Music theory is a subject that comes with a fair share of myths.
If you’ve heard that music theory is only for geniuses or that it stifles creativity, you’re not alone. These myths can be off-putting and discourage many songwriters and producers from diving deeper into music theory. It’s time to set the record straight.
Let’s dissect some music theory myths together and answer some questions.
Myth 1: You have to be a genius to understand music theory
Fact: You don’t need to be a genius to understand music theory. Despite its reputation for complexity — largely due to traditional teaching methods — music theory is practical and entirely understandable.
With some determination and the right modern resources, anyone can grasp the essentials of music theory.
Myth 2: You have to play an instrument to understand music theory
Fact: Playing an instrument can give you hands-on experience with music theory, but it’s not a requirement.
Music theory is about learning the nuts and bolts of music — notes, chords, scales, rhythm, and how they all work together.
With or without an instrument, you can learn how to combine these elements to create songs or better understand the music you listen to.
In fact, there are plenty of resources available for you to put concepts into practice without instruments, like our songwriting sketchpad. Hookpad allows you to experiment with all of the musical building blocks with the click of a button… no instruments necessary! Plus, our beginner’s guide to music theory simplifies the learning process, showing that starting with just seven notes can open a world of musical understanding.
Myth 3: Music theory stifles creativity
Fact: Music theory is far from stifling! In fact, it expands the horizons of your creativity by providing a solid framework to structure and convey your musical ideas.
Without guiding principles, the limitless choices in music could be overwhelming and could actually lead to a creative block. This is where music theory comes in handy.
Music theory helps categorize musical elements and simplifies the choices you need to make at the beginning… getting you one step closer to expressing your musical ideas.
Myth 4: Music theory is too complex for beginners
Fact: Music theory might seem intimidating when you’re starting out, but it’s not as complex as it appears.
Much like learning a new language, music theory has a unique set of vocabulary and rules. When you get the hang of them, a lot falls into place.
The basics of music theory, including concepts such as scales, chords, and rhythms, are quite straightforward to grasp. Yes, there are more advanced concepts that may take time to learn, but it’s all about building upon the foundation you’ve set.
This music theory myth may come from the idea that you should learn everything all at once. However, you can (and should) learn music theory progressively.
Luckily, there are plenty of resources available for beginners, like videos, user-friendly software, and books, that make learning music theory more accessible and enjoyable to learn. This is what we’re all about at Hooktheory!
Myth 5: There is only one correct way to write music
Fact: One of the greatest misconceptions about music theory is the idea that there is a single “correct” way to write music.
The truth is that music theory doesn’t impose firm rules. Instead, it offers guidance in your songwriting. It offers a set of tools — an array of possibilities — that you can use to craft your own unique sound.
Music is a form of expression. Often, creativity thrives when it’s not bound by rigid rules. There are countless musical styles and genres worldwide, and they all have different structures, scales, and rhythms. These variations reflect the diverse ways that amazing music can be created and enjoyed.
Music theory helps artists understand these different methods. It enables you to experiment with various styles and break the “rules” intentionally for creative effect. It is not meant to limit or dictate your musical journey but to inspire and inform it.
Myth 6: Music theory is outdated and irrelevant
Fact: Contrary to popular belief, music theory is not an archaic concept. It’s an evergreen tool ingrained in all genres of modern music, including pop, rock, and jazz.
This is why our TheoryTab database is so helpful for understanding music theory and revealing techniques used in contemporary music. Our database dispels music theory myths, one song analysis at a time. Discover how one teacher uses TheoryTab in innovative ways to teach music theory to producers.
Each analysis shows you how chord progressions, melodies, and other elements help create songs that we love.
These days, advanced tools like digital audio workstations (DAWs) can help producers create music more quickly and intuitively. However, a solid grounding in music theory allows songwriters and producers to work faster and smarter. It also dramatically enhances your ability to shape and understand the music you’re creating.
Myth 7: Music theory is only for classical musicians
Fact: Music theory is for everyone — not just classical musicians! Whether you’re making pop, rock, hip-hop, or EDM music, knowing music theory gives you a big advantage.
Music theory isn’t just about writing and performing music, either. Music producers, DJs, and songwriters all benefit from understanding music theory and being able to talk about it with collaborators. A solid grasp of music theory enriches your musical journey so you understand the “why” behind amazing music.
