Post on 17-Feb-2022
transcript
Professional Diploma in
Sound Engineering
Lesson 4: Music Theory for Sound Engineers
Explain frequency and pitch
Lesson 4
Use a piano roll in a DAW
Explain major and minor scales
Compose chords
Objectives
Recall the notes in a key signature
Tone
Bright, dull, thin, and warm
Frequency relationship of two sounds
All sounds consist of many frequencies
Only musical sounds have harmonics
Pitch
Increase in frequency = higher pitch
We can hear from 20 Hz to 20 000 Hz
1 Hertz = 1 complete wave (peak to peak)
A = 440 Hz
A = 440 Hz
Pure tone
Pure tone is a sine wave
Most simple type of wave
Pitch
Octaves Notes
A 440
A4
440 for frequency
A4 for register
Divide by 2 for lower octaves
A4 = 440 Hz A3 = 220 Hz
A2 = 110 Hz A1 = 55 Hz
A4 = 440 Hz
Multiply by 2 for higher octaves
A5 = 880 Hz
A6 = 1760 Hz
A7 = 3520 Hz
TimbreTone colour
We all sound different due to harmonics
The fundamental
A pure tone is a simple sine wave
Root frequency is the fundamental
Fundamental is also the 1st harmonic
A3 = 220 Hz
Overtones
• Fundamental is the 1st harmonic
• 1st overtone is the 2nd harmonic
• Different overtones and loudness = different timbre
The harmonic seriesBased on a ratio
Based on the fundamental
Overtones• Wave 1 = fundamental
• Wave 2 = 1st overtone
• 1st overtone = 2 oscillations
• 2nd overtone = 3 oscillations
(Schmidt-Jones, 2020)
Piano and cello sound different
Same overtones, different amplitudes
Overtones
We can closely recreate most natural tones using the overtone series
Instruments and combinations
Strings Woodwinds
Brass Percussion
Strings
Violin Harp
Viola Guitar
Cello Lute
Double bass Mandolin
Woodwinds
• Piccolo
• Flute
• Oboe
• English horn
• Clarinet
• E-flat clarinet
• Bass clarinet
• Bassoon
• Contra bassoon
BrassTuba
Euphonium
Cornet
Trumpet
Flugel
French horn
PercussionPitched:
Marimba
Timpani
Xylophone
Triangle
PercussionUnpitched:
Snare drum
Cymbals
Tambourine
New timbres
Create specific timbresCombine instruments
Light melody = violin + flute
Normal melody = violinThicker melody = violin + trumpet
MIDIMusical Interface Digital Instrument
MidiControl computers, external
devices, and light shows
Compose music
Connected time oriented media
Pitch, velocity, and time
Midi is information, not sound
3 parameters of midi for control
Midi: pitchHow high or low a note is
Can also assign drum sounds
Midi: velocity
Strength of musical note
Peak v127elocity =
Lowest velocity = 0
“volume” of a note
Midi: time
Timecode: Per quarter note beat
Control external devices
Change note lengths in DAW
Midi: controllers
Record and send information
Control devices and software
Makes using midi easier
Midi applications
Musical notes and values on
software
Light show for your music
Control external devices
Pitch and velocity are “switches”
Piano rollMidi values
Pitch, velocity, and time
Piano roll
12 notesChromatic
scale
7 basic notesA - B - C - D -
E - F - G
Piano roll
Half and whole steps
Semi tone = half step
Up/down with one key
Whole tone = whole step
Up/down with 2 semi-tones
Midi: velocity
Allows dynamics in digital music
Value between 0 – 127
High velocity = strong signal
Low velocity = weak signal
Measures time in quarter note beats
Midi: notes
Can work with 8th, 16th, 32nd, and 64th notes
Some DAWs support up to 128th notes
Music theory for sound engineers
A –> G# = 12 notes
7 notes
Diatonic scale
5 whole steps + 2 half steps = Diatonic scale
Major notes = Minor notes = different starting note
C Maj vsa min
Only white notes on a piano
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, AYour first two
key signatures!
Easy scales:
Maj: W-W-H-W-W-W-H
Min: W-H-W-W- H -W-W
Use thisfor chords and
melodies
1 + 3 + 5 = ChordC – E – G A – C – E
Chord: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8/1
C Maj: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
A min: A – B – C – D – E – F – G - A
C maj A min
Maj vs min chords
3 steps from 1 to 3 = min
4 steps from 1 to 3 = maj
1 + 3 + 5 = ChordC – E - G A – C – E
C maj A min
Chord: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8/1
C Maj: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
A min: A – B – C – D – E – F – G - A
Diminished: B
• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
• C, d, e, f, G
• G, a, b, c, D
• D, e, f, g, A
Circle of fifths
(MusicNotes.com; 2020)
Easy rhymes for easy scales
Sharp #: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Flat b: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
A 4th is a 5th reversed
(musicnotes, 2020)
Some notes have 2 names
• A# = Bb
• B# = C
• C# = Dd
Enharmonic notesertones
Completed lessons
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5 6 7 8
See you soon forL e s s o n 5
2 3