Choosing Between Music Theory and Piano for EDM Production: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing Between Music Theory and Piano for EDM Production: A Comprehensive Guide

For EDM production, both music theory and piano skills can be beneficial, but they serve different purposes. Understanding your goals as a producer can help you decide which to focus on first. This guide aims to break down the benefits and recommendation for each and provide a holistic approach to enhancing your EDM production skills.

Music Theory: Understanding Structure and Enhancing Composition

Understanding Structure: Music theory is the foundation for grasping the essential elements of music, such as song structure, chord progressions, scales, and harmonies. These components are crucial for creating compelling melodies and arrangements in EDM production.

Composition Skills: By learning music theory, you can enhance your ability to compose and arrange music effectively. This knowledge allows you to create more complex and interesting tracks, providing a solid base from which to experiment and innovate.

Collaboration: If you plan to work with other musicians or producers, a grasp of music theory can facilitate better communication and collaboration. Understanding the theory allows you to discuss and implement musical ideas more accurately.

Piano: Practical Application, Improvisation, and Idea Translation

Practical Application: Learning piano provides a hands-on way to experiment with melodies and chords. It gives you a direct way to play and understand the notes you're writing, making the learning process more tangible and engaging.

Improvisation: Piano skills allow for more spontaneous creativity. Being able to play and experiment on the piano can help you develop ideas quickly and instinctively.

Translating Ideas: If you come up with a melody or chord progression in your head, being able to play it on the piano can help you translate those ideas into your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). This practical application bridges the gap between your vision and its implementation.

Recommendation

If you are just starting out, consider focusing on music theory first. It provides a foundational understanding that can enhance your overall production skills. Once you have a grasp of the basics, you can move on to learning piano, which will further augment your creativity and productivity in creating EDM.

Ultimately, combining both music theory and piano skills will give you a well-rounded approach to producing EDM music. This approach will allow you to have a deeper understanding of music fundamentals and a practical skill set that can be applied creatively.

Start with Piano

Begin with taking lessons, practicing daily, and sticking with it. The theory is often taught as you go, and you will develop the skills as a pianist to do pretty much anything musically you want to do.

Combination for EDM Production

For EDM production, a combination of music theory and piano skills is highly beneficial. Understand chord progressions and melody creation through music theory, then apply them practically on the piano. Dive into our Quora Space dedicated to music production for EDM enthusiasts, where you can join a community and enhance your skills for a stellar EDM journey!