Understanding the basics of music theory can really help with your appreciation and, more importantly, your performance of music.
This guide aims to demystify some of the core components of music, making them accessible and easy to grasp for beginners. Whether you're a budding musician or simply curious about how music works, this introduction to middle C, octaves, notes, scales, and chords will provide a strong foundation. With these building blocks, you'll be able to read music, construct melodies, and uncover the rich tapestry of sounds that make up the music you love.
Let's embark on this journey into the fascinating world of music theory together.
Weirdly enough, ‘C’ is the basic starting key when we first start learning about notes.
There are 88 keys on a piano or a full ranged keyboard, and middle C is the C that’s placed roughly in the middle of the range. It’s the fourth C you’ll spot if you count from the very bottom C and that’s why it is also called C4 - so to find this key should be a piece of cake if you were to have a full range keyboard, however this isn’t always the case for everyone.
To find middle C can be a pretty confusing task, as there are midi keyboards that come in different sizes by different brands and where middle C is placed isn’t the most consistent. Whether middle C is C4 or C3 is also a debate: musicians who would play acoustic piano would call it C4 whereas Yamaha calls it C3 (they start from C0 instead of C1) and Cakewalk Sonar calls it C5 (no idea why!).
Arturia 32 key: It’s the 2nd C when you plug it in (default octave setting), if you’ve been moving octaves you can reset it by pressing the Oct- button and Oct+ button at the same time.
Novation launch key 25: On default (the screen says octave 0) it’s the middle one (2nd C of the 3 Cs)
iRig 25: On default setting, (neither of the octave buttons will be lit) middle C is the bottom C (far left key)
iRig 37 Pro: On default setting, (neither of the octave buttons will be lit) it’s the second C you see from the left. (there’s a 0 on the panel)
Komplete Kontrol s61: On default (screen: octave 0) it’s the third C from the left.
Fortunately, Melodics recognises middle C and will let you know if you’re in the right range.
Before introducing what an octave is, we need to understand the concept of an interval in music.
An interval is the distance between two notes, measured in terms of pitch. It can be described as the difference in frequency between one note and another, and it forms the foundation for understanding musical scales and harmony. Intervals are categorized as either melodic, when played in sequence, or harmonic, when played simultaneously. Recognizing and mastering intervals is crucial for musicians, as they shape the sound and emotional impact of a piece of music.
An octave is a musical interval that refers to the distance between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency. In simpler terms, when you move up an octave, you reach a note that sounds similar to your starting note, but higher in pitch. This is because the note's frequency doubles as you ascend to the next octave. For example, moving from a C note to the next higher C note on the keyboard represents an ascent by an octave. The concept of octaves is fundamental in music as it enables musicians to create harmonies and melodies across different pitches while maintaining a cohesive and recognizable sound.
Let’s say that our first note is C - if the second note is the same note, we call this unison. The next closest white note is D, and we call this a 2nd. Count up the white notes (ie E = 3rd, F = 4th... etc.) and after B which is 7th up from C, you’ll see another C which should be 8th but we call it an octave (8ve) with ‘oct’ meaning 8.
So when one says ‘play C up an octave from middle C’ for example, you’ll be playing the next C you see up from middle C. Pressing the octave button on your midi keyboard (pressing oct up then playing middle C) will do the same job. Why the octave interval is so significant/commonly used is because the notes remain the same while moving in different ranges.
A note is a fundamental unit of music representing a singular musical sound. Each note corresponds to a specific frequency or pitch, and is usually denoted using the seven letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. These notes can be modified using sharps (#) and flats (b), which raise or lower the pitch, respectively. Notes are the building blocks of melodies and harmonies, and they are arranged in sequences to create scales and chords. In written music, notes are shown using symbols that indicate both their pitch and duration, allowing musicians to perform pieces as intended by the composer. Understanding notes is essential for reading and writing music, as well as for playing any musical instrument.
So basically, each key that you press on your keyboard is a note. You can play 12 different notes before C gets to the next C (C, C♯/D♭, D, D♯/E♭, E, F, F♯/G♭, G, G♯/A♭, A, A♯/B♭, B). You might wonder what the difference between a key and a note is - a key refers to the physical mechanics of the keyboard whereas a note is the actual sound produced when you press the key, it doesn’t even have to be a keyboard - you can sing a note. When you play a series of keys in a certain order, it becomes a scale which we’re about to explain next!
A scale is an order of notes that outlines a certain harmony. The notes that we’ve outlined in the note section is called chromatic scale, and you basically play the notes up in semitones or half steps (this is the smallest interval - so if you have C, a semitone up from C is C♯/D♭, and a semitone down from C is B) in order to get the scale. We usually complete a scale by playing an octave length of it. The chromatic scale is a common scale, but because it covers all of the 12 pitches, it doesn’t sound as harmonious - to compose a melody using all of these notes might sound overwhelming.
[Scale]
The most common scale used in western music is the major scale. It outlines the major harmony (happy sound), and conveniently enough, they’re the white notes on the keyboard (C D E F G A B C). It’s constructed of semitones and tones (2 semitones = tone) in this order: T T S T T T S.
Although C major scale consists of just white notes, if you start on D for example and count your way up using the interval order, you’ll discover that you’re using black keys as well (D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯ D)
There are hundreds of different scales out there, including the conventional ones like the major scale or the minor scale, and other ones that are used in world music or jazz.
A chord is also a set of pitches that outlines a certain harmony, but typically a chord has lesser notes (that normally is based from a scale), as few as three notes (we call this a triad). You can either play the chord at the same time or as arpeggios or broken chords. Let’s learn few examples of different chords.
A major chord is a chord based from the major scale and it has the first note (root), third note, and the fifth note of the major scale. So if we were to find a C major chord, we’ll have the notes C, E and G. Try working this out in a different key, let’s say in a key of A♭ major. If you’re not as familiar with the major scale, there’s an interval based method of figuring out the major triad: play the root first (A♭), then go up 4 semitones from there (you should have C), then 3 semitones up from there (E♭).
A minor chord is based on the minor scale (you can use natural minor, melodic minor or harmonic minor) - to figure the notes out based on intervals, you should play the root, up 3 semitones, then up 4 semitones, so reverse order from the major triad.
Typically, a chord will be played in the left hand to layout the harmony, and the right hand will be playing a melodic phrase that’s based on the scale.
Creating original chord progressions is essential for musicians to develop their unique sound. Musicians should experiment with different chords within a specific scale, understanding the relationship between chords and keys to enhance a piece's emotive quality. Start by identifying the I, IV, and V chords in a key, then explore complex harmonies like minor or seventh chords. Experimentation is crucial—altering chord order, introducing unexpected changes, or blending styles can lead to innovative progressions. Listening to diverse music also offers inspiration for crafting coherent and personal chord progressions.
Understanding the fundamental concepts of music theory, such as notes, scales, and chords, unlocks the door to a deeper appreciation and mastery of music.
As you progress on your musical journey, embracing these elements will enhance your ability to create, innovate, and express yourself through your instrument.
With Melodics, you can put theory into practice, exploring new sounds and techniques that will enrich your compositions and performances. Continue your exploration of music theory with Melodics' interactive lessons, which are designed to make learning both enjoyable and effective. Dive in and discover the endless possibilities that await when you combine your creativity with a solid theoretical foundation.
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