No Dumb Questions 216 - How to Music
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Nov 25, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Jeff Foote, a pastor and musician known as Rooktown, explores the creative process behind his music and podcast compositions. He shares insights on using digital tools like Cakewalk and Logic Pro for production. Jeff illustrates how music can be seen as numbers and patterns, explaining the significance of intervals and chords in shaping melodies. The conversation touches on the musical genius of composers like Bach and Beethoven, as well as modern artists who twist harmonic rules, showcasing music's emotional power and storytelling.
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One-Man Band And Podcast Composer
- Jeff Foote is a one-man band who records and performs under the name Rooktown and does all the vocals and instrumentation himself.
- He also produces music for Matt Whitman's podcast and made a Sea of Tranquility album used as soundtrack material.
Think Of Notes As Numbers
- Convert notes to numbers (C=1, D=2, …) to simplify intervals and chord relationships.
- Use 1-3-5 to build major chords and 1-4-5 as foundational progressions for most songs.
Octave As A Recognizable Jump
- Octaves are the same note name at double the frequency and feel like 'the same' pitch an octave higher.
- Jeff uses songs like Somewhere Over the Rainbow to internally identify octave intervals.
