Tuesday 1 February 2011

What is Guitar Theory?


Picture taken from taking barre chord on guitar.
According to Wikipedia.org, music theory is the name for a branch of study that includes many different methods for analyzing, classifying, and composing music and the elements of music. Narrowly it may be defined as the description in words of elements of music, and the interrelationship between the notation of music and performance practice. In more practical words, theory is the study of music, how it's played and how all the different components, such as scales and chords, fit together.

Guitar theory is absolutely necessary for serious guitarists who want to develop a solid command of music. Many players who fail to understand the inter-workings of music are completely unable to apply the little that they do know. For example, a student might learn a new scale pattern from a scale book or a new chord shape from a chord chart but have no idea what to do with it. Rarely do guitar books explain what these components actually do or how they ought to be applied. Without knowledge of how something functions it's pretty much useless. Many guitarists suffer from this ailment and most guitar instructional materials do little to remedy the problem. This is why learning guitar theory is so important.

Guitar theory will explain what something is and does. For example, a new chord shape might be seen as an extension of a common barre chord. Wherever this common barre chord is played the new shape can be substituted for a new sound. A scale pattern might fit together with a specific chord progression. Each time this progression is used the scale tones can add melody and harmony. Certain combinations of chords will effect a songs overall emotional feel. Choosing the right combination will convey a song's meaning accurately.

Music can be approached and studied from many different angles. Guitar players can study notation, technique, rhythms, scales, chord construction and so on. While all musical topics are interesting and have their benefits - scales, chords and progressions top the list of must-knows. All guitarists, beginner through advanced, strum chords, follow progressions, and use scales to play melodies, riffs, solos and bass lines. Guitar theory is the study of these essential musical elements.

http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
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