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

[MalcolmAmos]

How do you speak? Do you think of the rules of English as you speak? I know I do not, I just speak, however, the words I speak reflect the amount of time I have spent with the rules of English.

Same thing with music. When I play; I just play, however, what I play reflect the amount of time I have spent with music theory.

 

[s4001]

If the music is in your head trying to get out, no amount of theory will stop it

 

[lfmn16]

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

+1

I don't know why some people think that ignorance is better than knowledge. If learning and using theory makes you sound mechanical, then you don't know how to use it. Blame the musician, not the knowledge.

 

[MrLenny1]

Knowledge is good. that's from "Animal House" I believe.
Like someone said if you just want to play for fun then skip theory
but if you want to progress and get good get some theory.

 

[basschanges]

Knowledge is good. that's from "Animal House" I believe.
Like someone said if you just want to play for fun then skip theory
but if you want to progress and get good get some theory.

I just play for fun and theory knowledge has made it even more fun! Theory is a way of codifying and systematizing a lexicon of sounds so that the innumerable choices of what to play when becomes more manageable. It, like words and syntax, is a way to organize and compartmentalize ideas and concepts so that the user has better control over his expression. Sometimes theory is no fun to internalize. But here's what would be less fun: being faced with every note at any time as a possible option to play over chord changes, using trial and error to discover the tensions of the altered scale, using trial and error to play what "sounded good" over a ii V....Without theory my musical life would be fraught with incredible amounts of frustration.

 

[Febs]

Knowledge is good. that's from "Animal House" I believe.

 

[Gab124]

Another point. When learning theory keep it in the wood shed. When on stage or playing continue to use your ear. As you get more proficient with your theory it will naturally bleed over into your playing as an improvement without all the thought. Ear training should and is ongoing.

 

[cnltb]

Theory is cool but does it make people think too much??
The more you know the less you have to think about it.
So,...not necessarily.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

How do you speak? Do you think of the rules of English as you speak? I know I do not, I just speak, however, the words I speak reflect the amount of time I have spent with the rules of English.

Same thing with music. When I play; I just play, however, what I play reflect the amount of time I have spent with music theory.

Were Chet Atkins still alive, I'm sure he would get a chuckle out of that.
Roy Clark was asked if he could read music. His response was, "Not enough to interfer with my pickin'."

 

[Ed Fuqua]

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.

Anyplace to hear what that sounds like?

If all you want to do is play pickup games down in the park, then all you need to do is what the rest of the folks do. If you want to play in the majors and have a long career, then you need to what THOSE folks do.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

The title of this thread sounds a lot like "Does reading lead to over thinking" - since when is knowing something bad?

I believe that many folks, perhaps the OP, are looking for justifications for *not* learning theory - much as some folks are looking for justifications to not learn to sight read. Sorry folks - it's work, it's not all fun. That's why not everyone can do it.

 

[since197three]

Here you go sir. Other videos under the band name I either played or wrote the bass lines. Left the band right before they recorded an album and all the songs were set in stone but we just reunited recently

 

[lfmn16]

Were Chet Atkins still alive, I'm sure he would get a chuckle out of that.
Roy Clark was asked if he could read music. His response was, "Not enough to interfer with my pickin'."

The lesson here is that if you are as talented as Chet Atkins and Roy Clark, you don't need to learn theory or read music. However, for the rest of us, it would probably help.

Using the except to the rule to prove your point just doesn't work.

 

[Fat Steve]

Knowledge is not a bad thing, and I'm so sick of people trying to insinuate that it is. If I'm playing in a band with someone, I expect them at the very least to understand what they are doing. If they can't be bothered to put in the necessary legwork to be able to play at the level that playing in a band entails, then they don't need to be there. It's not hard, and to be honest it's insulting when willfully ignorant players refer to being prepared as "thinking too much".

 

[Fat Steve]

I like the song OP. Kind of makes me long for the days of my youth, like getting trashed and blasting Pennywise and Bad Religion all night.

 

[since197three]

Knowledge is not a bad thing, and I'm so sick of people trying to insinuate that it is. If I'm playing in a band with someone, I expect them at the very least to understand what they are doing. If they can't be bothered to put in the necessary legwork to be able to play at the level that playing in a band entails, then they don't need to be there. It's not hard, and to be honest it's insulting when willfully ignorant players refer to being prepared as "thinking too much".

Guys, I am NOT talking about being clueless about what notes I'm playing, their location on the neck etc. i can read music and know scales from guitar class in HS aa I mentioned in my original post.

I just feel music and the arts in general should have a natural feel. Theory is needed at the start of course. But I can spot players who have that natural groove to players who are stiff and following a set of rules.

 

[since197three]

I like the song OP. Kind of makes me long for the days of my youth, like getting trashed and blasting Pennywise and Bad Religion all night.

Thanks,,,,I think lol That song is 13 yrs old actually. Hopefully we keep it going and record new stuff we have.

 

[Febs]

Guys, I am NOT talking about being clueless about what notes I'm playing, their location on the neck etc. i can read music and know scales from guitar class in HS aa I mentioned in my original post.

I just feel music and the arts in general should have a natural feel. Theory is needed at the start of course. But I can spot players who have that natural groove to players who are stiff and following a set of rules.

Knowing theory and playing with a "natural feel" are not mutually exclusive. Almost without exception, the best feel players I know are also the best readers and the most knowledgeable in theory.

 

[Tampabass]

Thinking is bad for you, very bad, so don't do it. I think.

 

[since197three]

Knowing theory and playing with a "natural feel" are not mutually exclusive. Almost without exception, the best feel players I know are also the best readers and the most knowledgeable in theory.

Ok I understand that but it's the total opposite for me. Best players i know personally of guitar, bass even drums never took lessons or very little.