Me trying to compose with only a little bit of theory

I started composing 1 year ago and i have learned a tiny bit of music theory since then but I still don't really know that much. Anyone else here who doesn't know a lot?

It's me.
I don't know much about music theory, and while I'd like to learn, as someone who chose not to go to a music university and hasn't received formal musical training, it feels difficult.
I think there are some people who started learning by themselves.
I'm aware that there are very useful tools available for learning it, but it takes time, and I haven't gotten around to it.
The problem with not learning about music theory in YCF is that my reviews are not going to be good.
I often feel that my feedback might not be all that constructive, but I imagine people are happy to receive impressions from others, so I write reviews as a way of giving back.
I have much respect for those who provide detailed feedback grounded in music theory, such as @PeterthePapercomPoser, @Luis Hernández, @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu, @MK_Piano, @Markus Boyd, @TristanTheTristan, @Wieland Handke, @Kvothe, @Omicronrg9 and others.

I usually use a synthesizer, so I don't directly need to use music theory for composing, but I think learning music theory brings more diverse ideas and makes compositions better.
So, I believe learning music theory is great.

In this post, @Kvothe kindly responded to my question about how I can learn notation.
It's about notation, not theory, but please check it out for your reference.

Best,

Lithl.

Edited Thursday at 01:07 PM4 days by Lithl
Forgot to mention Omicronrg9—he is so great!

Thanks for the tag @Lithl

It’s difficult to recommend how one should learn ‘music theory’ on here without understanding what type of music they wish to compose. This forum is so diverse and it is thus inappropriate for me, for example, to apply the 18th century paradigm (that i’ve trained myself in) in a generalized way, as if all other paradigms are dependent on its method. So before I even attempt to answer that question, understanding one’s intentions is often my starting point. That said, I do believe in learning the fundamentals of tonal music before branching out into one’s preferred domain.

Start by understanding what makes you passionate in music. Which composer’s music resonates with you most? Does their music influence your own aspirations?

Next, listen widely. I listen extensively to music largely in my preferred idiom (18th century and early 19th century) and many of the patterns and narrative techniques associated with that school have become more or less embedded into my consciousness. This doesn’t help with theory per se, but it is invaluable for generating my own melodic ideas. Crucially, it will be your own passion that will lead you down which rabbit hole.

I have books i can recommend to aid your journey, but i’d rather understand your intentions first. There is an analogy that likens the knowledge of music theory to that of an iceberg: the deeper one goes, the more specialized that knowledge becomes. But it is worth recognizing that different styles of music will have their own ‘iceberg’. We do not master them all, but tend to focus on that relating to our own preferred domain (eg. Jazz, common practice, romanticism, serialism, modal, cinematic, etc…).

Feel free to message me directly with any questions you may have.

Edited Thursday at 06:22 AM4 days by Markus Boyd

There are all kinds of opinions on this.

I think learning music theory is very helpful if you want to be a composer.

Of course, you can compose without knowing anything—by ear or intuition—but the possibilities that open up when you have more knowledge will definitely make your compositions better.

I don’t think you need to know a lot—or even a little—about music theory, or anything else for that matter, to comment on compositions in this forum. There’s an intuitive, emotional aspect—and so on—that we all have, and that’s perfectly fine to discuss. Simply saying “I liked it,” “it reminds me of this,” or asking a question about the piece is a positive way to comment.

Nor do I think that knowing theory—or anything else for that matter—requires formal training at an accredited institution. I do think, however, that if you want to make serious, steady progress as a self-taught musician, there will be times—and in certain disciplines—when you’ll need guidance from someone: a teacher, a workshop, etc.

That’s been my experience. I’ve always been self-taught in music (in fact, my profession is something entirely different). But I took a formal course in tonal and modal harmony, as well as some courses in harmonization and arranging.

Later, taking a course in counterpoint was essential, as was a seminar on fugues.

Another essential course was the one I took on Contemporary Composition Techniques.

And finally, the one I’m taking now on orchestration.

With that foundation, I can tackle anything that comes my way, understand it, and put it to use.

I also believe that the foundation of it all is tonal harmony and the common classical period, from the Baroque to the Romantic era—even if you’re later interested in another style.

Hello! (I came here from @Lithl's tag. Thank you! Btw I am listening to Saint Saens Concerto 5! It's great. You should try too!)

So I don't believe you need any music theory to start composing, but to get better, and faster at the 'getting better', you do need music theory. I am technically a self-taught composer. I only started music theory lessons last year. I literally just write what I think would sound good. Here is a sample.

1. Idea pops into brain during important test. (I am thirteen so I am still in school)

2. I finish writing the test but idea is still there.

3. I finish the rest of the day without forgetting the idea.

4. I forget it on the way home.

5. I re-remember it after like 5 hours.

6. I go on musescore and write it.

   And just pay attention to a few stuff.

   1. Try to prevent parallel motion. Only later I was taught this was actually theory, but I first came up with this when I was seven.

