Should I know Theory Before I Take Lessons?

[antwon deserter]

I've been playing bass for about 3 years now. I'm pretty good, I can improv and jam and write songs,but I don't really know a lot about music theory or the specific notes and stuff. I want to get better, and it seems that getting a teacher would be very helpful, but I don't want to be a burden and just a waste. Should I learn all about theory before I take lessons or should I just go for it?

[Righteous Thunderer]

The way I see it, the more you learn before stepping into a lesson the better off you are. I've had only a handful of lessons, but having taught myself some of the solid foundations of music prior to attending said lessons we were able to skip ahead quite a bit.

[Rockmusician]

I have never had lessons, do not know theory and have been playing and touring for 30 years. Many famous musicians do not understand theory at all. It's not really necessary but it will help.

[MalcolmAmos]

I think you will find in a thirty minute music lesson there is little time left for theory. I've only had one instructor that had theory hand outs for the assignment I was to work on this week. Normally theory gets spoon fed as you need it, if at all.

So -- should you study some theory on your own, sure why not. You do not need a lot of theory under your belt before you start lessons. Talk to your instructor about this, see what he has to say. I would hope he could help you with recommended theory books you could use.

Bass guitar for dummies http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Guitar-Du.../dp/0764524879 and www.studybass.com will IMHO have what you need to get started.

Good luck.

[kai_ski]

If you want to learn theory, get a good teacher who will teach you what you want to learn. I recently decided to start studying jazz bass and the first 8 lessons were devoted to theory and writing bass lines (on paper.) I wasn't required to play my bass except for exercises and practicing scales. Now that I'm working on bebop and soloing, I'm glad we spent all that time learning the basics, even though it will still take time for it all to become a part of me.

[Stumbo]

Here are some links you may want to check out:

~Newbie Theory
What's "Theory"?
Intro to Theory website-easy to follow
Easy understanding of chords
Music Theory for Practical People book
Online Visual Beginning Theory, ear trainer

~Newbie Sight Reading
Beginner's Bass Clef tips
"Name that note" online SN game
Downloadable read "bass clef" software
Online bass clef audio/visual trainer
print bass clef flashcards/staff paper

~Newbie Rhythm
1 Learn rhythm
2

Check out the link in my sig. below for more great TB info!

Good luck.

[waleross]

+ 1 on not really needing theory but if you want to learn it, a good piano teacher can help.

[Crazyeelboy]

Take lessons and study theory at the same time.

[mambo4]

+1 to both at once. No reason to delay either.
-1 to forging ahead without it. Honestly I doubt anyone playing and touring for over 30 years really "knows nothing" about theory. Theory is really just labels for useful patterns. The patterns are most likely in such people's head/ears/fingers, just without the acedemic labels.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by antwon deserter

I've been playing bass for about 3 years now. I'm pretty good, I can improv and jam and write songs,but I don't really know a lot about music theory or the specific notes and stuff. I want to get better, and it seems that getting a teacher would be very helpful, but I don't want to be a burden and just a waste. Should I learn all about theory before I take lessons or should I just go for it?

theory is more of a lifelong pursuit.....start now and keep learning a little more every day....

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by antwon deserter

Should I learn all about theory before I take lessons or should I just go for it?

No need to make it that hard...

Find a good teacher who can teach you concepts & principles of music theory as he teaches you the instrument. You'll find that your growing knowledge of the instrument helps you to understand music theory better...and your growing knowledge of music theory also helps you to understand the instrument better.

Got it?

MM

[ILIA]

Originally Posted by antwon deserter

I've been playing bass for about 3 years now. I'm pretty good, I can improv and jam and write songs,but I don't really know a lot about music theory or the specific notes and stuff. I want to get better, and it seems that getting a teacher would be very helpful, but I don't want to be a burden and just a waste. Should I learn all about theory before I take lessons or should I just go for it?

In your case, it sounds like the best way to go is to learn theory as part of your bass lesson. As someone else has pointed out, if you can truly improv, jam, and write songs (and I mean truly), theory is just a matter of associating the academic labels and being able to connect the aural with theory in practical situations [i.e. sight-reading, being able to map out the form for a previously unknown piece of music right away, re-arranging (quickly) a part for another instrument, communicating your thoughts with the common medium of formal musical language vs genre-dependent or bass-dependent musical structures].

[James Judson]

Theory is just a language built around music. You don't need to know any theory to "play". Theory will not tell you where to put your fingers. Everyone here knows some theory. If the 30 yr veteran truly knows no theory he would not last 10 minutes in my band, (me: "this song is in the key of A" veteran: "I don't know what that means" me: "we are wasting out time here"). If you want to communicate with other musicians learn some theory. Theory will also help find that elusive chord or transposing or just understanding why these notes/chords go together. A healthy dose of theory and practice will make a wll rounded musician.

[Russell L]

Theory gets downplayed a lot, when learning it is the best thing a musician can do for their playing abilities. No, you don't HAVE to know ANYTHING, but knowing SOMETHING will speed up your progress a hundred-fold. Just ask anyone who has taken the Berklee online course on another thread how much it opened up for him. As far as lessons go, learn some theory and you won't even need lessons. Or at least get a teacher who will include theory (I did when I taught, although some wanted to know more than others).

[dave64o]

Originally Posted by antwon deserter

I've been playing bass for about 3 years now. I'm pretty good, I can improv and jam and write songs,but I don't really know a lot about music theory or the specific notes and stuff. I want to get better, and it seems that getting a teacher would be very helpful, but I don't want to be a burden and just a waste. Should I learn all about theory before I take lessons or should I just go for it?

If you find a qualified, experienced teach who has the knowledge and the desire to teach, then I'd say your current ability level is a non-issue. A good teacher should be able to help you whether you're someone who's never touched a bass before or someone who's been playing a long time.

Consider this. In recent years Neil Peart has taken lessons under both Peter Erskine and Peter Gruber - and made major changes in his playing as a result. If *HE* didn't waste an instructor';s time after all he's accomplished in his life, then I'd say there are very few of us here would couldn't get SOME benefit from working with a good instructor.

If you're willing to put in the work to learn theory, then do it. Everything you learn will only make you more valuable as a band mate. Also learning theory will NOT stifle your creativity, limit you, shove someone else's contrived ideas down your throat (jeez, it's ridiculous how often you see that statement here. ), or even just waste your time. How could learning possibly do that?!

[bolophonic]

If you are paying for a lesson, you are not wasting anybody's time. By the same token, you should be able to get what you want out of your lessons, so you should find a teacher who will teach you theory as well as technique, etc...