Wanting to increase my knowledge of music, and creating music

[blindreper1179]

I'm going to get straight to the point. I've messed with FL studios a little bit, but have no idea what I'm doing. I'm not asking how to use it,(though tips are helpful) I'm asking for music vocabulary. I looked around google first, but no matter what I put in the search, I just kept getting language vocab, or music industry vocab. -_- Some of you may of heard the little clip I put together a few months back, and that's the furthest I've achieved.
I read the comments all you musicians post back and forth to each other, and just read foreign language basically.

I'm hoping the music making community we have here on FFR, can point me into the right direction as to a site with the definitions of at least common words used. Again, though it was only google, I did try to search first because I know it gets redundant when a bunch of people ask the same question. And/or a site that is dedicated to making music. I like all the ones here, but it is just a subforum at best.

Thanks for your time,
blind

[Patashu]

have some wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interval_(music)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triad_(music)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_(music)#Triads
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_n..._music)#Triads
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_chord
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatonic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_and_minor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_mixture
none of this shit will make sense until you doodle on a piano or guitar or $instrument while thinking about it. then you'll be like oh...ooohhhh... oh.

[StoneMcKnuckle]

Originally Posted by Patashu

none of this shit will make sense until you doodle on a piano or guitar or $instrument while thinking about it. then you'll be like oh...ooohhhh... oh.

this. honestly, quite a lot of this shit still makes no sense to me and I've doodled quite a lot on pianos.

I think you're better off just experimenting in the DAW. play with the piano roll, watch some tutorial videos on how to work the mixer board, etc etc.

[hi19hi19]

Play an instrument. Just sit down with a piano or a guitar or a goddamn tuba or whatever you have lying around and see what sounds good.
Only then will you be able to read and really understand why it sounded good.


The more I play, the more I realize music education is a lifelong process.

[TheThong]

Not sure how much help this site would be to you buuuut feel free to explore.

http://www.musictheory.net/lessons

Originally Posted by Patashu

none of this shit will make sense until you doodle on a piano or guitar or $instrument while thinking about it. then you'll be like oh...ooohhhh... oh.

Yeah. It would make a lot more sense if you could play an instrument. But, see how you go.

[jductape]

C, E-flat and G go into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve minors," and E-flat leaves. C and G have an open fifth between them. After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished and G is out flat. F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough. D comes into the bar and heads straight for the bathroom saying, "Excuse me, I'll just be a second."
A comes into the bar, but the bartender is not convinced that this relative of C is not a minor and sends him out. Then the bartender notices a B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and shouts, "Get out now. You're the seventh minor I've found in this bar tonight."
Next night, E-flat, not easily deflated, comes into the bar in a 3-piece suit with nicely shined shoes. The bartender says: "You're looking pretty sharp tonight. Come on in. This could be a major development." Sure enough, E-flat takes off his suit and everything else and stands there au naturel.
Eventually, C, who had passed out under the bar the night before, begins to sober up and realizes in horror that he's under a rest. So, C goes to trial, is convicted of contributing to the diminution of a minor and sentenced to 10 years of DS without Coda at an up scale correctional facility. The conviction is overturned on appeal, however, and C is found innocent of any wrongdoing, even accidental, and that all accusations to the contrary are bassless.
The bartender decides, however, that since he's only had tenor so patrons, the soprano out in the bathroom and everything has become alto much treble, he needs a rest and closes the bar.

[blindreper1179]

Thanks guys. TheThong, that site is actually helping a lot. I seriously have no music knowledge. I can't even read music. -_- Try taking a piano class. I had to remember all the songs by heart, it got pretty difficult at the end of the semester. I'm not doing the last three sections of it yet, until I can remember most of the stuff from the first few sections.

By doing these lessons, Patashu's post actually makes sense now, just by looking at the words. Stone, I have no idea what DAW means. This is what I'm taking about. As well as mixer board.

Edit: quick question. Why isn’t there a fifth chord triad. Lower/higher?

[brothaice]

Google "music theory" and absorb everything you can! It will seem like a different language at first but once you realize there are only 12 notes to work with its not so bad.

Practice piano! What you learn from piano can translate to almost any other instrument! Including FL studio. (piano roll)

My second piece of advice would just be to do your own thing. Your skills will evolve naturally, if you try to hard to emulate other music (like I have) it will most likely disappoint (you).

Anyways its awesome that you want to better your self in music its very fulfilling!

[TheThong]

Originally Posted by blindreper1179

Thanks guys. TheThong, that site is actually helping a lot. I seriously have no music knowledge. I can't even read music. -_- Try taking a piano class. I had to remember all the songs by heart, it got pretty difficult at the end of the semester. I'm not doing the last three sections of it yet, until I can remember most of the stuff from the first few sections.