Myth 8: Music theory is boring
Fact: Just like any subject, music theory can seem boring or tedious if approached in the wrong way. But when music theory is contextualized properly, it can be engaging, fun, and incredibly useful!
Most people envision music theory as sitting in a dull classroom, memorizing scales and chords. But music theory isn’t about rote learning; it’s about understanding the language and structure of music.
If you’re passionate about creating amazing music, figuring out how the magic works can be a fun challenge. It’s especially fun when you’re diving into music by your favorite artists.
This type of learning is what our resources at Hooktheory are built on:
- TheoryTab Database: See how over 40,000 popular songs use music theory to write songs that sound great
- Trends Tool: Build chord progressions and visualize what chords come next in our database. Plus, preview these chord progressions in the context of real music
- Interactive Music Theory Books: Learn basic and intermediate music theory concepts with audiovisual examples from popular music
Myth 9: Music theory is a set of strict rules that must be followed
Fact: Music theory is not a rigid set of prescriptions that must be adhered to. This belief often stems from a misunderstanding of what music theory is and what it aims to achieve.
In essence, music theory is a tool that creates a common language and set of principles for understanding and communicating about music. It offers a framework that can help artists create, interpret, and appreciate different types of music more effectively.
These principles are conventions that have evolved based on patterns found in music over centuries. They can be a useful starting point for creating and discussing music that sounds harmonious to the ear, but they aren’t iron-clad rules.
In fact, breaking away from these conventions often leads to innovative, fresh music. From jazz to modern pop, many memorable songs break these “rules” in interesting ways, leading to new sounds and musical movements.
Our TheoryTab database is a great place to visualize these intentional deviations. Try looking up your favorite songs, and you’ll see how artists continue to innovate in compelling ways.
Myth 10: Music theory is only for certain genres of music
Fact: A broad understanding of music theory is crucial for any genre. It embraces all music styles and provides a solid platform to understand, create, or interpret music.
In a practical application setting like the TheoryTab database, music theory comes to life across various genres. Our database of over 40,000 chord and melody analyses allows users to explore the theory behind various songs. It’s an invaluable learning tool for musicians, songwriters, and producers.
By searching songs by genre, you can see how these principles are not just confined to one style of music but are indeed applied everywhere, from pop to rock, electronic to folk, and country to dance.
Myth 11: You need to know advanced math to understand it
Fact: While there is a relationship between music and mathematics, you don’t need advanced math skills to understand basic music theory principles.
Music and mathematics share concepts like ratios, fractions, and patterns, but the mathematics level involved is quite basic. For example, understanding rhythm involves knowing how to count beats.
The relationship between math and music gets more complex only in advanced music theory or when exploring some very specific and specialized concepts, like the detailed analysis of musical frequencies.
Luckily, these topics are not part of the basic music theory principles that most musicians learn or apply to everyday songwriting.
Myth 12: Music theory is unnecessary with modern technology
Fact: While modern technology offers tools that can automate certain aspects of music creation, understanding music theory still plays a crucial role in creating and understanding music.
Technology like DAWs, MIDI tools, and specific software can assist with composing, arranging, and producing music, but you’ll still need to know how to work with a blank canvas. This can be a daunting task.
Without knowledge of music theory, it’s hard to understand why certain melodies, harmonies, or rhythms work together and where to get started with making these decisions.
Music theory allows you to make decisions for your song with confidence, whether you’re writing with an instrument, Hookpad (our songwriting sketchpad), or with a DAW.
Myth 13: Learning theory takes too much time
Fact: Learning music theory, like any new skill, does require an investment of time. However, looking at it as a long-term investment rather than a quick return will change your perspective.
With the abundance of learning materials available today — from online books to music theory apps — learning music theory has never been more accessible. It’s possible to study at your own pace and in your own time. Even a few minutes each day dedicated to the subject can result in substantial progress over time.
The good news is that the time spent learning music theory saves time down the line.
It can make the process of learning new songs, composing, arranging, and improvising much faster and more efficient. With a solid understanding of music theory, you can also better communicate your musical ideas and collaborate effectively with other musicians.
Final Thoughts
While it’s sometimes misunderstood, music theory is an invaluable tool for any musician, songwriter, or producer. Dispelling these music theory myths helps uncover the true value of learning music theory: a path to greater musical understanding, creativity, and artistic freedom.
No matter where you are on your musical journey, some understanding of music theory can enrich your experience and open up new possibilities. Don’t let music theory myths hold you back — dive in and unlock your full musical potential!
