Learning Music Tip #1

Hopefully,if you are willing to study an aspect of music you would take a theory course or get a book on musical theory. Regardless of your musical orientation (Modern or Classical) it's really IMPORTANT to learn the basics REALLY good. And i can't emphasize that enough.When i say learn the basics i don't mean that you should be able to find the tones and the half tones in an interval or know the formula of a mode,i mean that when you have to you should have the notes of the scale ready in your mind without having to count the tones and find it out. I MEAN IT!!!

There are many people who got bored of music because they don't know the basics,especially if they want to become composers or arrangers. And for a period of a time i was one of them myself,until i figured out that i had to review all those things that i thought i was really familiar with.

Music shouldn't be something very complicated but you can easily get frustrated and confused if you are missing things out.

There are some things that you should learn very very good before trying . Some of them are :

1.The notes on the staff. You MUST know which note is where on the staff by just glancing at it.(very important).

2.The intervals. You should be able to very easily play an interval from each note on your instrument , and if you are playing a string instrument you must know how to play that interval on multiple strings and not only horizontally.Also you should learn to easily recognize them on the staff. I suggest doing some sight reading even if you aren't going to play by using a music score.

3.Chords ,arpeggios and scales. You should be able to play and recognize all the basic chords arpeggios and scales in many positions and inversions.

4.Know the scale's sharps and flats.Know what sharps and flats each scale has.

5.Pentatonics.Especially important for improvisation.

6.Tensions. Something VERY IMPORTANT. You must learn the available tensions of the chords in each situation. Not really basic but when you do learn them give much attention and don't skip material.

So these are some things that i have in my mind now worth learning very very well. I guarantee that if you know at least these things perfectly the music will be much more fun and much more interesting for you. So happy learning...