Yes, You Should Learn SOME Music Theory… and Here’s Why 

When we think of learning music theory, we probably think of something similar to the picture above: a dreary classroom, a ton of memorization, and a miserable experience.

There’s a reason for that: you’re learning it wrong… but that may not be your fault.  

If you’re learning on YouTube, you’re getting bite-size chunks (which is good) but the information is being presented in a random order based on which videos you click on (which is bad).

If you’re learning from a book or in a class, the information may be presented in an order that doesn’t make it obvious how it’s applied to real music.

Then there’s the BIG problem: music theory is often taught as one subject when it’s actually two. Those subjects are fundamentals, and compositional technique.

I bring this up because you want to get better at the guitar. Many online guitar teachers say you don’t need to learn music theory to do that.

Some players don’t (though most of the pros know more than they may let on).

YOU might benefit from learning it.  

You can continue working through trial and error to reach your goals but take it from me, the only REAL shortcut is knowledge.

So what’s involved in fundamentals versus compositional techniques and why should you care? Let’s take a look at the differences first.

Fundamentals in music are analogous to the alphabet and vocabulary in a language. The topics in this area are:

1. Notes
2. Intervals
3. Scales
4. Chords
5. Key Signatures
6. Rhythmic Durations/Patterns
7. Time Signatures
8. Song forms (this is actually compositional technique but I include it here to connect the categories)

That’s it. And honestly, if you learn this much, you’ll be able to learn anything on the guitar quickly and easily.

Here’s how.

• If you can recite your “ABCs” you can learn the notes in music.

• If you can spell simple words like “cat” and “dog”, you can learn to spell chords.
• If you can name twelve of your favorite foods, you can learn the rhythm patterns.
• And if you can count to 12 you can learn time signatures.

You already have the skills. Having this knowledge confirms what you hear and allows you to fill in the gaps when something is unclear.

Let’s say you’re learning a song by ear. You’ve found everything but one chord. Here’s a step-by-step on how knowing the theory can help you.

1. The chords you’ve found should be enough to determine the key.
2. The key will give you the collection of chords that belong in that key.
3. Now you can cycle through the unused chords to find the one you need.

Didn’t work? No problem!

1. Find the root of the chord in question (you’ll learn about this when learning to spell chords).
2. Play the major chord on that root, then try the minor, then the diminished.
3. Keep going until you discover the chord.

That’s just one example of how learning fundamentals can help you in your playing. If you want to take it further you can move on to compositional techniques.

If the fundamentals are the alphabet and the vocabulary, then compositional techniques are the grammar and the syntax. Each style of music sort of becomes its own independent but related language. These techniques can also vary by historical period.

Want to write a piece of classical music? Then you’ll need to understand the technique of harmonic progression and proper voice leading.

Want to write jazz? Then get familiar with seventh chords, swing, and improvisation.

Want to write rock? Then the power chords and pentatonic scales may be your best friends.

All this is to say that when you learn the fundamentals it makes it much easier to learn and adapt the compositional techniques of your favorites style of music.

There’s no guess work!

 So let’s sum this up:

• Music theory is broken up into two categories: fundamentals and compositional techniques.

• Fundamentals include things like notes, scales, and rhythms, while the compositional techniques are the specific tendencies of different styles of music and different historical periods.
• While it’s not necessary to learn the entire width and breadth of the subject, learning the fundamentals makes it easier to understand the compositional techniques of your favorites style of music.
• The only shortcut to getting better at the guitar is knowledge.