originally Posted by padi_04
I'm not saying don't use those tools because it's your workflow, but the only one who loses if you drop the theory learning is yourself.
Yep. Not to mention you become even less of a musician (in my opinion) by doing this. Aren't there some things you would rather do yourself than simply let the computer do? Learning some basic music theory isn't hard at all. Not to mention that sometimes the right note is one that's out of key.

You're only cheating yourself if you rely all the time on those plugins. Sometimes I use them if I'm working on a remix that sounds out of key, just to experiment. I would never depend on them, or compose a track entirely with them.

Even if you plan on always using them, you should still try to learn some music theory. If nothing else, learn major and minor scales, and how to build chords. It's really quite easy, I promise. People having been using them for hundreds of years.
Nedra Fresneda
14.07.2011		Because you will be limiting yourself to those plug ins and being "perfect" every time. There is nothing wrong with hitting the wrong key once in a while or exploring beyond "the key you are supposed to press next". For example, playing around with one of the notes inside the chord, don't you find it more natural to edit a note in the piano roll rather than automating one of the chord knobs?

I'm not saying don't use those tools because it's your workflow, but the only one who loses if you drop the theory learning is yourself.

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