Do You Need Theory to Produce Music?

Music theory is so misunderstood - let's talk about it

My Studio Gear List:
--------------------
I personally purchase my gear from Sweetwater and have for over 12 years -- these are affiliate links, meaning you can support my channel by using Sweetwater. The reason I trust Sweetwater is because they have the BEST customer support I have ever seen, two year warranty, free shipping, and they have they best reputation in the industry. You will never see me recommend buying pro audio gear from Amazon

--------------------
Logic Pro X: (use the app store)

Sample Libraries / Plugins I HIGHLY Recommend:
_____________

[KeleuHerdley]

You know why lawyers make the best criminals? Because they learned and understood the laws to break them.

Same could be said about composers and writers. When you understand the logic of music theory, you can break the musical “rules” to make something sound more interesting.

Of course, if you’re a pop musician, there’s really no need to actually learn theory. Hit songs just require good production and sounds. Theory also teaches you the hard way that modern pop songs sound the same musically.

I strongly encourage learning theory, as it broadens your musical horizons for what is possible. But if you’re trying to be the next pop idol, just take some basic progressions from the internet and hire a good producer.

To the people saying it hinders your work, yeah, it will. For a bit. But when you go through the writing process enough times, more complicated and interesting progressions will come to you naturally. Speaking from experience at college.

[sidarthhnair]

This is such an informative video. I'm a classically trained pianist as well and now I'm currently going through this awkward stage of having a hard time composing and writing music, especially for video (films, background music). This video just gave me a huge insight on what to expect with learning theory and how to grow with the help of it. Nice work, Nathan!

[zoemoskal]

As someone who has also got a degree in music composition (as you know from the PA group of course), I 100% with everything you said! There is a mathematical aspect to theory, but learning how it impacts on then creative side really opens everything up. People say things like "well I can can write something just fine without knowing all that" and act as if you are a s nob for advocating its importance, but when people say this to me i just say well yes, you can still write music not knowing much about that side. But you'll be able to stretch your capabilities and keep creating more and more and bettering yourself as a composer, songwriter or producer so much more if you have all of that as a reference and know how to use it as a creative standpoint, and can use it as a reference for your creative decisions. It speeds everything up so much as well - if you want a certain sound - you can add in that major seventh or whatever it is, without having to go through a long process of trial and error. So yeah - great video. I think this helps to explain the actual POINT of music theory for those who are perhaps a little confused about what the actual importance of it is with regard to creating musically. It's not snobbery - just knowledge to help you progress. And it's true, being able to play music just from sight reading and knowing how it all works from the creative angle are very different things and different types of the brain that are used as well.

[musiclore]

Totally agree, first year of college music theory was great, after that the most valuable things I learned came from songwriters and just picking apart music.

[Riddimsofcreation]

It really makes sense to know music theory but not to rely on it for everything perfect balance.

[lilian]

The only thing I appreciated out of theory is to use the augmentated 4th or diminished 5th.🧨 Always enjoy your videos.🐞

[TProStudioCreate]

This is an awesome video! Basics of theory will absolutely help create music but it can take you down a very deep rabbit hole. Great job making theory sound very appealing 👍🏻

[recordman]

I took my first Music Theory class at an advanced Arts high school in 1978. It was intense - but do you know what was the MOST presented ideology? Simple Four- Part Writing! Fast-forward 3 decades later, I find myself working toward a Bachelor's Degree, suffering through 3 semesters of Music Theory, taught by a Ph.D. way younger than me. One day, after class, we were discussing chord progressions and resolutions, and I just happened to mention that in ANY case, if there is a half-step between chords, you must take it - all other notes will find themselves. This Professor went into notation calculator mode, and told me, "You're right - how did you know this?" I replied, "What have you been insisting all the time? -"Intuition". It's simple math - almost Physics - let the law of gravity be. So - Secondary Dominants, Neapolitan, Diminished 7th chords - blah, blah, blah . . . Yes, Music Theory education has its place, but if you cannot 'instinctively' hear how notes should flow, one to another, (you cannot write effective harmonies without this knowledge), your production efforts will forever bear the evidence of the novice. If this comment seems to incite a sense of ignorance, crack a book.

[Don-lelc]

Hey Nathan you are looking good with that new haircut 💇‍♀️ ❤️

[definfected]

Excellent vid!! Thanks for the insight. Now to get my learn on. Lol. Much ❤️ Nathan!!

[oscarsteinbjelke]

Really great video Nathan. I appreciate that you are doing this, following your passion with Youtube Career.

[writewithangel]

WOW such a good video Nathan thank you sm for posting this.

[vietnammg]

music theory is more of a tool of reference than creativity. But that's why it can be very important.

[tooawesome]

Your videos are very well recorded and professional. You deserve far more clicks for your quality. Keep it up. Because of that I am thinking about enrolling in your music production course. But i don‘t consider myself ready yet to fully appreciate this content. Furthermore i just missed the 100$ discount from end of January. Next discount i will be ready. I really enjoyed all your producer battle videos.

[rmpyt]

this video should have a million views!!!

[janortiz]

Great video. One thing though, I believe structural engineers design buildings so they don’t fall and architects draw the blueprints. I might be wrong thou.

[oneeyemonster]

My ex-GF was a great singer. She sang by ear. Every now and then she cant hit certain
notes ( out of her vocal range) We also had MAGIX. It was theraputic for her to write/music
with whatever samples. She created alot of cool sounding songs...but every so often..The
samplers/loops were Limited. Tho LOOPS simply went it LOOPS...it Never resolved or went
anywhere. She knows as a singer/listener..Songs dosnt go in loops.
She always asked me to Weak/FIX her songs. It was trial becuase I didn't want to mess with
her songs/art..or didnt know what she hear in her head.
I use simple question/answer CADENCE variations.
We both grew up in the 80's...as children we both heard a lot of 60/70s music on the radio.
I like the background symphony from CARTOONS.
A lot of the songs we hears had a lot of ACCIDENTAL NOTES outside of the MAJOR scale.

Anyways..as a GUITAR player. It was EASIER for me to play in Different KEYS
or down tune my guitar a semitone. I GF loved me for many reasons.
I can play in any KEY without using a capo.
I also SING now too..So I can easily play whatever songs I like to match my
vocal range.

Ive been playing guitar for almost 50 years ( Guitar mastery is a life time goal)
I also had alot music classes, one on one lessons daily from grade school to college.
I can play in almost any style..be it metal, rock, country. jazz. classical, blues, spanish..ect
I wrote and recorded hundreds of original songs...and still write songs simply becuase
I enjoy creating music/ART.
I too always thought the way music is taught turns off a lot of people.
Little informations or using TERMS/JERKINS to make one feel smart.

Ive always tried to KEEP it SIMPLE as much I can when i pass on INFORMATIONS.
Not all people can afford lessons, be in music classes or attend college.
It's never been about the money. It's always been about making MUSIC avaliable
for anyone that wants to learn it. Making it more SIMPLE and FASTER to learn it than I did.
Making life better as we EVOLVE as humans.
With that being said. I have to know my SHIET. All 12 notes/chords works in my world.
I know more about music then most college professors.

[TheJammerman]

This was a great video
OR
This was an great video

You know that one is wrong because it kind of sounds wrong. But you know where the mistake is and why one sentence doesn’t work and what you need to change right away, that’s because you understand basic English Theory.
Apply that to music and songwriting.

[eliasilkjaer]

Thanks again, I saw you reuploaded it

[SimonFlames]

Lack of theory is the reason PAMs have become the official Tritone Gang Club