gutturalpiss
New member
yay! im not the only one who doesn't know and dig theory. So there are kickass guitarists who dont care about theory, im so safe. woohoo! By ear, thats the way!
Is Theory important for a Kickass MetalGuitarist?
- Thread starter megalomaniac
- Start date
It's up to each individual if they want to get into theory or not.
If one gets into theory, good. One will understand and comprehend the music better, be able to write and arrange.
If one neglects theory, then one will be 'handicapped' in that aspect. Probably unable to name chords, write and arrange music.
Well, then again, for the founding fathers of blues - They probably didn't know music theory..... look how they have influenced the different modern day genres?
My 2 thai baht worth!
If one gets into theory, good. One will understand and comprehend the music better, be able to write and arrange.
If one neglects theory, then one will be 'handicapped' in that aspect. Probably unable to name chords, write and arrange music.
Well, then again, for the founding fathers of blues - They probably didn't know music theory..... look how they have influenced the different modern day genres?
My 2 thai baht worth!
gutturalpiss
New member
Yeah mate!
"Get your theory right! You'll never be worthy of your instrument at this rate!"
"Get your theory right! You'll never be worthy of your instrument at this rate!"
djanggo
New member
basic theory may be important for ppl just starting out to play guitar.Use it as a guideline but not bound by its limitation or you will just sound the same.If you have a very good theory of scales by cant play by ears,then you wont succeed as a guitarist in the long run...there are many pro guitarist who said that playing by ears is the most important tool as guitarist.Then the feel comes in.
hayabusa
New member
i started off with the classical guitar, which involves a lot of note reading. now i've swithced over to bass. i found out theory gives some understanding of how music works on your instrument.
for a rock guitarist or bassist, note reading isn't that important. however, a sound knowledge of some fundamentals like keys and scales, roots and octaves, and their positions on the instrument are a must as they make 'play py ear' much easier.
tabs are a wonderful shortcut to playing an instrument. but to depend entirely on tabs without knowing anything about keys and notes is disaster. you end up memorizing without understaning what the **** you play. being a cover musician is only as far as you can go. to be able to get creative, you need to know some theory.
the difference between a musician who knows theory and another who just memorizes tabs is that the former can roll off juicy tunes in free jams while the later is probably not so competent in doing so.
for a rock guitarist or bassist, note reading isn't that important. however, a sound knowledge of some fundamentals like keys and scales, roots and octaves, and their positions on the instrument are a must as they make 'play py ear' much easier.
tabs are a wonderful shortcut to playing an instrument. but to depend entirely on tabs without knowing anything about keys and notes is disaster. you end up memorizing without understaning what the **** you play. being a cover musician is only as far as you can go. to be able to get creative, you need to know some theory.
the difference between a musician who knows theory and another who just memorizes tabs is that the former can roll off juicy tunes in free jams while the later is probably not so competent in doing so.
hayabusa nailed it in his post. Tabs, Play by ear, Creativity and free jams!
If in a free jam, what can the non-theory player do? He wouldn't know wtf to! What if the mode/key/time changes come into effect?
In conclusion, you need some theory. Each will determine the level they desire to!
If in a free jam, what can the non-theory player do? He wouldn't know wtf to! What if the mode/key/time changes come into effect?
In conclusion, you need some theory. Each will determine the level they desire to!
gutturalpiss
New member
Actually, when you have the experience, the theory is automatically embedded in you. Theory was afterall born out of active music itself. Theories, music or not, are the trains of potential knowledge. I say potential because theories are not necessarily based on facts, but are the results of hypotheses, research, and opinions.
The first musicians did not start out with the theoretical component of music, but rather it was a medium of convenience. Bit by bit techniques, melodies, rhythms, structures and harmonies were put into notations. That also provided a standard platform for sharing knowledge, so one person could take another's music sheet and learn by himself. From there, groups like the orchestra came into existence.
Thus, to say a musician who has no knowledge of formal theory cannot be competent, is a fallacy. Remember, we are excluding the basics of theory, as by time a musician will already have them in his grasp whether or not he has had formal theoretical lessons. A self-taught musician will absolutely know the basics like a few scales and chords by the time he can actually play. By the time he can play spontaneously, he would have acquired the same knowledge as one who had studied music theory.
Of course, we are talking about musicians other than weekend jammers, orchestras, ensembles, big-time composers, music theorists, or music mathematicians since the topic concentrates on kick-ass Metal guitarists.
The first musicians did not start out with the theoretical component of music, but rather it was a medium of convenience. Bit by bit techniques, melodies, rhythms, structures and harmonies were put into notations. That also provided a standard platform for sharing knowledge, so one person could take another's music sheet and learn by himself. From there, groups like the orchestra came into existence.
Thus, to say a musician who has no knowledge of formal theory cannot be competent, is a fallacy. Remember, we are excluding the basics of theory, as by time a musician will already have them in his grasp whether or not he has had formal theoretical lessons. A self-taught musician will absolutely know the basics like a few scales and chords by the time he can actually play. By the time he can play spontaneously, he would have acquired the same knowledge as one who had studied music theory.
Of course, we are talking about musicians other than weekend jammers, orchestras, ensembles, big-time composers, music theorists, or music mathematicians since the topic concentrates on kick-ass Metal guitarists.
