In my opinion theory is the understanding of what others play. If you write from a calculated theorem you aren't really writing. Learing and understanding music theory enables you to understand why someone elses ideas work and how you may better utilize them to incorperate them into your own style of playing. Understanding why.....eliminates the guess work that many players must under go.

Arguments for both sides are many. But I don't think you sacrifice by knowing anymore than you gain by discovery of new or foreign things. Either way you end up at the same end.

Just don't get too caught up in "What does and doesn't work" to miss all of the things that Hendrix, Zappa, Vai, and others stumbled onto.

It's a world of notes that you will never play the same twice in a row. Enjoy the fact that knowledge is the "ticket in the door" not the whole show.

All the best!!!!!! :cool: