Music Theory for Computer Musicians

1. Music Theory Demystified: Sound's Essence

Perhaps you have heard of the experiments of the scientist and acoustician Ernst Chladni, who, by placing sand on metallic plates, discovered that when the plates are bowed with a violin bow, the sand forms into regular geometric patterns.

Music vs. Noise. Music distinguishes itself from noise through regular, patterned sound waves, creating tones that appeal to the human ear. While noise is chaotic and jumbled, music exhibits order and periodicity, offering a deeper aesthetic experience. This distinction is crucial for computer musicians aiming to craft compelling tracks.

Parameters of Musical Tone. Musical tone is defined by three key parameters: pitch (frequency), intensity (amplitude), and tone quality (waveform). Pitch determines how high or low a note sounds, intensity dictates its loudness, and tone quality, or timbre, distinguishes instruments playing the same note. Understanding these parameters allows for precise manipulation of sound in music production.

Synthesis and Waveforms. Synthesis, the imitation of sounds through electronic means, relies on oscillators to produce frequencies and harmonic content. Basic waveforms like sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth each offer unique timbral qualities, serving as building blocks for creating diverse sounds in electronic music. Mastering these elements is essential for crafting unique and compelling sonic landscapes.

2. Notes Unveiled: Keyboard Navigation

It is important for every computer musician to learn the names of the various notes in the pitch register as early as possible.

Locating Note C. The white key to the left of any group of two black keys is the most important note to learn first. This serves as a reference point for navigating the keyboard and understanding musical relationships. Recognizing this pattern is the first step toward identifying all the notes of the scale.

The Musical Alphabet. The musical alphabet consists of seven letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Once you locate C, the rest of the white keys are easily named by following this sequence. This knowledge is fundamental for understanding scales, chords, and keys.

Sharps and Flats. The black keys are named as sharps or flats of the white keys. A sharp raises a note by a semitone, while a flat lowers it by a semitone. The same black key can have two names, depending on whether it's considered a sharp or a flat, creating enharmonic equivalents. Mastering these note names is crucial for effective music production and editing.

3. Major Scales: The Foundation of Harmony

There is something universal about the major scale that appeals to everybody.

Introducing the Major Scale. The major scale, known for its bright and uplifting sound, is a cornerstone of Western music. Understanding its structure is essential for creating melodies and harmonies. The easiest major scale to learn is C major, which consists of the white keys on a keyboard.

Key and Scale. Key refers to the note upon which a scale is built, while scale is the series of notes used in a composition. The C major scale, for example, starts on C and includes the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Each note is assigned a number indicating its order in the scale.

Understanding Intervals. Intervals are the gaps between notes. The major scale is defined by a specific pattern of tones and semitones: tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone (TTSTTTS). This pattern allows you to construct a major scale on any note, providing access to a wide range of keys.

4. Rhythm's Core: Time Signatures and Note Lengths

Rhythm, in fact, is everywhere, both within and without.

Pulse and Beat. Rhythm is fundamental to music, dividing time into regular beats or pulses. The speed of these beats is called the tempo, measured in beats per minute (BPM). Understanding pulse and tempo is crucial for creating a solid rhythmic foundation.

Note Lengths. Note lengths are expressed as fractions of a whole note, such as half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes. Each note length has a corresponding symbol. Mastering these symbols and their fractional values is essential for accurately notating and sequencing rhythms.

Resolution and Quantization. Resolution determines the value of notes when drawing them in a music software program, while snap to grid ensures notes align with the beat. Quantization corrects timing inaccuracies during recording. Understanding note lengths is crucial for effectively using these functions.

5. Score Editing Essentials: Visualizing Music

A staff is useless, however, without a clef.

Pitch Notation. In score editing, pitch is represented by the position of notes on a staff, a series of five lines. A clef, such as the treble or bass clef, is placed at the beginning of the staff to indicate the pitch range. Understanding pitch notation is essential for reading and writing music in a traditional format.

The Treble and Bass Clefs. The treble clef is used for notes above Middle C, while the bass clef is used for notes below Middle C. Middle C is located on a ledger line, a short line extending above or below the staff. Knowing the positions of notes on both clefs is crucial for reading and writing music for various instruments.

Rhythmic Notation. Note symbols also denote duration. Whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes have distinct symbols. Beaming connects notes of a common value within a bar. Percussion staffs use a single line or a five-line staff with a percussion clef.

