Deprecated: mysql_connect(): The mysql extension is deprecated and will be removed in the future: use mysqli or PDO instead in /storage/content/49/145849/famitracker.com/public_html/forum/classes/dbHandler.php on line 29
FamiTracker
Where is a good place to learn and understand music theory? I listen to a ton of different music and a bunch of tracks on these here forums but I can never seem to emulate that when I sit down and try to make something for myself. I know how famitracker works, all the instruments and effects, its just putting it all together that I get stumped on. Anything constructive is welcome!
Coming from a guy that has questioned this before, I believe that it all comes down to the "style".
What do I mean by that? Well, you can have the instruments and effects down, but the style and how everything goes is a different story. Many people cannot get specific styles down. The biggest two, from what I've heard, are the Rock Man and Akumajou Densetsu styles; people know the effects and instruments needed, but it's all in the timing of everything and where to put it all. Emulating style is definitely difficult, especially when you're trying not to entirely copy it (I am guilty of this at times...okay, more than that).
When I work on a song without a real "style" per se, I use a little inspiration from another user to give a feel (RushJet1 is typically the subject...I'm sorry) and see how I can emphasize the feel and part of a style into another one. There are people that specialize in specific styles. moviemovies1 is the big Akumajou Densetsu head (though I've been treated as one before...you all should stop that, by the way), Kevvviiinnn is big on the Rock Man Style, and some like 8BitDanooct1, RushJet1, and HertzDevil are people I'd consider as experts in multiple styles.
If a style or feel you're going for isn't properly emulated, we are ALWAYS here to help. moviemovies1 gets on me for Akumajou Densetsu styles all the time.
Unfortunately, as far as learning and understanding music theory, don't look at me. The only reason I'm able to understand music is my dad...and a little Middle School Band (I was teh Trombonez). A little criticism goes a long way--I'll say that. I'm sure another user with MUCH more time on their hands (insert TechEmporium here) could further explain or say something else on the matter.
_______________________
Smogon, Famitracker, YouTube...
So many places, so little creativity left...
[quote=parallacksgamin]Where is a good place to learn and understand music theory?[/quote]
Get an instructor and learn it in person. Piano lessons count. I would not recommend watching online videos or reading webpages to learn this stuff, unless you're broke or [i]really[/i] want to.
All I did was take a piano course, all the way through, so just attending a music class at a local institution of sorts obviously helps. Most so if it's a keyboard or piano course for playing, or just a theory class.
Like others have said, your best bet is to take music theory and analysis lessons at a music school and learn to play an instrument (just about any type will do). This definitely helps in analyzing a score thoroughly and see how you can implement your musical knowledge in your compositions. As soon as you comprehend the musical structure of a song, you can start writing one of your own and translate it into tracker language.
I recently graduated in music writing in a world-renowned school where I familiarized myself with various musical styles and I don't think I'd have without taking writing lessons. There are still quite a few genres that leave me a bit puzzled as to how they're made. I also play the piano and take lessons at another music school.
I'm someone who's been writing music for like 4 years now and I only started taking music theory seriously last summer when I was trying to figure out what the hell seventh chords were
I think that you can go without theory, definitely. I did for quite some time understanding the bare basics of music, but naturally once you understand theory it'll become evident in your music. What I did at first was try transcribing things from other sources, then covering things by ear and so on to learn how the stuff I liked works, as I already had a basic idea of structures. Chord progressions and melodies were alien to me, so I just pretty much copied what I liked with alterations to make it mine. After a while I got more adventerous... and yeah!
All I need is D Chromatic and the Phrygian mode these days anyway, though. Most of the theory I tried learning went out of the window as soon as I started writing metal.
