Music Theory For Producers (This Is All You Need) 

Man just turned a what's usually learned through a month long subscription course into a single video.

THE MOON EMOJIS TO EXPLAIN WHOLE STEPS & HALF STEPS IS GENIUS OH MY GOSH

Honestly, man. I was a music major in college over 25 years ago. 2 years of theory under my belt, 2 years of ear training, some conducting and a few other things. I was mainly a woodwind player. Clarinet was my primary instrument. In my peak days I was 1st chair, concert master, solo's, yada yada and so on, but life happens and it took me in a different direction. I went into computer tech / software as a backup. I've missed music for so long and I'm about to finally start getting back into it again with synths and music production in Ableton. Mostly as a hobby with no expectations and purely for the enjoyment of it. You've helped me to reignite a spark I had for over half my life (from age 12 to 30) that I had to give up for a while. I just want to say I appreciate your passion for music. It's really is inspiring...and honestly, you teach theory better than some college professors that I've had, lol. Thank you for what you do and keep up the amazing work.

This guy was meant to teach! He has a great way of providing clarity of concepts that so many people make difficult to understand. Keep doing ya thing Ethan. You are helping so many people!

Why can't there be more people like you who are straight to the point and make something that most find complicated and turn it into something simplistic for anyone to understand. I think some "teachers" are actually gatekeeping. Gatekeeping- pretending to share information with others in order to look more important than you really are because you lack self confidence and do not find joy in helping others especially if they surpass you.

This is simply one of the best videos on music theory. No distractions, straight to the point and very clearly so. And a very cool and chill guy. Thank you!

I have tried to understand these terms; something scary and funny yesterday I was going over my theory book! And nothing better than Ethan connecting the dots on my brain. Hands down best teacher

Just think I spent 2 years at Full Sail and 30k worth of student loan debt, could've learned it in 30 mins on RU-vid. Sheesh!! U made it simple my man. 2 thumbs up

You are a great teacher. Taking the complex and making it simple. Your humility and encouragement turn heart songs into real songs and from my songs into their songs. Bless ya bro.

such a clear and concise way of explaining it… thank you! 🙏🏻

This is one of the most well presented basics courses I have ever seen, I have sent this to all of my friends learning music theory and piano, even ones that know it already so maybe it can help them teach it better to others.

That was an amazing lesson. A year and a half into playing by ear now, it’s time to stop trying to create chords on my own. These tips are really going to come in handy for stepping up my game. I had a couple of ideas in mind just watching this. I do read music, slowly, my mom was a piano teacher so I learned some through osmosis. But the number system is a new one to me. Thank you.

That's a lot of lessons packed into one video. Amazing to see how everything you do is making so much beautiful sounds.....I have to get back to learning now that your teaching skills have inspired me.

The first 7 minutes of your video did what no other resource gave me for a long time. You gave me the tool, not the theory. OMG. It all makes sense.

I have recently started production and I must say this video is PERFECT. Simple, and doesn't overdue the inform. Keep up the great work

I just wanted to drop a comment and say thank you SO MUCH!! I've been trying to make edm music for pretty much years now but only ever did sound design and then stop there because I never was able to write music well enough due to never having any background in music. Any guides I found felt too confusing, didn't explain enough, or explained with the assumption the person already knows all the terminology, so I often felt easily discouraged and hopeless. The way you explained things made it so much easier for my beginner brain to comprehend and the examples along with the visuals were also exactly what I needed to visualize what these words mean and what to look for when creating and learning. Also appreciate the explanation of terminology without sounding patronizing. No jokes or skipping over anything, just concise and informative. Exactly what I was looking for. Hopefully after watching this and practicing more I'll get the hang of it thanks to you! Earned my sub!

Hey Ethan, I've always struggled with music theory. I've always gone by ear never knowing anything. You've broken this down so simply, I finally get it. You're right, it doesn't take you very long at all. Thanks for the explanation - keep making music! It's a lifelong thing

I knew this for a long time but tell you something, i enjoyed watching your video as you put it across so simple and easy to understand for anyone who did not already know this procedure... Congratulations and thank you...

Thank you for making videos that help others. You will be blessed for it. I watch them all.

This hit hard! Very comprehensive and easy to understand. I play well by ear and understand some things. This brought a lot of prospective. Thanks bro!

