I'm going to guess you've never had music theory.  A better way to look at it is a way to get that song out of your head and be able to play it on an instrument (or to understand how to play someone else's song).  Nowhere does it say you HAVE to color within the lines, but now you know where the lines are.

Learning music theory is no different to learning spelling, punctuation and grammar so you can write.
 

craigb
I'm going to guess you've never had music theory.

 
(sigh) Not this debate again. A lot of "theories" I don't believe in. If FLIGHT was a theory, how can so many people be flying everyday? It's a FACT! The theoretical part might be whether or not your flight arrives on time.
 
If MUSIC was a theory, how come I hear it everywhere? It's a FACT! If there's a theory it would be whether or not that song you're listening to right now is actually... "music".
 
Or am I simply confused again?
 

craigb
Nowhere does it say you HAVE to color within the lines,...

 

True!

jamesg1213
Learning music theory is no different to learning spelling, punctuation and grammar so you can write.

Spellig, punkuashun and grammy are no theories. You either can or you can't!

jamesg1213
Learning music theory is no different to learning spelling, punctuation and grammar so you can write.
 

I get that idea
 
The first 10 or 15 years of my playing was pretty much done w out reading music ...I did have a little theory ..
Then I was taught how to read and got very deep into theory ..it was all an uphill climb
Recently (about 10 years )  I didn't read music all that much ( a perishable skill )  at least all the theory stuck ....
 
I think a lot of times  , a lot of musicians and players start out enjoying  The Rock & Roll lifestyle where they don't have to learn or follow the rules in the first place ..
They write simple music , make money and then the day comes when they may need to share their creative process. They may now have to use a middle man such as a producer or a teacher to get their ideas out there for teaching the general public or players  their unique musical language .
 
Some folks and players just keep doing their own thing and find people that can adapt to their style and fit in ...
Having a really good ear and being able to pre hear songs and song structures is a skill worth its weight in GOLD.
When I played as a sideman for Andrae Crouch ( a couple of years  ) I had to think and play fast on my feet as it was all happening in real time ..it was a good experience for me ...before it went south ...
 
all the best,
 
Kenny
 
 
 
 

soens

craigb
I'm going to guess you've never had music theory.

 
(sigh) Not this debate again. A lot of "theories" I don't believe in. If FLIGHT was a theory, how can so many people be flying everyday? It's a FACT! The theoretical part might be whether or not your flight arrives on time.
 
If MUSIC was a theory, how come I hear it everywhere? It's a FACT! If there's a theory it would be whether or not that song you're listening to right now is actually... "music".
 
Or am I simply confused again?
 

Possibly...theory = a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.
 
The well-worn debate with Pedro seems to be that he thinks musicians should just be able to play, without learning any music theory. The fact that he doesn't seem to have managed to write, play or record even 1 bar of music in his entire life doesn't seem in the least bit ironic to him.

kennywtelejazz

jamesg1213
Learning music theory is no different to learning spelling, punctuation and grammar so you can write.
 

I get that idea
 
The first 10 or 15 years of my playing was pretty much done w out reading music ...I did have a little theory ..
Then I was taught how to read and got very deep into theory ..it was all an uphill climb
Recently (about 10 years )  I didn't read music all that much ( a perishable skill )  at least all the theory stuck ....
 
I think a lot of times  , a lot of musicians and players start out enjoying  The Rock & Roll lifestyle where they don't have to learn or follow the rules in the first place ..
They write simple music , make money and then the day comes when they may need to share their creative process. They may now have to use a middle man such as a producer or a teacher to get their ideas out there for teaching the general public or players  their unique musical language .
 
