Whats the best way to learn music theroy and is it worth it?

subotai · Unread post by **subotai** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 11:21 am

I just know basic chords and modes. I dont know chord construction very well but have read about it. It seems like you have to use that stuff a lot to get it down cause its a lot of memorization.

Is theroy worth the effort to learn it? Will I be able to improv to a song I never heard before and start throwing out crazy chords and stuff that will sound cool or does it take like 10 years to do that kinda thing?

Thanks

isaac · Unread post by **isaac** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 11:22 am

so...tempted to say...do a search...

i'll see if i can dig up some threads for you.

Appfro · Unread post by **Appfro** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 11:58 am

hold....back....isaac..... nah i can't really help you there. im learning myself. my advice is read everything you can on the stuff. do a google search, there are a lot of resources out there....a lot. also, before you start, memorization is the key it seems.

isaac · Unread post by **isaac** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:09 pm

Appfro wrote:before you start, memorization is the key it seems

pun there?

anyway, here are a few threads.

one on best way to learn theory:
http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic ... ght=theory

benefits of theory:
http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic ... ght=theory

i asked the same question once myself:
http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic ... ght=theory

good theory site:
http://www.zentao.com/guitar/

hope that helps.

Appfro · Unread post by **Appfro** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:42 pm

isaac wrote:
Appfro wrote:before you start, memorization is the key it seems
pun there?

anyway, here are a few threads.

one on best way to learn theory:
http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic ... ght=theory

benefits of theory:
http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic ... ght=theory

i asked the same question once myself:
http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic ... ght=theory

good theory site:
http://www.zentao.com/guitar/

hope that helps.

wow, kanter can never say that you don't do your part.

isaac · Unread post by **isaac** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 7:13 pm

i'm around often enough, might as well contribute every now and then.

hehe, seriously though, thanks, but i'm just trying to help.

adrianosr · Unread post by **adrianosr** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 8:55 pm

It's totally worth it!
The best way would be... getting a teacher, off course!! Talking to people who know more than you do! Learning theory without examples and aplying it really sucks!!
If you can't, just seach google for music theory, guitar theory, guitar lessons - it's all over the place! There are lots of sites with sound files for examples.
Just a small dmb apllied example: What Will Become Of Me is based on a very common jazz or Blues/Jazz. If you know your theory, you'd get it by ear in 1 min or 2 AND you could manage to do some cool variations/jams on top of it!
The WWYS jam is totally jazz too!
So, Get to work man!

firedancer86 · Unread post by **firedancer86** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:04 am

I don't think it should be a question of, "should I"? but rather "when should I"...ground yourself well involved in developing your EAR for music...once you can naturaly feel and learn what a what a piece of music is doing, then you can focus on such things...

at least that is always what I have thought to be best...I think theory and reading standard notation can be a turn off to musicians unless they have been grounded first...

but should a musician learn theory...I think so, but that is up to the player...

these are all just my opinions, since you asked the question
hope it made some sense

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 4:00 am

firedancer86 wrote:I don't think it should be a question of, "should I"? but rather "when should I"...ground yourself well involved in developing your EAR for music...once you can naturaly feel and learn what a what a piece of music is doing, then you can focus on such things...

at least that is always what I have thought to be best...I think theory and reading standard notation can be a turn off to musicians unless they have been grounded first...

but should a musician learn theory...I think so, but that is up to the player...

these are all just my opinions, since you asked the question
hope it made some sense

fire is right, you need to at least be able to discern what key the song is in or what chords are being played in order to play along with a song you just learned.

but with a knowledge of theory, you can do so many things by just knowing what key the song is in. it is most definitely worth it; i wouldn't be half the player i am now without a knowledge of theory

ryopan · Unread post by **ryopan** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 4:59 am

damn theory. ive got some but could always have more (when i say some, i mean very little). im still holding out for the day when i just wake up and know it some how. "oh thatll be the day ay ay that i die"

ryan

DrFartbrain · Unread post by **DrFartbrain** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 12:26 am

I recommend getting a teacher, because then you have someone who can tell you if you're doing something wrong. I always preach family and friends (older though) who were classically trained.

If all else fails, get a self-instruction book.

jwelzy · Unread post by **jwelzy** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 12:00 pm

it's never too soon to start learning theory, I've been playing for years now, and time and time again it always come sback to kick me in the ass. If you know it well suddenly everything makes so much more sense than before. Dont avoid it, learn as much as you can, and YESSS a real teacher I would highly reccomended, it will be the first thing they want to teach you, the root of everything. Try not just to mimmick, but to understand why. I hated theory for years but it's prevelance is not something any guitar player or musician should ignore.

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Whats the best way to learn music theroy and is it worth it?

Whats the best way to learn music theroy and is it worth it?

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