Welcome to the Theory Forum (Page 1 of 2)

Same exact thign with me, I understand a little bit of theory, but I make my way around the fretboard by ear.

Jerome

Geo and 06 are exactly right ... when it comes to playing a chord progression like GCD, for example, I dont know where to solo or even begin practicing ... I've heard about soloing on a scale for a specific "key" but didnt know where to start

Sticky power for the win!

Yep!  That stuff is coming.  I want to build on scales as the foundation, though.  Understanding scales is critical to understanding chords.  All chords are built from scales in one degree or another.

I also want to get the "practical" side of things out first, which is why the scales thread was done the way it's was.  That is a "here is what you can do" kind of thing.  Next will be the "here is why you do it that way" side of it, that will really be about the theory of scales.

So, the next things coming up will be..

1.  Scales Primer (done)
2.  Minor Scales Primer (built in the same way as scales primer)
3.  Scales Theory (covers key signatures and other notational things)
4.  Chord Primer (how chords are built, etc...)
5.  Chord Theory (How chords progress within a key)
6.  Creating Music with Chord Progressions

These will all come up as I have time to build them.  I'm using Visio to build the fretboard charts, and I'm really liking the way it is coming out.  I've got a template with a blank fretboard, and I'm adding new patterns (scale patterns, chords, etc) all the time.  If someone has some web space available, I can put that on line, too.

I've sat here for five minutes trying to come up with a concise answer for that, and honestly, I'm a bit stumped.  So that makes it a good question. 

So I'm throwing up my answer.  Anyone else that has one, please step forward and be heard!

Music theory is "the rules" that you would use to write songs, play your instrument, improvise, and do the other things we as musicians do.  A random jumble of tones does not make a song, any more than a random splattering of paint makes a picture.   Just as a painter knows how to use color and line to create an image, a musician uses theory to choose notes for harmony, and melody.

So for example, when you sit down at Grandma's house and she starts banging out Christmas tunes on the piano and wants you to play along, she might say "This song is in the key of G."  Theory would guide you as to what notes and chords would be appropriate for that key, and help you play along with the song even if you've never heard it before, as it will follow those same rules.   

Now, do you need theory to play?  No, you don't.  Will it make you a better player?  I think so.  Will it help you learn to play faster?  I'd state categorically yes.

Sometimes those rules seem a bit arcane, or confusing, so this forum was created to help us understand and apply it to our playing.

Did that help, or should we get another batter in the box? 

That about sums it up.

The nice thing about it is once you get it, it's immediately apparent how useful it is.

Hey Jerome - you will make a great administator - All the best -

I have to say that most of the charts I’ve looked at on Chordie are not correct.  Every thing from the wrong keys,  wrong chords, wrong voicing, and lyrics.  From what I gather, most people that post charts on Chordie are guitar players.  Most of the guitar players I've worked with never learn anything about theory.  They feel they don't have to.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Music theory is the nuts and bolts, the building blocks, and the foundation of all things music.  The best thing anybody could do is to take music theory courses at your local community college, instrumentalist or vocalist alike.  It's cheep and you can learn everything you every wanted to know about theory.  If you can't do that at least learn some basic keyboards.

I am writing to suggest that song submitters try to be more careful of the chording they use when submitting songs. I am not sure if this is really
a problem of the submitters or the transpose option,but when a song is written in the key of E Maj. or is transposed to the key of E Maj. and there
is a VIm chord in the progression it should be written as C#m and not Dbm. Even though the pitch is the same, it does make a difference how it is
written. Thanks

Hi Jerome,
Mostly wondering if #20 posting is as far as this forum has progressed.
I'm go'na enter this and see what happens... We have a world of topics to visit here and theory shouldn't appear as some mystical realm that we'll never know.
To simplify the connection from brain to braun, I'll begin this way.
Um... First of all, if one wants to play guitar or key-board better. Don't look at your fingers. Learn to feel your way. This is My Theory, this is how theory should be interpreted. Not over there but as mine. When it comes to rules, mostly they go-out the window but progressions and patterns can quickly be learned. So, here's where the "withs" and "what-fors" come into what you're doing. Bax

This is My Theory.

This post is really old and I do not see Jerome on here these days.He is on other posts.