Some folks and players just keep doing their own thing and find people that can adapt to their style and fit in ...
Having a really good ear and being able to pre hear songs and song structures is a skill worth its weight in GOLD.
When I played as a sideman for Andrae Crouch ( a couple of years  ) I had to think and play fast on my feet as it was all happening in real time ..it was a good experience for me ...before it went south ...
 
all the best,
 
Kenny

I have huge gaps in my music theory knowledge. I've reached a point where I can put together a reasonable sounding tune or collab with a guitar part for someone, but it's all within quite limited parameters. If I'd taken more time with the theory side, I know I'd be able to come up with more harmonically interesting stuff, in the same way that for example, yourself or Bayoubill can, because you know the guitar neck inside out and backwards. Still there's always time..

first off,
right off the bat, i said i was asking for someone else.
 
then, just two posts down, i clarify the situation as to who i was asking for.
 
 
my music background:
4 years of classical piano training, 
6 years of jr high and high school vocal ensemble training (my senior year vocal ensemble performed in and won a 4A statewide competition, we were good and well trained!),
42 years of self taught guitar study,
and 6 years of full time road work in which i learned literally thousands of songs,
some by music,
but most by ear.
 
 
i sure don't know everything about music theory,
but i don't let that stop me!
 
and for me, that's the take away...
you don't have to have tons of training or theory knowledge,
to be a natural musician,
which is what i've strived to be over all else.
 
 
but i don't teach 12 year olds,
and thought maybe someone had some specific tools that fit the bill.
 
 
 

jamesg1213

kennywtelejazz

jamesg1213
Learning music theory is no different to learning spelling, punctuation and grammar so you can write.
 

I get that idea
 
The first 10 or 15 years of my playing was pretty much done w out reading music ...I did have a little theory ..
Then I was taught how to read and got very deep into theory ..it was all an uphill climb
Recently (about 10 years )  I didn't read music all that much ( a perishable skill )  at least all the theory stuck ....
 
I think a lot of times  , a lot of musicians and players start out enjoying  The Rock & Roll lifestyle where they don't have to learn or follow the rules in the first place ..
They write simple music , make money and then the day comes when they may need to share their creative process. They may now have to use a middle man such as a producer or a teacher to get their ideas out there for teaching the general public or players  their unique musical language .
 
Some folks and players just keep doing their own thing and find people that can adapt to their style and fit in ...
Having a really good ear and being able to pre hear songs and song structures is a skill worth its weight in GOLD.
When I played as a sideman for Andrae Crouch ( a couple of years  ) I had to think and play fast on my feet as it was all happening in real time ..it was a good experience for me ...before it went south ...
 
all the best,
 
Kenny

I have huge gaps in my music theory knowledge. I've reached a point where I can put together a reasonable sounding tune or collab with a guitar part for someone, but it's all within quite limited parameters. If I'd taken more time with the theory side, I know I'd be able to come up with more harmonically interesting stuff, in the same way that for example, yourself or Bayoubill can, because you know the guitar neck inside out and backwards. Still there's always time..

Hi James,
Don't sell your self short  . A lot of people have large Gaps in the Music Theory Dept ...myself included ...
When it comes to how much I know or think I know , my chosen path is to accept that the more I think I know the less I really know  I need to accept  that no matter what it is I'm looking to do in music , I will always have room for improvement in any musical area I may be interested in exploring ....no matter how good or bad it may be there is always room for improvement ...
 
People that may teach on a daily basis or folks that might compose in a traditional old school way of music creation may have an edge only in the sense from having to draw from that well more often than others .
IMHO, In the end music theory is just a tool / way of explaining things that happen in music in a scholarly way using terms that people have agreed to understand   ( that's the low end of it )
On the higher spectrum /  end of music theory , music theory is every bit as deep as advanced mathematics ...
Where somebody wants to go with that information is entirely up to them ...it's endless 
 
Plenty of times I have been around people that could talk a real good Game when it comes to music theory ...some of them even sounded just like Freaking Einsteins ...more often than not ...those types couldn't play their way out of a paper bag  even if their very life depended on it ...
 
all the best, 
Kenny
 
 
 

Music brings people together. Music lessons can inspire self-confidence, enhance your social life, and boost your brain power, whether you are a child, teen, or adult. Making music can be a solo act, but it is often contingent on playing with other musicians and connecting with other people. Take music lesson from the professionals like this (plus.google.com/102642981778688407461) to learn different music and also their favorite music instrument.