Music Theory

tgabtg · Unread post by **tgabtg** » Mon May 12, 2003 4:27 pm

Can anyone point me to a good Music Theory site or book?

Here's what I'm trying to accomplish:

I have no prior instrument experience and I picked up a guitar last year, after being mesmerized by Dave and his skills.

So I've learned basic chords how to read tablature etc etc. but how does one learn what notes, chords go together ala music theory?

For example I can whistle a tune no problem, I can come up with riffs in my head, but how do I learn to play what I'm whistling? Is it a matter of memorization?

I suck at guitar =(
Drew

taylordb · Unread post by **taylordb** » Mon May 12, 2003 8:07 pm

Ticohans can probably recommend a good one for you.

Wooo Hooo, my 100th post!

DustyDave · Unread post by **DustyDave** » Mon May 12, 2003 8:19 pm

taylordb wrote:Ticohans can probably recommend a good one for you.

Wooo Hooo, my 100th post!

Yeah Tico got quite some extensive music theory :lol:

Congratulations on the 100th post

swift360 · Unread post by **swift360** » Mon May 12, 2003 8:38 pm

tga.. i am basically in the same boat as you (except now w/o my own guitar... see charity post). If anyone can help us.. im sure i speak for tga when i say thanks. would a college course in music help this at all.. they say music 101 is a note readying class.. do u think it would be worth my time?

QuattroDore · Unread post by **QuattroDore** » Mon May 12, 2003 8:42 pm

http://www.12bar.de

Go to "Guitar Basics" on the menus. He does a pretty good job explaining the basics. When learning theory there is really no foolproof method. It can get confusing in a hurry, so read slow and don't give up.

:shock:

Tangus · Unread post by **Tangus** » Tue May 13, 2003 2:54 pm

I like a site by a guy named Dan Smith. I don't remember the address, but if you do a Yahoo search for 'dansm' you should find it without a problem.

ticohans · Unread post by **ticohans** » Tue May 13, 2003 9:48 pm

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

http://www.guitartips.addr.com/

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

http://www.activeguitar.com

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

I just did a search on the forums here to bring up some of the many guitar theory discussions that have been had on these boards. I'd say check out the links. Some are to other websites, and some are to old threads with a lot of info. If there are any specific questions there are many here, including myself who would be willing to help. If you're looking to just learn all sorts of general theory, though, that really can't be done via the boards, and I'd be shocked if you could learn it well with a website. If you really want to get into the nitty gritty, that ususally requries a teacher. Hope this helps. Let me know if there are any questions.

MWR · Unread post by **MWR** » Tue May 13, 2003 11:24 pm

I have a more specific question regarding theory maybe some of you can help me with. I know basic scale theory but I have always wondered how you harmonize a scale. For instance: with the harmonic minor or the dorian scale how do you know what is major and whats minor. I use these as an example but I was wondering if there was a trick to finding out how to harmonize any scale.

tgabtg · Unread post by **tgabtg** » Tue May 13, 2003 11:52 pm

Ticohans,

Thanks for that list.

Someone pointed to Dansm's page earlier, I think I'll start there.

TGABTG

DreaminBassMunky · Unread post by **DreaminBassMunky** » Wed May 14, 2003 7:37 pm

I dont know much about theory, I am in highschool and I am taking it next year. I know some stuff though. Are you referring to relative minors. Cause the relative minor of any major is just three half steps lower. It adds great contrast to any song to add the relative minors in places. I dont know if that helped at all

ticohans · Unread post by **ticohans** » Thu May 15, 2003 12:33 am

Sorry, MWR, but I don't understand quite what you're asking. Are you wondering how one can tell if chords built with scale bass notes are major or minor? because if so, just fill out the triad using the notes of the scale and you've got that problem solved.

I think that you might be using the term harmonize too broadly or incorrectly, because it doesn't really make sense in the context of the rest of your post...

bigdork817 · Unread post by **bigdork817** » Fri May 16, 2003 5:53 pm

No book can ever teach you to play what you are singing or hearing in your head. The only way to learn that is to sing it and then sit down with your guitar and figure it out. Sit with your guitar in front of the TV and try to play back all the simple melodies from the commercials. Most importantly, sit with records and learn the songs without ever looking at tabs or music books, just use your ears. Start simple; Matchbox Twenty, Oasis, Howie Day, David Gray.

