theory and stuff (lol) help

em0ticon · 10-07-2004, 05:25 PM

ok, can someone make a guide on the steps i should learn on music theory and all the other stuff thats good to learn.

i decided that i want to learn more deeply than just powerchords and solos i know, and actually apply theory in my playing and composition.

thanks.

MattatNCFC · 10-07-2004, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by em0ticon

ok, can someone make a guide on the steps i should learn on music theory and all the other stuff thats good to learn.

i decided that i want to learn more deeply than just powerchords and solos i know, and actually apply theory in my playing and composition.

thanks.

Step 1 is learn the jargon. Like for instance what a chord triad is and how they're made up, what it means to have a suspended note in a chord,etc... It helps to know the shorthand system of understanding chord progressions too. For instance what is a I-IV-V chord progression and how to transpose one to a different key. There's a lot of material to cover there... What do you know already?

MJ_Avalanche · 10-07-2004, 08:28 PM

If you want to learn real theory then I suggest this book. It's the book I used for theory I and II in the Spring and Summer, and it's a great book. Well worth the money, and it's very thourough. I'm in book II right now, and it's equally good. My only gripe is that there's some poor examples in the end of chapter review problems and such that don't demonstrate the very concepts that they taught just like in the chapter before, so.

Otherwise though, it's great if you're interested in learning real theory (after which you can apply it).

HeavenOnAStick · 10-08-2004, 03:20 PM

I'm taking a theory and composition class at my high school. Here is the book we're going through. I'm not all that far into it, but it's a great book so far... though a bit pricey (unless you buy it used).

And if you don't feel like shelling out that much money, then for now just get the basics down pat. Memorize key signatures (major and minor), scale degrees, whole-step half-step patterns in scales (major, minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor). It seems like a lot to try to accomplish, but it helps out a lot later if it doesn't take you five minutes to find the 6th scale degree in F# Major. You'll also want to learn intervals (another part that could be put under jargon) so you know what want when they're talking about when they say stuff like augmented 5ths, minor 6ths, etc. After that learn chord structures, such as majors and minors, augmented, diminished, then -m7 chords, suspended chords and stuff like that.

Over all it'll be really nice to know the jargon, as Matt said. You'll get lost while trying to learn other stuff if you don't even know remotely what they're talking about.

Edit: I may have jumped ahead of myself. What exactly are you looking for? More towards improvising with chords, during worship/jamming/whatever? Or classical compisition, with the piano more?

pxlRawker · 10-11-2004, 12:59 AM

Here is a good site with info on scales and stuff. It's still being worked on and more will soon be added.

jesusfreak86ca · 10-11-2004, 12:48 PM

this is how I learned all my theory before I came to university

Music Theory.net

em0ticon · 10-11-2004, 08:39 PM

thanks guys, im a freshman this year and im hoping to take music theory next year, as it is a sophmore class. what i know already are a few scales and thats about it, i know the notes of my fretboard but not that fast yet. and for the books, i cant cough up some dough right now, really tight around here. thanks for the musictheory site and all the steps guys. yes, i am in hurry.

thanks again.

MattatNCFC · 10-15-2004, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by em0ticon

thanks guys, im a freshman this year and im hoping to take music theory next year, as it is a sophmore class. what i know already are a few scales and thats about it, i know the notes of my fretboard but not that fast yet. and for the books, i cant cough up some dough right now, really tight around here. thanks for the musictheory site and all the steps guys. yes, i am in hurry.

thanks again.

You'll be surprised how, well, boring theory class is. I took first level theory (which I passed, but that was as far as I got) as a sophmore in college and it basically covered composing 4 part harmony without breaking the harmonic "rules". I don't think at any point during the class anyone actually played an instrument of any kind. At least where I took it, the instructors assumed that you knew how to read music, knew all the key signatures, chord triad construction and all that hoopla going in.

HeavenOnAStick · 10-17-2004, 06:59 PM

In a large part, that's based upon the teacher. I have a great teacher, and it makes Music Theory a great class. We went over the basics when we started though, and it was required that everyone had a little experience playing piano.

em0ticon · 10-19-2004, 04:06 PM

ow, required to read music? as in standard notation? mmm i need to work on that.

Kevin071586 · 10-19-2004, 05:34 PM

Eh reading music isn't that bad. After learning a song or two from standard notation you'll be more than familiar with it for a theory class.

HeavenOnAStick · 10-19-2004, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by em0ticon

ow, required to read music? as in standard notation? mmm i need to work on that.

Yeah, being able to read music is almost a must. As well as knowing the keyboard (where F is, etc.)