How important is theory?


JJHavoc
Registered User
Joined: 02/20/12
Posts: 4
JJHavoc
Registered User
Joined: 02/20/12
Posts: 4
03/06/2012 10:40 pm
Hey guys! I'm back again, but this time with a question that hasn't been asked yet. (As far as I'm concerned) But I was wondering... how important is theory, exactly?

Will not knowing triads, how a chord is created from scales, etc. affect my ability as a guitar player eventually?

Thanks, J.J.
# 1
hunter1801
Registered User
Joined: 01/27/05
Posts: 1,331
hunter1801
Registered User
Joined: 01/27/05
Posts: 1,331
03/06/2012 11:42 pm
http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31415
http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16999
http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16903

You don't HAVE to know it........but why wouldn't you want to? The more you know, the better off you'll be.
There are lots of musicians who KNOW theory and are great.
There a lots of musicians who DON'T know theory and are great.
# 2
SebastBerg
Full Access
Joined: 02/01/10
Posts: 421
SebastBerg
Full Access
Joined: 02/01/10
Posts: 421
03/07/2012 11:02 pm
Originally Posted by: hunter1801
There are lots of musicians who KNOW theory and are great.
There a lots of musicians who DON'T know theory and are great.


There you go :) Good explanation.

Personally, I learned theory (still am) because it enables me to become better at improvisation and it helped me a lot to learn songs faster and to be able to break them down myself.
# 3
gdengelbrecht
Registered User
Joined: 07/07/09
Posts: 34
gdengelbrecht
Registered User
Joined: 07/07/09
Posts: 34
03/23/2012 8:45 pm
Originally Posted by: JJHavocHey guys! I'm back again, but this time with a question that hasn't been asked yet. (As far as I'm concerned) But I was wondering... how important is theory, exactly?

Will not knowing triads, how a chord is created from scales, etc. affect my ability as a guitar player eventually?

Thanks, J.J.

No, theory has nothing to do with technique. That is a narrow view though but if you desire only to play an play well you might get away with not knowing theory.

It is always nice to know why people do certain things so that is why theory is fun and exciting :)
# 4
David Bereuther
Registered User
Joined: 03/23/12
Posts: 33
David Bereuther
Registered User
Joined: 03/23/12
Posts: 33
03/24/2012 5:16 pm
Hey there, im new ;)

Personally I think that theory can be very important and also a GREAT advantage and opportunity for you.
Knowing theory helps you to learn and improve:

- Improvisation
- Songwriting
- Aural Skills (when Transribing Music without having tabs for example)
- knowing chords, scales etc. faster and expand them quickly

Think about learning a new language but only learning all the words and all the vocabularys WITHOUT thinking about grammar. Would be bad, right?

Theory shows you how it all works and how it all fits together it is the bottom of all the other parts of music.
Of course this does NOT mean that you cant be a good guitar player withoug knowing theory, but actually you can be an even better guitar player (and become on faster) with it.

Hope this helped.

David
# 5
gdengelbrecht
Registered User
Joined: 07/07/09
Posts: 34
gdengelbrecht
Registered User
Joined: 07/07/09
Posts: 34
03/24/2012 5:39 pm
Originally Posted by: David BereutherHey there, im new ;)

Personally I think that theory can be very important and also a GREAT advantage and opportunity for you.
Knowing theory helps you to learn and improve:

- Improvisation
- Songwriting
- Aural Skills (when Transribing Music without having tabs for example)
- knowing chords, scales etc. faster and expand them quickly

Think about learning a new language but only learning all the words and all the vocabularys WITHOUT thinking about grammar. Would be bad, right?

Theory shows you how it all works and how it all fits together it is the bottom of all the other parts of music.
Of course this does NOT mean that you cant be a good guitar player withoug knowing theory, but actually you can be an even better guitar player (and become on faster) with it.

Hope this helped.

David

Agreed :) It also makes an individual a very rounded musician, something which is nice.
# 6
David Bereuther
Registered User
Joined: 03/23/12
Posts: 33
David Bereuther
Registered User
Joined: 03/23/12
Posts: 33
03/24/2012 11:28 pm
Originally Posted by: gdengelbrechtAgreed :) It also makes an individual a very rounded musician, something which is nice.


Yeah, also there are too many people who think you are a good guitar player when you have good technique, imagine one super fat player and when you give him a backing track and he does not know what scales he can play over it, that's not really what "good" means to me.
# 7
Stephen Quinn
Registered User
Joined: 03/18/12
Posts: 57
Stephen Quinn
Registered User
Joined: 03/18/12
Posts: 57
03/28/2012 12:25 pm
Not all pros are profficient with theory, but it really does help when working closely with other musicians and with transcribing your music. Knowing how the notes in a key relate to the chords in a song will allow you to add more variations to your music, and can save time trying to find something that fits.
# 8
James Sheasgreen
Registered User
Joined: 04/05/12
Posts: 19
James Sheasgreen
Registered User
Joined: 04/05/12
Posts: 19
04/08/2012 12:56 am
I think a good understanding of theory is important when communicating ideas with other musicians, and when you want to be able to break down or play along with songs quickly. I think learning theory is important but that you should never feel like you are confined by it. Its not a rule but a guideline. Play what sounds good.
# 9
mwood27
Registered User
Joined: 04/24/12
Posts: 0
mwood27
Registered User
Joined: 04/24/12
Posts: 0
04/24/2012 11:36 pm
Personally, I find it enjoyable to understand why things work, or sound certain ways -so I enjoy music theory. But it can get in the way if you start writing and playing in an academic mindset. Don't let theory overrule your ear. The best songs are the product of people who were moved by the music they were making... not just following mathematical rules to create pleasing sounds.

There are some really helpful, basic theory instructions at:
http://www.teachlearnguitar.com
in the 'Student Resources' section

Hope this is helpful,
MW
# 10
Guillermostaggs
Great Shadow
Joined: 03/17/12
Posts: 40
Guillermostaggs
Great Shadow
Joined: 03/17/12
Posts: 40
04/25/2012 7:53 am
Its helpful but some of the most amazing guitarists dont know music theory
Dont stop keep going-frank zappa Find what your good at and exaggerate it-steve vai
# 11
haghj500
Registered User
Joined: 10/23/11
Posts: 453
haghj500
Registered User
Joined: 10/23/11
Posts: 453
04/28/2012 11:50 pm
Another way to look at it.

You can get in a car and drive it and not know anything about the parts that make it work and in time you may be able to drive as well as any race car driver.

So lets say the car breaks down you pull off the side of the road open the hood and see stuff. You have no idea what any of the parts are or how they work together to make the car move. Even if there is a simple fix that will get you back on the road, you can't see it.

Whether you are driving a car or your fingers on a guitar neck, the more you know about anything you do, the better you will be in the long run.
# 12

Please register with a free account to post on the forum.