dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 What do you think? I know the cons and the wins for learning it. So i wana know what my fellow guitarist's think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 the cons are......? I say do it... it's interesting and fun to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 the cons are......? I say do it... it's interesting and fun to think about. Cons are that after time you will basicly be playing the same stuff over and over again, it sorta makes u think what sounds good and u will only use the chords that sound good to make music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 the pros outnumber the cons. IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 the pros outnumber the cons. IMO Yes but one bad con, can beat all the pros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Yes but one bad con' date=' can beat all the pros. [/quote'] Um. No! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 Um. No! Um. Yes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Um. Yes! Um, Give me one legitimate reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 Um' date=' Give me one legitimate reason.[/quote'] You can become the world's most rich/smart/handsome guy but, the con is your the only person left in the world who can see, everyone else is blind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Well, I went to reply and dumped that one - early onset senility, perhaps - but here's the deal: You are learning music theory simply by playing guitar to much of any performance level. Period. It just ain't in a formal academic environment. When I was teaching guitar, as soon as I had students playing root chord positions I got 'em into transposition. That's "theory," but then so is playing any kinda folk, rock, blues or much of anything else. The question then is "should I take music theory according to the curriculum of school/teacher 'A' or not?" That puts you at the point of you pays yer money and yer takes yer choice. In fact, the Nashville Number system was designed to make transposition easier for musicians - or to hop right in and play form the simplest of "charts." Some of those guys couldn't read music to save their lives, but they knew the theory well enough to hop right in and play professionally in almost any key simply by having those numbers. So... It's not a question of "to learn music theory or not to learn music theory," but rather how do you learn music theory. That's a whole 'nother question for a guitar player or any other musician. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 You can become the world's most rich/smart/handsome guy but' date=' the con is your the only person left in the world who can see, everyone else is blind. [/quote'] That has what to do with theory? Sheeze... Later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 That has what to do with theory? Sheeze... Later. lol, you wanted an example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Cons are that after time you will basicly be playing the same stuff over and over again' date=' it sorta makes u think what sounds good and u will only use the chords that sound good to make music. [/quote'] It sounds to me like you don't really understand what music theory is about. Imagine what it might be like for a functionally illiterate person to write a novel, to tell a story that's burning inside them. Now, teach that same person to read and write. Do you think their story-telling would suffer? Music theory gives you the tools to understand and speak the language of music. I can't imagine how that would be stifling to creativity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinH Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Cons are that after time you will basicly be playing the same stuff over and over again' date=' it sorta makes u think what sounds good and u will only use the chords that sound good to make music. [/quote'] I don't understand this objection, because it's just false. Debussy, Bartok, Stravinsky, Varese and Schoenberg are a handful of 20th century composers who knew more theory than most guitarists will ever want to know. They didn't just play "safe" chords, they experimented. Some of them rival any heavy metal group for atonality and generally wackiness. Then you've still got to contend with Contemporary composers. Ligeti "composed" a symphony for 100 metronomes. I just recently listened to a composition by Rhys Chatham. It's scored for 400 electric guitars. Yes, 400. (It's called "A Crimson Grail" btw) Music theory only makes boring people sound more boring. Creative people use the knowledge to their advantage. Theory can help you compose a pop tune or write an atonal monster in 72-TET. Music theory isn't about rules, it's about understanding music. Now, if you just want to play the blues... probably not necessary. Many rock bands get on fine without it. However, if you want to understand music, you should learn the theory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 Well' date=' I went to reply and dumped that one - early onset senility, perhaps - but here's the deal: You are learning music theory simply by playing guitar to much of any performance level. Period. It just ain't in a formal academic environment. When I was teaching guitar, as soon as I had students playing root chord positions I got 'em into transposition. That's "theory," but then so is playing any kinda folk, rock, blues or much of anything else. The question then is "should I take music theory according to the curriculum of school/teacher 'A' or not?" That puts you at the point of you pays yer money and yer takes yer choice. In fact, the Nashville Number system was designed to make transposition easier for musicians - or to hop right in and play form the simplest of "charts." Some of those guys couldn't read music to save their lives, but they knew the theory well enough to hop right in and play professionally in almost any key simply by having those numbers. So... It's not a question of "to learn music theory or not to learn music theory," but rather how do you learn music theory. That's a whole 'nother question for a guitar player or any other musician. m [/quote'] Hmm, i see now. More thinking to do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverbursted Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 If you want to spend your entire music career COPYING what someone, who did take music theory, does; then by all means don't. Theory teaches you what notes go with what. Really helps expand your ability to improvise and write your own music. I'm just saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 It sounds to me like you don't really understand what music theory is about. Imagine what it might be like for a functionally illiterate person to write a novel' date=' to tell a story that's burning inside them. Now, teach that same person to read and write. Do you think their story-telling would suffer? Music theory gives you the tools to understand and speak the language of music. I can't imagine how that would be stifling to creativity.[/quote'] Blame my friends. They told me that after time u could be playing the same thing over and over again because of music theroy. But i asked my self wouldnt that be the own persons fault becuase the lack of new influnces and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
six-string Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 guitar theory: you've got eight notes. you've got six strings. do the math. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Blame my friends. They told me that after time u could be playing the same thing over and over again because of music theroy. But i asked my self wouldnt that be the own persons fault becuase the lack of new influnces and such. I find myself wondering how many of those friends understand music theory...or actually know someone who does. Perhaps they've convinced themselves of their nonsense in order to avoid doing something that appears so difficult. Think for yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy60 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 whatever you wanna do. it's not necessary but at least you'll know what you're doing as opposed to stumbling on to things. personally, i get a kick outta figuring out stuff myself..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Um. No! I believ his major problem with it is the work involved.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 It sounds to me like you don't really understand what music theory is about. Imagine what it might be like for a functionally illiterate person to write a novel' date=' to tell a story that's burning inside them. Now, teach that same person to read and write. Do you think their story-telling would suffer? Music theory gives you the tools to understand and speak the language of music. I can't imagine how that would be stifling to creativity.[/quote'] well said cruzn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayla Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Cons are that after time you will basicly be playing the same stuff over and over again' date=' it sorta makes u think what sounds good and u will only use the chords that sound good to make music. [/quote'] No offense dem00n, but this response shows you have no idea what you're talking about. As JustinH pointed, lotsa folks have studied music theory, including the composers he mentioned. If your assumption was correct, they'd all be making the same safe music. To play the devil's advocate you could also argue that the fact that so much rock and pop music is based on the same 3 chords must mean that *not* knowing music theory condemns you to imitate old tried and true forumlas... My suggestion would be: go for it. What have you got to lose except time (and you're young, right?, so you got plenty of that). You stand to learn something that could be important for you as a musician. I think it would open you up to new options rather than restrict you when it comes to writing and playing. My 2¢. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 For me 3 chords wont do it..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 No offense dem00n' date=' but this response shows you have no idea what you're talking about. As JustinH pointed, lotsa folks have studied music theory, including the composers he mentioned. If your assumption was correct, they'd all be making the same safe music. To play the devil's advocate you could also argue that the fact that so much rock and pop music is based on the same 3 chords must mean that *not* knowing music theory condemns you to imitate old tried and true forumlas... My suggestion would be: go for it. What have you got to lose except time (and you're young, right?, so you got plenty of that). You stand to learn something that could be important for you as a musician. I think it would open you up to new options rather than restrict you when it comes to writing and playing. My 2¢.[/quote'] True. Im going to go for it you are right what do i got to lose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.