Many new hip hop producers believe that they don’t need to know music theory to make good beats. That is the farthest from the truth unless you are completely gifted like some producers. However, the majority of producers have studied music theory and are better for it. Here is 5 reasons why music theory is important for hip hop.
- Hip Hop instrumentals are usually based around a keyboard and percussion. A keyboard is just like the piano. If you know how to play the piano, you will do good on a keyboard. If you learn music theory, you will usually learn it on a piano. If you know music theory, you can read sheet music or play from just hearing a song and you can make your own version of the beat relatively easy with different instruments or whatever you want.
- When you know music theory, you will know how to switch keys so it fits the emotion of the song. Some keys sound to upbeat and some keys sound too sad. If you are going for a certain tone or emotion in a song, the beat has to be in the right key. You can change keys and make the beat a totally different sound from the one in a different key. Simply put, you can change the tone of any beat relatively easy when you know music theory.
- Not all hip hop songs stay in the same key for the whole song. When you know music theory, you will be able to modulate between keys to make a certain part of the piece a different feeling than the rest of the track. This can be the hook, verse, or a bridge.
- Since the style of beats in hip hop is always changing, knowing music theory is very important. Even though the beats change all the time, you will be able to create similar sounds because you will be able to improvise very well.
- When you know music theory, you can recreate any sound that you like, switch it to your own style, and make something that is mainstream enough to sell. If you are in music production for money, you will enjoy learning music theory. If you are just in it for the art, you will enjoy the fact that you are creating great music.
Music theory isn’t as hard as most people think. You don’t have to take years of it to know the basics you will need in your production career. Hip Hop doesn’t always fit into music theory, so studying it intensively could hinder your results. Just go to your local community college and take the introductory music theory class and if you would like to, go on to the next one also. That should be enough to get you what you need.
