Music theory in the digital age: Transformation of traditional theory in popular music production, analytical approaches, and a systematic literature review on DAW-based practices

Abstract

This study examines how traditional music theory concepts are transformed and reconceptualized in contemporary popular music production through a systematic literature review. Core categories of classical music theory—harmony, counterpoint, rhythm, form, and timbre/orchestration—are reconsidered within the context of Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)-based production practices, loop-based composition, sampling, and electronic sound design. Analytical studies in genres such as pop, rock, hip-hop, and Electronic Dance Music (EDM) demonstrate that functional harmony has evolved into cyclical and layered structures, meter and pulse theory has shifted toward microtime and groove concepts, and traditional orchestration understanding has transformed into track-based and timbre-focused approaches. This review examines academic sources published between 2000 and 2025, emphasizing the need to expand music theory education to encompass popular music practices, and proposes DAW-based analytical methods, groove-oriented theoretical frameworks, and the treatment of timbre/mix as structural categories. The study systematically compares conceptual differences between traditional and digital approaches through comparative frameworks and supports findings with concrete examples from contemporary artists including The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, and Calvin Harris.