How does learning music theory help us when we’re playing guitar?<\/p>\n
“Theory” is concerned with how music works. We can think of it as the language of music, containing an alphabet, spelling rules, and grammar.<\/p>\n
Some might say straight up that this sounds a bit boring for guitarists.\u00a0 (Hey, life’s too short.)\u00a0 Isn’t music theory and analysis<\/a> what music students study?\u00a0 Maybe we just want to jam along with the next guy.\u00a0 Or be playing the Blues, or strum along to a song.<\/p>\n Yes, we can see how a knowledge of musical notation may help us if we want to play classical guitar from a score.\u00a0 If we want to understand musical terms and follow rhythm, for example.<\/p>\n But how much will it help if we simply want to play in a band, or sit songwriting in a bedroom?<\/p>\n How much will a grasp of harmony help us get to grips with learning the guitar fretboard?\u00a0 Or a chord progression?<\/p>\n Well, music theory explores how notes relate<\/a> to each other.\u00a0\u00a0It’s there at the root of all music-making.<\/p>\n When we improvise beautiful melodies, or strum in harmony along with popular songs, we don’t need to be aware of what’s going on specifically.\u00a0\u00a0But the music theory is the tendencies and patterns that make music sound “right” (or “not right”, depending on the goal of the composer) when we’re playing and performing.<\/p>\n It starts with those five lines<\/a>, and the little black dots, and what they all mean.<\/p>\n Table of Contents:<\/p>\n Understanding music theory concepts helps us learn and memorize pieces<\/a> more easily.<\/p>\n Music theory for guitar is simply when that theory is transferred to our fretboard.\u00a0 When we learn guitar music theory, it can affect our playing.<\/p>\n We can make more expressive<\/a> musical and phrasing choices<\/a>.\u00a0 (Sorry.\u00a0 It doesn’t help get those barre chords sounding clean.)<\/p>\n Music theory is universal and is not specific to any one instrument.\u00a0\u00a0The guitar is fortunate, in that a composition might be written for the instrument in several ways.\u00a0 This can include standard music notation, tablature, or chord references.<\/p>\n But the same musical theory concepts that work with the guitar fretboard are also relevant to piano, violin or tuba.\u00a0 Music theory applies to all written composing and aural improvisation.<\/p>\n So should we really spend time learning it? Will being a music theory expert make us sound like a better guitar player?<\/p>\n If we’re just starting out on guitar<\/a>, we don’t have to understand music theory to be able to put our fingers on the frets.<\/p>\n If we’ve just begun guitar lessons, we don’t need to be able to list the musical notes in G major’s relative minor scale.\u00a0 Or delve into the intricacies of chord construction.<\/p>\n We can play melodies without any idea of how the notes combine to form music that has shape and direction.\u00a0 We can find chord shapes without understanding basic chord structure.\u00a0 We can play real music without knowing the theory behind different types of time signatures<\/a>.<\/p>\n So as guitar players, we’re more likely to listen to harmony in a Beach Boys song than analyze it.<\/p>\n We might use our time better, at first<\/a>, by working on the more practical aspects of getting to grips with the instrument.<\/p>\n We could learn a C major chord<\/a> for instance.\u00a0 And practice bouncing between<\/a> it, and other common chords<\/a>\u00a0to form a chord progression<\/a>.<\/p>\n We could play major and minor scales<\/a> up and down the fretboard, by all means.\u00a0 We could do some finger exercises<\/a> to get our hands working and to learn to synchronize them<\/a>.<\/p>\n We can create a practice schedule<\/a> and get physical practice underway.<\/p>\n Then we can start learning music theory concepts, and the language of music later, if we want to.<\/p>\n See below for more<\/a> on the question, “Do you need to learn music theory?”<\/p>\n\n
Music Theory for Guitar<\/h2>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\nShould You Learn Guitar Music Theory?<\/h2>\n