Learning and applying musical theory can be extremely intimidating, especially for beginner guitarists.
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Music theory comprises of hundreds of complex topics, making it hard to identify the areas that are most essential and will have the biggest impact on your playing.
But what if I told you I was able to learn all the fundamentals of music theory from the comfort of my home in just a few months?
Well, I did. And best of all, so can you.
In this article I am going to shine a light on some of the foundations of music theory and why they’re important.
Finally, I am also going to share some information about some online tools that helped me and countless other players like me wrap our heads around music theory.
How I Learned The Basics Of Guitar Theory From Home In Just A Few Months
Hi, I’m Reggie.
I’m a 62 year-old retired foreman.
Ever since I was 12 I’ve wanted to learn to play the guitar.
And while I got pretty good in my college days, it wasn’t long before the old axe started gathering dust out in the garage while I focused on my career and family.
Ever since I left college, I just never had the time to sit down and dedicate myself to the guitar.
But that all changed once I retired.
All of a sudden I had all the time in the world, and it didn’t take long for me to dig out my old 6-string from the garage and start practicing.
I even took lessons from a local teacher, but that didn’t quite work out.
Soon after, however, I discovered the wonders of learning guitar online.
There was just one problem:
I wanted to do more than simply learn how to play a handful of the earworms from my generation.
Now that I had the time, I wanted to learn the guitar properly, and that meant learning theory.
And, while regular search engines are a great source of all kinds of information, they are far from the best place for a beginner guitarist to try and explore music theory.
While I found a handful of useful websites, videos, and blog posts, finding this kind of quality information took a lot of time.
But regardless, I managed to wrap my head around some of the fundamental topics of music theory including scales, intervals, chord theory, and even some of the basics of improvising and soloing.
Below I’ll shed some light on what I know on each of these areas.
Then, make sure to read on to find the exact places I went to to learn all of this in just a few months.
The Wide World Of Music Theory
As I mentioned earlier, the world of music theory is massive.
Hence, attempting to cover everything about this topic in a single article is virtually impossible.
Nonetheless, I’ve done my best to summarize some of the most important aspects of music theory for beginner guitarists below:
- The Musical Alphabet
The musical alphabet is a term that refers to the 12 names given to the notes used in Western music.
The alphabet consists of 7 natural notes and 5 sharps or flats, which are identified with a # or b symbol, respectively.
The 7 natural notes used in Western music are C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. These are the white notes on a piano and usually the first notes you’ll learn to identify.
These natural tones are followed by 5 sharp/flat notes. These are the black keys on a piano and fall between some of the natural tones.
The terms sharp/flat are used to identify whether a note lies above or below a natural tone.
F#, for example, refers to the note directly above F natural, while Eb refers to the note directly below E, for example.
These 12 notes make up the entire musical alphabet. The order of the notes is always the same and simply repeats itself up and down the neck of a guitar or length of a keyboard.
Understanding the musical alphabet is essential for understanding the foundations of musical theory.
By knowing the notes that make up all Western music it becomes easier to understand how songs are constructed and how various styles of music (like Blues or Jazz, for example) get their distinct sounds.
Memorizing these notes and their relationship to one another is also important for understanding scales and the construction of chords, melodies, and more.
- Intervals, Scales, and Musical Keys
The spaces between notes are referred to as intervals.
More specifically, intervals actually refer to the difference in pitch between notes, but thinking of them as spaces is enough for most beginners.
Understanding these intervals is crucial for understanding scale theory and the general idea behind musical keys.
Even if you’ve never been exposed to music theory, you’ve likely heard about the idea that pieces of music are played in keys.
These keys refer to a set of notes that essentially make up a song, also known as a scale.
Scales are made up of 7 different notes that work well together based on the specific intervals that lie between them.
For example, the key of C Major contains the following notes:
C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.
Each of these notes can be given a number, or degree, starting on C (the 1st degree of the scale) and ending on B (the 7th degree of the scale).
Intervals can be counted past the 7th up to the 13th and can be differentiated by their “quality.”
The intervals between the notes in the key of C give the key a specific sound.
Many musicians would describe this sound as “happy,” seeing as major scales have a distinctly happy kind of sound.
You’ll eventually learn more about the unique sound of keys as you move beyond basic note and interval theory and begin to explore different scales.
By understanding intervals, scales, and musical keys, you’ll eventually be able to grasp the basics behind Western music and begin to understand the foundations of different genres (from pop right through to modal jazz).
