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Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 1:21 pm
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Funny thing about music theory. I have been playing for more than 30 years. I have tried to learn theory many times and just can't get it. I have an IQ of 147 so I think I should be able to figure it out. I have a good friend who has a Masters in music from Berklee and and another degree from the London Conservatory. He has tried to teach me theory but it didn't work. He also said that I am the best in the pocket bass player he has ever seen. A few years ago, I was playing with a very well known artist. During rehearsal, he asked me to play something but said it using a theory term. I looked at him and said "I don't know that that means". He thought I was kidding and started laughing. I said "I'm serious, I don't understand theory". He said " How the hell can you play that well without understanding theory". I said "I don't know". He responded by saying "Man, if you learn theory you would be deadly and could play with anyone". I thanked him and again tried to learn theory. I even bought Music Theory for Dummies figuring it would break things down to simple terms. At the end of each chapter there is a quiz. I passed the quiz for chapter 1 but failed chapter 2. I re-read chapter 2 five more times and failed the quiz each time. I don't know what it is but I just don't get it.


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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:51 am
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Snowjoe wrote:
Just posting up to say, there is a wealth of knowledge in this thread that once I have a guitar back in my hands in a week or two I will be pouring through.

Actually perhaps I will pour through it now, interesting reading after all :D


Thanks Snowjoe! Glad I could help.

Rockbassist wrote:
Funny thing about music theory. I have been playing for more than 30 years. I have tried to learn theory many times and just can't get it. I have an IQ of 147 so I think I should be able to figure it out. I have a good friend who has a Masters in music from Berklee and and another degree from the London Conservatory. He has tried to teach me theory but it didn't work. He also said that I am the best in the pocket bass player he has ever seen. A few years ago, I was playing with a very well known artist. During rehearsal, he asked me to play something but said it using a theory term. I looked at him and said "I don't know that that means". He thought I was kidding and started laughing. I said "I'm serious, I don't understand theory". He said " How the hell can you play that well without understanding theory". I said "I don't know". He responded by saying "Man, if you learn theory you would be deadly and could play with anyone". I thanked him and again tried to learn theory. I even bought Music Theory for Dummies figuring it would break things down to simple terms. At the end of each chapter there is a quiz. I passed the quiz for chapter 1 but failed chapter 2. I re-read chapter 2 five more times and failed the quiz each time. I don't know what it is but I just don't get it.


Hi RockBassist! Well, you're not lonely, I know a couple of good musicians that do not know anything about theory as well but can really play. As I said a couple of times before, music is about feel, not so much about knowledge. You don't really play through theory, you use it to analyze your playing. I have a very lazy mind when it comes to memorizing charts, sheet music, and so forth, can't really memorize anything. Except maybe chord progressions. So I love to improvise over chord progressions. And I kind of use theory to analyze my playing when improvising. The theory makes it easier for me because it eliminates the need to memorize things, in a way. Some of the guys I mentioned have an incredible memory of what they play. And I mean a note-to-note memory. Maybe that memory is the consequence of not using music theory to make it all easier, or maybe that strong memory is the reason they do not want to learn, or think they don't need, music theory at all. And to be honest, remembering note-to-note every song, every piece of music I play...sounds terrifying to me. I know an incredible rock guitarist, he adores Satriani and stuff (which I don't like at all), and he showed me some scales he learned from Satriani, and he plays them but doesn't know what scales they are, what modes, etc. I guess he remembers finger patterns, or frets, and that's the way he plays. He taught himself to play that way and he's very good at it. It's just something he's comfortable with, I guess. And it's alright, there's nothing wrong with that if you can pull that off. There is no such thing as "better approach" to playing. It's all about how you think. Somebody thinks in terms of fret numbers, memorizing chord patterns, scale finger patterns, etc. I think about notes, hearing notes, mixing notes, playing with notes... I actually tried to learn something awhile back while messing around on guitar with a friend. Since we had only one guitar (at his home), he was showing me some simple licks (the ones I wasn't comfortable with, they just didn't suit my style of playing), and handed me the guitar and was telling me what frets to put my fingers on...and I tell you, I felt as if I'd never seen guitar before. So I said to stop telling me about the fingering, 'cause it's hard for me to figure it out that way. Just couldn't do it that way. It was hard as hell! So I told him to whisper or something since he didn't know the notes on the fretboard. And man...he can read tablature incredibly fast! And I hate guitar tablature! Too much thinking about the frets and all that stuff.
So I read notes, play by ear, feel the way I'm comfortable with it, do not memorize almost anything except chord progressions, while my friend reads tabs, plays by ear, memorizes everything he plays, plays the way he's comfortable with. He can improvise really good too, but does it using the finger patterns he memorized. So you see, it all comes down to your way of thinking, your personal preferences. And it's all good. We get along. If you're not comfortable with changing your way of thinking, don't. Play the way you're comfortable with. And as the "very well known artist" (you didn't say his name) said, "Man, if you learn theory you would be deadly and could play with anyone". But only if that's what you want to do. I hope you understand what I mean.