   2. Voice leading! Very important. Same as the one before, but I came up with this when I was six.

   3. Try to break the rules 1 and 2 effectively.

Got it? It is simple. Music composition is like a huge field, something like 内蒙古. You start from different places and go to different places. You do whatever you want. Whatever you think works. You will gain self-consciousness gradually and therefore improve. When I was nine, I thought I was good at composition. Now looking back, although still better than my classmates', it is nothing compared to my work now and some of the fellows on this site, YC. I see you are new, and that's not a problem, and by your state right now, it seems like you are very interested in composition. Good news! That's the first step to become a good composer or good anything. You are intrigued by it.

When I first joined, this is what @Thatguy v2.0 said to me not long after I joined. Thank you once again, @Thatguy v2.0!!!

You seem young, get to know some people first! A lot of people here are in their teens and twenties, and they'll be more eager to share thoughts with a familiar username than a foreign one. You'll fit right in. And until then, poke around the forums too! There's TONS of cool music here. TONS of great composers roam this forum, even if some only come by occasionally, so don't be afraid to reach out 🙂

@Woofi_9 Good luck!

P.S. @Lithl Your reviews are not bad, they are great! Although it may not be backed up with music theory, it gives a listener's thought on the music. Very important.

-TristanTheTristan

Edited Friday at 06:19 AM3 days by TristanTheTristan

3 hours ago, TristanTheTristan said:

Hello! (I came here from @Lithl's tag. Thank you! Btw I am listening to Saint Saens Concerto 5! It's great. You should try too!)

So I don't believe you need any music theory to start composing, but to get better, and faster at the 'getting better', you do need music theory. I am technically a self-taught composer. I only started music theory lessons last year. I literally just write what I think would sound good. Here is a sample.

1. Idea pops into brain during important test. (I am thirteen so I am still in school)

2. I finish writing the test but idea is still there.

3. I finish the rest of the day without forgetting the idea.

4. I forget it on the way home.

5. I re-remember it after like 5 hours.

6. I go on musescore and write it.

   And just pay attention to a few stuff.

   1. Try to prevent parallel motion. Only later I was taught this was actually theory, but I first came up with this when I was seven.

   2. Voice leading! Very important. Same as the one before, but I came up with this when I was six.

   3. Try to break the rules 1 and 2 effectively.

Got it? It is simple. Music composition is like a huge field, something like 内蒙古. You start from different places and go to different places. You do whatever you want. Whatever you think works. You will gain self-consciousness gradually and therefore improve. When I was nine, I thought I was good at composition. Now looking back, although still better than my classmates', it is nothing compared to my work now and some of the fellows on this site, YC. I see you are new, and that's not a problem, and by your state right now, it seems like you are very interested in composition. Good news! That's the first step to become a good composer or good anything. You are intrigued by it.

When I first joined, this is what @Thatguy v2.0 said to me not long after I joined. Thank you once again, @Thatguy v2.0!!!

@Woofi_9 Good luck!

P.S. @Lithl Your reviews are not bad, they are great! Although it may not be backed up with music theory, it gives a listener's thought on the music. Very important.

-TristanTheTristan

For 13 years old, your command of the english language is excellent!. 🙌

Edited Friday at 09:26 AM3 days by Markus Boyd

56 minutes ago, Markus Boyd said:

For 13 years old, your command of the english language is excellent!. 🙌

Thank you!

13 hours ago, TristanTheTristan said:

Thank you!

You started composing when you were 6????

Also we're about the same age I'm 11

Hello,

I didn't know much about music theory when I started composing around age 12/13. I am in my late 30's now, and still writing. Never took a lesson in music theory, but I am more interested in music theory these days. If you write music long enough, you will notice the patterns yourself and if you pay close enough attention to what you are doing, or willing to take risks you will eventually pick a few things up on music theory.

One obviously does not need to know music theory to compose music. As people have pointed out...it does depend on what kind of music you intend to write.

You have gotten extreme good advice I think. I will give you some advice from my perspective.

I think that if you intend to pursue music as a hobby, it might be fun to simply use music theory as an adjunct to your purposes. Here's what I mean by this:

In my opinion, so much of western tonal music (there is so much out there that is not conventional western music like traditional folk music, instruments that use microtuning etc) is sort of "figured out". To me, music theory is simply a map that intrepid and pioneering have drawn out and analyzed/labeled after their own efforts in exploring the music landscape. To embark on your personal journey, you probably don't need the whole map, but it might to help to have some starting spots. Your starting spot will likely come from the type of music you find personally compelling. Of course, if you are thinking about being a professional musician/composer I think that music theory is perhaps not necessarily (if you are a genius especially!) but extremely useful.

Once again, if you are just here for the fun...I think that it's nice to explore the musical landscape yourself through composition. There have been many times that I found something that I thought was mine while composing only to realize that the "greats" of music have already explored these concecpts and often time explored them more carefully than I had done so.

As I go older, this feeling of finding something new started to become more and more rare, and so I started to try to actively learn more about it. The older I get, the more I appreciate all the musical words that have before me. But that's part of getting old I think. It's very normal to be young and want to conquer the world. I think most of have been there to some extent :)

Hope you keep writing and learning and sharing!