Advanced Music Theory for Electronic Dance Music Production

If you’re looking to take your electronic dance music production skills to the next level, then you need to check out our blog post on advanced music theory for EDM production! We’ll show you how to use complex chord progressions and harmonies to create unique and original tracks that will stand out from the rest.

Introduction to Advanced Music Theory

Major and Minor Scales

In music, there are two basic types of scales: major and minor. Each type of scale has a unique sound, and can be used to create different moods in your music. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each type of scale, and how you can use them in your productions.

Major Scales
The major scale is the most common type of scale in Western music. It is used in many different genres, from pop to classical. The major scale has a bright, cheerful sound that is perfect for upbeat songs. To create a major scale, you simply start on the note that you want to be the “root” note, and then follow this order of tones and semitones: tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone. For example, if you start on C, the notes in the C major scale would be C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C.

Minor Scales
The minor scale is less common than the major Scale, but it is still used often in Western music. The minor scale has a sadder sounding than the major scale. To create a minor Scale, you start on the note that you want to be the “root” note, and then follow this order of tones and semitones: tone-semitone-tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone. For example, if you start on A, the notes in the A minor Scale would be A–B–C–D–E–F–G–A.

Intervals

An interval is the distance between two pitches. In other words, it’s the amount of steps in between two notes.

There are a few ways to describe intervals. The first way is by quality, which refers to whether the interval is major, minor, perfect, etc. The second way is by quantity, which just means how many steps are in between the two notes.

The quality of an interval can be described by its size in relation to a perfect or major interval. For example, if an interval is one step smaller than a perfect fifth, it would be called a diminished fifth. Similarly, if an interval is one step larger than a perfect fourth, it would be called an augmented fourth.

The simplest way to describe intervals is by their quantity, or how many steps are in between the two notes. The number of letters in between the two notes (A-B-C-D-E-F-G) will give you the interval’s quantity. So, if you’re counting from A to C, that would be a third because there are three letters in between them (A-B-C).

Chords

Chords are a critical aspect of music theory, and they are especially important in electronic dance music production. A chord is simply two or more notes played together. Chords can be simple, like a two-note major or minor chord, or they can be complex, like a seven-note major or minor chord. Chords can also be played in different ways, such as with different voicings or inversion

Applying Advanced Music Theory to Electronic Dance Music Production

Music theory is a critical tool for any musician, and this is especially true for producers of electronic dance music. By understanding and applying advanced music theory concepts, you can take your productions to the next level. In this article, we’ll explore how to apply advanced music theory to electronic dance music production.

Using Major and Minor Scales in Electronic Dance Music

In electronic dance music, producers often use major and minor scales to create melodies and basslines. These scales are important because they help to create tension and release in a track. For example, a major scale will sound happy and bright, while a minor scale will sound sad and dark. By using both scales in a track, producers can create an emotional journey for the listener.

Scales are also important for creating basslines. In electronic dance music, the bassline is often the most important part of the track. The bassline is responsible for keeping the track moving and providing the groove. Without a good bassline, a track can sound flat and lifeless.

If you’re new to music theory, don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as it seems. In this article, we’ll show you how to use major and minor scales in your electronic dance music productions.

First, let’s take a look at the major scale…

The major scale is one of the most popular scales in Western music. It’s used in countless songs across all genres of music. The major scale has a happy and bright sound that is perfect for melodies and basslines.

To build a major scale, we start with the root note (the first note of the scale) and then move up in steps of whole and half steps until we reach the octave (the 8th note). A whole step is equal to two frets on a guitar or two keys on a piano. A half step is equal to one fret on a guitar or one key on a piano.

Here’s an example of how to build a C major scale…

C D E F G A B C (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8)

As you can see from the above example, we start with C (the root note), then move up in steps of whole and half steps until we reach C again (the octave). The only exception is between notes E-F and B-C where we only move up by half steps. This gives the major scale its characteristic “sound”.

Using Intervals in Electronic Dance Music

In electronic dance music, it is common to use a set of pitches called an interval. An interval is the distance between two pitches, and it can be measured in terms of semitones (the smallest unit of measurement in music). For example, the interval between C and D is two semitones, while the interval between C and E is four semitones.

One way to create interest in your music is to vary the intervals you use. For example, you might use large intervals (such as octaves) for the main melody, while using smaller intervals (such as thirds or sixths) for the harmony. You can also create contrast by using dissonant intervals (such as seconds or sevenths) in your melody, while using consonant intervals (such as thirds or sixths) in your harmony.

Another way to create interest in your music is to vary the density of the intervals you use. For example, you might use more close-set intervals (such as thirds or sixths) in one section of your song, while using more open-set intervals (such as fourths or fifths) in another section. This can create a sense of movement or tension and release.

Finally, you can also create interest by varying the relationship between the pitches in your interval. For example, you might use harmonic intervals (where the pitches are related by simple integer ratios) in one section, while using melodic intervals (where the pitches are related by more complex ratios) in another section. This can create a sense of tension and release, or a sense of movement from one pitch to another.

Using Chords in Electronic Dance Music

Chords are an important part of any music, and they can be used in electronic dance music to create a sense of movement and development in a track. Chords can be created with any combination of notes, but they are often built from triads – three-note chords.

There are many different ways to create chords, and the choice of notes will depend on the style of music you’re making. In general, though, you’ll want to use notes that fit well together and create a pleasing sound.

The most common way to build chords is to stack triads on top of each other. This gives you a fuller sound and can create more interesting harmonic movement. To do this, you’ll need to choose three different notes that fit well together – these can be from the same scale or key, or they can be from different scales or keys.

Once you have your three notes, you can then stack them on top of each other in any order you like. The lowest note will be the root note of the chord, and the other two notes will be the third and fifth of the chord. For example, if you choose the notes C, E, and G, you’ll have a C major chord:

C E G

You can then add othertriads on top of this one to create more complex chords. For example, if you add an A minor triad on top of the C major chord above, you’ll get an A minor 7th chord:

C E G A B D