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music-theory-engine

Design & creation

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Updated 10-15 10:51

About this skill

Music Theory Engine — Process-Oriented

This skill is a process guide, not a knowledge dump. It teaches you how to research the right theory for each task, not memorize everything upfront.

Core Principle

Real composers don't memorize all theory — they research what they need for each piece.

Your workflow for any composition task:

1. RESEARCH   → What does this genre/style actually sound like?
2. ANALYZE    → What patterns, chords, rhythms define it?
3. EXTRACT    → What are the 2-3 key principles I need?
4. COMPOSE    → Apply those principles to create something new
5. EVALUATE   → Does it sound right? Does it match the reference?

Phase 1: RESEARCH — Finding the Right Reference

How to Research a Genre or Style

When asked to compose in a genre you need to understand better:

  1. Search for theory analysis of that genre:

    • Search the web: "{genre}" chord progressions analysis
    • Search the web: "{genre}" song structure common patterns
    • Search the web: "{genre}" rhythm patterns drum programming
    • Search the web: "{genre}" bass line techniques

  2. Find specific reference songs the user mentions or that define the genre:

    • Search the web: "{song name}" chord progression key BPM
    • Search the web: "{song name}" music analysis breakdown
    • Look for sites like Hooktheory, Chordify, Ultimate Guitar for real analyses

  3. Find Strudel/TidalCycles examples in that style:

    • Search the web: site:strudel.cc "{genre}" OR "{style}"
    • Search the web: TidalCycles "{genre}" pattern example
    • Search the web: strudel music pattern "{genre}"

  4. Read the DAW's existing presets for genre hints:

    • Read src/constants/generationPresets.ts for genre-specific defaults

What to Extract from Research

For each genre/style, identify these 5 elements:

  • Key/Scale: What key and scale is most common? (e.g., minor pentatonic for blues)
  • Chord Language: What chord types and progressions define it? (e.g., 7th chords for jazz)
  • Rhythmic Feel: Straight 8ths? Swing? Syncopated? What's the drum backbone?
  • Texture: Sparse or dense? What instruments? What register?
  • Form: How long are sections? What's the energy curve?

Phase 2: ANALYZE — Extracting Patterns from References

Chord Progression Analysis Process

When you find a reference song's chords:

  1. Identify the key — what note feels like "home"?
  2. Convert to Roman numerals — this reveals the pattern independent of key
    • In C major: C=I, Dm=ii, Em=iii, F=IV, G=V, Am=vi, Bdim=vii°
    • In C minor (natural): Cm=i, Ddim=ii°, Eb=III, Fm=iv, Gm=v, Ab=VI, Bb=VII
    • Important: In practice, minor keys use V (major) from harmonic minor for dominant function. In C minor: G major (V), not Gm (v). The raised 7th (B natural) creates the leading tone → tonic resolution.
  3. Identify the function of each chord:
    • Tonic (I/i, vi/VI, iii/III): stability, home
    • Subdominant (IV/iv, ii/ii°): movement, departure
    • Dominant (V, vii°): tension, wants to resolve to tonic
  4. Note the voicing — are chords simple triads or extended (7ths, 9ths)?
  5. Note the rhythm — how many beats per chord? Any syncopation?

Melody Analysis Process

When analyzing a reference melody:

  1. Identify scale degrees used — mostly pentatonic? Full diatonic? Chromatic passing tones?
  2. Map the contour — does it arch up then down? Descend? Oscillate?
  3. Identify the motif — what's the smallest repeating melodic idea (2-4 notes)?
  4. Note rhythmic patterns — long notes on strong beats? Syncopation?
  5. Check chord-tone alignment — are chord tones on strong beats?

Rhythm Analysis Process

  1. Identify the pulse — where do you tap your foot?
  2. Map the kick pattern — where are the bass drum hits?
  3. Map the snare/clap — typically beats 2 & 4 (backbeat) or elsewhere?
  4. Map the hi-hat/ride — what subdivision? (8ths, 16ths, triplets?)
  5. Identify ghost notes — soft hits between main beats
  6. Note swing amount — straight, light swing, hard swing?

Phase 3: EXTRACT — Distilling Principles

The "2-4 Principles" Rule

For any composition task, distill your research into 2-4 key principles (default: 3). More than 4 leads to overconstrained, mechanical output. Fewer than 2 is too vague. Simple genres (punk, ambient) may need only 2. Complex genres (jazz, progressive) may need 4.

Example: Lo-Fi Hip-Hop

  1. Jazz-influenced chords (7ths, 9ths) with Dorian color
  2. Laid-back drums (slightly behind the beat, ghost notes, 70-90 BPM)
  3. Sparse, pentatonic melody with lots of space and reverb/delay

Example: EDM Drop

  1. Four-on-the-floor kick with off-beat hi-hats at 128 BPM
  2. Minor key, simple progression (often just 2 chords), heavy bass
  3. Energy contrast: stripped breakdown → full drop

Example: Jazz Ballad

  1. Extended harmony (maj7, m9, 13) with smooth voice leading
  2. Rubato/free timing feel, brushes on drums, walking or pedal bass
  3. Melody uses chromatic approach tones, telling a story with dynamics

