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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
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ptero
Silver Member
Mexico
218 Posts |
 Posted - 02/16/2008 : 07:44:58
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Interesting, I learned a few new terms.
Nevertheless, I want to say that music theory should be rewritten. I has a lot of old-fashioned, ancient concepts that make it unnecesary complex.
Why shall it have A, A#, B, C, C#, etc instead of A,B,C,D,E..K or A,A#,B,B#,C,C#, etc?
I think it is like the gregorian calendar: January 30 days, February 28, March 30. Do you see my point??
I also think that music theory has an ancient european culture bias. It can be a problem, I think. It is difficult to fit other cultures music into that patterns. |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2008 : 11:05:26
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I agree, in Dutch it's even worse.
I mean, in English notes with sharps and flats are pronounced as A sharp, E flat, etc.
In Dutch sharps are called Ais, Cis, Dis, Fis, Gis
and flats are called Bes, Des, Es, Ges, As.
To make it really confusing a lot of other words are borrowed from Latin or some other ancient language that noone speaks anymore.
Ever see that Dollarmark kinda thingy, where you return to after "DS al Coda"?, well DS means Del Segno, or "the symbol". Now how dumb is that.
Not to mention symbols for playing dynamics, like pp, ff, pf, etc.
Those are derived from the words piano meaning soft and the word forte which offcourse means powerfull, so the less p's and the more f's the harder you play.
Pretty basic, but why is it still in some forgotten language?  |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2008 : 11:10:00
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I'm afraid i will have to start getting my head around all this one of these days.... ....i'm really an 'ear' player..the danny gatton hotlicks video is actually excellent and very funny at the same time..one of the best guitar players to ever walk the planet and his names of the chords is sketchy to say the least... a bit like B.B. King in the U2 video where he says 'i don't really do the chord thing' but when he starts to play......... |
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One-Way
Bronze Member
New Zealand
104 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2008 : 06:26:13
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Scales are an essential part of improvisation and solos. The first scale I learnt several years back was the blues scale which is similar to the minor pentatonic with a couple of sharps thrown in. I then saw how those two scales fitted with each other and it easy to switch back and forth between the two.
Recently I learned the major scale so now I have three scales I can use and move up and down the neck depending on the root note of each scale. I only learnt the pattern using all six strings for each scale otherwise I would never remember them plus it gives a two octave range for each scale. I learnt shapes rather than note names of each scale. As you get familiar with each shape you get to know what each note sounds like.
I found a cool site for backing tracks and I solo over the top of them. It has improved my improvisation out of sight in a short time. The blues songs are the easiest as they are generally slower and pretty much stick to the blues scale pattern. I like the descending scale on the treble strings and ascending on the bass strings sounds really cool. Great stuff with a slightly overdriven amp on the rear guitar pickup.
http://www.guitarbackingtrack.com/ |
Edited by - One-Way on 02/17/2008 06:36:34 |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2008 : 10:50:52
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thanks one-way on the heads up to the backing tracks.... .... |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2008 : 11:16:54
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Learning note and chord names is pretty handy when communicating with other musicians 
I've actually seen people explain riffs like:
"ok dude, I start on the 3rd fret on this string and then...", well you get the idea.
Or what if you audition for a really cool band that offer you the chance of a lifetime and the other guitar/keyboard/bass/whatever player explains you the basic chord changes to one of their songs.
He'll be saying something like "ok dude, we go from A minor to Cadd9, then to G major and E7". Or something similar with even more oddball chordnames like E7#9 or D/F# or even more exotic Cmsus#4/B 
My point being that you better damn sure know what the hell he's talking about or you don't get the gig, don't go on tour with 'em, don't get the fortune and fame, end of story. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2008 : 19:59:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Dirk
Learning note and chord names is pretty handy when communicating with other musicians
I've actually seen people explain riffs like:
"ok dude, I start on the 3rd fret on this string and then...", well you get the idea.
Or what if you audition for a really cool band that offer you the chance of a lifetime and the other guitar/keyboard/bass/whatever player explains you the basic chord changes to one of their songs.
He'll be saying something like "ok dude, we go from A minor to Cadd9, then to G major and E7". Or something similar with even more oddball chordnames like E7#9 or D/F# or even more exotic Cmsus#4/B
My point being that you better damn sure know what the hell he's talking about or you don't get the gig, don't go on tour with 'em, don't get the fortune and fame, end of story.
i agree 100% with you...i hope i didn't give the wrong idea...i'm pretty good on chords and i know my way around in a few different styles but i'm not into all the bullshit some people get into with all this ancient greek modes and stuff... i've nothing against anyone educating themselves but i've seen people who think that playing scales as fast as you can is the way to go... only last week i was approached at a gig and a young guy who is into a lot of this stuff,wasn't sure how to put it all together and play a blues progression...i.e going from the major to minor scales in a solo and bending strings, hendrix/SRV style hammer ons and pull offs,double stops,finger vibrato etc.. all the little things that bring some excitement and tension to your playing...he was a nice guy and seemed very genuine and interested to learn so i told him to come early to the gig next week and i would sit down with him for 30/45 mins and try to explain it to him as best i can....but one of the best ways i learned was my old guitar teacher who is a neighbour of my mother apart from just showing me used to give me some albums every week going home to listen to..clapton,jeff beck,albert lee,danny gatton john maclaughlin etc... these sort of players can be a good solid base to get to grips with the electric and acoustic guitar..... |
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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2008 : 20:47:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Dirk
Learning note and chord names is pretty handy when communicating with other musicians
I've actually seen people explain riffs like:
"ok dude, I start on the 3rd fret on this string and then...", well you get the idea.
Or what if you audition for a really cool band that offer you the chance of a lifetime and the other guitar/keyboard/bass/whatever player explains you the basic chord changes to one of their songs.
He'll be saying something like "ok dude, we go from A minor to Cadd9, then to G major and E7". Or something similar with even more oddball chordnames like E7#9 or D/F# or even more exotic Cmsus#4/B
My point being that you better damn sure know what the hell he's talking about or you don't get the gig, don't go on tour with 'em, don't get the fortune and fame, end of story.
Word.
I'm not theory guru but damn if I haven't run into ALOT of okay musicians who you�ll get a blank stare if:
You ask them to count on their own
If you say the turnaround is X �turn a what?�
Give the chords to a bassist and you know they are just ignoring everything you say past the root note.
Ask someone to play a 12 bar blues (and they just kill it).
Kids, do try this at home:
count on your own (don�t wait for someone else to tell you when to change ie learn the music you are playing)
LEARN TO PLAY A BLUES. It will ALWAYS come up.
Learn a little bit about the language you have chosen to speak � music.
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Edited by - zestystrat on 02/22/2008 20:57:16 |
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