Goran

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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 7:58 pm
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Gene Simmons has done several interviews where he has stated that he knows absolutely nothing about theory. He can't read music and has no idea what he is playing or writing. All he knows is that he can play by feel. Kind of sad when you consider that there are many musicians who are more talented but never get the opportunity to show what they can do.


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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:23 am
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senderkik wrote:
more, more! Thanks for sharing. I'm a self taught guitarist and appreciate little things like this to help remember notes/chords.


same here. :wink:


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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:30 am
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Theories comes from roots....and from roots comes branches of knowledge, which can bear a good fruit of good MUSIC! --------------- :wink:


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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:02 am
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teachyoupiano wrote:
Theories comes from roots....and from roots comes branches of knowledge, which can bear a good fruit of good MUSIC! --------------- :wink:
+1

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Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 3:50 am
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Yo guys!!! I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!
I finished everything today, and now I'm anxious to continue with music theory! I want questions, discussions, comments... You can expect a new post tomorrow! We're learning to write music. My computer system completely crashed about 3 weeks ago, so I lost everything I wrote for this thread and I need to write it all again. And also, I have some plans of expanding this with some mp3 posts. Played on piano. Since most of you are guitarists, I'll play on piano and post here, so that you can play along with some other instrument. It's all just a thought, but as soon as I learn how to post mp3 here, I'll make it happen. And also, if you have any certain demo(s), notes, melodies, chord progression...you want played and posted, please don't hesitate to send me! At first I'll mostly post simple things, but as we get more into writing music, we'll get to the more complicated stuff. It's time to get this whole thing to a new level! Not just reading about theory, but I want listening and sharing music too. Excercizes, ideas, riffs...you name it.

Drop by tomorrow!

To be continued...

Goran

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"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

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"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 12:04 pm
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This is fantastic idea. Nice job!

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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 8:10 am
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Hi guys!
I know you're waiting for next installment(s)! But, as it always happens, there's always something to mess up your plans. :(
I've got a lot of things to do and since writing a "book" (this is some kind of an e-book. :D) is not easy and takes time, patience, some studying...and making certain arrangements...I must let you know that I haven't forgotten, nor have I abandoned this. Need time, inspiration and music! 8)

Keep playing!

Goran

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"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:14 am
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Goranm wrote:
Hi guys!
I know you're waiting for next installment(s)! But, as it always happens, there's always something to mess up your plans. :(
I've got a lot of things to do and since writing a "book" (this is some kind of an e-book. :D) is not easy and takes time, patience, some studying...and making certain arrangements...I must let you know that I haven't forgotten, nor have I abandoned this. Need time, inspiration and music! 8)

Keep playing!

Goran
hey,Goran,how ya doin!writing an ebook.that's really cool.good luck...

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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:37 pm
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Disoriented_someone wrote:
Goranm wrote:
Hi guys!
I know you're waiting for next installment(s)! But, as it always happens, there's always something to mess up your plans. :(
I've got a lot of things to do and since writing a "book" (this is some kind of an e-book. :D) is not easy and takes time, patience, some studying...and making certain arrangements...I must let you know that I haven't forgotten, nor have I abandoned this. Need time, inspiration and music! 8)

Keep playing!

Goran
hey,Goran,how ya doin!writing an ebook.that's really cool.good luck...


Hey Disoriented! It occured to me the other day, when I got an e-book about chess, to make something similar. Well...my e-book has actually been partially written. This is it! This thread is the book! So, I am kind of thinking about turning everything I've written here so far, and everything that will be written, into a free, downloadable, printable e-book, everything in one place. But, this thread comes first! This is the source. I need to fill up the source first! A lot more to go! :D

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"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
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Post subject: Re: Music theory!!!
Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:22 pm
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The reason I had to take a little time-off from "Music theory!!!" :D 8) :oops: :

http://www.myspace.com/goranm.music

There are 4 old songs ("Iznad oblaka", "Čuješ", "Izabel", "Magičan i zao") recorded in 1990 (when I was 6) by my dad's old band "Aorta", and there are two new songs, both demo recordings. The songs are currently in post-production. There is also one of my demos on piano and keyboards, done at home a while back just to remember the theme, so give me a break! :lol: It's just a basic theme, or a "naked theme" as I like to call it. Feel free to comment. The band is currently working on two new songs, both of which I wrote and arranged, when finished you'll get the chance to hear it. The new songs are more of a progressive rock than classic rock. If interested in information about the musicians, hit the "lyrics" button on the player.
Thanks for understanding my "time-off".

PS If the player doesn't work when you click "play", try clicking the name of the song and playing the songs one by one.

Later... 8)

Goran

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"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

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Post subject: Re: Music theory!!!
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:43 am
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Welcome back Goranm, you were musically productive in your time away, cool songs good job Bro!

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Post subject: Re: Music theory!!!
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:04 am
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Solid Body Love Songs wrote:
Welcome back Goranm, you were musically productive in your time away, cool songs good job Bro!


Thanks Solid! It's nice to be back! :D

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"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com


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Post subject: Re: Music theory!!!
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:37 pm
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Thanx For Posting Goranm. I'm New To The Guitar And The Help Is Appreciated. What Is A Easy To Understand Starter Theory Book ? Thanx.

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