DoubleBlade
New member
Go read up on the mathematical approaches used for "scales and modes" in Wikipedia and I bet you all will go like , "whaoooooooooooh so chim!" 8)
PinkSpider
New member
heres my input.
You know i think that what those guitarists that you quoted meant was that their actual theory knowledge is little.
But honestly i bet they knew the very basics of theory , 1st , 4ths and 5ths
the minor pentatonic scale , the major scale and extensions.
stuff like these are really the very base of theory.
Learning these simple stuff wont affect playing with your "heart" at all. After all i myself feel that feeling is the most important thing.
You know i think that what those guitarists that you quoted meant was that their actual theory knowledge is little.
But honestly i bet they knew the very basics of theory , 1st , 4ths and 5ths
the minor pentatonic scale , the major scale and extensions.
stuff like these are really the very base of theory.
Learning these simple stuff wont affect playing with your "heart" at all. After all i myself feel that feeling is the most important thing.
I do not understand as to why music theory can hinder one's creativity. In its most innocous form, music, is an organized sound and silence; now music theory is the study of the systematical mechanics of music (forgive my tautology).
Music theory is basically a platform, a guide to maximize your 'musicality'. Not only does it help you convey your emotions/thoughts through music, it also trains your ears (aural skill) and fingers. (Everybody knows [most] that, whenever you practice scales/appergios, it helps to loosen up your fingers).
Music theory to Music is just like picture is to semiotic. It is rather difficult to convey your message, your thoughts if you can't draw. Sure, eventually people will understand your doodles, but wouldn't it be easier if you knew how to draw? It will come easier to some, just like how some people just have the knack for putting together a bunch of notes that can blow your mind. The art of music (music theory) narrows this gap between a musically gifted person and an average person.
Now really, whats the disadvantage of music theory?
Music theory is basically a platform, a guide to maximize your 'musicality'. Not only does it help you convey your emotions/thoughts through music, it also trains your ears (aural skill) and fingers. (Everybody knows [most] that, whenever you practice scales/appergios, it helps to loosen up your fingers).
Music theory to Music is just like picture is to semiotic. It is rather difficult to convey your message, your thoughts if you can't draw. Sure, eventually people will understand your doodles, but wouldn't it be easier if you knew how to draw? It will come easier to some, just like how some people just have the knack for putting together a bunch of notes that can blow your mind. The art of music (music theory) narrows this gap between a musically gifted person and an average person.
Now really, whats the disadvantage of music theory?
nosepicker
New member
Aiyah if u bogged down by theory, obviously don know enough or know it well enough 
When u drive car, when does basic theory bog u down? When u don know it well enough right?! So kuku leh
When u drive car, when does basic theory bog u down? When u don know it well enough right?! So kuku lehNo hard feelings about Dream Theater here... But if you do know your theory well-enough, you'll realize that Dream Theater's playing defies theories... Afterall, they are known as progressive metal, not classical.
The thing about theory is... Yes, it is definitely essential for a musician. Theory is part of your foundations for the understanding of music. It's your backbone, something which you might need afterall to help you with your music skills.
If you'd listened to all those progressive kinks out there, have you ever thought how did they write those solos? And have you ever thought how technical their solos can get?
Argue, you might-insisting that some people just take their guitar, begin some random shredding and tada, they create this wonderful solo... But tell me, how many people in this world can actually be like Van Helen with their randomness?
But just read Guitar World. Look at those interviews they had... Joe Satrani? He learnt music from jazz guitarist Billy Bauer and jazz pianist Lennie Tristano. Alexi Laiho? He was in Finnish Pop & Jazz Conservatory studying the guitar as well as the piano.
They have their theory. Definitely. Their theories are definitely way better than those so-called pianists out there with their hanging-in-the-air grades.
But, their playings were not bogged down by theories... Have you ever seen Satrani improvising? Tell me, do they always have theories in their mind? Well, you can answer that for yourself.
Theory is just your foundations, something which you have to know to maximize your playing ability and potential. There's no wrong for a musician to not know his theory, as afterall music started off in a primitive way.
But given the choice of learning theory, why not learn it and improve yourself as a guitarist?
And please, metal guitarists do know their theories.
The thing about theory is... Yes, it is definitely essential for a musician. Theory is part of your foundations for the understanding of music. It's your backbone, something which you might need afterall to help you with your music skills.
If you'd listened to all those progressive kinks out there, have you ever thought how did they write those solos? And have you ever thought how technical their solos can get?
Argue, you might-insisting that some people just take their guitar, begin some random shredding and tada, they create this wonderful solo... But tell me, how many people in this world can actually be like Van Helen with their randomness?
But just read Guitar World. Look at those interviews they had... Joe Satrani? He learnt music from jazz guitarist Billy Bauer and jazz pianist Lennie Tristano. Alexi Laiho? He was in Finnish Pop & Jazz Conservatory studying the guitar as well as the piano.
They have their theory. Definitely. Their theories are definitely way better than those so-called pianists out there with their hanging-in-the-air grades.
But, their playings were not bogged down by theories... Have you ever seen Satrani improvising? Tell me, do they always have theories in their mind? Well, you can answer that for yourself.
Theory is just your foundations, something which you have to know to maximize your playing ability and potential. There's no wrong for a musician to not know his theory, as afterall music started off in a primitive way.
But given the choice of learning theory, why not learn it and improve yourself as a guitarist?
And please, metal guitarists do know their theories.
