Volta Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Topic for the songwriters of the board. I was just reading an earlier thread about a thoery question and basically, it just goes over my head cause i've never taken the time to explore it. Personally, I've never needed it, I don't get writers block and I always rely on intuition when writing songs. However, I have been toying with the idea of learning something about it, just to continue and improve my overall musical development.So what's the advantages of learning about some theory? Is it not restricting atall? How does everyone else write with regards to this? Just wandering if anyone had any input.Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmygoodein Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 theory is just a way to understand what you write and play. Theory can help you create new and exciting ideas, such as odd chords and and it will let you understand how they work. It's also good for communicating with other musicians. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addi Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 imho its definitely worth learning theory, it's also worth learning about music history.knowing theory doesnt limit you at all. While its true you can do perfectly good music without understanding any theory i think its important to have a frame of reference for everything you are making and that music history/music theory is always very good for that.Long story short: learn it, cant hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empty-words Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Theory is really usefull if your trying to wright something over the top of something. you can ask the chord progression and work around that, you would also create more interesting rythms(sp). From my experiance musicians with even a little theory knowlege are better musicians than none. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AmbientMood Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 Music theory is overwhelming. But yeah, as above.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 Theory? What's that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Maverik Posted August 27, 2005 Report Share Posted August 27, 2005 theory is just a way to understand what you write and play. Theory can help you create new and exciting ideas' date=' such as odd chords and and it will let you understand how they work. It's also good for communicating with other musicians.[/quote']I agree with most of this, but I think people who aren't musically trained are more adventurous, more likely to explore uncharted territory. I've personally got on just fine using my ear and intuition, and a little luck. Listening to a vasy array of music and a little raw talent can take you just as far - if not further - as learning all your theory. But I agree that it can help you develop a deeper understanding of what you are doing.Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmygoodein Posted August 27, 2005 Report Share Posted August 27, 2005 definetely.theory is good, but in the end, its your ear that matters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AmbientMood Posted August 27, 2005 Report Share Posted August 27, 2005 people who aren't musically trained are more adventurous' date=' [/quote']By 'musically' I assume you're referring to theory, but the meaning of 'adventurous' is hazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Maverik Posted August 27, 2005 Report Share Posted August 27, 2005 By 'musically' I assume you're referring to theory' date=' but the meaning of 'adventurous' is hazy.[/quote']Yes, and what I was meaning was, people who have learned music theory from the start, tend to stick to what they know, whereas Joe Bloggs who picked everything up by ear will probably be more likely to try things out of the box, if you know what I mean? But yes, you do have a valid point.Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gregor Ascension Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 people with all the theory tend to be snobby cunts alot of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Maverik Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 people with all the theory tend to be snobby cunts alot of the time.Seconded. (there are always exceptions of course, but from my experience, I agree)Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sloth Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 I dont know much theory, but the things i have learned(modes, chords) have provided me with cool things i probably wouldn't have found on my own, but now i know these shapes i have the annoying habit of 'defaulting' to them and becoming stuck...and in those cases i wish i could go back to not knowing anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HateEvent Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Yay for not knowing as much as I should then!It CAN help, I mean I know some stuff, but when writing riffs and progressions, I tend to stick with what sounds good to my ears, not what SHOULD be happening as I find some stuff fall victim to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afro Droid Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Bit of both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawy Lawson:Attorney Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 Bit of both?Yeah. I don't know if theory boxes you in. I mean, half the fun I find is purposely breaking the "rules" which results in some cool sounding stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott! Posted September 10, 2005 Report Share Posted September 10, 2005 I try to write stuff purposely disregarding my (fairly limited) theory and then, afterwards, figure out the mechanics of it for arrangements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AmbientMood Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 people with all the theory tend to be snobby cunts alot of the time.Much the opposite I find. People with little or no theory knowledge are often the narrow minded fad-lovers - power metal etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Ascension Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 I really don't get that stupid fucking comment at all?"fad-lovers - power metal etc."??Are you really that much of a total moron? Please, spare yourself any further humiliation and quit posting on this forum - it's not healthy for you as a person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gregor Ascension Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 Much the opposite I find. People with little or no theory knowledge are often the narrow minded fad-lovers - power metal etc.was that because i didnt like your song? get over yourself. narrow minded i am not, and just because im not some snobby jazz musican who was classicaly trained from the age of 6 and knows what scale works well over an augmented 9 chord, doesnt make me any less musical. how much theory do you know then? how to sample the sound of a dog farting and have it looped in 9/8 timing? i wouldnt call that music. shut the fuck up you egotistical wanker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 ah dear aberdeen-music will never cease to amaze me. comedy winds galore at the moment on here. is it possible for people to discuss something without it becoming personal?anyhoo bit of both id say. fence sitter i am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drum bum Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 Personally I think theory is important, But last week I got a lesson that theory is nothing with out creativity and passion, I took a friend who I hadnt seen in a long time to a gig he was doing in Glasgow I think the pub was crottiers or something, he was playing for the Mike dean quintet, and I sat in the crowd and and watched while he put on a performance that was quite simply out of this world, after the gig when we were driving home i asked him "How long did you rehearse with this band to get to that level of tightness and expression" He replyed " I havent rehearsed with them at all, I just played everything off the cuff" He played passeges that degree players could not even comprehend and got all accents spot on, and he doesnt read charts. Pure Class.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Ascension Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 how much theory do you know then? how to sample the sound of a dog farting and have it looped in 9/8 timing? i wouldnt call that music. shut the fuck up you egotistical wanker.Oh my god, that is how a serving is issued.Ambient = owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 Oh my god' date=' that is how a serving is issued.Ambient = owned.[/quote']All of you (ambient mood included) are just continually embarrasing yourselves on these forums by continuing this petty shite. Knock it off and take it to private messages instead of polluting good threads. I'll remind all of you that flame wars such as these are against the site rules you all agreed to when you joined this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gregor Ascension Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 All of you (ambient mood included) are just continually embarrasing yourselves on these forums by continuing this petty shite. Knock it off and take it to private messages instead of polluting good threads. I'll remind all of you that flame wars such as these are against the site rules you all agreed to when you joined this forum.agreed, but i think you'll find ambientmood as the root cause of all of these arguments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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