Music theory

[tuffteef]

Do any of you guys study music or have studied just finished 6 months studying and curious

[elbandito]

i was never formally trained and now i'm kicking myself in the ass.
trying to teach this stuff to yourself is really hard. i've had an easier time learning German, fer feks sake!

[tuffteef]

I'm in the same boat man haha and it seems so simple but god it racks my brainnnn! 6 months another 2 years to go

[Dexterecus]

I went to music school for 1 year, but I had to quit because it was hard combining it with work, girlfriend, band rehearals and other hobbies.

Bit of a shame, though I still study some of it on my own.

[magiclawnchair]

i have studied a bit on my own. i got the modes down, but i do not spend enough time "working" on theory. after awhile i say fuck it and stop on some pedals.

my cousin has a masters in classical guitar performance so i bounce some shit off of him some times....

stick with it. it helps!

[Tritone]

I have a bachelor of music degree. So I know a little. I guess I know enough to know that there are people who know a lot more than me. The sad thing is I'm not using any of it, so I'm slowly forgetting it all. Stuff I used to know by heart it slipping away. For example, off the top of my head I can't tell you the available tensions on the secondary dom7 chords (although if I had some music paper I could work it out); if I didn't know that two years ago in school I would've flunked my arranging classes.

[Astricii]

I think it's nice to know some but I've never studied a lot of theory. All the people I've ever played with who know theory end up making stuff that while technically good always just sounded too formulaic to my ears. There really wasn't anything Genre bending or inventive going on with them sooooo I quit. started doing thing my own way. Memorized a good number of chord shapes and basic knowledge and went from there. I think if you're musically inclined you can tell when something doesn't sound right, when it doesn't sound like music.

[tuffteef]

Totally get ya studying music has challenged my personal views like at sme point I was like if I learn everything will I become boring as a musician or less experimental cause u just end up knowing everything but I think I'm so deep already in it that I'm just gonna take the trip and see what happens haha Like pol have told me they don't even really use the theory but they can be told to play something and they can form the chord in there head in a snap even if they don't know what it is and ear training picking up an entire progression and melody after one listen and going over to the piano and busting it out haha but yeah lots of pros and cons

[my bloody television]

I took piano lessons for 9 years before I picked up guitar and those lessons were ALL theory based. I hated them but without that foundation I wouldn't be nearly as good at guitar or even have the level of understanding that I do. I've taken lessons here and there and took an AP theory course in high school but I haven't really progressed in music theory for a few years now. Having a solid foundation in theory is pretty key though. I really like the idea of not having any knowledge of music theory and working from there, but at the same time it makes it much more interesting (at least for me) to use what I know and then find something I don't know and work from there...I tend to come up with better ideas working off what knowledge I have. Plus, it makes band practices MUCH easier if the people around you have a similar understanding of theory because you don't have to explain in minute detail every last thing you're doing.

[Pirate]

I'm taking it right now in high school its kind of .Its useful but you don't really need it.

[eti]

Took some beginning piano from my mom who was classically trained for 9 years. After playing guitar for about 20 years I took some guitar lessons from Joey Mazzola, then of Loudhouse and Sponge. Mostly I've hung around knowledgeable musicians and was self taught.

[Dr. Von Nostrand]

I studied music theory at a pretty high level, getting my grade 8 from ABRSM and then moved to London and did my degree at the guitar institute a few years ago. Apart from a few aspects, particulary from jazz theory and techniques, i not only found it useless, but the course as a whole had such a focus on this stuff and making you sound like a clone that i really truely hated every minute of the three years i was there.
I've come to the conclusion that a basic knowledge of theory is needed, but having a good ear and experience of playing with other musicians is far more rewarding.

[smile_man]

I took guitars lessons like six years ago, never learned any theory, I can't complain. I'm comfortable with what I can do for the most part. I like playing my pedalboard better anyways.

[tuffteef]

I was playing the double bass today just muckin round and my teacher was like add the 4th to the melody I was like wah? Baha

[elbandito]

i think it boils down to this: formal training is not absolutely necessary, but if you have it, you will be a better musician overall.
i don't believe that learning theory interferes with creativity... in such cases that it does, i believe that those ppl are naturally more mathematics-oriented than arts-oriented. I'm certain that if I knew more theory, my songs would be infinitely more creative and interesting.