By doing these lessons, Patashu's post actually makes sense now, just by looking at the words. Stone, I have no idea what DAW means. This is what I'm taking about. As well as mixer board.

Edit: quick question. Why isn’t there a fifth chord triad. Lower/higher?

Great! I'm glad it helps.

[blindreper1179]

Thanks.

Also, I have no way to play any kind of instrument. I used to play guitar/drums/bass in my teen years, and took a piano class in college. I have the basics of that. I just can't dabble in them anymore. =/

[TheThong]

Originally Posted by blindreper1179

Thanks.

Also, I have no way to play any kind of instrument. I used to play guitar/drums/bass in my teen years, and took a piano class in college. I have the basics of that. I just can't dabble in them anymore. =/

Basics are really good. You can build up from there even if you only played them during your teens. It's never too late to improve on what you already know/learn. Do you have access to an instrument?

Also, learning with a music teacher/friend who knows music theory/how to play an instrument might be easier to guide where you want to go.

[hi19hi19]

Originally Posted by brothaice

Google "music theory" and absorb everything you can! It will seem like a different language at first but once you realize there are only 12 notes to work with its not so bad.

Lies :P
You can construct many different types of scales, this image gives an example:



I'm kind of a fan of 19tet/19-edo music... I've taken classes on different musical structures, the stuff people do with these unique scales are really amazing.

[Frank Munoz]

Music theory l is mainly just common sense once you begin reading music, or play an instrument.

Everything past that is also pretty naturally known except for some vocab.
I wouldn't waste too much time reading up on it unless you are just completely interested; even though I have to know this stuff since lolfI'mamusicmajor(composition major).

Reading up on music theory stuff just makes it all harder than it actually is imo.

[bmah]

Originally Posted by brothaice

Google "music theory" and absorb everything you can! It will seem like a different language at first but once you realize there are only 12 notes to work with its not so bad.

And music theory has like 32+ rules or something like that. That's the killer lol. Although I'm sure we're just talking about reading music notation and stuff. Actual music theory (harmony, counterpoint, etc.) is a different story and learning it on your own using the internet is probably not the best way to go.

@blindreper: DAW = digital audio workstation

DAWs are typically software on your computer that can create/simulate music on the computer. Fruity Loop (FL) Studio is probably one of the most popular DAWs for instance. A lot of musicians compose or supplement their compositions with DAWs.

[blindreper1179]

Ah, ok. And there's rules to music? Geez. D:

Thanks bmah.

[StoneMcKnuckle]

Originally Posted by blindreper1179

Stone, I have no idea what DAW means. This is what I'm taking about. As well as mixer board.

You use FL Studio, yeah? That's your DAW. Press F9 in FL to get to the mixer board.

Open FL and press the TAB key until you see this:


Then click any instrument and you'll see this:


You see that number slider in the top right-hand corner that says 1 right now? You can roll that to whatever number you want, and that instrument will be sent to that mixer channel. Double-click the number to get to the corresponding mixer channel automatically.

Then click any of the little arrows to add effects or whatever.

The mixer presets you see to the left can be dragged into the mixer channels as well. Press F8 to get to them.

[Ohaider]

Haha that's what i thought. you're all telling him to study analog music when it sounds like he's wanting to learn about DAWs in the opening post

Most FL studio is by ear. I've played piano since age 4 and never normally apply any of that information to a piano roll on FL rofl.
You should be learning about things like:
reverberation
additives
layering
hertz
filters
resonance
envelopes and LFOs
delay
compression

and for FL studio:
Insert
Send
Automation clip
channel settings
Quantization

most of these words have tutorials n stuff on youtube haha

However, if you're interested in analog music like piano and guitar and stuff rather than DAWs, that's always just as fun and i encourage it

[hi19hi19]

I've found experimenting with analog instruments gives you a MUCH better idea of what to do when you sit down in front of a screen.

Piano roll makes a lot more sense when you've played a piano :P

[brothaice]

Originally Posted by hi19hi19

Lies :P
You can construct many different types of scales, this image gives an example:

Yes there are many scales there, but still only 12 different notes! You could make a decent tune using only a major/minor pentatonic which only has five notes.


Alas, I would be lying if i thought producing music was easy. I've never even really got that great at it compared to my abilities with traditional instruments.

My point is the best way to learn is by experience, but a proper foundation is crucial. That's why piano is best methinks.

[Frank Munoz]

Oh, if you have any specific questions that you want answered, you can just ask us.
Or even msg the Team Poke'mon Skype group.

I'm willing to help~

Also, Ohaider imo seems to know the most about FL.