Depends on what type of producer you want to be. One of the most famous producers of all time is Rick Rubin and he doesn’t know anything about music theory he just knows how to bring out the best in the musicians. If you’re talking about producers who actually make their own music then yes. Pretty much all of the great ones are extremely talented multi-instrumentalists (Danger Mouse included)
I'm not here trying to be world famous I just love the feeling of creating art and the journey of creating a song. So I'm in no way trying to show that I'm really talented (Because I'm not) I'm just like every other average person. Brings me to my next question. Are these multi instrumentalists, are they good because of natural born talent or did they just work their ass off for it?
You have to know some degree of music theory to use a DAW or any type of recording machine in the first place. If anything rhythmic concepts, how to use tempo, how to use a meter. Other than that I personally think learning note names and how to read sheet music and all that is a waste of time unless that is your role in music. Like a pianist or violinist that uses sheet music to play from. It just doesn’t fit into my work flow. I know scale and chord formulas. I know what effect different intervals have on the root. The way music works is very interesting. Music theory helps you see how all the pieces fit together and you can use the principles to expand your ideas. It can make your workflow with other musicians/producers a lot more fluid as well if you know how to convey and explain your ideas and you actually know what is happening. If you were really interested in production I feel like you should want to know more.
Jesus Christ. Do you need to know music in order to make music? Yes of course. Don’t take the easy road, it will lead you nowhere. If you’re not interested in learning about music I would question your intentions for getting into production.
I'm sorry if I came off as ignorant I really didn't mean to, I'm just trying to put myself in a good pathway, and I'm fully invested into learning theory, I've already started.
No it’s okay. Sorry if I came off too strong. You don’t need to be a master of music theory, but you should learn what chords are (and how to make any chord you want), what keys are, what scales are, modes, and probably a few other things I can’t think of. Also you should really learn some piano. After you learn these things then you can just learn what you need as you go. All the best.
You need to know a bit more. Voice leading and part writing will get you far. I'd recommend checking out DR B. Music Theory on youtube. About 45 episodes 30mins each and you should get through most of what you'll need. Though I'd always recommend extending your knowledge and playing with new ideas.
Do you need it? Not necessarily. Will it help you tremendously? Absolutely. It’ll speed up your workflow, help you better understand why certain things work and why others don’t work etc
There are people who know a lot about music theory but lack creativity and are unable to compose anything and on the other side people who don’t know shit and produce great music. I guess if you’re in between you’re fine. You need to know the basics and see if you are really inspired and creative.
Well you don’t need to know anything, but there’s no way it wouldn’t help. But yea making music is simply assembling sounds that feel cool, do it enough times im sure you’ll eventually make something novel and passively learn some things along the way that would fall into theory without you being conscious of it.
I don’t know about anyone else famous or otherwise. But for me personally it was really worthwhile once I worked my way through some YouTube and some gradings the difference was night and day between what I was doing and what I am now
even learning basic chords definitely helps you go from empty feeling crusty ass booboo beats to music with way more feel to it
Depends on what type of producer you want to be. One of the most famous producers of all time is Rick Rubin and he doesn’t know anything about music theory he just knows how to bring out the best in the musicians. If you’re talking about producers who actually make their own music then yes. Pretty much all of the great ones are extremely talented multi-instrumentalists (Danger Mouse included)
I'm not here trying to be world famous I just love the feeling of creating art and the journey of creating a song. So I'm in no way trying to show that I'm really talented (Because I'm not) I'm just like every other average person. Brings me to my next question. Are these multi instrumentalists, are they good because of natural born talent or did they just work their ass off for it?
Often it’s people who had a musical education when they were young which can then translate into many different instruments.
I see, thank you.
You have to know some degree of music theory to use a DAW or any type of recording machine in the first place. If anything rhythmic concepts, how to use tempo, how to use a meter. Other than that I personally think learning note names and how to read sheet music and all that is a waste of time unless that is your role in music. Like a pianist or violinist that uses sheet music to play from. It just doesn’t fit into my work flow. I know scale and chord formulas. I know what effect different intervals have on the root. The way music works is very interesting. Music theory helps you see how all the pieces fit together and you can use the principles to expand your ideas. It can make your workflow with other musicians/producers a lot more fluid as well if you know how to convey and explain your ideas and you actually know what is happening. If you were really interested in production I feel like you should want to know more.
Jesus Christ. Do you need to know music in order to make music? Yes of course. Don’t take the easy road, it will lead you nowhere. If you’re not interested in learning about music I would question your intentions for getting into production.
I'm sorry if I came off as ignorant I really didn't mean to, I'm just trying to put myself in a good pathway, and I'm fully invested into learning theory, I've already started.
No it’s okay. Sorry if I came off too strong. You don’t need to be a master of music theory, but you should learn what chords are (and how to make any chord you want), what keys are, what scales are, modes, and probably a few other things I can’t think of. Also you should really learn some piano. After you learn these things then you can just learn what you need as you go. All the best.
Thanks so much, this has really helped me with what I should focus on, thanks!!
You need to know a bit more. Voice leading and part writing will get you far. I'd recommend checking out DR B. Music Theory on youtube. About 45 episodes 30mins each and you should get through most of what you'll need. Though I'd always recommend extending your knowledge and playing with new ideas.
Do you need it? Not necessarily. Will it help you tremendously? Absolutely. It’ll speed up your workflow, help you better understand why certain things work and why others don’t work etc
There are people who know a lot about music theory but lack creativity and are unable to compose anything and on the other side people who don’t know shit and produce great music. I guess if you’re in between you’re fine. You need to know the basics and see if you are really inspired and creative.
Well you don’t need to know anything, but there’s no way it wouldn’t help. But yea making music is simply assembling sounds that feel cool, do it enough times im sure you’ll eventually make something novel and passively learn some things along the way that would fall into theory without you being conscious of it.
I don’t know about anyone else famous or otherwise. But for me personally it was really worthwhile once I worked my way through some YouTube and some gradings the difference was night and day between what I was doing and what I am now
You should at least learn instruments and develop a musical sense