Theory is cool but does it make people think too much??

[since197three]

I just have always played bass. Never got into much theory besides guitar class in high school (why not?) or who plays what, where and who played on this or that.
I've never taken a lesson in my life. I basically learned to play bass by listening to music pressing play and rewind on my boombox cassettes BITD.

I would consider myself a groove player.

When I pick up my bass, I just play, make it happen and often think if I took lessons, I would have that persons style.

Am I wrong?? Theory is cool but does it make people think too much??

 

[Lesfunk]

It only makes you think too much when you are learning it. Once you know it you just play

 

[will33]

It only makes you think too much when you are learning it. Once you know it you just play

/thread.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Sums it up just fine.

 

[zontar]

It only makes you think too much when you are learning it. Once you know it you just play

Exactly.
That's what I do.
We all know at least basic theory if we play an instrument.
But we just play.

 

[wild4oldcars]

Theory is what makes things sound good or bad. That i VII VI VII that everyone uses is theory, whether they know it or not.

 

[Darth Handsome]

I knew a theory in the CIA that had a stutter. Cost it its life, damn it.

 

[DeathFromBelow]

Why is this in OT? Dammit, I'm not here to talk about music!

 

[edpal]

Think of theory like reading and learning new words - you still have a choice to ignore those words or use them, you don't have to accept the words of another just because you read them. You can mix up words(and theory) to make new compositions. Theory and reading are both good because they broaden your perspective. But that's just my theory.

Why is this in OT? Dammit, I'm not here to talk about music!

True that!!

 

[RED J]

“In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.”

― Albert Einstein

 

[Gab124]

Some of the best guitarists I have ever played with did not know any theory - just makes it harder to communicate between members to me. "Hey, what was that chord you were playing there, "I don't know". If you just play for fun, don't worry about it, if you want to go somewhere with it you will be very glad you studied before you get there - much harder to play catch up later.

 

[edpal]

Some of the best guitarists I have ever played with did not know any theory - just makes it harder to communicate between members to me. "Hey, what was that chord you were playing there, "I don't know". If you just play for fun, don't worry about it, if you want to go somewhere with it you will be very glad you studied before you get there - much harder to play catch up later.

Sometimes my theory knowledge has backfired, but not because of me. Some people who are totally self-taught will get angry because they think (or actually are) being put down by people who know theory. Knowing where the third and fifth notes of a chord are is not a sin but some people WILL act like it is.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

By all means avoid that thinking stuff. It will only get you in trouble and leave you confused.

 

[wild4oldcars]

Once I told my guitarist to go up an inversion.... Then I told him to "add that finger there"

 

[DwaynieAD]

Theory is what makes things sound good or bad. That i VII VI VII that everyone uses is theory, whether they know it or not.

no, theory is giving a name to why something sounds good or bad.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Spend more time developing your ear than your theory and you'll be fine.

 

[fraublugher]

Well that's ear training isn't it , but you have to learn how to count to thirteen so, theory is for babies?

 

[edpal]

Well that's ear training isn't it , but you have to learn how to count to thirteen so, theory is for babies?

It's easy when you have 7 digits on each hand. 15 always trips me up though..

 

[Febs]

Knowledge > lack of knowledge
Ear training > lack of ear training
Both > one or the other

 

[Mystic Michael]

Am I wrong?? Theory is cool but does it make people think too much??

From what I've observed, for most self-taught "ear" players, thinking "too much" is the least of their problems. For many of them, it would be a great improvement if they did any thinking at all.

MM