Understanding these concepts is also really important for understanding how pieces of music are composed and opens up a lot of doors when it comes to understanding song structure.
- Chord Theory and Progressions
Understanding chord theory is arguably one of the most fundamental aspects of music theory for guitarists.
By learning to play some basic chords and understanding how they’re constructed, you can quickly start learning a variety of songs and even experiment with writing your own original tunes.
Chords are made up of groups of notes. In fact, all it takes to build a basic chord is 3 notes.
These notes are taken from a specific scale or key. To explain this, let’s look at the C Major scale as an example.
As we mentioned above, the notes in C Major are:
C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.
To identify the chords within this key, all you need to do is identify the root, 3rd, and 5th note for each degree of the scale. Pdf expert by readdle.
Here’s how this works:
Starting on the root note (C), count up three notes. This brings you to E,
Then count up 5 notes from C (to G) and you’ve found the 3 notes that make up the first chord of the scale: C, E, and G
You can repeat this process for each note in the scale to identify the rest of the chords in the key.
Graphic editing software. For example, D minor (the second chord of the scale) is made up of D, F (the 3rd), and A (the 5th).
Unfortunately, chord theory is much more complex than that. However, by wrapping your head around it early you’ll be able to better understand how songs are constructed and identify simple patterns that make up some of your favorite tunes.
- Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm
Melody, harmony, and rhythm are the core components of any piece of music. A clever interplay of melody, harmony, and rhythm is essentially what makes music so interesting to our ears.
To better understand the differences between each of these terms, it helps to define them.
Melody is basically the result of playing notes of different pitches. The way these notes are played create different melodies which, most of the time, are singable or recognizable.
Harmony, on the other hand, refers to the relationship between 2 instruments playing a melody together. In a piece of music, you may hear 2 different instruments harmonizing by playing 2 similar melodies.
Finally, rhythm usually refers to the beat or “pulse” in a piece of music. This is essentially what you clap, click, or dance to.
As your skills as a guitarist improve you’ll become more aware of how melody, harmony, and rhythm affect your playing
For example, you may learn classical guitar pieces with a strong harmony between 2 lead guitars. Alternatively, you might learn rock riffs with a strong, recognizable, and memorable melody.
Finally, you’ll also learn new playing styles that use certain rhythmic techniques to add extra flavour to your playing.
- Improvisation and Soloing
Many beginner guitarists are fascinated by the idea of improvising an epic solo.
Unfortunately, improvising and soloing usually requires at least a solid understanding of music theory, and is therefore something most players learn later on.
Improvising is a fascinating skill that allows you to explore new musical ideas and concepts on the spot. For many musicians, this can be very inspiring and rewarding.
Learning to improvise involves a sound understanding of most of the aspects of music theory we mentioned above, including everything from basic concepts like scales and keys, to more complex topics like harmony and rhythm.
Hence, it’s not hard to see that improvising and soloing are two techniques that usually come up a bit later in your journey as a guitarist.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have years of experience to get to this level.
In fact, I’ve managed to develop a pretty solid set of guitar skills that allows me to explore some of the basics of soloing and improvisation in just a few months.
Best of all, you can do the same.
Take Your Knowledge Of Music Theory To The Next Level
At the beginning of this post I bragged that I’d learned basic guitar theory in just a few months.
And while this post hopefully helped introduce you to some of the different areas of music theory, it is far from conclusive.
As I mentioned earlier, music theory is an extremely vast concept with thousands of sub-topics, each of which has been the subject of countless books, DVDs, and blog posts like this one.
So, where can you go to develop your theory knowledge like I did?
I recommended checking out Jeff Scheetz’s Street Theory for Guitarists course on True Fire as well as Music Theory: Square One, a 10-week intensive workshop by David Wallimann on JamPlay.
Here’s how these 2 courses helped me build a strong foundation of music knowledge:
Professional Lessons From Professional Musicians
Both Jeff Scheetz and David Wallimann are really talented and experienced musicians with a passion for teaching.
By taking on their courses I essentially got personal, in-depth lessons from both of them right in the comfort of my home.
At the same time I had the freedom to tackle the material in times when I felt motivated as well as take my time to move through each lesson at my own pace.
All of the material in both courses was also neatly presented in an easy-to-follow format that made sense, even to an older fella like me!
