---
date: '2023-09-25'
description: half step into the oblivion
id: music theory
modified: 2026-06-05 15:08:22 GMT-04:00
tags:
  - seed
title: Music theory
created: '2023-09-25'
published: '2023-09-25'
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slug: thoughts/music-theory
permalink: https://aarnphm.xyz/thoughts/music-theory.md
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---
Between natural notes, E–F and B–C are half steps. E–F♯ is a whole step.

For a [parallel natural minor scale](https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/MinorScales.html), keep the major scale’s tonic and lower its third, sixth and seventh degrees by a half step. C major becomes C natural minor: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭. Harmonic and melodic minor alter this pattern.

Elements per side for a House/Techno:
L-R: Perc, piano, strings, pads, guitars, synths, fx, bv

M: vocals, snare, bass, kick

### Effects

### Vocals

Call and response

### Mids

- Guitar, piano

### Bass

Usually with Synths/808

Tools:

- Ableton Operator
- Serum

Sixteenth-note grid

i-iv-vii

### Drums

UKG sketch: sixteenth-note swing delays the second note in each pair of sixteenths, giving alternating long and short intervals. The amount varies with the groove. In Live, try a swing groove and adjust its Timing amount in the [Groove Pool](https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/using-grooves/).

#### Kick

- Fat 909

#### Hats

Jacking hi-hats: a closed hi-hat followed by an open hi-hat, or vice versa.

#### Claps

#### Percussion

### Syncopation

### Major third

In a major key, try changing the minor iii chord to major before vi. In C major, that gives E major followed by A minor. The G♯ in E major leads up to A. In this context, E major acts as the [secondary dominant of vi](https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/Tonicization.html), written $\mathrm{V/vi}$.