Music Theory

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A place to discuss and answer questions about music theory. All instruments are welcome, no question is stupid!

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Practicing vs. learning stuff by heart (feddit.de)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi folks, I wanted to ask you something I have been dealing with for as long as I have learned music theory: when is the point that you simply learn stuff by heart?

For example: I could not imagine writing out all keys in order to learn which notes a contained in them. But I learned all notes in all diatonic 7th chords by simply using flashcards. How am I to „practices“ my way into knowing what notes makes up a Dminor7?

Whats your experience with that? Where do you draw the line?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

As you improve in music theory, more and more information will become internalized, just as someone learns words instead of seeing the individual letters that form those words. A dm7 becomes a “word” that you can use in a sentence (i.e. a phrase or chord progression). Ultimately, you have to become more fluent with the basics (e.g. intervals, keys, all the chords, and so forth) before you can use them poetically, from a music theoretical perspective (that is, one in which you know why certain things are working).

I think it’s wise to try and remember as much as you possibly can. The piano will help. The more you remember, and the more you understand, the easier it becomes.

Source: I have a Ph.D in music theory and work as a prof of music theory.