Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

[GuitarStv]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Nope.


It's also not required that you have six strings on your guitar. You can write and play songs (even great tunes) with just a single string. But you're ultimately limiting yourself by doing this. Learning a little theory is like learning to play all six strings. Certainly not necessary . . . but it really opens some doors.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Not required, but chances are that it will help you develop in virtually every field of musicianship if you allow it to, including your ears. Theory is regarded as an integral part of a musician's education, and for good reason. Some people manage to do genius stuff without it, but I suspect that none of them are looking at this thread.

That being said, if your ambition is to do stuff on the level of the clip you posted, you'll be fine. Please believe me when I say that I don't mean that in a demeaning way: complexity in itself is not a good gauge for musical quality, I like a lot of music that is rather basic. But as I said in the other thread, I find that people who do not study theory usually end up doing pretty basic stuff, and that is definitely the case here.

By the way, what is "advanced" music theory in this case?

 

[devastone]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

..and that's cause I don't want to know advanced theory :lmao:

Then don't, nobody is saying you have to, not sure what the point of this is. I'm out.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Nope.


It's also not required that you have six strings on your guitar. You can write and play songs (even great tunes) with just a single string. But you're ultimately limiting yourself by doing this. Learning a little theory is like learning to play all six strings. Certainly not necessary . . . but it really opens some doors.

which is why you now have 7, 8, 9 ...& 20 string guitars

..& another No..but.

I think the ears open doors too..and they do so quicker & more efficiently if you have truly learned to follow them. Now you may disagree..it's called "difference of opinion" or having "a different approach" to stuff..

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Then don't, nobody is saying you have to, not sure what the point of this is. I'm out.

...nah, just that I'm "winging ir and hoping for the best" when I play..because I play with my ears & don't care about theory. Pretty sure you read the thread & know what I'm talking about.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

I improvise without it. I use my ears which to me are far more invaluable...

No but I think they're using stuff like muscle memory & their ears more when they're actually playing ...at least Petrucci is when he's improvising. Although Dream Theater is quite an extreme example of a rock/metal band for the simple reason that their approach is far more regimented than your average band in the genre....ie what I was talking about.

Sorry but Petrucci is absolutely using theory when he plays. Honestly I don't know when I've heard him really improvise, just play his album material, but I really do not believe Erotomania could be written without understanding the chord progressions, the triads that underly them and how to target intervals.

As to DT being an extreme example, okay - but a lot of my favorite guitar players have music theory lessons on youtube or elsewhere.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Not required, but chances are that it will help you develop in virtually every field of musicianship if you allow it to, including your ears. Theory is regarded as an integral part of a musician's education, and for good reason. Some people manage to do genius stuff without it, but I suspect that none of them are looking at this thread.

That being said, if your ambition is to do stuff on the level of the clip you posted, you'll be fine. Please believe me when I say that I don't mean that in a demeaning way: complexity in itself is not a good gauge for musical quality, I like a lot of music that is rather basic. But as I said in the other thread, I find that people who do not study theory usually end up doing pretty basic stuff, and that is definitely the case here.

By the way, what is "advanced" music theory in this case?

Yeah..well I'd rather just play my guitar & develop everything I need to that way...plus I like things to be fun.

Regarding my playing....Yeah I like the simple approach..just a decent melody & a touch of speed..(really love that for some reason..)..also a little variety from time to time...

"advanced" is "not begginers"

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

which is why you now have 7, 8, 9 ...& 20 string guitars

..& another No..but.

I think the ears open doors too..and they do so quicker & more efficiently if you have truly learned to follow them. Now you may disagree..it's called "difference of opinion" or having "a different approach" to stuff..

Your ears don't fall off when you learn to build half diminished chord voicings, or why the Dorian mode sounds the way that it does. I've never said to myself . . . "well, this scale technically fits over this chord, so even though it sounds terrible it's going into my solo". Your ears are always going to be your first and foremost tool as a musician. I agree that your ears open doors, and that they can do so quickly and efficiently.

