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Tech Sessions #6

Theoretically Speaking
Last week, I left a lil cliffhanger regarding music theory. The main thing that I'd like to discuss is why theory is important. (besides I don't have the kind of space needed to really get into the ins and outs of it).

Hip hop, more than any other form of music, treats music theory as some whack shit that takes away from the feeling and true soul of what makes the track move.

A lot of producers learn to play their keyboards by fumbling around with the keys until they come up with something dope. On top of that, hours have been spent pitching two different samples together trying to get them to sound "right."

I've been there because I used to feel the same way. Inside of me there was the little part that said 'Yo, all of that music appreciation shit right there is going to make you sterile. It's going to cut your balls off because you're going to start focusing on what's right and what's wrong instead of letting inspiration do its thing.'

I got real lucky back in 2000 when I was allowed to visit a session at a top-shelf studio in Miami. I forget the triple platinum artist who was in the room because I was more blown away by the studio engineer and how fast dude was working. He freaked eqs, compression, microphone placement, and more because he knew his shit.

I thought to myself 'if I really knew what was up when it came to theory, how much faster could I work?' That was followed up by 'if I work faster, then my inspiration has a better chance of making it to disc the way I want it too.' So I set about the business of learning my shit.

Now, there's a few things to think about if you know little to nothing about theory. The most important thing is that your ear is already better than you think it is because that has been your only guide up to now.

Next is that you probably already partially know a lot of chord progressions and scales because you've been emulating what you are inspired by.

Third is that getting into theory is just extending the reach of what you are already doing. And anybody who has ever been a fight with a tall lanky dude knows you can knock somebody out just by having reach on them.

It sounds corny man, but knowledge is power for real. These days, a brother is far from Mozart, but with my man in Audio Assassins, we're on a lifelong journey to make some hits and push ourselves and the music we love as far as it can go while holding onto that inspiration that makes a song a timeless, classic joint.

Yeah, you can get by without music theory but if you're naturally that talented, why would you want to keep doors closed to yourself? It really is the difference between hearing an old joint and thinking 'ooh I need to jack those strings, lemme find that record,' to 'ooh damn those strings are hot. That's gonna influence my next track.'

FYI…looknohands.com is a great place to start.

Glover is one half of the Atlanta, GA based production squad The Audio Assassins which are founding members of The Elements. You can find them both at Audioassassins.com and theelementsinc.com

Message Glover with your take on music theory and it's impact on your production!

Glover

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