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The Most Practical Way To Learn Music Theory

As a software-based musician, to learn music theory, you need a modern approach. Whether you’re a producer, electronic musician, beatmaker, or video game composer, the old approach to learning music theory is not going to cut it. Why?

Creating music on a computer involves a DAW or other music-making software. Yet traditional music theory is taught on the centuries-old music staff. These two environments are very different.

What you need is an online music theory course that’s taught in a music software environment, the same context in which you create music.

What you need is Building Blocks

A New Way To Learn Music Theory


Imagine an online music theory course that does away with the music staff and traditional notation.

Instead, you learn all about music theory inside the Piano Roll, a note editing interface found in today’s most popular DAWs like Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic.

You’ll be learning the principles of music theory in a fully interactive online music production studio, in which you create drum patterns, basslines, and chord progressions.

computer
old way

What’s Wrong With The Old Way?

  1. It’s taught on the music staff. Unless you’re composing for orchestras or creating sheet music, you’re not going to use the music staff to make music. Instead, you’ll have to take everything you learn and translate it over to your chosen music-making software.
  2. It’s out of context. Traditional music theory courses involve a long series of principles that may or may not apply to your musical goals. They throw a ton of info at you and leave you to determine what is or isn’t relevant.
  3. It can be boring. Learning traditional music theory can get very tedious. It’s not until you start using it in your music that it becomes fascinating.

In other words, the old way can be a slow and uninteresting process that is often irrelevant or hard to apply to modern computer-based music creation.

Building Blocks is different.

Let’s Get Specific

Let’s look at a couple examples of how our modernized approach allows for a better way to learn music theory:

The Environment

traditional

Much of traditional theory is dedicated to learning the music staff. This includes memorizing what letters each space and line correspond to, ornamentation and symbols, multiple clefs, and more. Most of this info is irrelevant for software-based musicians.

building blocks

The Piano Roll is intuitive and straightforward. It only takes a moment to understand how the grid works. This simplicity allows Building Blocks to dive right into practical and exciting theory in the very first lesson.

Ear Training

traditional

Traditional:

Most traditional approaches throw a pile of knowledge at you with no ear training. This creates a purely intellectual understanding of music, with no ability to translate what you hear into your music.

man computer

Building Blocks:

Ear training comes first. Every single piece of music theory knowledge is reinforced with an interactive ear training challenge. You don’t just understand how something works; you know what it sounds like, allowing it to find its way into your music naturally.

All in all, Building Blocks offers a better way to learn music theory. But don’t take our word for it. See for yourself.

Kudos From Customers

It’s all very well done, with a clear, logical progression and excellent production values. I learned a huge amount through Syntorial, and this is shaping up to be the same.
Testimonials Christopher H
Christopher H
For the first time, I’m confident that I’ll be able to create my own original music. The interactive exercises combined with the theory given creates a really good and unique learning experience!
Testimonials Julio R
Julio R
I already know music theory and music production, but I would recommend this to anyone. The program does a great job breaking down basics of music theory to beginners – learning about measures / time / tonalities / harmonies / rhythm in a fun and interactive way. This is fantastic for people who would want a hands on approach, especially for people who have a hard time following online tutorials and videos.
Testimonials Steve L
Steve L.