starting to play guitar seriously

[arjue]

Major scale for rocking?

I suppose thats alright for punk. I much prefer a minor scale though.


I find that once you've learned one instrument fiarly competently you can pick up another MUCH easier.


also, learning some music theory can help you incredibly, but not all of it is necessary (Though knowing it can prove useful). Like icepick said, learn and get a feel for a few scales and chords, and perhaps some rhythm theory, the rest can be learned later.



also, on the "mighty" US dollar,

your economy is going poorly, while ours is kicking ass. a year ago, our dollar was worth around 50 US cents, while now its worth around 80.

to summarise:

[Diff-chan]

Okay... so Icepick, he'd be willing to give you 80 cents for it.

[arjue]

you know, for a maths major, you sure do suck at maths.

[Diff-chan]

I could've told you that.

[Josh]

Icepick's theme appears to be rocking.

Its more important than I can ever hope to be able to explain.

If you don't rock, you can be the best guitar player in the world, but no one will care.

[Razor Ramon]

If you don't rock, you can be the best guitar player in the world, but no one will care.

The truth.

[Shakey]

Im also trying to learn a bit about music theory, its about as interesting as paint drying. I find it cool that people managed to scientize an art the way they did... its just horribly dense and dry to read about and makes me want to kill myself... in fact, its much like reading my math textbooks.

I find it hard to beleive that a math major finds music theory boring, just my preference I suppose. As a jazz player I had to use the theory I learned the moment I learned it, I still don't have a complete grasp on theory, just more of a working one. If you just want to be a guitarist there is a lot of music theory you will never use, if you want the name of a good book, I'll see if I can't find the name of this work book one of my teachers turned me onto a while back, it was real good about sketching in the basics.

Overall though, Icepick's right. The better you know your instrument the easier it is to learn theory and the more you will want to. I had no clue what a B minor seven flat five, or an E seven flat nine (bonus points to anyone who names that progression) were until they appeared on the page in jazz band and power chords weren't cutting it.

[SonofdonCD]

Well, a Bmin7(b5) is B D F (the flat 5th) and A.

E7(b9) is: E G# B (or you cn leave out the 5th) D and F (the flat 9th)

That sounds like the beginnings of a typical 2->5 progression. Am I right, or were you refering to something else?

Now that I think about it, isnt that Bmin7(b5) just another way of saying B half diminished? Flatting the 5th in an already minor chord makes it diminished, and with a minor 7th on top (the A in this instance), instead of a double flatted 7th (what would be A flat) it's only half diminished, rather than fully diminished. (BTW, I only really studied Classical music theory, not Jazz theory)

That's the thing about some music theory. You can interpret things a few different ways (like chords or time signatures).

[Shakey]

Well, a Bmin7(b5) is B D F (the flat 5th) and A.

E7(b9) is: E G# B (or you cn leave out the 5th) D and F (the flat 9th)

That sounds like the beginnings of a typical 2->5 progression. Am I right, or were you refering to something else?

Now that I think about it, isnt that Bmin7(b5) just another way of saying B half diminished? Flatting the 5th in an already minor chord makes it diminished, and with a minor 7th on top (the A in this instance), instead of a double flatted 7th (what would be A flat) it's only half diminished, rather than fully diminished. (BTW, I only really studied Classical music theory, not Jazz theory)

That's the thing about some music theory. You can interpret things a few different ways (like chords or time signatures).

Yes it is another way to say half-diminished (I always was taught that half-diminished was an antiquated way to say m7(b5)) and it is a 2-5, but I was referring to a specific kind.

My guitar teacher just sent me this. It's a list of Jazz standards that are likely to get called at gigs, and a good player is supposed to have them memorized. I know something like 8 or 9 standards, that list has 430 .
Guess I better get started...

[SonofdonCD]

Yes it is another way to say half-diminished (I always was taught that half-diminished was an antiquated way to say m7(b5)) and it is a 2-5, but I was referring to a specific kind.

Yeah, I had the feeling. I have to admit, the exact terms for some things in theory have left my brain, since I'm not totally surrounded by it like when I was at college.

I write as well, and when I write I tend to throw theory right out the window. It's not that I hate it or don't remember everything, but I just like to write whatever sounds good, even if it might be "Wrong" in most theory (like parallel 5ths and so forth).

In fact, I just finished an acapella arrangement of "Wade in the Water". Very laid back swing. I love it. (as a matter of fact, I'm listening to it right now )

My guitar teacher just sent me this. It's a list of Jazz standards that are likely to get called at gigs, and a good player is supposed to have them memorized. I know something like 8 or 9 standards, that list has 430 .
Guess I better get started...

I know of a lot of those songs, mostly because I'm a big Diana Krall fan, having owned or listened to all of her albums. Like I said in your Jazz thread, she was the one that really helped me get into jazz, mostly because she does so many standards. She has only done a few originals up to this point. Her new album is said to have more new material (some with the help of her new hubby, Elvis Costello), so I'm looking forward to that.

Uhh, to get back on the topic, I don't think it's absolutely necessary for a guitarist to "Rock" in the classical sense of "Rock music". I'm sure there are many players from other countries that can play rings around some of our most heralded Rock guitarists without doing a single power chord. For instance, Flamenco guitar playing is amazing. Some classical guitar music is very far out there, but in a good way. And lest we forget about Jazz guitar, which is arguably the best there is. There are plenty of other worthwhile styles of guitar playing outside of Rock.

It certainly doesn't hurt, though.