Music theory is the basic study and understanding of how musical elements are constructed by timing or by pitch. Music theory can be very complex and deep but if you make beats, you don’t need to go that far. Some basic understanding of music theory will help you make beats better. Music theory is important in just about any form of music you create whether you make beats or perform classical numbers. Today we’ll talk about the two most basic elements any beat maker should know.
Notes
One of the most basic elements of music theory that a beat maker should be aware of is the concept of notes. Notes are different pitches of sound. In western modern music the pitches are named by letter and octave. The letters go like this: C-D-E-F-G-A-B and repeat this pattern.
Make Beats - Piano Keyboard
If you picture a piano keyboard you will see a repeating pattern of white and black keys. Each repeating pattern starting on the first white key to the left of the two black key group is the start of an octave. Octaves start on C and end on B. In the picture above we see two full octaves on a piano style keyboard. Notes that have a deeper or “lower” pitch are played to the left of sounds that have a higher pitch.
So what does this have to do with me if I want to make beats? A lot. Notes are the building blocks of other all other musical theories. You cannot move on to understanding other musical theories like melodies, basslines, chords and progressions if you don’t know notes.
Even if you just choose to sample when you make beats, having as much knowledge will help you down the road. Some people want to make beats and be called a producer. Producers have to be able to understand and communicate on musical terms even if they are not expert musicians.
Time
Time is an possibly a more important element to a beat maker. Time is the amount of time a note is played or the silence between notes. If you hum your favorite song, you will notice that some notes hold longer than others and there is often space or silence between notes at times. A decent beat maker knows a drum beat might not have any sustained notes, but it does have a lot of time in between notes. The timing of notes combined gives us rhythm. Rhythm can be applies to not only drums but other musical elements such as measures, melody, progressions, basslines and more.
For a beat maker time is crucial. When does the snare hit? How do I make the hats dance around the kick? How long do I play this sample?
Conclusion
To make beats you will have to use some form of notes and time. Even if you make beats and are unaware of it, you’re doing this. Look to understand more about these two elements of beat making and your skills as a beat maker will be greater.
Tags: Beat Making, Make Beats, Music Theory
