Are great producers born with musical genius? Are they gifted with an ear for good melodies and rhythms? Or are they created through a drive to understand what makes great songs work through music theory?
The growing accessibility of music production resources has welcomed a new wave of talented music producers. Yet, with so many resources and plugins at our fingertips, many producers may wonder if it’s necessary or beneficial to spend time learning music theory.
Music theory can be daunting, but it provides a strong foundation for your production skills and helps you make informed decisions during the creative process.
In this article, we’ll examine why music producers should commit to learning music theory and introduce resources you can use to start learning today.
Great Producers Value Music Theory
Like any songwriter or composer, music producers can benefit greatly from understanding the concepts behind music theory.
Simply put, music theory is central to creating great music. There are many benefits to learning the basics of music theory:
- It gives you the tools to be creative and get your ideas down quickly.
- It can help you find your own unique sound.
- It’s like learning a language: once you understand its “rules,” you can communicate ideas effectively. Plus, you can bend those rules to create new and exciting sounds.
Music Theory Is Fun and Easy to Study Online
If you’ve found yourself in the “music producers don’t need music theory” camp, don’t fret.
For a long time, learning theory meant sitting in lecture halls or diving into academic textbooks. Of course, this way of learning music theory doesn’t always make sense for a busy producer who has to brush up on all kinds of skills.
But there’s no good reason why music theory shouldn’t be accessible and fun for anyone who wants to improve their songs.
In fact, relevant, useful resources are available online to enhance your producing journey, not hinder it. The key is to locate those great resources and cut through the noise.
Producers Can Study Music Theory Online With Hooktheory
At Hooktheory, we aim to make online music theory education approachable and enjoyable for everyone. That’s why we offer dozens of resources to get you started.
Hooktheory Books: A Modern Approach to Music Theory
If you’re brand new to music theory, the best place to get started is our interactive music theory books. We developed this series to demystify music theory for modern songwriters and producers.
Beginning with Hooktheory I, we introduce the foundational elements of music theory, using examples from popular songs that many know and love.
As the series progresses to Hooktheory II, we introduce more advanced concepts in an equally approachable manner.
Our aim is to provide a learning experience that is both informative and engaging, so producers can enhance their musical skills in a practical and enjoyable way.
TheoryTab Database
The TheoryTab database of over 40,000 song analyses is a unique part of Hooktheory. Our free database brings music theory to life through the analysis of popular songs.
This resource helps you see and hear music theory in action. Each TheoryTab showcases a song’s chords, melodies, keys, and tempos. This is undoubtedly a unique tool for understanding how great songs are constructed.
The TheoryTab database is an invaluable tool for those who learn best by example, offering a practical and engaging way to apply music theory concepts in their own music production.
Hookpad: Interactive Songwriting Tool
For those who are ready to put music theory into practice, Hookpad is a great tool to experiment with.
Our interactive songwriting tool streamlines the song-creation process. It helps producers and songwriters experiment with chord progressions and melodies, specifically powered by music theory data from over 40,000 popular songs.
Hookpad’s intuitive interface is an essential tool for producers who value the fundamentals of music theory in their work.
Create Amazing Productions With Music Theory
So, do producers need to learn music theory? It never hurts! Plus, it’s never too late to get started.
Learning music theory doesn’t need to be a big task. Take it one day at a time, and keep building your skills.
With all the different music theory resources available today, there are countless ways to begin learning as a producer. Get started with the first steps, and you’ll be surprised by what you can create.
