Just a q

In my opinion everyone should know some theory. The real question is how much. It all depends on how good of a musician you want to become and what your goals are. I am 37 years old and have have just begun to learn theory. Not because I am a bad guitarist but because I want to become a better guitarist.

I have been playing for 20+ years and gigged with numerous bands. I shared the stage with greats like Cheap Trick, Greg Howe and Head East. I never had one ouce of theory or any type of guitar lessons. I learned everything by ear and when it came to soloing I winged it and hoped that it sounded good.

I got to a point in my life where I didn't want to wing it anymore. I wanted to know what I was playing and why it worked. Since beginning my music theory training, a whole new world has opened up for me and I wish I would have started years ago. I am writing songs now that rock AND make sense! LOL!

As far as singers are concerned I cannot comment. My singing abilities are about as exciting as watching grass grow.

Vai Fan

All right, I'm going to sound all professorial again.  Sorry about that.
Theory comes from the Greek and means simply to see.  Music theory means simply seeing the patterns and understanding them.  Once you've played long enough, you've already begun to understand some theory although you probably don't realize it.  Studying theory means learning to see more and more the patterns that make music work.  Myself, and I a novice, I think the theory I've learned is really fascinating.   It's like learning strategies in chess or a card game.  And it often makes it much easier for me to learn a new song because what I'm learning to play makes sense in a way it didn't before -- it doesn't seem as arbitrary as it used to.  And that with a just the tiniest bit of theory.
Okay, end of incoherent ramble.  Where's the coffee pot?

8) hey yall...just a quesion....how many ppl r in bands and dont bother using theory...is it essential to ppl? and also...how many singers out there bother writing vocal medlodies on another instrument...or do u just sing what comes out.....not that im lazy or anything lol....just curious     [glow=red,2,300]L8AZ ;D[/glow]

I'm not in a band, but I write a lot of songs and I use my knowledge of theory as much as I can. A lot of the stuff is second nature to me, but only because I've spent so much time concentrating on it. Still, a lot of stuff is way over my head and I like to learn new things as often as possible, be it a new technique or a new perspective.

My singing voice is terrible. I can more or less stay in key, although sometimes I'm a bit flat. My vocal range is shocking (maybe about 1.5-2 octaves starting from low E) . Now that I'm quitting smoking it should hopefully be a bit easier due to a lack of phlegm, but who knows.

I sing whatever comes into my head. I wouldn't sit down with and think "OK, I'm going to sing about war or a lost love"... what I do kind of fits the music. Hard to explain fully, but that's all there is to it. Use your mind and imagination.

And don't be afraid to try new things. Lately I've been fooling around, experimenting with different chord progressions. For instance, if the vocal melody (in C) contains a C, I could play a wide range of chords over that note that contain C and other notes from the key. Like an Ab, a D7, an F or an Fm, whatever. When something sounds good, I write it down. Little things like this can give you a new perspective as to how to do things, so every little bit of theory helps.

Sometimes things don't seem to make sense, but you'll never grow by playing what you know.

i'm just starting to learn theory...i am getting tired of playing other people's stuff or fumbling around with chord charts trying to put different chords together...i would have to say that if you ever have any hopes of writing something descent or playing awesome origional solo, than you have to know at least a little theory.....what i know so far i have learnd from David Hodges articles on this site.... they are pretty straight forward and easy to follow... and Musenfreund is right... once you learn a little, it does become very interesting

chris

It's not essential, but it sure is useful.  At the risk of being self-serving here, I'm going to quote myself :) from the introduction of my theory book:

Just as a painter mixes colors to make a specific hue, musicians combine sounds in order to create a sonic impression.  A painter might place his colors at random on his palette, but organizing the colors - always putting the blues and reds in the same place - aids in finding exactly the elements needed to create a specific shade.

Music is much the same.  If your knowledge of the elements of music isn't well organized, you can still create the shades you want, but you'll have to hunt for the elements.  If you understand music theory, the sounds you want are organized; you know which sounds go with a certain chord progression, or which notes will create a specific mood.  Understanding music theory will give you a foundation to work from.  It will also open your eyes (and ears!) to possibilities that you might never have found without the tools you'll gain through studying music theory.

Tom