Been really into your channel lately man, thank you for sharing!

Bro, thank you for helping me understand the whole chord thingie. Basically I was making music without knowing any of this, so I've been sampling from other songs and remaking them myself in a kind of similar way but different. I feel like now that I know this, I can make my own music without sampling from other songs. Thank you

The way you teach is out of this world. Appreciate you

90% of teaching well is not underestimating your student's ability to understand material, and finding the correct memory cues to keep them engaged. This video was fantastic. I've been considering taking up piano and what you did in the first twenty minutes of this video convinced me that I can actually have a blast doing this. Thank you!

Outstanding! Where were you when I was “trying” to learn music theory many years ago. If I was still a working musician/ composer, I’d jump all over this course!!

i have struggled with chords and you just showed me in 28 min, what i need to know. watched the video over and over again as i enjoyed the simplicity of your teaching.

I was looking for exactly this! Thank you for such a complete and succinct breakdown of something so complex. Bravo sir! Bravo

What a great way to summarize , connect, and make some sense out of what initially seems so complex.

I knew the basics but you made me understand it completely, appreciate the effort. Great teacher

I was waiting for this for a long time! Thanks!

WOW that was great! I feel overwhelmed but i also feel excited.. Thank you for sharing

I really appreciate this, my technical ability has been high for a while but my theory knowledge i had NONE so this really helps me learn for my songs

Very impressive. I didn't furrow my brow once. So clearly explained and it took me right along. Instant sub.

You are such a good teacher! Thank you ❤

I understood so much just from 1 viewing. You’re a great teacher. I will be watching this a few more times.

You’re a great teacher dude 🤘🏼 I’ve began to understand what I’ve been struggling to get forever. Thank you

This is an absolutely sublime video. Im on holiday in Marrakech sitting on a terrace with an old piano. Perfect time to learn and practice.

This is by far the best music theory video I have seen on RU-vid! Really resparked my motivation (and expectation) to keep making music :))

Dude, you've taught me more in 3 videos about music and life than I've learned on youtube in the past 5 years of producing music. Cheat codes bruh 😂

Thank you for posting this and for putting it across like you did , first theory lesson I truly felt I was grasping , I feel empowered, just bought my first keyboard , 🙏🙏

I must say this.. that.. You are such a great blessing 🙌.

Amazing tutorial. Thank you!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us

Spectacular video. I know nothing about music theory, but random tunes keep appearing in my mind. This class encourages me to start doing something about it. Thanks.

Hey man just got my first keyboard and I've watched this video twice, on my third now to freshen some things up. So immensely helpful, thanks a lot

Bruh, you have a great approach to making it make sense...Thank you!!!

I leaned more on this 30- minute video than in 7 years of piano lessons and 2 years of band. So many songs I know just rushed into my head. It’s like breaking a code. Excellent! PB

The pacing of the ending was so perfect. The moment you started to lose me a little bit, you'd relate what you just taught to a popular song and I'd get pulled right back in. Wonderful thank you for this dude.

I don't know why I started to cry after watching this. With hdhd I never had a chance to understand it, but this video really laid it out in a manner that had me glued to the screen. I appreciate you man.

Thanks, i really think your videos will help me. I just started 2 month ago building my bedroomstudio. As one of those, who never learned an instrument, i have to do all melodic stuff only by ear and trial and error. This simplified kind of a lesson is what i was looking for. Thx for that !

Ethan, you're an angel! Thanks a tonne for simplifying everything

thank u so much! like for real i never thought i could learn piano but w some practice and patience and ur videos i will learn one day to read and play. thank u again ur videos r so helpfull!

this is gold, thanks for sharing

Thank you ethan 👍 will definitely be watching this video a good few times till i get it all !! Awesome!! Great video 👍

The way you teach is the best i have seen so far. Idk if it’s just your process or how your videos are edited or both but it works great for me. Thanks!

Your videos are so awesome man and you seem like a great dude. Wish I could hang with you and make music, feel like we'd get along so well 😄. Keep up the killer content man!!

