Hi all. I have started playing again after many years off (as I have said before). Here is my background and then what I am trying to accomplish:
I played Alto Sax in middle school for 3 years so I have an elementary understanding of music. Really only at the level of timing and the treble clef. I can generally look at a piece of simple music and know what it should sound like and be played like. At a very elementary level. I am grateful for that experience as it still pays off to this day.
After that I picked up guitar and learned to play by ear, only knowing which notes were which on the fretboard in relation to what I learned in school. I still have to think about it when playing. Later found interest in bass and developed that by ear. You know the old school way playing record sections over and over and over and over.
I got to an intermediate level at best.
Now years later my interest in playing has sparked again. I could develop quickly playing by ear, but I want to be able to know what someone is talking about when they say "hey, lets try that in A instead". I have been looking around TB and some other sites. I started with the thread on chromatic scales, triads etc and followed it fairly well. I looked up Circle of Fifths and could vaguely follow it. I started feeling overwhelmed and wondering if I was looking at the right things at the right time. All of a sudden I realize I know almost nothing of theory. I guess my question is where do I get started to take a methodical, practical approach to my musical understanding online without the ability to pay for a private teacher right now as I am looking at putting my 2 kids in lessons as it is? Thanks so much.
