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Is music theory important?
- Thread starter Dbt25677
- Start date
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Or, 'give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer talking bull#@@#'.....it's about application of the skill.
The Final Cut 2: Cutting to the Root
"In a world where free jazz rules, one man tries to discover...the root of music."
The soundtrack would be awesome.
another theory discussion thread..
a musician not knowing theory is like an athlete not knowing the rules of the game. all he has on his side is his athleticism, speed and such, but he may not know where to run to!
a musician not knowing theory is like an athlete not knowing the rules of the game. all he has on his side is his athleticism, speed and such, but he may not know where to run to!
You should go to the dancing, fashion, and make-up forums (not a music forum) if all you want is to be is a famous and rich popstar. You don't even have to plug your bass! Another TBer could play it for you in the background.
Maybe you have to define "musician" before answering this question, but ...
Of course it's very possible to play and even create new music without the theory, and even become a successful artist. You go by what you hear around you, by what feels right to your ears and by imitating other people. It's been done since rhythm and music was invented, passing down songs by learning from others, and just playing what sounds good to you. Music theory is a very useful thing to have but people can and do make good music without it.
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On the flip side you're sometimes surprised how much formal training and knowledge of theory that some artists that play "simple rock" actually have.
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Of course it's very possible to play and even create new music without the theory, and even become a successful artist. You go by what you hear around you, by what feels right to your ears and by imitating other people. It's been done since rhythm and music was invented, passing down songs by learning from others, and just playing what sounds good to you. Music theory is a very useful thing to have but people can and do make good music without it.
.
On the flip side you're sometimes surprised how much formal training and knowledge of theory that some artists that play "simple rock" actually have.
.
It's a language. The better you speak it, the better you communicate your own ideas and understand the ideas of others.
It is not about laying down inflexible rules; it's about providing explanations for how things sound.
It is not about laying down inflexible rules; it's about providing explanations for how things sound.
Like I said before, I could play music as a kid before I knew theory, that's true. But, when you really look at it I DID know theory, only I didn't know what to call the things I saw on the keyboard. Just the fact that I saw them means I recognized SOMETHING, and my ear also recognized SOMETHING. That SOMETHING has a name, and it is descibed in theory. Once I learned theory I took off like a rocket, learning to play even better, and being able to describe it to others.
IMO, theory is a means to and end and not an end in itself.
I played with a guitarist about 12 years ago that was a super theory head and would get so mad if we added a note to a riff that sounded cool but didn't "belong". Drove me nuts.
"You can't do that, it doesn't fit the structure.."
"It sounds good, why not?"
"Because you can't. It doesn't fit."
"It sounds good, why not?"
...ad nauseum...
I played with a guitarist about 12 years ago that was a super theory head and would get so mad if we added a note to a riff that sounded cool but didn't "belong". Drove me nuts.
"You can't do that, it doesn't fit the structure.."
"It sounds good, why not?"
"Because you can't. It doesn't fit."
"It sounds good, why not?"
...ad nauseum...
hum your "inspiration" may f*** the harmony he tried to create. Like do try to put your "inspiration" during a classical music concert... what is on the music sheet is what you play, nothing more nothing less. It is important.
To lazy to read the rest of this thread so forgive me if this has already been mentioned but having a bit of music theory definitely helps when communicating with other musicians. Instead of saying "play the duh on the nuh nuh nuh part but way faster" you can tell someone to play the G on the 1 double time. It's nice if everyone has a bit of a common language.
We all wrote. We were all coming up with stuff. We had no sheets to read. My point with that post was not to be bound by theory if it doesn't "fit". If something sounds good, it is good.
If that were true then I'd be fired from every classical, most every session and most cover gigs I get. It's only true if you wrote it or are working with people who agree with you.
Ideally I agree with you
The truth - something sounds good - is in the ear of the beholder.
If that beholder is your group's leader, you can either try to diplomatically offer your version of "stuff", or just get fired/leave on your own if you disagree with the leader's opinion.
We don't even need to talk about any new "stuff" - CREATION OF SOMETHING NEW.
In the separate thread, http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/stanley-clarke-plays-under-bridge-red-hot-chili-peppers-1008594/
I've posted a video with the Grand Multitalented Master, Stanley Clarke and "fire-throwing-volcanic" Hiromi playing "Under the Bridge" - RHCP.
Some of the comments were, "elevator music", "k-mart radio", etc... (I've never thought I could hear that kind of reaction from anybody who is/wanna be a musician.)
Some agreed that the musicians were good but "they butchered" the song.
One more time, the truth is in the EAR of the beholder.
If you are hired to play written notes/chords, you should follow the rules. If you are hired to create something new, than IT DEPENDS on many other factors.
What you have is an example of someone who doesn't know how to apply their knowledge, not an example of why knowledge is bad. Theory is not rules, it's an explanation.
That's exactly what I'm saying. Don't think of theory as the end... The end is the music and theory is a means to that end. I'm not at all saying don't learn theory... All I'm saying is don't be bound by it.
