Q. I know a decent bit of music theory, but I'm far from an expert. How/what should I study to improve my ability to turn my thoughts into sound and put them on paper (I know how to read/write sheet music)? Should I just study lots of sheet music I like and take notes on the chord progressions and techniques used? Do I just need more experience playing various styles of music? I play guitar (classical and electric) and keyboard.
A. <<<books>>>
Music majors are required to take a four-year course in music theory, which consists mostly of harmony.
The textbook by Walter Piston is good, but there are others.
A course in form and analysis is important, too.
The only textbook on the subject I know is Form in Tonal Music by Douglass Green.
If you want to write for different instruments, it is important to study orchestration.
It is impossible to describe in words the sounds of the instruments and combinations of instruments, so the newer textbooks come with a CD attached.
Counterpoint is important, too.
I took a one-semester course in that, but I didn't learn much.
See if you can find a good book on fugal counterpoint.
<<<scores>>>
For the simpler forms, such as binary and ternary, I recommend Anna Magdalena Bach's Notebook and Schumann's Album for the Young. Analyzing those two books was my secret to passing the first part of Form and Analysis class.
For the sonata and rondo forms, I recommend the Mozart piano sonatas. Then see how your analysis compares with that of J. Raymond Tobin, author of Mozart and the Sonata Form or that of F. Helena Marks, author of The Sonata: Its Form and Meaning.
For counterpoint exercise, analyze some Bach fugues. I suggest the Well-Tempered Clavier, along with David Ledbetter's book on the subject.
For exercise in harmony, the Bach chorales can't be beat. You can get them all in the Riemenschneider collection.
I don't expect you to do all this in one day.
How do I form chord progressions?
Q. I know how to form scales fine i guess. But however I do not understand how chord progressions are formed, or where they are derived from as a matter of fact.
Can someone please help me ? I'm quite confused about chord progressions
A. Since you know your major scales, go to a piano and do the following:
1) Play a C major scale.
2) Play a C (major) triad, i.e. C - E - G.
3) After that, play a G (major) triad G - B - D (just move two of the fingers).
4) Play the C major triad.
Notice how the G major triad wants to lead to the C? The relation is a descending fifth interval (G - F - E - D - C --> 5 notes down). So if you want to find what naturally leads to G, you go five up from G.
This would be:
G - A - B - C - D, meaning the triad is D - F - A, which is ii (a "minor two triad") in C major.
D - E - F - G - A, meaning the triad is A - C - E, which is vi (minor six) in C major.
A - B - C - D - E, meaning the triad is E - G - B, which is iii (minor three) in C major.
E - F - G - A - B, meaning the triad is B - D - F, which is vii° (diminished seven triad) in C major.
B - C - D - E - F, meaning the triad is F - A - C, which is IV (major four) in C major.
F - G - A - B - C, meaning the triad is C - E - G, which is back to I (or the tonic triad) in C major.
So the naturally descending fifth progression is:
I -> IV -> vii° -> iii -> vi -> ii -> V -> I.
Of course, in minor key, the qualities differ (the minor, major, and diminished triads are switched around), but the roman numerals remain the same.
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Here's a further extension if you want to read this:
Notice how the IV and ii chord have a one-note difference.
IV in C major: F - A - C
ii in C major: D - F - A.
The same applies to the vii° and the V chord.
V in C: G - B - D
vii° in C: B - D - F.
These chords therefore function the same way. We want to start by choosing the chord that functions the farthest from I, which is iii, because you notice how the vii° wants to move to I? We would then create what is called the "Theory of Chord Classification," which can be found here: http://i55.tinypic.com/2a5du2g.png . "Rare" is written right next to VII in the minor mode, because it's usually used as a chord to modulate to the major mode.
The arrows denote paths that "naturally" occur by descending fifths after playing the chord before it.
How long does it take for one to learn how to improvise on piano?
Q. Alright, I really want to make my own music on the piano and I am currently taking piano lessons. She says what I am learning will lead up to improvising. She says I am making leaps in my progress. So how long does it take to learn improv?
A. All of these answers are correct...... what style are you wanting to learn to improvise? If you are just starting out, you can improvise in one piano lesson!!! (Using C major.... no black keys to have to worry about!)
Meter: 4/4
Chord progression: C---\Am---\C---\Am---\F---\F---\G---\G---
(repeat)
For an easy left hand part, try:
CGC'--\AEA'--\CGC'--\AEA'--\FCF'--\FCF'--\GDG'--\GDG'--
Then, with your right hand, improvise your own melody. Obviously, the most beginner of improvisers will feel most comfortable starting and ending your improvisation on the "home tone" or "key" which in this case is C. Whenever you improvise, you need to have an understanding of your chord progression and what notes sound "right" or "wrong" in a certain chord. This all will come down to an understanding of music theory which you will learn as you go!!!
For this first exercise, just play whatever you want in your right hand!
Your piano teacher knows you best, but I would always recommend studying and practicing your scales, arpeggios and cadences in order to have a better understanding of how music works and how improvisation works. If you are eventually wanting to improvise jazz and blues, you'll need more than just the classical understanding of theory. The blues is the best place to start in jazz improv. There are a lot of resources out there to start you on that journey! Check out anything that is published by Jamey Abersold. (www.jazzbooks.com)
Start by learning left hand chord progressions (blues progression) and then experiment by playing blues scales and licks in your right hand over your voicings in your left!
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Title : What to study to improve my music writing ability?
Description : Q. I know a decent bit of music theory, but I'm far from an expert. How/what should I study to improve my ability to turn my thoughts i...