That's a great video! I think it's important to mention that the major chord is root - 4 half tones - 3 half tones. Same for minor scale : root - 3 half tones - 4 half tones. A chord with C, E and G is named C major, because it C is the root, and it's major because the difference of half tones are 4 then 3. It's a little thing that I didn't understand for quite long, so I wanted to put it there! Back in the days, my only source of information was a guitarist and he was like "I don't know, it's just a C chord, and you play it like this". I never had a proper explanation before David Bennett and Andrew Huang, so it was difficult to understand why things work and other don't xD

Man you really finna take me to new heights, thank you for that!

You rock my guy! Broke this down amazingly!

This is the best and easiest video I’ve found on explaining music theory and the Nashville number system! Thank you very much!

wow you did amazing with this explanation, thanks much

Fantastic explanations, thank you. Subscribed!

YOU DID IT PERFECTLY!!! Got my subscription!

Dude! You just summed up hundreds of hours of learning it took me to get some of this stuff 😁 great job making it simple!

Excellent lesson. Truly the cornerstone of song writing and music production. Nice job.

Love your teaching style thanks

Thank you for making this video!

This is the best video i have ever watched on music theory, speicifcally for chords and progressions (i have probably watched hundreds) Thank you for providing such accessible knowledge while making it fun :) You have one new subscriber!

Been tryna understand this for since I was 10 and you finally connected the dots. Thank you sir

OMG!!!! The light just came on. I have been a disc jockey for years could not play mary had a little lamb, however I have thousands of songs in my memory, could not tell you what key... The Nashville numbering system is what pulled everything in focus.... now I know what they mean, now I know what a chord progression is. Thank YOu !!!

Great video! I'm totally new, I'm gonna have to come back several times but this is great!

Well I lost you at the major minor chords.. I'll be watching this a couple of times.. Up to the beginning.... 😊

Excellent teaching and communication. I’m an extremely mediocre guitarist and have dabbled with piano off and on, but this video has inspired me to get back into it. Theory isn’t so daunting now thanks to you! Subbed for life

Got it! Great job! Thanks!

thorough breakdown,, - amazing work,, and thank u for the time put in ,,

Extremely helpful,keep up the great work

i love you man, you made things simple!

I couldn’t wait to finish before I subscribed. Great work!!!!

Thank you a lot bruv, your videos really helps me a lot.

Thank you! 🙌 This makes sense.

thank you, i was struggling yesterday whit chords, and today i came across the answer i needed yesterday day. muchas gracias

Great lesson, totally followed it well!

MAN, THAT'S SO HELPFUL...

You are so helpful. I really like your way of teaching

Really connects. Thanks for this

Cleanest explanation tysm

Not even halfway through this video and I already feel like I can finally grasp this concept! Thank you so much.

Great job! Way to keep it simple.

Loved it. Thanks.

I agree with you. This is all I need.

Bro I've been searching for a music theory video all month and you just did it for me in 1 video and you made me fall in love with the theory so much that I might even dive deeper in this :) thank you very much

I learned a lot in this little bit of time. Thank you and God bless.

Amazing, thank you Ethan!

Your an amazing teacher thank you so much for all you do to help us aspiring musicians learn how to play 🙏🏻🕉️♾️☮️☮️

I first got into music when I was 12(I am turning 21 next month), I started with a guitar and I was always told that I had a natural thing for it. I didnt know any notes but I was able to make good sounding plays just messing around on my guitar or on the class piano. I eventually learned the basic notes but thats pretty much it, Ive been able to make music with basic knowledge and just listening by ear. I tried to wrap my head around music theory for the past 2 years since I started producing but I havent been able to do so until I found this video. You just explained this, what I thought was complicated theory in a way to make it so easy. I just took notes on my journal and will read it over and over. Ive watched many videos about music theory and some were ok but this is hands down the best video on music theory. Thank you good sir!!

An excellent tutorial that simplifies music theory!!!!!!!

I just f*kin love this kind of videos. Straight to the point, clear explanation and minimum interruptions. If you didn't understand, you pause the video, go back and watch it again. No going around the same thing over and over again wasting people's time. I'm totally subscribing. Thank you!

Wow this is really good stuff.. I am very new to piano , and I love this lesson ❤

I’ve been wanting to learn how to make beats and produce music and music theory seemed so confusing so I avoided it but after watching this and taking notes I feel like I can understand sooo much more

Thanks a lot for this great video really explained it all so simplified 😊🙌🙏🏻🙏🏻