6. Intervals Defined: Building Blocks of Harmony

Intervals are vitally important components of music.

Understanding Intervals. An interval is the distance between two notes. Intervals can be melodic (successive) or harmonic (simultaneous). Knowing intervals is essential for understanding melody and harmony.

Working Out Intervals. Intervals are named based on the number of notes they span, including the starting note. Simple intervals lie within an octave, while compound intervals are larger. Recognizing intervals is crucial for analyzing and creating music.

Compound Intervals. Intervals larger than an octave are called compound intervals. They are calculated by adding an octave to a simple interval. Understanding compound intervals adds depth and richness to musical compositions.

7. Meter and Rhythm: Creating Musical Cycles

Rhythm, in fact, is everywhere, both within and without.

Metric Cycles. Meter concerns how beats are grouped into larger units called metric cycles or bars. Common metric patterns include duple (two beats), triple (three beats), and quadruple (four beats). Understanding metric cycles is essential for creating a sense of rhythm and structure.

Time Signatures. Time signatures indicate the number of beats in a metric cycle and the value of each beat. Simple time signatures include 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4. Compound time signatures, such as 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8, divide each beat into three.

Developing Rhythms. Rhythmic techniques, such as syncopation and rhythmic motives, depend on a clear metric cycle. Syncopation places stress on normally weak beats, while rhythmic motives are short, identifiable rhythmic units. Triplets and shuffle rhythms add further rhythmic complexity.

8. Chords Explored: Harmony's Building Blocks

The more harmonics the notes share, the better they get on together—a bit like common interests in human relationships.

Perfect Concords. Chords are combinations of notes played simultaneously. The most concordant intervals are the octave, perfect fifth, and perfect fourth. These intervals form the basis of early musical harmony.

Triads. Triads are three-note chords consisting of a root, third, and fifth. Major triads have a bright sound, while minor triads have a darker sound. Triads are the foundation of chord progressions.

Chordal Functions. Chords in a key have specific functions. The tonic chord is the most important, serving as the home base. The dominant chord creates tension, leading back to the tonic. The subdominant chord provides balance.

9. Minor Scales: Unveiling the Darker Side

The key of A minor is called the relative minor of the key of C because it uses the same notes.

Understanding Minor Keys. Minor keys offer a contrast to major keys, providing a darker and more introspective sound. The natural minor scale is the easiest to learn, using the same notes as its relative major scale but starting on a different tonic.

Chords in the Minor Scale. The chords in a minor scale differ from those in a major scale. The tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords in a minor scale are all minor, contributing to its characteristic sound. Understanding these chords is essential for writing music in a minor key.

Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales. In addition to the natural minor scale, there are also harmonic and melodic minor scales. The harmonic minor scale raises the seventh degree, while the melodic minor scale raises both the sixth and seventh degrees when ascending.

10. Melody and Motives: Crafting Memorable Tunes

A good melodic line has some craft behind its construction.

Motives. A motive is a short, recognizable melodic fragment. Motives are the building blocks of memorable tunes. They often consist of two or three notes with a distinctive rhythm.

Writing a Strong Motive. To write a strong motive, focus on creating a distinctive rhythm. Consider the emotional context and choose intervals that convey the desired feeling. Experiment with different intervals to find what works best.

Examples of Motives. The "Jaws" theme uses a rising semitone to create tension. The "Mission Impossible" theme uses a 10/8 motive to create a sense of urgency. Studying existing melodies can provide inspiration for writing your own motives.

11. Exotic Scales: Expanding Sonic Palettes

Experimenting with Exotic Scales.

Two Kinds of Exotic Scales. Exotic scales can be imitations of faraway places or simply invented by composers for particular musical purposes. Both can be a source of inspiration for new musical ideas.

Experimenting with Exotic Scales. To use exotic scales to their full potential, you shouldn’t always think about harmony in a limited chordal sense. Many exotic scales have the character of musical modes.

Examples of Exotic Scales. Neapolitan modes, Middle Eastern scales, Eastern European scales, Hindu melas, Jazz and Blues scales, Ancient Egyptian Pentatonic Scales, Japanese Pentatonic Scales, Balinese Pentatonic Scales, Whole Tone Scale, and Artificial Scales.

Last updated: February 22, 2025