What is "THEORY"

Chris,

I have a little question to ask you that has been bugging me for quite a while.
I'm a bit unsure where there the "theory" part is in guitaring, you told me that playing was the theory but i think different i thought playing was the practical and learin and reading music, scales, riffs was all theory. But now that i'm thinking about it where does the technical side come into guitaring....is it to do with making your own Guitar? using dimensions and calculations to work out the shape and design of the guitar your building
As you see i'm quite unsure about theory so can anyone explain to me in a better language
Thx :D

theory is trying to figure out things when you aren't doing them... Eventually, you apply theory in your playing...
Let's say someone tells you how to play 9 chords (adding the note that comes next to the root in the scale) you know the theory behind those chords, but you still have to learn how to finger them... I think that you can play great without learning theory, but along the way, you have to pick some up to improve your playing, it's like you have two empty bottles, and you can't fill one up without having the other one up to a certain level...
Jaco Pastorius, best bass player on earth, didn't know a thing about theory, but he had to learn some, and eventually mastered a lot of concepts, because he felt like his potential was held by his lack of knowledge...

Theory is the explanation of music, you hear some music, and say, that sounds bluesy, theory explains why it sounds bluesy, theory is just the mechanics of music, it's how music works, an understanding of basic music theory is probaly one of the best investments of your time you'll ever make as a musican.

where do chords come from?
How are scales constructed?
Whats the difference between major and minor?
What scales do I use over these chords?
What key is this song in?

This is Theory

Originally posted by SoS
I'm a bit unsure where there the "theory" part is in guitaring . . .

Theory is everything. It is the explanation for why certains things sound good and others are cacophony. It is the relationship between chords, scales, and intervals. Whenever you play guitar you are using theory, whether you know it or not.

For example, you don't necessarily have to know anything about theory to play a G chord, but when you play one you are using theory. You're making a major triad from a major scale, and on the guitar, you'd no doubt be using some sort of inversion or repeated notes.

Theory doesn't have anything to do with the technical side of guitar. (i.e. pickups, amps, guitar design and maintainence) It's just an explanation for music and why things sound the way they sound.

Theory is a set of rules, which, along with inspiration, when applied to one or more instruments, can be used to create music.
A parrot can learn a few words or even a sentence on its own, but doesn't know the theory behind it, and it saying something with any sense is a matter of probbability. Aply to guitar playing.

Yes i understand now and i hope it will Aid me in ym career of guitaring

Looks like everyone has a theory behind their theorys lol

Well, you asked. :D

True True