If you want to learn theory as a way to perform better, I highly recommend against it. Learning theory, and then slotting in tons of thoughts into your process of performance does nothing but slow down getting your idea out on your instrument.
Knowing the theory behind F7 doesn't make you a better musician, it makes you better at being able to explain the function of F7.
Listening to other great musicians use F7, play melodies, play harmony, and interact with other musicians is what is going to help you become a better performer.
You HAVE to start thinking about all music you want to play as language. Literally. When you're an infant your parents talk to you non stop. Now, as an child, teenager, or adult you NEVER have to think about how to put a simple sentence together.
When was the last time you actually had to think about constructing a response to "excuse me, what's the time?"
I bet you've never had to think about an answer to that, or millions of other questions. Why? Because you learnt to speak your native language by listening to others. You are using the same words as Einstein, Shakespeare, Plato, etc etc... "and" "to" "from" "but" "with"....
when do you ever think about using them? or analyze them before they come out of your mouth?
Never.
So why does everyone want to put music theory up there as a priority for being a performing musician? Why do people want to know which mode goes with a certain chord?
Because they have no interest in doing the hard work, and walking down the long road that is learning music. To truly learn music you need to immerse yourself in it. There's no book, no easy way out, no trick, no quick route. There's hard work, and complete immersion. It's that simple.
Do experienced musicians and musicians that you love to listen to know theory? Yes. it's just the same as learning your native language as a child and being able to speak it long before you can write it. It's because speaking is the only way of communicating language. And it's no different with music.
When I go to the studio I don't generally play all the ideas for the album to the musicians in the band and then expect them to remember them all and play all my melodies and arrangements.
I write the music down, and I'm able to communicate my ideas with other musicians in a much more efficient manner. Just the same as writing a letter to someone who you can't speak to on the phone or in person. Or writing a set of instructions for a product that you can't be there in person to verbally explain how it works to the customer.
I liked the comment earlier in thread where someone mentioned that the people asking the questions about theory are never the ones who have taken the time to learn a little of it.
The bottom line is, theory is an aspect of music. If you want to be more rounded as a musician, learn theory. Don't spend your time in here debating it.
But do not use is as a crutch or source of material and vocabulary for performing. You can hear those players a mile off, and it's one of the least appealing sounds I've ever heard.
Janek
Knowing the theory behind F7 doesn't make you a better musician, it makes you better at being able to explain the function of F7.
Listening to other great musicians use F7, play melodies, play harmony, and interact with other musicians is what is going to help you become a better performer.
You HAVE to start thinking about all music you want to play as language. Literally. When you're an infant your parents talk to you non stop. Now, as an child, teenager, or adult you NEVER have to think about how to put a simple sentence together.
When was the last time you actually had to think about constructing a response to "excuse me, what's the time?"
I bet you've never had to think about an answer to that, or millions of other questions. Why? Because you learnt to speak your native language by listening to others. You are using the same words as Einstein, Shakespeare, Plato, etc etc... "and" "to" "from" "but" "with"....
when do you ever think about using them? or analyze them before they come out of your mouth?
Never.
So why does everyone want to put music theory up there as a priority for being a performing musician? Why do people want to know which mode goes with a certain chord?
Because they have no interest in doing the hard work, and walking down the long road that is learning music. To truly learn music you need to immerse yourself in it. There's no book, no easy way out, no trick, no quick route. There's hard work, and complete immersion. It's that simple.
Do experienced musicians and musicians that you love to listen to know theory? Yes. it's just the same as learning your native language as a child and being able to speak it long before you can write it. It's because speaking is the only way of communicating language. And it's no different with music.
When I go to the studio I don't generally play all the ideas for the album to the musicians in the band and then expect them to remember them all and play all my melodies and arrangements.
I write the music down, and I'm able to communicate my ideas with other musicians in a much more efficient manner. Just the same as writing a letter to someone who you can't speak to on the phone or in person. Or writing a set of instructions for a product that you can't be there in person to verbally explain how it works to the customer.
I liked the comment earlier in thread where someone mentioned that the people asking the questions about theory are never the ones who have taken the time to learn a little of it.
The bottom line is, theory is an aspect of music. If you want to be more rounded as a musician, learn theory. Don't spend your time in here debating it.
But do not use is as a crutch or source of material and vocabulary for performing. You can hear those players a mile off, and it's one of the least appealing sounds I've ever heard.
Janek
