"I hate theory" - how do you respond?

[LouSiffer]

your ideas intrigue me - I wish to subscribe to your newsletter

I can send you a newsletter, but, it will say the exact same thing as above.-Lou

[SoCal]

that could be fair to say, but then you have a guy like george lynch who wasn't much of a theory guy and he's a musician. I know what you're saying though SoCal, where are you located out here? then again, I wonder if guys like george lynch say they are not theory filled on purpose when they actually are and are trying to be cool by dodging it? Who knows? I do know that I get off when I play my magic gold sparkle Elvis machine, it never dissappoints.

I might be wrong, but I think the George taught at Randy Rhoads Mom`s studio for a while, so I`m guessin he knows what he`s playin...
In my opinion though, the truly best guitarists are the ones that combine ALL the elements that have been mentioned throughout these replys...Experience,feel,theory,ear,etc...But even with all the theory that I know and utilize, NOTHING(in my book) beats just turning it up and having a good time!!! Nothing better than bashin out an "A" power chord with 2 Marshall full stacks jammin your nuts up in your neck!!! At least that`s how we do it in So Cal.....Carlsbad IN THE HOUSE!!

[atomic charvel guy]

I love to shake the very ground of Black Crowes Beach myself, (huntington Beach) we oughtta hang out sometime, then again that could be bad for your health-lol

I listenes to Black Mariah's MP# offerings, well, 2 of them and I don't know how to describe what I heard. It sounded like I do when I play with my toes.
I don't know, either I didn't do it correctly, or it sucked that badly, so i'll give him the benefit of the doubt. The doubt that he definitely can't play-lol

[bratfink]

Music is a language, the larger your vocabulary the more varied and interesting your conversation (song, for those that aren't following the analogy).

This relates in other areas: Maths is the language of Engineering, I wouldn't want to trust a high stress precision component made by an engineer who reckons he has a mate who knows Finite Element Analysis but he maintains he knows better doing it by ear! (Shockingly you still meet alot of these, most of them are from the US, lol).

Personally I don't know huge amounts of theory but I recognise it's importance in music. When I write a song and I'm looking for a place to go in a solo I'll refer back to the text books for ideas, I usually find something obsure that fits perfectly that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

Those of us that enjoy playing fast have the perculiar situation of playing faster than we can think. That means that the patterns we are playing must be more than memorised (since the brain cannot access them at the rate we are playing them). Muscle Memory takes time to achieve and in order to do this I have to sit down with a scale book (or a notated solo I am learning) and run through the pattern for quite some time before I can 'just do it'. So by definition of sitting down and learing a scale and reading music I am learning theory.

If anyone knows a better way I'd love to hear it.

[Ace]

I love to shake the very ground of Black Crowes Beach myself, (huntington Beach) we oughtta hang out sometime, then again that could be bad for your health-lol

I listenes to Black Mariah's MP# offerings, well, 2 of them and I don't know how to describe what I heard. It sounded like I do when I play with my toes.
I don't know, either I didn't do it correctly, or it sucked that badly, so i'll give him the benefit of the doubt. The doubt that he definitely can't play-lol

I listened to a few of those mp3's as well. BM, you're gonna have to come on a LOT stronger than that to cut any heads on this board, I would think...


In fact, I nominate Tommy and myself as the judges in this wank-off!! I say we get together, blaze a shitload, laugh our asses off at some shreddernauts, pick a wiener, then plug in and show these kittens what smoking fretboards REALLY look like!!

TOMMY! LET'S BLAZE IT!!

[atomic charvel guy]

I'm twisting one for us right at this very moment dude. We'll have some young juicy box to help us judge the event as well and we'll film it.
I'm ready!!!!

[SoCal]

Don`t be teasin me now, I`m on my way!!

[jgcable]

http://www.mp3unsigned.com/mp3s.asp

[Cleveland Metal]

I listened to a few of those mp3's as well. BM, you're gonna have to come on a LOT stronger than that to cut any heads on this board, I would think...


In fact, I nominate Tommy and myself as the judges in this wank-off!! I say we get together, blaze a shitload, laugh our asses off at some shreddernauts, pick a wiener, then plug in and show these kittens what smoking fretboards REALLY look like!!

TOMMY! LET'S BLAZE IT!!

Well, I know Tommy can play...

I'll have assume youre just gonna set your guitar on fire to get the fretboard smoking ehh Ace?

[jgcable]

http://www.mp3unsigned.com/mp3s.asp

Just click on the above link. When you get there click search and type in jgcable as artist. I put 2 little riff's up.

[horns666]

BM..it's your old pal Bill Z Bub..

C,mon, don't get your Jihad in a bunch...:ROTF:

I have a theory, you were an anal birth baby.....the admin that let YOU back in here should be charged with Crimes Against Humanity!

If your going to be around here, Then I gotta go.. just eating breakfast and looking at your face gives me instant acid reflux..ewwww.

You must leave slime trails wherever you go...like a slug..

Say hello to Allah for me ...:ROTF:

thank you...come again.

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BTW, Jeff Loomis never applied "theory" to anything he ever wrote..he just recently learned the basics because he felt silly to have a guitar column..he doesn't need to know it..he did fine without it all these years.

I don't know a lick of theory, I've been playing for 27 years ..I'm fine!

Do whatever works for you...there is no right or wrong..good music is just good music no matter how it was written..

[toejam]

good music is just good music no matter how it was written..

Best post ever!

[horns666]

Of course it is Joe..

Logic doesn't require a 5000 word essay..

Some folks just like peeing on a wet rope..and others like myself like to watch them and laugh..

[atomic charvel guy]

i like spooging a frozen rope across my girl's back, that's cool I think.-lol

[horns666]

Tommy, you gotta take the Glory hole outta the Igloo man..

won't an igloo melt on Black Crowes Beach..

"Frozen" spooge..are you banging eskimos and beating baby seals with your pud again..

I know that can be refreshing..I done that!