aphex, music theory

So, for musical theory experts. Aphex is said to not follow music theory. Or he sounds like he has had no formal training to the people that can spot it. How is this? To anyone that might be able to explain .. Masonic? Thanks

I thought he just couldn't read music?

His music never has complex chords (I think Nannou2 is about as complex as they get) which to me would be the biggest indication that he's not well versed in western classical music theory. That said, I actually think Rhubarb is a pretty standard SATB chord progression with maybe two or three substitutions in there somewhere. His melodies are very simple and memorable, and yet don't always go where you'd expect them to (end of analog bubblebath, tha or ageispolis) which would further indicate that he plays by his own "rules". Rhythmically he probably couldn't transcribe or even describe any of the beats from Drukqs, but thats the point, he's going on intuition and of course incredible innate musical ability combined with years of experience and practice. I'm jealous.

if you make music then you have to know a little bit about theory. This doesn't mean that you have to be formally taught, but the more you make music the more you invent you 'own theory', your own rules that you know to apply to get different results. Like, there were loads of great jazz musicians who would have claimed not to know anything about theory, but must have acquired their own theory through experience and listening.

And yeah aphex twin's music is pretty basic anyway lol.

  On 8/21/2010 at 9:56 PM, fingers said:

And yeah aphex twin's music is pretty basic anyway lol.

Not really

the sound of throwing stakcs of cash onto the keyboards and wahtever sounds that make

interesting. i think i fit the category of those who can spot it. it sounds very instinctive to me, thus the timeless sound of throwing stakcs of cash. also mad about fine tuning/subtle dissonance.

You know who else follows Music Theory ... Justin Bieber.

Fuck the rules. , Music Theory = 4/4 pop

There's been a thread about this some time ago.

You might find some interesting INSULTS information there. INSULT.

INSULIN.

Justin Bieber is a genius

  On 8/30/2010 at 12:47 AM, marf said:

Justin Bieber is a genius

You should hear his breakcore side project, BieberBeatz. It'll melt your face.

what's wrong with Justin Bieber? just cause lots of teenage girls like him?

  On 8/30/2010 at 12:47 AM, marf said:

Justin Bieber is a genius

in a way, he is. look at where he's at

OLD COPYPASTA IS OLD

  On 8/31/2010 at 10:24 PM, Calx Sherbet said:

  On 8/30/2010 at 12:47 AM, marf said:

Justin Bieber is a genius

 

in a way, he is. look at where he's at

LOL! The implication that all celebrities are in a way genius is fucking hilarious. Way to go.

don't be a douche

Richard D James is the Mozart of our time.

  On 9/4/2010 at 5:31 AM, headspin said:

Richard D James is the Mozart of our time.

Statements like that just come across as pretentious and idiotic to me.

  On 9/4/2010 at 7:24 AM, Sprigg said:

  On 9/4/2010 at 5:31 AM, headspin said:

Richard D James is the Mozart of our time.

 

Statements like that just come across as pretentious and idiotic to me.

yes we all know mozart liked to shit on people and there is no indication of this...yet

he knows more theory than autechre and probably less than squarepusher (a good thing)

Id say he is the Sergei Prokofiev . Both made melt your heart melodies

Music theory what?

You sit down, you learn a synthesizer and a program and you make the music? that's how basic it is, Then rdj is really skilled.. but has nothing to do with music theory

We all know he started at home with almost no training what so ever, he just evolved by himself, and this is by far better then any theory.

EVER!

  On 9/4/2010 at 4:27 PM, Fatcaesar said:

You sit down, you learn a synthesizer and a program and you make the music? that's how basic it is, Then rdj is really skilled.. but has nothing to do with music theory

We all know he started at home with almost no training what so ever, he just evolved by himself, and this is by far better then any theory.

he's said thats his parents owned a piano. he's very adept at melody, harmony (particularly minor) and counterpoint. many of the analord tunes are in musical modes such as phrygian. not to say he isn't self taught, but its not as simple as plugging in a synth and noodling around nor does the same melody repeat for the entire song like autechre, there is a knowledge of chordal progression. you wanna hear someone who has no formal training whatsoever (and wants nothing to do with it) listen to kawabata makoto's guitar solos (starts @ 5:15).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uSbiXSzpH0

aphex's stuff is too well arranged, at the very least there is a great deal of attention to musical structure and form.

Yea i agree, but what i meant was that people don't need the educational musical theory to make music, if you ask me Aphex makes music from his soul (not that it exists but hey..) i really think there is a huge difference at the end if you base your creation on musical theory or not.

It's like, he makes a beat and wants to find a melody for it, he does not make a melody according to the theory, he simply makes it based on perhaps how he feels for that moment, perhaps from a memory and so on

That's what makes music so unique i guess, i might be wrong but that seems logical to me

  On 9/4/2010 at 7:24 AM, Sprigg said:

  On 9/4/2010 at 5:31 AM, headspin said:

Richard D James is the Mozart of our time.

 

Statements like that just come across as pretentious and idiotic to me.

How so?

I'm pretty sure that in a couple of hundred years time he well be revered in much the same way Mozart is now.

So what's so pretentious and idiotic about that? and why would you post such a thing anyway, it just seems unnecessary and mean so shame on you =(

  On 9/5/2010 at 3:15 PM, Fatcaesar said:

Yea i agree, but what i meant was that people don't need the educational musical theory to make music, if you ask me Aphex makes music from his soul (not that it exists but hey..) i really think there is a huge difference at the end if you base your creation on musical theory or not.

It's like, he makes a beat and wants to find a melody for it, he does not make a melody according to the theory, he simply makes it based on perhaps how he feels for that moment, perhaps from a memory and so on

 

That's what makes music so unique i guess, i might be wrong but that seems logical to me

people who know theory and those who dont both make good and bad music, but since the idea of quality is dubious when it comes to creative endeavors, perhaps you just enjoy or identify with what comes from his musical "soul"

it seems like academics only praise other academics. SO maybe he won't be praised in the future