Learn Music Theory For Producers

The Pyramind method

At the heart of the Pyramind method of training is our Music Theory for Producers course that combines a theoretical and practical approach to developing the knowledge needed for being an effective producer. Infused with chord theory, harmonic structure, melody writing, ear training, and finger drumming, this class sets the foundation for understanding all music and is a must for any serious producer.

We begin by providing a ground-up introduction to Piano and Keyboard performance. The keyboard has become the Swiss army knife of instruments in our D.A.W. and Soft-Synth heavy production landscape, and facility on the instrument will dramatically improve the speed at which you can produce tracks.

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Using Ableton Live as a teaching tool makes this course easy and fun to follow.

Music theory for many is a complete mystery and to others, something they only know the very basics of. By practicing the techniques and applying the concepts within this course you will gradually begin to realize that you know more than you thought.

The objective of this course is to force you out of your comfort zone to make you look at how you can use more sophisticated techniques in your production.

Whether you make minimal techno, future bass, psy-trance, hip-hop, pop, rock or house music, all of the concepts covered in this course will make you a better writer and producer.

Music Theory for Producers

Course Overview

Music Theory for Producers is a 12-week class designed to ensure that you leave having become a competent musician who has a fluid understanding of how to play and convey musical ideas. Below is an outline of what we cover each week of the class.

Notes of Music, Intervals of the Major Scale, and Rhythm

Introduction
Rhythm & The Notes of Music
Note ID on Piano (Find C, D, etc.)
Finger Drumming (Open Logic, choose drum set) Kick-snare-Kick-snare and Boots-and-cats (go as far as the class is comfortable)
Fingering Concepts (123, 12345 & 54321, 321 will be fingering for most scales we cover in the first weeks)
C Major Scale – 1 octave, each hand, proper fingering
Ergonomics (i.e. Don’t injure yourself with awkward wrist contortions. Move the typing keyboard out of the way.)
5-Finger Patterns

Piano Basics C Major, G Major, and Advanced Intervals

Intervals of the Major Scale
Intervals of C Major
G Major Scale
Playing along with a click/metronome
Note Reading (Staff Notation) Intro
Class Jam: Jingle Bells

Intro to Triads and Harmonizing

Intro to Triads/Chords
Chord Labeling/Notation: Lead Sheet and Roman Numerals
Triads of C Major
Chords I IV V and the Blues
12 Bar Blues in C PDF: 12-bar form and chords, Blues Scale

Chord Progressions

Diatonic Harmonic Cadences – Chords of the Major scale
The 4-chord song: I – V – vi – IV
Building Chord Progressions and Chord Substitutions
Cadences: Musical punctuation
Blues Jam: Cycle through the 12-bars and have sections/groups/rows solo with the Blues Scale
D Major Scale
Triads of D Major (and G Major)
A minor Scale
Basic Left-Hand Accompaniment

Triad Inversion and Voice Leading

Triad Inversions & Voice Leading
A Major and E Major scales
I – IV – V in C Major with inverted shapes
Class Jam: Piano Simon Says with Random Color Generator

Chord Voicing

Voice leading and chord voicing
F and B Major Scales

Minor Scales

Intro to Minor scale and altered forms: Harmonic and Melodic Minor
Triads of the Minor scale
Additional triad options with Harmonic and Melodic Minor
Common chord progressions in Minor
Scales in 2 octaves
Jazz progression: ii – V – I

7th Chords, and Inversions

Melody and Non-Chord Tones (Suspensions, Anticipations, Passing, etc…)
Intro to Diatonic 7th Chords
The 5 types of 7th chords (M, m, Dom, m7b5, dim)
Inversions of 7th chords
Chord-tone hierarchy – ie: What notes are important in a chord. What to keep and what to delete
Chord Voicings with 7th chords
Review triads and arpeggios of all scales
Introduction to 7th chords – Major 7, Minor 7, Minor 7 b5 and Dominant
Jazz progression: ii7 – V7 – I7

Modulation and Secondary Dominants

Modulating to different keys
Secondary Dominants: Neo and the “Agent Smith” chord
Singer/Songwriter chord progressions
Other types of 7th chords
Extended harmony: 9th, 11th, 13th
Secondary Dominants (V/x) (“five of x”, where x is the “would-be” tonic or the chord you progress to)
Common use of secondary dominant: V/V and V7/V, as well as vii/V and vii(m7b5)/V.
Other applications of secondary dominants.

Mode Mixture

Using Borrowed Chords
Common progressions with Mode Mixture
Using the fully diminished 7th chord.
Progressions with Mode Mixture
Class Jam: Musical Simon Says – Class vs. Instructor

Chromatic Harmony and Beyond

The flat-2 chord: Neapolitan and Tritone Substitution
Modal chords: Lydian chord, etc
Other scales: Octatonic, Whole Tone, Pentatonic, concept of modes
Introduction to the Final Project
Analysis and practice of pop and jazz tunes
Playing Chord Progressions – flat-2 chord

Final Performances and Final Project

Review and presentation of submitted Final Projects.
Students expected to discuss their own work and provide feedback on classmates’ projects.
Additional discussion on remaining music theory topics if time permits.

Program Topics Include:

The Major and Minor Scales
Intervals
Triads/Chords
Interval and Chord Inversion
Chord Progressions and Common Cadences
Melody and Harmony
Voice Leading and Chord Voicing
Circle of fifths and fourths
Key signatures
Seventh Chords

Modulation
Special Chords: Secondary Dominant, Neapolitan 2, Tritone Substitution
Mode Mixture
Written notation
One and two-hand techniques
Hand forms for Major and Minor scales
Common Progressions in various keys
Working with the Blues Form
Learning cover Songs

Learn Music Theory For Producers

The Pyramind method

Music Theory for Producers

Course Overview

Program Topics Include:

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