Is Theory important for a Kickass MetalGuitarist?

[megalomaniac]

How important is theory in becoming a true kickass metal guitarist?


pardon me from quoting from a handful of metal guitarist ->
(Total Guitar #144, Jan 2006. Pg46)


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"Sometimes, it's easier if you don't know any theory because then you're not restricted by it. If you don't know what you're allowed to do, then you can do whatever you want. You can learn from other bands."

- Peter Lindgren, Opeth.


"Not that important. Music is about personal expression. I'm totally self-taught - nobody could ever show me what i wanted to do. A lot of it is just trying to figure out what you want to sound like. I definitely wasn't your typical bedroom shredder."

- Michael Ammot - Arch Enemy


"I'm an 'ear player' and know very little theory. I consider myself more of a songwriter. I don't want to be bogged down by theory when I'm writing. If it sounds good to the ear, use it. Who cares if theoretically it doesn't make sense? Music fans make judgements based on what they hear, not what it looks like on paper."

- Matt Bachand - Shadows Fall
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This really makes me wonder.. how does it feel to not understand whatcha writing or not knowing what key to improvise in?.. 8)

Cheers.

 

[garylim]

reply reply

hello gina, marcus here! i like the first quote the most! haha.

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

not just a metal player thou, imho. If you play guitar, no matter what style, need that lil bit of theory somehow. But then..

some people dont need it, some people cant live without it, some can make do with limited theory but plenty of hardwork that no one see, some modifiy playing to suit lack of theory, some break theory after learning to suit their play, some some some some

what it matters to some, doesnt matters to others.

just imho. If one need to be playing in bands as guitar player, certain theory is needed to go with technique of playing. For the initial fun of playing without theory, its possible. But in the long run of progression, the lack of theory will be a hindering point.

But then, if one is using guitar as a signal generator to paint sound sculptures, then perhaps the theory within is whatever works for them to create. The usual music theory related to guitar playing might not be useful..

imho
the loser wannabe metale guitar player

 

[bin4christ]

it's kinda cool to really not be 'bogged down by theory'. then u can 'play with ur heart' instead of thinking every now n then whether or not this or that that u're gonna play is theoritically wrong. BUT u must have good ears to improv on the spot without sounding off.

just my 2 cents. be my guest to take this as bullshit hehe.

 

[megalomaniac]

yeah to be a cover guitarist ain't gonna need much theory i guess.. haha

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

i beg to differ though. We are just looking from the other side of things before being in their shoe.

ever been to those pubs/clubs where you see their house band rocking out and play different arrangement of covers, some even better than original?

 

[megalomaniac]

yeah i've seen em, yes i have to take back my word - cover guitarists DO need theory to get some improvisation going.. ha

 

[soft]

will you be able to use this forum if you dont know ABC?

but sure, you still can meet up in a kopi shop and talk all night long.

 

[nysk]

sure its about expressing yourself, maybe u want to play out that tune always stuck in your head, but how r u gonna find the notes on the fretboard if u hav no theory knowledge at all, are u gonna try ur luck the whole day to see which notes nails it

even tuning ur guitar needs some form of theory unless of course u have a chromatic tuner, o wait but u still need theory to noe the note the tuner reads

and sometimes without the "restrictions" of theory, things jsut sound plain bad
chord progressions, cadences etc etc which are all part of music theory are what actually sounds good and how to sound "in tune" written down on paper, sure u can defy that to create ur own teenage angst sound by all means, just hope there is someone out there to appreciate the out of tune-ness

just my 2cents

james totally agree with you on that one haha

 

[kerplunk182]

i don't know much about theory infact i know shit about it so i do solos by ear and tabs but then again, it's better to learn theiry to get things clear and all. It's easier to do solos etc etc..

 

[dookiedookdook]

yea, and itll be alot easier if u get urself to learn how to improvise millions of ways with diff scales

 

[RoRK]

\/

 

[ShredCow]

There are VERY few guitarists (just guitarists...) who can actually sound diverse, different, unique, fresh with each improvisation/album/song/style.
Most, going by ear, just sound... the same. Again and again. You can hear it in their solos, their songwriting... call it consistancy if you will, some call it being stagnant. Whichever rocks your boat.

but if you ask me.

Metal is all about consistancy. The same old, the same old. There's nothing "complicated" in Metal - theory wise.

Of course, lets not go to progressive music. Or jazz metal.

Then again, what's "complicated"?

:lol:

A lot of metal isn't complicated or theory-scholar-study-inducing. The chords are the same. The intervals are the same. The scales are the same. Timing & Rhythm, typical... IMO, its a genre that's more bounded by restrictions due to well, genre. And the players, only the TRUE ones, are sworn to play the same thing over and over again.

The MAIN things the player SHOULD be concerned about, in metal, are just these:
1) ENERGY
2) Soul/Vibe/Feel
3) the song

Take a good metal riff, drop the gain, that should still move heads or at least be able to convey your metal feelings across - its a lot to do with vibe & the conviction in your heart when you play.. and theory can't bring that across.

Look at Dreamtheater - many argue they are soulless, boring stuff.

At the end of the day, theory is NOT needed, but to put it aside like how some of the players above quoted, reeks of well... equal to saying no need grammer to convey your thoughts in an English arguementative essay.

 

[Heyn]

Hey guys, is there a big different in guitar theory or piano, or is it only the fretboard and the keys of the piano are arranged differently?.. i play guitar but i'm actually learning piano now grade2.. :?

 

[DoubleBlade]

Guitar/piano/bass/violin/cello/trumpet blar blar blar theory are all the same.

Its just that the application is different for each instrument.

 

[RoRK]

Hey guys, is there a big different in guitar theory or piano, or is it only the fretboard and the keys of the piano are arranged differently?.. i play guitar but i'm actually learning piano now grade2

They all use the same notes. Unless you're talking about ethnic instruments and such.

But piano and guitar, they use the same notes. Think of the way you learned the fretboard - what were good mnemonics/shortcuts to learn the fretboard. Look for similar thingies on the keyboard.

DOn't get carried away by theory but start listening to sound (after you've learned the keyboard - it's actually easier than the fretboard cos of the white and black keys and their systematic placing across the entire playing field).

Ease in. You'll be fine and try to replicate stuff that you do on one instrument with the other instrument. Appreciate the differences and see if you can sort out which is better for a particular song. It'll make you so much better in that you will learn to appreciate tones/feel/vibes/mood etc. very cool stuff.

Cheers
RoRK

 

[tany]

aiya metal no need theory one lah.

u want theory, go do jazz.

 

[wasp]

That intro for Tornado of Souls, what scale does mustaine use? Is there such scale or he threw theory out of the window and make something that he thinks sound good?

 

[Beefy]

Natural Minor Scale including a flatted fifth.

Now, isn't that theory?

 

[cold_static544]

everything need theory one la,even punk rock.

only thing is how much you gotta know.