Steven Mal
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2016
- Messages
- 47
Can you tell me what the first step you're referring to here is?
Nothing specific, I only meant the beginning of a student's lessons in music theory.
Can you tell me what the first step you're referring to here is?
Nothing specific, I only meant the beginning of a student's lessons in music theory.
@Axis39 - I’m sure you’re right that nobody who learned theory ever regretted it. I do think that the importance of it is overplayed by many though, and for those who don’t know theory it must sometimes seem that they are missing out on some kind of magical ability booster. It’s not.
A lifetime ago, my teacher used to say “you only see what you can’t do”, meaning that once you can do something yourself it no longer stands out when others do it.
The other analogy I use, and you’ll have to forgive me for it, is the movie Days of Thunder (bear with me). In that movie Tom Cruise’s character knows nothing about cars, but he can drive the wheels off one!
@Axis39 I love talking about this stuff and hearing how other players go about it. I'm not (would never!) criticizing or saying my way is better or anything like that. I just like hearing how other players go about their process. It's all very interesting too me and I love hearing what other players have to say. Even more interesting when you have heard the guy play some and can tie the way he plays and the way he thinks and learns together.
Heck, I'm the one people may "look down on" in a way, for never taking the time to learn more theory. I was too busy learning Van Halen and Ozzie songs to stop and learn theory.
Understandable! Brings back memories of those scary times when we were all monkeys! Nobody wants to go back to that.When I hear the word theory...I generally run away arms a flailing. It's a built in survival mechanism for me.
My only regret is that sometimes she struggled to explain to me what she was doing.
Understanding theory has really helped my playing in the church group I work with. With so much driven off the piano and some weird chord structures, A lot of add 9, add 13, dim 4, a lot in E flat- and I hate using a capo so knowing how to structure e flat in a couple of places helps.
You bring up another interesting aspect with the capo. I know some bluegrass guys who use them CONSTANTLY. Every song that is in a different key than the last one, has them moving their capo. I've never used one and do not like them. Always thought of it as "cheating." But I've seen accomplished pros using them so...
My first guitar teacher felt that way, and I felt that way for a long time. Then I saw what some guys like Davy Knowles, Tommy Emmanuel, and others do with them, and I see it now more as a way of getting voicings that would otherwise be unobtainable.
One guy I play with will just use it so he's always playing familiar chord shapes, G,C, D, F etc., but up higher on the fretboard, to do key changes for singers. He asked me how I DIDN'T use one when she show up and the singer goes "that's a bit too high, can you lower it" or vice versa. My answer, barre chords. LOL One step up? No problem. Two? No problem. Wherever you want it, I can barre it there.
Understandable! Brings back memories of those scary times when we were all monkeys! Nobody wants to go back to that.
no, according to some, we used to be one of those too, if I have the "theory" correct.I dunno...this one pretty much RULES!! Well it's technically a chimpanzee but he has a gun, so it's irrelevant.
no, according to some, we used to be one of those too, if I have the "theory" correct.
No way! Wait... you have an Uncle Carmine too??? No freakin way.No - it means we had a common ancestor. I think his name was Carmine.
No way! Wait... you have an Uncle Carmine too??? No freakin way.
Is yours like a really hairy guy too?
Don't worry. We have several guys here who "date themselves" if you know what I'm sayin'