30Apr/122
what is the way to learn music theory for guitar?
ok asked:
i was wanting to learn music theory to improve my skill and to be able to create better sounding songs
How to Read Piano Music
i was wanting to learn music theory to improve my skill and to be able to create better sounding songs
How to Read Piano Music
November 30th, 2009 - 05:21
Learn to Read Music
Writing songs is a LOT more work than you’d think!! The process of learning theory is the same for every instrument through the Royal Conservatory of Music. You can purchase the books for theory at any music store, and you can see if your guitar teacher teaches theory too, or find another teacher who does. I recommend taking a theory class, with other students…then you have people to talk to and learn with.
1. Preliminary Rudiments – The first theory exam for RCM. Easy and basic, expect to score in the 90′s.
2. Grade One Theory – More difficult, but still basic. Expect 75-90.
3. Grade Two Theory – More in depth, but still basic rudimentary skills. Expect 75-85.
3. Grade 3 Harmony and History – Here’s where you start learning the basics of composing music. It is VERY basic, but will give you some knowledge. It is very difficult as well. History is just music history, but you need to write it to recieve a certificate in grade 3 theory.
5. The grades continue after this similarly….
Overall, you do not NEED to write the exams…but if you’re going to study the material, you might as well get credit for it. They are impressive and recognized by universities as extracurriculars and NECESSARY if you want to go into a music program.
Another thing, as a theory student myself, I find theory A MILLION TIMES easier to learn if you know PIANO. As a piano student, you learn many of the basic theory things right away, and their exam scores are usually better.
Good luck, and I hope you decide to pursue theory. It is a LOT of fun, and makes your music a whole lot more interesting!
December 3rd, 2009 - 06:35
learn music
Well, when it comes to wanting to learn music theory, it is good to hear that other people have a want to learn. Now, I learned theory first on guitar, and there are great books and websites out there that teach simple music theory for guitar players, granted you are already able to read music or at least tabs. A good place to start looking on the internet is. If you look down the list, you will find a lot of information about different scales, scale theory, modals, chords, chord progressions, and of the like that me as a musician knows is factual and correct . The whole theory section has the everyday guitarist in mind.
A guitarist usually learns visually. I have learned this oddly common trait from all the people I have met over the years including myself, so you will have to implement what you see on wiki. Start playing around with what you learn, and try to find patterns that allow you to dig deeper into theory so that it becomes more natural. For example, I found that certain finger patterns –where I place my fingers in comparison to each other– at certain areas of the fretboard make the same type of chord (meaning as in the same mood type. ex. e minor triad and f minor triad, they are both minor, and they have the same finger pattern on the fretboard, just fm is moved one fret up from em. this will make more sense later when you start learning). This allowed me to have quick reference to different chords to help me in making new chord progressions.
Now when it comes to the creative aspect, it takes time to get used to making better songs, because now you not only have to learn theory, you have to use it in what you do. It also takes time to get good at being able to come up with songs that a person could be proud of making using theory, taking you are a perfectionist like me. Learning music theory is not hard when you have an instrument to help you get a grasp on what you learn, but you have to be patient and understand that theory does not make the man; the drive to learn and create does.