Possible Stupid Question # (Oh I lost Count)

[Raz]

OK with all honesty I want to know who knows nothing about guitar theory. Now I'm not talking about a few powerchords and bits and pieces of scales here and there either...come on I'll be the first to admit that had I posted this last week, then I would be first on the list. This is important and theres no need to feel ashamed...I don't, and I'm not talking theory, I'm talking overall apearance, for me that is

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I know nothing about theory. Literally nothing. I know the names of most of the chords in the 1st position, some of the chords elsewhere, and nearly all of the notes along the E strings. Thats it!

Never stopped or hindered me at a gig or recording session.

 

[Roubster]

Well I did not know anything about theory until maybe a year back, and I've been playing for like 4 years now. Or something like that. I am still at the basics trying to memorize all the possible intervals, so that when I look at a piece of music I can start analyzing it, what key it is in and what chords are used and what's going on. However the biggest weirdest issue with me is that when I play, I cant keep track of what notes I am playing, unless I concentrate specifically on what notes I am playing. This is due to my stupidity of not learning all the notes on the fretboard years ago.

 

[blackspy]

Best tip I ever got was to learn, if nothing else, the notes at the frets with the dots. From there it's usually fairly simple to figure out what notes you're playing. To quote someone .. "use the dots, they are your friend."

 

[SteveB]

Raz,

I had 4 years of music theory and composition classes in high school. I know theory pretty well, but I never really applied a lot of it to the guitar. I can, given a minute or so, figure out that I'm playing a Bsus2 chord, but I wouldn't necessarily know off the top of my head.

Back in school, when things were fresh, we had to compose pieces for the school band to perform. Then we had to write the scores out by hand, and then conduct the piece whilst the band played. It was fun. I got ambitious and wrote a 13-part composition. I still remember transposing all those instrument parts. I seem to remember odd things like a clarinet piece needs to be transposed up major 2nd to match concert pitch instruments, and alto sax up a major sixth..

...funny how bits and pieces stick with you.

 

[Roubster]

By the way Raz, what are you tryin to prove here anyway? Need to catch up?
I know how it is if it's that. I've been literally goin crazy over the theory thing.
If you want a GOOD website for theory, I HIGHLY recommend musictheory.net
I checked it out a couple of weeks back at work, because I cant take my gigantic thoery book to work. You can just google it typing in: "music theory lessons online", the first one should be what I said. It should say something like Ricci's thoery lessons or something like that. It has like key trainers, fretboard trainers, scale trainers, and very good theory lessons that are interactive.

Here's the actual thing for your convenience : http://www.musictheory.net/

 

[Sigmunds Couch]

Here's the actual thing for your convenience : http://www.musictheory.net/

I can practice at work now. My fretboad knowledge sucks but not for long.

 

[Monster]

By the way Raz, what are you tryin to prove here anyway? Need to catch up?
I know how it is if it's that. I've been literally goin crazy over the theory thing.
If you want a GOOD website for theory, I HIGHLY recommend musictheory.net
I checked it out a couple of weeks back at work, because I cant take my gigantic thoery book to work. You can just google it typing in: "music theory lessons online", the first one should be what I said. It should say something like Ricci's thoery lessons or something like that. It has like key trainers, fretboard trainers, scale trainers, and very good theory lessons that are interactive.

Here's the actual thing for your convenience : http://www.musictheory.net/

awsome site, and i am not good at theory but i now my way around the fretboard, kinda like driving someone asks were is this street you know were its at or how to get there just not the name of the street....lol

 

[Roubster]

Glad to help guys. I'm just trying to do what no one did for me whe it comes to theory. I also have an EXCELLENT book, but I forgot what it's called right now. But you know about books. You wanna have something interactive and not a boring piece of paper to read. Plus you cant use it at work, that's why this website is GREAT to start getting into the theory and than to learn more grab that book for furthur explanations. I'll update with the name of the book when I come home. Also highly suggest it. It starts from the ultimate basics all the way up harmony and orchestration and all that crazyness that I have no idea about yet.
Cheers guys!

 

[Raz]

Well the reason I asked was just to prove a point...now in some peoples cases things may be different, however for me the story, and what a sad tale it is, goes something like this.
I've been playing guitar since my late teens, and even though I didn't 'really' play for 15 years, I can safely say that I have been playing on and off for well over a decade. However I will admit that even though I can demonstrate some dextarity along the frets, perhaps even turn a head or two, my playing was just repetitive and restricted to certain areas of the fretboard, and even there I would often run over bad notes. So since taking up guitar again this past year, I've been promising myself to 'learn' how to play properly, yet being the lazy ass that I am, I kept on procrastinating. It wasn't until my audition that I realized how limited I was, yet I more or less won over the other two guys. So someone from another form (The Fender Forum...hahahaha just kidding) offered to help me. In just over a weekend, say 4 days, I've learned and memorized a better part of the fretboard, the minor pentatonic scale in 5 postions and all the modes of the diatonic scale. Plus, today at work (sssshhhhh) I learned how to construct a chord. I can construct any (root)m7 and (root)maj7 chord.
Now I know I have a lot more to learn, but I will say that, just from learning those scales, my playing has improved 10 fold, cause now I know where to play and when instead of trying to hear the note then figuring it out the hard way.
If someone out ther is struggling with repetitive playing aor uninspired creativity then I say give theory a shot, it will open up a whloe new world...well for me it did, and I have only scratched the surface.

 

[Beth]

I dunno dude, the circle of 5ths STILL confuses me

 

[beej]

I've never been a theory buff, but I've picked up some over the years- modes, chord substitutions, harmony, etc. Each time I've learned something new it's opened my eyes a little.

Problem is that in recent years I'm not doing enough to learn new stuff. Sites are great, but what I really need to go it get my arse to a few music classes somewhere.

 

[Raz]

I dunno dude, the circle of 5ths STILL confuses me

It's easy Beth if I can get it anyone can. Look at this picture

Now let's take a simple chord, using the 1,3 and 5 position. On the clock for a C (being the root) go clockwise over 4 and this is your major third or E and to get the fifth go one space to the right of the root note which is G. To get the perfect 4th go one space COUNTERCLOCKWISE of the root note or F. It also works with minor notes as well.

 

[Beth]

OHHHH YEAAAAHHHH, um, its been a while since I've taken a lesson...

 

[Raz]

OHHHH YEAAAAHHHH, um, its been a while since I've taken a lesson...

That will be $20.00 please USD

 

[Beth]

:d

 

[phatduckk]

i dunno jack about theory ....

i picked up a few things that ive overheard, the names of the major chords, how to play a major scale and thats it

 

[Roubster]

ummm, that's great, but to get the 3rd you have to go clockwise. Just to fix your mistake Raz. And plus this needs to be memorized as a circle of 5ths clockwise and 4ths counter clockwise. If you try and find the third based on the circle WITHOUT it you're gonna be confused to death. By the way it also tells you the order of sharps and flats in key signatures when you are writting music. That'll be $10 for anyone that reads this . Trying to beat Raz's price.

 

[Raz]

Thanks I fixed it up...poor Beth that'll teach her for listening to me

 

[Beth]

:b