How to write in key! - Music theory for beginners (TIMESTAMPED)

If you’ve ever been confused by what it means to write in key, if you fear that your lack of music theory knowledge is stopping you from writing in key or making good music, then this video will help you.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Contents of video
00:47 How to ask questions if you have them
01:26 What is a key?
02:19 Breakdown of C major
02:59 Root note and scale type
04:32 How to write in any key
05:33 Ableton MIDI trick
11:37 What key should you be using? (Major vs minor)
13:04 Summary

If you have any questions at all about this video, or anything to do with music production, then the best place to ask those questions is the Facebook group which I run, and am active in daily to answer questions!

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[blhack]

You're a natural teacher, man. Great video. One of the best I've seen on youtube.

[tombarry]

Wow, in less than 15 minutes I learned so much compared to 1 hour videos that I haven't learned a thing! Thank you so much :)

[heyitsflowee]

4 years later and still one of the best tutorials out there - thank you so much!

[celedoniosantamaria]

The only video that’s actually helped me understand what writing in key means! Thanks heaps🙏🏽

[Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

Something to also keep in mind is that our hearing is spectral. Beginning with the robust, fiery C as red. D is orange, happy, hungry (orange makes you hungry). E is Yellow, consciousness, the Light of Christ. F# is grass green, and very cool but also teetering and wobbly texture. Ab is cold blue (Stings famous stalker-song, "Every Breath You Take".) B is violet or purplish (Prince and the Revolution's "Purple Rain" is is Bb). B, a hot-pink or magenta merges or transitions back into a higher or lower C. It is also a very spiritual key because it is transition outside of the visible spectrum (the invisible infra-red, or ultra violet). Ray Parker Jr's "Ghostbusters" theme was written I the ghostly key of B natural.

For those interested, more detailed explanations are on my own paige here on the uToob. Thanks to The Auto Journey for covering this very important subject of KEY!

-_The Acoustic Rabbit Hole_

[arsendubs]

Your videos are amazing and please make more tutorial like this especially sound designing tutorial love from india ♥️

[roland]

That fold trick is brilliant thanks for showing it

[SwimTheMoon]

5 years later and this just taught me a lot. Thanks!

[FabioNoche]

I just had a brain blast watching this. 💎

[johnymst]

Thank you. I've been struggling with this topic for years and finally got it! you're a fucking genius :D

[haiderirfani]

BEST VIDEO EVER ON HOW TO WRITE MUSIC! Sorted out so much confusion!... Simple and accurate!
Also liked!

[aj_hatter]

This video is the first helpful one I've watched on using music theory! Thanks

[mikrotone]

I really needed this! Keep em coming John! Thank you :)

[stayconnected]

Thanks for this excellent tutorial. Makes things so simple now.

[angeloperez]

Best video I've found appreciate it!!!

[swe]

Nice! Thank you and greetings from Mexico!

[snakeboyharrison]

mate. ive used Ableton for years. thats genius.

[Taylorjstone]

Great video! This was really helpful, well made, and easy to follow along. Keep it up :)

[travisdtouchdown]

Super helpful! Watched it a few times! Def understand what I need to learn next and I can just proceed with my song I've started. Switch a few notes and just make it F minor. Thanks a ton!
Also: Any Cubase users know if we have that freaking Fold trick in our Daw? Be pumped to just to do that and be able to see the notes at all times right in the DAW.

[deepsangha]

This was brilliant! Explanation was too good. What about your bass lines in relation to your kick. Does your kick have to follow the root note of the bass line or chord in order to be correct? Does it always have to be the exact same key?