Over the years I’ve gradually improved my playing by studying scales, modes, box shapes, all kinds of different methods. I get something from everything I study, but none of it really forms any real solid framework for me.

Mostly I fall back on the “boxes” like the blues shapes .

Also, different people learn in different ways – some get the “theory” and know what they’re doing as they play, some use shapes and develop muscle memory. I used to memorize solos (with TAB and lots of practice) and then pull up those memorized licks when I’m playing other songs. example, I posted a BB King lesson vid, and someone noted that it sounded like a Peter Green solo – which it was, a couple old licks from Need Your Love So Bad, that just slipped right into the BB King vid. So that’s how I get through it all.

Knowing theory helps some people, and I wish I knew more. There’s a couple theory tricks that do work for me – I know I can alternate between a major scale or its relative minor pentatonic scale (I can use either C scale or Am pentatonic in the same solo) but beyond that my brain gets fuzzy and I fall back on finger memory and pattern boxes.

For me, Brian’s style really helps – he provides the TAB which is always helpful (put your finger here) and walks you through it in the vids. And I like that he sticks to some basic patterns and re-uses them for both major and minor soloing – you just have to target different notes in the patterns to get the maj or min feel.

so some may benefit from music theory, but for me I’m getting a ton out of Brian’s minor patterns, then slide the same patterns down 3 frets for major tone (but target different notes within the pattern). That’s about all my head can handle theory wise.

Also brian’s kind of quick and dirty approach is fun and immediate gratification and I enjoy learning his material. Theory gives me a head ache and I don’t enjoy it, and enjoying playing and learning is the most important part of it all for me.

so that’s my long “theory” rant – just find something that works for you and that you enjoy, and just enjoy doing it. Learning progress comes slow, but you can enjoy every minute the guitar is in your hand if you just do stuff that feels and sounds good to you. That’s what I love, pick up my old Tele and watch a Brian vid and play some blues riffs and it just feels great. I bet some old cave guy tied a bison tendon to a stick and plucked out some cool sounds. Maybe the cave chicks liked it and started singing oo-ga boo-ga and then some old cave guy said let me have a go at that thing. And they sure didn’t know shit about theory. But they must have enjoyed it cause we’re still here doing it.

ok, too much coffee. time to play.
rock on.

@charjo wrote:

I have posted a few replies around music theory recently. One is up currently under Major Scales. I always picture a scene of darkness with crickets chirping after one of my theory rants. Brian asked on his most recent lesson if people would like more theory and he got a positive response in his comments. I’m not sure people really want more theory. I understand Brian’s reluctance to add more theory to his lessons.
Tell me how you really feel about theory. How much is enough? Would a separate theory lesson or mini series from Brian be well received?

John

John,

I’m all for a separate theory lesson but think a mini series would be best. I know a lot of people might not be interested but for those that are it would be very worthwhile. I hope Brian will considerate it. He puts a lot of theory in his lessons, but it would be nice to an area for those that are interested that people could go to as a resource. Thanks for bringing this up.

Gene

Good and important question, John. While I learned to appreciate the value of theoretical knowledge in recent months – meaning yes, I do want to learn more about – I also came to realize that I can only digest it in small bits and pieces. And since it takes a long time for me to make sense of it and be able to apply it more broadly, I need to be fed slowly. Otherwise it would feel like being back in school . And I don’t want to be back in school. I want to learn and have fun. With fun in bold letters and underscored. Also I am a hands on guy. I learn theory besteht when explained in a real life context. That’s why I like Brian’s lessons so much. I always have one or two “Ah, that makes sense” or “Now I understand” moments when he explains some theory in his lessons. So I learn – slowly but surely – but I don’t feel lectured or overwhelmed. And it is great to have these moments. To sum this up, yes I think a mini series on music theory makes a lot of sense, but I wouldn’t ask Brian to do it. To me, it would suffice to cover various bits and pieces of theory during lessons.

I’m reminded of the late Billie Grammer, when ask about , if he read music always replied, not so much that it
Would hurt my pick’n

@charjo wrote:

How much is enough? Would a separate theory lesson or mini series from Brian be well received?

Just enough! Not sure if a separate theory course is in Brian’s wheelhouse but in the meantime I would recommend this course…
http://bluesguitarunleashed.com/guitar-theory-made-useful/

@charjo wrote:

I took Griff Hamlin’s course. I think it concentrated mostly on scale and chord construction, understanding keys, some harmony theory and figuring out the key from the chords. I don’t think it focused on improvising. Good place to start though.

No, that particular course was not about improvising. The question you posed in your first post was how much theory is enough? That course was designed to be very practical and give you just enough theory to understand improvising.

@charjo wrote:

BluesBird, I hope Brian takes your “wheelhouse” comment as a personal challenge!

Me too. I’d love to see his approach to theory.

Before joining brians site, I studied guitar scale context, finally realized, I was going have to learn theory regardless. It all depends on how many boxes you want to play out of for the solos. The more theory, the more you can improvise proficiently

Id like to learn how to play guitar. Ive studied music theory and tried to learn as many scales as I could. (Ive forgotten all but major scale, 6th string root and 6th and 5th string root extended pentatonic scale). After four years Im not a very good guitar player. My brother, on the other hand, is in a band and plays very well, does not know any music theory.

What I need is for my fingers and my brain to get coordinated with the fretboard. That…is what I really need to do to be a better player.

Hey,

So over the last few years I have been more and more interested in learning some theory. And as I have learned some it has definitely helped out with chords and soloing over chords, scales and modes.

I have used books, online stuff but I found this free course that has really helped me the most. In fact it was the only course the explained why you would call a note a flat or a sharp, and it’s is great for modes. It is offered from the University of Edinbourgh online – Fundamentals of Music Theory
https://www.coursera.org/course/musictheory

I also use GOSK.com all the time The Guitarist’s Online Survival Kit if i need a chord or a scale.

Spike

There is music theory then there is guitar music theory, lol… mainly how theory blends in with the style of music your playing. Blues uses a lot of pent. Scales. classical or contemporary music uses the whole major scale but not much minor, jazz a lot a lodian (I think). The common denominator of all is the music theory. There are always only so many notes for a key. It’s just your library of licks that that make the difference.

Thanks for those links, Spike. I still need to work on my theoretical background and didnt know these sites before. From a quick glance, they look very helpful.