Theory for Guitar

When people hear the word “theory”, they automatically assume its like something you would learn in a class at school. Its true that music is taught this way sometimes, but that’s not the whole story! This part of the website will teach you music theory for guitar- explained by a guitarist (me) in a way that can be understood and applied to the guitar.

So, to start with what is “music theory”?

The Musical See-Saw

Just because something is “theory”, doesn’t mean it has to be boring and taught by aging professors with grey hair and glasses! The “theory” of something is just the explanation of how and why it works, right? Imagine you had a see-saw, you sit on one end, and your friend sits on the other. Now, if you jump up, pulling the see-saw with you, your friend will go downwards. When your friend gets to the ground they’ll jump up and you’ll come down.

I’m sure you’re familiar with the situation! What I’ve just described is the “practical” side of things. I could also describe it to you as “see-saw theory”. For example:

the see-saw is balanced over a point directly in the middle of both of you. When you jump up, you’re taking your weight off of the end you’re sitting on. This causes your end to rise, and the other to fall across the pivot point (i.e. the stand in the middle). When your weight is re-applied, and their weight is removed (they jump up), the reverse happens and you come down.

If you’ve ever used a see-saw before, you would already know all of this. In fact, you’re probably perfectly capable of describing the “see-saw theory” in your own words, and you probably could have done as a kid as well. Did knowing how a see-saw works mean you enjoyed it any less? No? Actually, you might have enjoyed it even more (because you knew better how to control it and use it).

The Music Theory

Well, guess what? The same thing applies to music theory!

No, I’m not talking about physics and weights this time, but sounds instead. Music theory is what we use to describe how music works, just like with the see-saw example, and just as with the see-saw, knowing how it works will not spoil how much you enjoy it. Music theory does not destroy your creativity anymore than understanding how the see-saw works destroys a child’s ability to ride it!

With music theory, we’re more concerned with things like “Which chords go together, and why?”, or “Which scales go with which chords?“. If you think about it, the only alternative would be: these are noises, you can make them with a guitar or a bass. Go.

If that was how music worked, this would be a very small website indeed!

How does it help?

How does music theory for guitar help you? Well, just the same way that knowing how to construct a sentence or form words helps you to talk to people. Otherwise you’re kinda stuck with random grunts. Sure, every now and then you may grunt something intelligible, just like if you didn’t understand any music theory you can still compose good music!

You don’t have to understand everything about music theory, either. Just enough to do what you do, or just as much as you’re interested in using. For example, you wouldn’t learn Greek if you had no Greek friends or relatives, and you had no interest in the language. What would be the point? Just stick to English (or whichever is your first language). Same goes for music theory, there’s no need to learn the modes of the melodic minor if you don’t like the sound of the scale and don’t play jazz. Just at least learn the pentatonic scale, and maybe the major scale.

So, my advice is: don’t be afraid of “music theory”. It can only help you out!