Output: Composition Brief

After research and extraction, write a brief BEFORE composing:

Genre: Lo-Fi Hip-Hop
Key: C Dorian (C D Eb F G A Bb)
BPM: 82
Feel: Laid-back, nostalgic, warm

Principle 1: Chord voicings — Cm9, Fm9, Dm7b5, G7b9 (i-iv-iiø-V7 in C minor, jazz extensions)
Principle 2: Rhythm — Boom-bap kick pattern, ghost snares, lazy hi-hats at 0.2-0.4 velocity
Principle 3: Texture — Rhodes/piano chords, sparse pentatonic melody, sub bass, vinyl crackle feel

Reference: Nujabes "Feather", J Dilla "Donuts"

Phase 4: COMPOSE — Applying Principles

Construction Order

Build from the ground up, each layer informed by research:

  1. Harmonic foundation — chord progression (from analyzed patterns)
  2. Rhythmic foundation — drum pattern (from genre research)
  3. Bass — follows chords, uses genre-appropriate movement
  4. Melody/lead — uses extracted scale, respects contour principles
  5. Texture/atmosphere — pads, effects, fills (from reference analysis)

Key Constraints (Always Apply)

These are universal — not genre-specific:

  • All pitched parts must be in the same key — verify scale compatibility
  • Bass notes land on chord roots at strong beats — minimum harmonic anchor
  • Bass register: octave 2-3 (MIDI 36-71). Octave 1 (MIDI 24-35) is too low for most speakers
  • Velocity must vary — no flat velocity; use 0.3-0.9 range with natural variation
    • Drums: 0.3-0.9 (ghost notes low, accents high)
    • Pads/chords: 0.3-0.5 (sit back in the mix)
    • Melody: 0.5-0.8 (expressive, varied)
  • Leave space — rests are musical; don't fill every beat
  • Sound sources: every pitched note() needs .s("instrument"). For drums, use s("bd sd hh").bank("KitName")
  • Time signature matters: default is 4/4 (4 beats per cycle). For 3/4 waltz, use 3-beat patterns. For 6/8, subdivide accordingly

Strudel Syntax Essentials (Minimum Viable)

Only the syntax you need to know to output patterns:

note("c4 e4 g4")           // named notes (sharps: cs4, flats: eb4)
s("bd sd hh").bank("RolandTR808")  // drum sounds
stack(part1, part2, part3)  // layer simultaneously
note("c4 [d4 e4] f4 g4")   // subdivide: d4+e4 share one beat
note("c4@2 e4 g4")          // c4 held for 2 beats
note("c4 ~ e4 ~")           // ~ = rest
note("[c3,e3,g3]")          // comma = chord (simultaneous notes)
.velocity("0.7 0.5 0.8")   // per-note dynamics
.lpf(800).room(0.3)         // filter, reverb
.fast(2) / .slow(2)         // speed transform

Critical Strudel gotchas:

  • <a b c> = alternation (one per cycle, rotating) — NOT a chord!
  • [a,b,c] = chord (simultaneous) — use commas
  • [a b c] = subdivision (squeeze into one beat) — no commas
  • Sharps: cs4 fs4 (NOT c#4) — Strudel uses s suffix
  • Flats: eb4 bb4 (NOT e-flat4) — Strudel uses b suffix

For advanced Strudel syntax, search the docs:

  • Search the web: strudel.cc documentation {specific feature}

Key Transposition Process

When transposing to a different key:

  1. Calculate the interval in semitones (e.g., C→Eb = +3)
  2. Shift every note name by that interval
  3. Be consistent with enharmonic spelling: in flat keys use flats (eb, bb), in sharp keys use sharps (cs, fs)
  4. Verify: after transposition, check all notes still belong to the target scale

Phase 5: EVALUATE — Quality Check

After composing, verify against your 2-4 principles:

  1. Does it match the genre feel? — Compare against research/reference
  2. Are the chords voiced correctly? — Check intervals, no wrong notes
  3. Does the rhythm groove? — Imagine it playing; does the kick/snare pattern feel right?
  4. Is it musical? — Space, dynamics, contour — not just "correct notes"
  5. Would the user recognize the genre? — If asked for lo-fi, does it sound lo-fi?
  6. Does the code run? — If Strudel evaluation fails, read the error, fix syntax, re-evaluate

If any check fails, go back to the relevant phase and refine.

When You Don't Know Something

Don't guess — research.

Situation Action
Don't know the genre's typical chords Search the web: "{genre}" common chord progressions
Don't know the right scale Search the web: "{genre}" scales modes used
Don't know the drum pattern Search the web: "{genre}" drum pattern programming
Don't know the BPM range Search the web: "{genre}" typical BPM tempo
User references a specific song Search the web: "{song}" chords key BPM analysis
Don't know a Strudel feature Search the web: strudel.cc {feature name}
Not sure about a voicing Reason from intervals: root + intervals in semitones

The MIDI pitch table is the ONE thing worth memorizing: Middle C = c4 = MIDI 60. Each octave = 12 semitones. Sharps use s (not #): cs4, fs4.

Related Skills

  • strudel-maestro — How to write Strudel patterns (syntax, prototyping, refinement)
  • compose — Full song composition workflow that orchestrates this skill and strudel-maestro