The ONE Thing That Every Musician Must Know [Music Theory]

- "If you could teach a person only one thing about music theory, what would you teach them?"
- "What is the piece of music theory that everybody, professional and amateurs, should know?"
- "What is the most useful, 'practical' concept in music theory? Something that I will actually use?"

These are all questions that I received from my subscribers. And they are really good questions!

The thing I like best about these questions is that they ask about the 'practical' bits of music theory. I personally think that we could have picked a better name than 'music theory'- maybe something like "music tools". But I digress.

All three questions above have the same answer, and we are going to see it together.

(BTW before I forget: you can ask your questions too, by replying to this email or in the YT comments to the video. I made many videos in answer to questions you ask, and I read all requests!)

In this video, we see one of the most 'practical' thing that you can learn in music theory, and it's something that everybody who calls themselves a musician should know.

Fair warning: clearly, if you already have experience in music theory, this video may not be news to you. But I'm going to put a shameless plug here and tell you that you still want to make sure you know this :)

If you like this video, share, like, comment & don't forget to subscribe for more content!

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[shortsmyeat]

The “right” note is always a half step from the “wrong” note and if you don’t think any notes are “wrong” - congratulations... you’re a jazz musician.

[davejones]

Music theory is like an old paper road map. It can help you get to where you want to go faster than just heading down any random road. It can also show you many different paths to get there, and possibly interesting detours along the way. And it's very useful for when you meet other musicians to figure out if you're heading in the same direction, or can at least share the same road for a while. But it's only a map. It is neither the journey, nor the destination.

[bobbyfikesmusicfun]

As a music instructor, this is what I teach first. Getting a grasp on this will help you with everything else

[MyOwnWayMusic]

My one thing is to play everything in one key (like C major) and that way you learn how all the chords, intervals and combinations work.. and it helps with improvising.. and deciphering other songs such as cover versions..

[aylbdrmadison]

Only one thing? Learn the steps to the Major scale. The reason being, if you do that, you also are learning witch chords fit into a key, like you mentioned. But you also learn the steps to every key and all seven diatonic modes. Contained within this is also all of the pentatonic modes, from the standard minor and Major pentatonic, to the Japanese scales. All of this information is available to anyone who learns the steps to the Major scale.

[trentargante]

First, let me say that you are brilliant, funny, and entertaining. Bravo!

Second, I agree with your ONE thing. Here's a simplified version:
C D E F G A B C...
Pick the C note, then picking every other note forward builds your chords. Then pick any note and going every other backwards shows you what chords that note goes in. Every other forward & Every other backward. Simple, no?

If you want to to play in minor, then start with A instead of C.

Whereas my version limits to only two keys, it does get the principle across, and yours applies to any key showing the player how to find the notes of any given key.

The great thing about our chosen ONE thing is that it is every thing one needs to know in order to write great songs!

[mikescofield]

It took me a while for the lightbulb to go on, but when I finally understood modes it was a real gain in my knowledge.

[daveduffy]

...and harmonized triads and their inversions. I love playing them!

[bohnulus]

Hi tommasic! Another awesomely simple approach... thank you... years ago I asked myself the same question? I found that knowing all of my intervals provided me with an awesome clarity of understanding music theory but your approaches are quickly filling in all the gaps keep going brother!!!

[hellbent]

Watched the vid, DL'd the pdf, did a quick read & play along with the book. It's time to learn this stuff. Subbed! Thank You!

[jiggly]

you could have the most complex chords in the world, but learning how to properly resolve the tension you make is gold.

[genebarkin]

I've always thought that the Circle of 5ths was the single most valuable piece of info. From that it's easy to figure out which chords work together, and it also expresses the way in which they most naturally resolve to the root. Proximity to the root suggests the likelihood or strength of a related chord, too. It's hard to find a song in western music that doesn't mostly use chords within 2 degrees of the root (counterclockwise) or 4 degrees moving clockwise. Simple songs stick within one degree. E.g. root: C, one degree counterclockwise (the 4th) is F, one degree clockwise is G. There are a gazillion (well, maybe a few less) songs using just those 3 chords. Helpful for transposition, too.

[AlejandroGonzalez-wofk]

The one thing I would teach someone is how a chord is built because I guess if you experiment enough with each chord youll notice which ones go together and which ones dont

[GabrielVelasco]

I'd pick the same as yours. The harmonization of the scale. Harmonic intervals. Triads. Extended chords.

[MrYoraco]

Always very informative and explained in a way easy to understand like no one other does.
Just excellent and special.
Thank you

[dhaneshs]

Exactly what came to my mind for the one thing I would teach...

[timgaul]

“If it sounds good, it is good”—Duke Ellington. I want to know as much as I can about music theory but that’s the basic principle I would tell someone at the beginning. Music theory can help you understand why something sounds good and help you find other chords to try, but it doesn’t limit you. If it sounds good, it is good.

[JustFred]

The one thing I would teach people you have already covered in a video (can't remember which one). I would show people how to listen to a scale, and develop a sensitivity for hearing which notes are stable (Rt, 3rd 5th) and which ones are not (2nd 4th 6th 7th), and how to resolve the latter. This piece of knowledge is helpful both in writing chord progressions and in improv, where you essentially force yourself to pause on a "wrong" note (or, a none chord tone), and figure out how to resolve it before you move on to your next mistake.

[boomerdell]

I would have picked the exact same thing. So helpful and fundamental for beginners like me.

[jmonty]

I think relative pitch is the most important thing to learn (recognizing intervals)