Professional Diploma in

Sound Engineering

Lesson 4: Music Theory for Sound Engineers

Explain frequency and pitch

Lesson 4

Use a piano roll in a DAW

Explain major and minor scales

Compose chords

Objectives

Recall the notes in a key signature

Tone

Bright, dull, thin, and warm

Frequency relationship of two sounds

All sounds consist of many frequencies

Only musical sounds have harmonics

Pitch

Increase in frequency = higher pitch

We can hear from 20 Hz to 20 000 Hz

1 Hertz = 1 complete wave (peak to peak)

A = 440 Hz

A = 440 Hz

Pure tone

Pure tone is a sine wave

Most simple type of wave

Pitch

Octaves Notes

A 440

A4

440 for frequency

A4 for register

Divide by 2 for lower octaves

A4 = 440 Hz A3 = 220 Hz

A2 = 110 Hz A1 = 55 Hz

A4 = 440 Hz

Multiply by 2 for higher octaves

A5 = 880 Hz

A6 = 1760 Hz

A7 = 3520 Hz

TimbreTone colour

We all sound different due to harmonics

The fundamental

A pure tone is a simple sine wave

Root frequency is the fundamental

Fundamental is also the 1st harmonic

A3 = 220 Hz

Overtones

• Fundamental is the 1st harmonic

• 1st overtone is the 2nd harmonic

• Different overtones and loudness = different timbre

The harmonic seriesBased on a ratio

Based on the fundamental

Overtones• Wave 1 = fundamental

• Wave 2 = 1st overtone

• 1st overtone = 2 oscillations

• 2nd overtone = 3 oscillations

(Schmidt-Jones, 2020)

Piano and cello sound different

Same overtones, different amplitudes

Overtones

We can closely recreate most natural tones using the overtone series

Instruments and combinations

Strings Woodwinds

Brass Percussion

Strings

Violin Harp

Viola Guitar

Cello Lute

Double bass Mandolin

Woodwinds

• Piccolo

• Flute

• Oboe

• English horn

• Clarinet

• E-flat clarinet

• Bass clarinet

• Bassoon

• Contra bassoon

BrassTuba

Euphonium

Cornet

Trumpet

Flugel

French horn

PercussionPitched:

Marimba

Timpani

Xylophone

Triangle

PercussionUnpitched:

Snare drum

Cymbals

Tambourine

New timbres

Create specific timbresCombine instruments

Light melody = violin + flute

Normal melody = violinThicker melody = violin + trumpet

MIDIMusical Interface Digital Instrument

MidiControl computers, external

devices, and light shows

Compose music

Connected time oriented media

Pitch, velocity, and time

Midi is information, not sound

3 parameters of midi for control

Midi: pitchHow high or low a note is

Can also assign drum sounds

Midi: velocity

Strength of musical note

Peak v127elocity =

Lowest velocity = 0

“volume” of a note

Midi: time

Timecode: Per quarter note beat

Control external devices

Change note lengths in DAW

Midi: controllers

Record and send information

Control devices and software

Makes using midi easier

Midi applications

Musical notes and values on

software

Light show for your music

Control external devices

Pitch and velocity are “switches”

Piano rollMidi values

Pitch, velocity, and time

Piano roll

12 notesChromatic

scale

7 basic notesA - B - C - D -

E - F - G

Piano roll

Half and whole steps

Semi tone = half step

Up/down with one key

Whole tone = whole step

Up/down with 2 semi-tones

Midi: velocity

Allows dynamics in digital music

Value between 0 – 127

High velocity = strong signal

Low velocity = weak signal

Measures time in quarter note beats

Midi: notes

Can work with 8th, 16th, 32nd, and 64th notes

Some DAWs support up to 128th notes

Music theory for sound engineers

A –> G# = 12 notes

7 notes

Diatonic scale

5 whole steps + 2 half steps = Diatonic scale

Major notes = Minor notes = different starting note

C Maj vsa min

Only white notes on a piano

C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, AYour first two

key signatures!

Easy scales:

Maj: W-W-H-W-W-W-H

Min: W-H-W-W- H -W-W

Use thisfor chords and

melodies

1 + 3 + 5 = ChordC – E – G A – C – E

Chord: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8/1

C Maj: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

A min: A – B – C – D – E – F – G - A

C maj A min

Maj vs min chords

3 steps from 1 to 3 = min

4 steps from 1 to 3 = maj

1 + 3 + 5 = ChordC – E - G A – C – E

C maj A min

Chord: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8/1

C Maj: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

A min: A – B – C – D – E – F – G - A

Diminished: B

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

• C, d, e, f, G

• G, a, b, c, D

• D, e, f, g, A

Circle of fifths

(MusicNotes.com; 2020)

Easy rhymes for easy scales

Sharp #: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Flat b: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

A 4th is a 5th reversed

(musicnotes, 2020)

Some notes have 2 names

• A# = Bb

• B# = C

• C# = Dd

Enharmonic notesertones

Completed lessons

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See you soon forL e s s o n 5

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