jdennis31: Need To Learn Music Theory

jdennis31 08.27.12	some advice on how to make better second guitar parts would be appreciated as well
guitarnater 08.27.12	Go to college. I'm in a two week music blitz class, and I've learned more theory in the week I've been here than taking lessons for 9 years.
BigBlob 08.27.12	Stevie Ray Vaughan didn't know any music theory....
jdennis31 08.27.12	werd, that's a good idea. do i actually have to enroll in college again to take classes, or can you just go to a college and sign up for a music class? i already got my degree so i wouldn't be able to take it as an elective or anything
Rikardur 08.27.12	My .02, take it or leave it: Don't rely on a knowledge of theory to improve your sense of creativity. In terms of websites, I have no idea. I was taught a bit back in the day via teachers but I rarely call upon what I have learned. Anyways, I'm a better self-learner (the opposite of you). I rely on feeling and intuition, but it does help to have a bit of understanding subconsciously so you can get out of jams.
jdennis31 08.27.12	@bigblob i think stevie ray vaughn probably had way more natural talent than i do as well. but yea, i'm kind of at a musical stump and feel like i play too much of the same thing when i'm jammin out with people so trying to increase my knowledge
jdennis31 08.27.12	"I rely on feeling and intuition, but it does help to have a bit of understanding subconsciously so you can get out of jams." yea this is pretty much exactly what i'm looking for, something to help me out when i'm running out of ideas for licks or they don't just come naturally
BigBlob 08.27.12	jdennis31 I actually know exactly how you feel. Im stumped too. I know scales and that so I can play about on them, but i've gotten to the point where I actually want to play whole songs and improvise using just theory and not reading off music sheets.
Rikardur 08.27.12	I'd say to inform yourself on scales and chord theory mostly. Also learning to tell the key you are in and what to play in said key is helpful if you don't have an ear for that already. Also, if you have no interest in reading music (I never did), you don't need extensive learning that you get from classes and whatnot.
guitarnater 08.27.12	I'm sure there are plenty of schools that would offer a music theory class to non-students. My guitar teacher enrolled in a class at Berklee to learn theory, even though he was a terrible student and never could have gotten in normally. Like night classes I guess.
Rikardur 08.27.12	Honestly, if you can hear the music in your head, and then be able to translate it on guitar, you have reached a good point.
liledman 08.27.12	A good guitar teacher (who has done a degree or similar) should really be enough, if theory and its application on guitar is what you are after. Generally I would not bother with online lessons or courses, but there is a huge amount of free resources out there if you have an enquiring mind. Look into jazz because it's basically the pointy end of theory and application through ability when it comes to guitar.
Ire 08.27.12	dont need theory when u got swag
jdennis31 08.27.12	thanks a lot guys. i have a lot of free time at work so i figured i would utilize it to learn some theory. but yea, i think scales and chord theory would be best to learn.
jdennis31 08.27.12	need more swag.
BigBlob 08.27.12	the best thing to do would be to learn to play simple improvised solos over a backing track in the same key. You get a lot of free tracks online.
Maniac! 08.27.12	Listen to Pink Floyd more
Relinquished 08.27.12	"dont need theory when u got swag" lol
Insurrection 08.27.12	theory is easy just take piano lessons and itll all come to you
johnnydeking29 08.27.12	Yeah, I picked up a lot of theory from learning sax, and as far as scales and weird chords and stuff is concerned, I get stuff from lessons
Insurrection 08.27.12	pianos the easiest imo cause you can see all the keys right in front of you and its easier to get a feel for the scales that way
hydora1171 08.27.12	i wasted 6 months of my life doing past paper questions for my piano music theory. imo, all that transposing is about as useless as a third eyeball on the inside of your skull...it's interesting, only if you wna see your brain closeup.
bloc 08.27.12	Been learning music theory myself and it helps me loads during improv and writing music.
ChuckyTruant 08.27.12	I'm taking a music theory class at school
Ethics 08.27.12	def need more swag
jdennis31 09.07.12	I ended up studying up on chord formations and inversions and it helped me quite a bit, at least in understanding music. Been trying to learn random solos just to see what different people do. Learned all the solos for carry on my wayward son yesterday and those were pretty damn easy/boring. can ya'll rec some cool solos, preferably from a diverse range of genres i.e. 1 from metal, 1 regular rock solo, 1 cool jazz solo, etc... use of different techniques would be nice as well, i.e. pinch harmonics
ChuckyTruant 09.07.12	Natural harmonics are so better than pinch's. But, learn some different modes and mess around with those, that should give you food for thought. And for solos, hmm, try an Alex Lifeson solo. So maybe Freewill or YYZ
sniper01 09.07.12	http://www.teoria.com/ enjoy
jdennis31 09.07.12	@chuck agreed, i actually use them quite a bit in my own music. Not really a fan of the sound of pinch harmonics, i'd just like to have it in my arsenal. YYZ sounds like a fun song to learn, graci. @sniper01 damn dude thanks. that's like the first music theory training website that hasn't been blocked at work.
sniper01 09.07.12	unless you don't actually want to learn music theory, and you are actually just talking about learning to play scales on guitar, which i suspect. if you want to have a solid grounding in scalar guitar playing just practice the major and minor scales in each key, and make sure you can play them in any position on the neck. if you actually want to learn about jazz harmony (which i suspect you don't), you should learn the modes of the major and ascending melodic minor scales in every position as well.
ChuckyTruant 09.07.12	Yar sweet site
jdennis31 09.07.12	hey sniper, yea dude i actually want to learn music theory, specifically jazz theory, so that was pretty much exactly what i was looking for. i'm just trying to simultaneously work on learning more diverse material to expand my own intuition when it comes to guitar? if that makes sense
sniper01 09.07.12	sure man. there are a bunch of free ear training programs you can find too. if you are trying to learn by playing from tabs (what a nightmare) it could do you some serious good to develop your listening so you can learn accurately by ear. i'm not talking about perfect pitch or anything but having decent relative pitch will give you most of what you need to learn solos. plus you should learn to read if you don't know how.
ChuckyTruant 09.07.12	yeah learning to read really isn't that hard.
liledman 09.07.12	You could do well in finding one of those ridiculous torrents that have mountains of music books in them, specifically a guitar book like this: Mel Bay's Jazz Guitar Method (or whatever the title is). It's what we use in our course, and it's pretty decent. Explains it all strictly related to the guitar.