For example, David Walliman’s Music Theory: Square One on JamPlay is designed as a 10 week introduction to the foundations of music theory:
In these 10 lessons you’ll cover basic concepts like major and minor, integral intervals, and chords, as well as more complex topics like keys and modes.
Jeff Scheetz’s course takes a similar approach but is arguably much more in-depth, combining 45 video lessons, multiple jam tracks, charts, diagrams, and more.
In his course, Jeff covers everything from the basics of the musical alphabet and the major scale to chord inversions, harmony, soloing, and much more.
If you’re looking to get the most out of both courses, I suggest starting with David Walliman’s workshop at JamPlay for a solid introduction to the world of music theory before diving in deeper with Jeff Scheetz’s course.
Nonetheless, both programs are extremely beneficial, especially for beginner guitarists like you and I looking to wrap our heads around music theory.
To find out more about each course, make sure to check out the JamPlay and True Fire websites.
Remember that you can get a free trial of JamPlay for a limited time by clicking the yellow button below.
So, what are you waiting for?
It’s time to learn some theory.
The nice thing about our new age of technology is that in order to do something, you don’t have to leave your house. This is a convenience that wouldn’t have been imaginable years ago, and while some would argue against it, it is very helpful when learning the guitar.
Instructional DVD’s are a great way to a handhold on the guitar, both when it comes to playing and when it comes to learning the common theory involved with playing.
With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the BEST guitar DVDs that are available in the market today.
Learn & Master Guitar With Steve Krenz
The “Learn And Master Guitar Course” is specifically designed for anybody who wants to learn to play up the guitar. You are going to have fun learning the guitar while playing your some of your favorite guitar songs like a true musician…. Fast!
Here’s a list of guitar genres that you’ll learn:
– Acoustic Guitar
– Electric And Rock Guitar
– Classical And Fingerstyle Guitar
– Blues Guitar
– Jazz Guitar
– Plus tons more…….!
– Electric And Rock Guitar
– Classical And Fingerstyle Guitar
– Blues Guitar
– Jazz Guitar
– Plus tons more…….!
On top of step by step videos lessons that teaches you popular guitar songs, the Learn & Master Guitar Course also covers essential guitar lessons for complete musicianship on topics such as guitar chord voicing, dynamic guitar techniques, ear training, music theory, barre chords, power chords, music scales system etc…
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Guitar Jamz With Marty
GuitarJamz.com is a “Members Only Club”, in which you will get 900+ plus great video guitar lessons with new content being added the library on a weekly basis. Remember to check out some of the DVD guitar lessons on sale today…
Best Jazz Guitar DVD Courses
Jazz is a great place to start learning the guitar. And, if you’re a jazz listener, it’s even better to start out with jazz than it would be to learn chords on the acoustic guitar which, consequently, many guitarists get talked into doing when they first start playing.
We will go over some of the jazz guitar DVD’s that we feel will help you to get the best jazz education possible, whether you are a beginner to the guitar or a seasoned guitarist who simply wants to expand their musical horizons.
Jimmy Bruno – No Nonsense Jazz Guitar DVD
The first jazz instructional DVD we suggest is the Jimmy Bruno No Nonsense Jazz Guitar DVD. It is made by Hot Licks studio, and it has one of the best instructional experiences that we have come across.
This DVD isn’t going to baby you and cradle you the entire way; it treats you like an actual student, allowing you to learn step by step in a productive style that is extremely easy to get used to and very beneficial.
The DVD goes over jazz basics such as seventh chords and arpeggios, bass line comping, tri tones, and various other jazz guitar techniques that you will come across a lot in your playing. This has to be one of our favorite jazz guitar DVD’s to come out so far, and for great reasons as well.
Alfred’s Jazz Guitar 1
The runner up for our jazz guitar DVD’s that will help you to develop your chops and expand your knowledge of chords and progressions, is Alfred’s Jazz Guitar 1 instructional DVD. This DVD is second because it is geared towards beginners and takes a bit more of a babying approach to teaching.
This can be beneficial to you if that style of teaching helps you to learn, as there is no shortage of useful seventh chords, arpeggios, and great techniques in this DVD either. If you are a person who likes to be pushed a bit harder though, this DVD may not cut it for you.
Best Blues Guitar Lessons on DVDs
If you want to play the blues but don’t have a consistent enough schedule to construct your day around a teacher, an instructional DVD might just be the thing for you.
Instructional DVDs are great, as they contain lessons that are not only played for you to watch, but are then broken down and played note by note.