Someone with great ears will benefit even more from learning theory. Theory is just knowledge. It's been pretty rare in my life that I've found learning something was bad for me.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Yeah..well I'd rather just play my guitar & develop everything I need to that way...plus I like things to be fun.

Regarding my playing....Yeah I like the simple approach..just a decent melody & a touch of speed..(really love that for some reason..)..also a little variety from time to time...

"advanced" is "not begginers"

I'd recommend you to give it a try. Theory can actually be a lot of fun when you grasp the relationship between the notes you are playing in new ways. It is your call, of course, but I think you are missing out.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Sorry but Petrucci is absolutely using theory when he plays. Honestly I don't know when I've heard him really improvise, just play his album material, but I really do not believe Erotomania could be written without understanding the chord progressions, the triads that underly them and how to target intervals.

As to DT being an extreme example, okay - but a lot of my favorite guitar players have music theory lessons on youtube or elsewhere.

I think Petrucci just memorizes his guitar parts & plays them (**** knows how!) with some odd segments of improvisation that he throws in sometimes just to add variety and not sound too bookish. He's not really a natural when it comes to improv..it's not his thing, but he gets the job done..

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

I think Petrucci just memorizes his guitar parts & plays them (**** knows how!)

Theory helps you memorize guitar parts. It's much easier to memorize notes from a particular scale (or even scales over a particular chord progression) than just a random sequence of places on the guitar neck.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Your ears don't fall off when you learn to build half diminished chord voicings, or why the Dorian mode sounds the way that it does. I've never said to myself . . . "well, this scale technically fits over this chord, so even though it sounds terrible it's going into my solo". Your ears are always going to be your first and foremost tool as a musician. I agree that your ears open doors, and that they can do so quickly and efficiently.

Someone with great ears will benefit even more from learning theory. Theory is just knowledge. It's been pretty rare in my life that I've found learning something was bad for me.

I'm sure there are some advantages, and it works both ways the same way that theory can never teach you good vibrato or bending notes right ..you can't get that from a book.

Not saying it's bad..just that I'm not interested at all. If I were to spend time learning anything at this stage it would more likely be something I consider useful like the in's and outs of recording. It's as comprehensive & (to me) far more useful in a practical sense though unfortunately as uninteresting to me ..now that I actually regret :laugh2:

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Sounds like the OP's mind is already made up. Not sure what this thread is really about other than ranting...am I missing something?

Nope. He has a wet diaper from another thread that was shut down. He just wants to argue some more.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

I improvise without it. I use my ears which to me are far more invaluable...

No but I think they're using stuff like muscle memory & their ears more when they're actually playing ...at least Petrucci is when he's improvising. Although Dream Theater is quite an extreme example of a rock/metal band for the simple reason that their approach is far more regimented than your average band in the genre....ie what I was talking about.

Your improv is terrible too

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

In no other field is ignorance of knowledge more pride filled.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

In no other field is ignorance of knowledge more pride filled.

Hah, let me think about that -you maybe right....

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

...nah, just that I'm "winging ir and hoping for the best" when I play..because I play with my ears & don't care about theory. Pretty sure you read the thread & know what I'm talking about.

If playing with your ears means flailing about searching for a resolution note and not finding one when you need it then you’ve got that down.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Nope. He has a wet diaper from another thread that was shut down. He just wants to argue some more.

lol..late to the party..but your really catching up with these intelligent & insightful posts of yours. Well have fun Bubba...knock yourself out

..& ^^ on the contrary I'm off to sleep (...just 11:00 pm but for some reason you're making me yawn )

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

lol..late to the party..but your really catching up with these intelligent & insightful posts of yours. Well have fun Bubba...knock yourself out

..& ^^ on the contrary I'm off to sleep (...just 11:00 pm but for some reason you're making me yawn )

Some of us have a job.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Is advanced music theory really required at all for rock/metal guitar?

Knock it off, ok?

99% of the rock players I know don't 'know' what they do, although they may be great players. But none of them can arrange for other instruments, or otherwise be an effective and original band leader.