Producing for beginners

[elliot1106]

You only said basic chords, which was terrible advice. Taking a day out to read a book on theory isn't a big sacrifice and it's one of the most beneficial things you can do.

[rdubs]

Well, let me rephrase that to "basic theory" then. I saw someone say in another thread that regarding the production of Electronic Dance Music, the result is very musical, but the process is not. Couldn't really agree more. Apologize for the mistake in saying only basic chords, it is important to understand the basics of music theory, however it is not at all necessary for you to be a skilled pianist or a classically trained musician to successfully produce electronic music.

[elliot1106]

I can't really see that as a positive attitude. I personally think that if you want to produce and actually produce something that isn't utter garbage you should spend a hell of a lot of time researching and experimenting. Saying that you only need to learn basic theory is like saying you only have to learn the very basics of every technique, you'll be left with a basic sounding track. If you want to do this I'd recommend learning as much as you can about everything possible!

[rdubs]

I can't really see that as a positive attitude. I personally think that if you want to produce and actually produce something that isn't utter garbage you should spend a hell of a lot of time researching and experimenting. Saying that you only need to learn basic theory is like saying you only have to learn the very basics of every technique, you'll be left with a basic sounding track. If you want to do this I'd recommend learning as much as you can about everything possible!

I don't see how that is a negative attitude? There is a misconception that one must be extremely musically gifted to write great melodies or great music. This is not necessarily the case, most electronic dance music, particularly what the OP said he is trying to produce consists of relatively simple melodic elements and chords. There are progressive house and trance tracks that you can play for the most part with two fingers on a piano, or that consist of VERY basic chord progressions.

More important than this is understanding what sounds good and achieving a professional sound. I have been very successful producing EDM with only basic knowledge of theory, and I can speak to the fact that many producers even more successful than myself would fall under the same category of having basic theory knowledge. Will being well-versed in music theory hurt you? Not at all. But you can write beautiful melodies and chord progressions and it will mean nothing if you lack skills in sound design, mixing, mastering, EQing, etc... agreed? The OP said he would like to reach the festival level, to do so the most important thing to do is produce tracks of a professional quality so that current festival-level DJ's feel comfortable playing them alongside their own productions and other tracks in their sets. I can cite several examples of tracks in the genres of progressive house, electro house, and trances, that have had huge Beatport chart success as well as being staples in many a festival set over the past several years.

I am not telling OP to NOT learn music theory, as every producer must understand at the very least the basics of theory, like I said tonics, chords, intervals, scales. I am simply emphasizing the fact that to reach the level he desires, it is not necessary to become incredibly well-versed in theory, but he would be better suited understanding that to play at the festival level, it is most important to produce festival quality sound.

[seitz]

music theory = over rated....



saying that i do know a good amount of theory

[elliot1106]

If you want to get to festival level you should leave a minimum chance. Not every single person can write 'beautiful melodies and chord progressions' without a knowledge of theory... are you thinking of avicii here because he doesn't seem to know much about anything.

[rdubs]

If you want to get to festival level you should leave a minimum chance. Not every single person can write 'beautiful melodies and chord progressions' without a knowledge of theory... are you thinking of avicii here because he doesn't seem to know much about anything.

Not sure if serious about that last comment?

EDIT: You deleted the personal attack, how kind of you

[elliot1106]

Nope, I found an original, one original in at least 9 month and it was a collab. I can't imagine a remix needing anywhere near the same amount as composition since the main melodic elements are already composed?

Just to put it out there, my original comment said that Remixes don't require as much theory, and you don't have any originals on your page... which isn't exactly a personal attack, more of an observation.

[rdubs]

Nope, I found an original, one original in at least 9 month and it was a collab. I can't imagine a remix needing anywhere near the same amount as composition since the main melodic elements are already composed?

Just to put it out there, my original comment said that Remixes don't require as much theory, and you don't have any originals on your page... which isn't exactly a personal attack, more of an observation.

Without turning this into too much of an argument, why don't you listen to the original here and tell me how many of the melodic elements from "Flashback" I used in that track? The only thing I used was the acapella. As far as the Spaceman remix, I'm sure since you are so well versed in theory, you do not need me to tell you that the main melodic elements of that track are relatively simple to begin with, so even with my limited theory knowledge I was able to recreate it without to much trouble. Hardwell seemed to find it to his liking as well This further illustrates my point that that while music theory will not hurt you, being very well-versed is not an absolutely necessity.



I have other originals that have been released as well, however in the interest of saving space and branding (which is a whole different ballgame if you want to talk about reaching the festival level) I have chosen to leave them off of my SoundCloud currently, however you can find another one of them on Beatport

[elliot1106]

You do realise that you have went from basic chords to basic theory to tonics, chords, intervals and scales? I never once said that being "well-versed" in theory was a necessity, but what you expanded on from chords is a lot more adequate than just chords, and my point is that he might as well read the rest of the theory book from there on anyways. Nothing is a necessity, but every thing you learn is a step forward.

You have one original besides that one which has being realised as far as I can see. This would save you 5 minutes on your soundcloud, and as far as branding and marketing goes, I'm pretty sure it would be better to have all of your social media outlets pointing to your beatport as opposed to just beatport, plenty of people like to listen to a full track before they buy it anyways.