So what are some great blues guitar DVDs for you to start off with?
The Rock House Method
The Rock House Method is known for their great DVDs for guitarists of every level, and this DVD is absolutely no exception. The DVD comes with a thirty two page booklet, as well as a free online membership to The Rock House Method’s site, which allows you to access free lesson support, and further lessons and data. From blues chords and scale, to lead techniques such as vibrato and legato, this lesson is extremely simple and well put together for beginner guitarists.
Learn and Master: Blues Guitar
The next DVD on our blues guitar DVDs list is Learn and Master: Blues Guitar with instructor Steve Krenz. This DVD is actually a program of lessons, which covers not only basics, but gets into the depths of the blues as well, including some of the more advanced concepts that are employed in the blues.
This set includes six DVDs, one of which is a jam CD which enables you to take the lessons you’ve learned and put them to use with practical application. This set also comes with a downloadable book to follow along with the lessons, as well as online lesson support. The great thing about this set is that not only do you grow as a guitarist, but it grows with you.
This means you won’t be stuck on beginner concepts; once you move on in skill, you can move on in lesson difficulty. From twelve bar blues to soloing and improvisational techniques, this set walks you through the world of blues step by step, leading at your own pace.
For more details, check out our Learn And Master Blues Guitar review.
Blues Guitar Blueprint
Our final blues guitar DVD is the Blues Guitar Blueprint with instructor Nate Savage. This small set is a great tool for both beginners and seasoned players, as it helps you to approach your blues guitar playing from the outside in. From arpeggio usage, to semi-exotic scales, the Blues Guitar Blueprint covers a ton of material that can help you to approach your playing in a whole new way.
With two lesson DVDs, four jamming CDs, an instructional lesson-by-lesson book, and online support, all the tools are provided not only for you to learn your lessons, but for you to properly apply them as well.
Whatever your goals in playing, DVD lessons are extremely helpful and convenient. Check out these few if you think that DVD lessons are what you need, and as with anything, do your own research before purchase.
For more details, check out our Blues Guitar Blueprint review.
Scam Courses You Want to Avoid
Just because a DVD set says that it will teach you guitar in three days, doesn’t mean that it will in fact teach you guitar in three days. There will always be a scamming company looking to make a quick buck off of someone’s hobby. In many cases, the way companies make money is through holiday purchases.
Relatives want to support their budding musician and buy the first product that promises the most. All the good intentions go to waste if the guitar DVD set is full of fillers and unprofessional lessons.
First off, here is a list of things to look for when you are considering purchasing a guitar DVD set. Consider these the red flags of buying, as they more often than not lead to a rip off. Remember, there will always be that exception to the rule, but don’t feel the need to risk your cash due to a company’s poor marketing.
If you are that eager to throw away money, just take the cash and flush it down the toilet. It’ll be far more rewarding to watch the money spin than it will be to watch a bogus guitar DVD set. Librarian pro 4 0 9 download free.
Promises: Most good DVD sets can stand on their own two feet. This means they don’t need to make extreme promises of Eddie Van Halen skills in just six hours.
Bonus Material Not Shown: They might as well peal the band aid quickly; this spells junk.
Better than Product A, B, or C: If they have to make the promise and won’t let their quality speak for them, odds are they aren’t. Parrot v2 0 1.
Beginner to Advanced in Only Two Discs: No. It would take a minimum of six well-crafted and fully packed DVD’s to walk through the amount of concepts required simply to get into the moderate stages of playing.
So now that we know which qualities stink of scam, what are the products that make promises larger than life?
Guitar Hotshot – Scam #1
This is one of the worst products we have ever seen. Not only are the instructors pretentious, but they claim stardom simply because they play at bars for a bunch of drunks on the weekends.
Any musician can sound like God to the ears of a drunk. No musician has the right to claim that everyone knows them simply because of the fact. Awful quality videos and absurd promises (which go untouched throughout the course) top this one off.
Guitar Success System – Scam #2
Yet another flop. The instructors have roughly twenty videos after promising hundreds, the videos are shot with what looks like a five dollar web cam, and the instructors play worse than any musicians we’ve seen.
While there are many other scams on the net, the best thing to do before buying any guitar DVD courses or site memberships is research. Your wallet and your hobby will thank you.
Now, It’s Your Turn You Take Your Pick
All of the bases are covered in easy to understand instructions, and each example is explained and given a full treatment as should be expected from any good instructional DVD.
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