When trying to figure out chords, listen just for what note is on the base, got it? Ok, now what is the top not being strummed on that chord? Now expiriment and try to fill in the remaining notes by resorting to chords you know that may contain those notes, or try simply to just hear the other notes in the chord (ok, admittedly, its not that simple but it will come). Is there a note on the top that is staying the same up the neck, say an "A" at the fifth fret on every chord, that might mean there is a capo on the fifth fret that allows that. If you think you are hearing that try using a capo and see if that makes the progression make more sense. Even if you don't like that bands I mentioned above they are good to start with. They rarely use more than basic open chords and common major and minor barre chords. If you get through say, 10 easy songs of theirs you can move onto harder stuff with confidence. This is very important, I guarantee you Dave knows very little reguarding music theory, but if you play him a short chord progression you better believe he can play it back for you in just a few moments.

Last thing I swear, all of this is not to say that studying theory isn't a commendable effort. I just finished my second year of music school and there are some things that I am able to understand only because of the amount of theory that I know. But my ears cannot instantly hear and recognize everything that my mind understands and that limits me. Spending the last couple years playing with tons of amazing musicians has taught me that the ear is what all of your skill hinges upon. If you can't hear it you will never get better than where you are. So read a few books and ask questions to people who know more than you when you are stuck, but listen too and don't expect the books to do the work for you.

Good luck
Brian

grock · Unread post by **grock** » Mon May 19, 2003 10:01 am

bigdork817 wrote:No book can ever teach you to play what you are singing or hearing in your head. The only way to learn that is to sing it and then sit down with your guitar and figure it out. Sit with your guitar in front of the TV and try to play back all the simple melodies from the commercials. Most importantly, sit with records and learn the songs without ever looking at tabs or music books, just use your ears. Start simple; Matchbox Twenty, Oasis, Howie Day, David Gray.

When trying to figure out chords, listen just for what note is on the base, got it? Ok, now what is the top not being strummed on that chord? Now expiriment and try to fill in the remaining notes by resorting to chords you know that may contain those notes, or try simply to just hear the other notes in the chord (ok, admittedly, its not that simple but it will come). Is there a note on the top that is staying the same up the neck, say an "A" at the fifth fret on every chord, that might mean there is a capo on the fifth fret that allows that. If you think you are hearing that try using a capo and see if that makes the progression make more sense. Even if you don't like that bands I mentioned above they are good to start with. They rarely use more than basic open chords and common major and minor barre chords. If you get through say, 10 easy songs of theirs you can move onto harder stuff with confidence. This is very important, I guarantee you Dave knows very little reguarding music theory, but if you play him a short chord progression you better believe he can play it back for you in just a few moments.

Last thing I swear, all of this is not to say that studying theory isn't a commendable effort. I just finished my second year of music school and there are some things that I am able to understand only because of the amount of theory that I know. But my ears cannot instantly hear and recognize everything that my mind understands and that limits me. Spending the last couple years playing with tons of amazing musicians has taught me that the ear is what all of your skill hinges upon. If you can't hear it you will never get better than where you are. So read a few books and ask questions to people who know more than you when you are stuck, but listen too and don't expect the books to do the work for you.

Good luck
Brian

i have a quicktime audio lesson that trey anastasio gave at a music theory class and i can't remember where he was but he gave a lot of the same advice. sitting in front of TV and trying to play the melodies of commercials and stuff. it was a really good lesson and i wish i could find it online but it doesn't seem to be out there anymore.

it was all about how the guys in Phish took barbershop quartet classes and how nobody knows the chords to Black Magic Woman but everyone knows the melody that santana plays over it. that there is something to be learned from listening to Kenny G because if it was bad music then there wouldn't be so many people that actually listen to that stuff. and just about putting everything together. if anyone knows what i am talking about or if you find it post a link.

bugman96 · Unread post by **bugman96** » Mon May 19, 2003 11:19 am

MWR wrote:I have a more specific question regarding theory maybe some of you can help me with. I know basic scale theory but I have always wondered how you harmonize a scale. For instance: with the harmonic minor or the dorian scale how do you know what is major and whats minor. I use these as an example but I was wondering if there was a trick to finding out how to harmonize any scale.

Go to the second post in this link. Should answer your question

jsgksu · Unread post by **jsgksu** » Mon May 19, 2003 12:28 pm

You guys might as well be speaking japanese, I have no idea whats going on. I need to learn theory and all that shit, Im clueless.

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Music Theory

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