Prog and (how much) Music Theory?

popeyethecat wrote: Q6 wrote: Music theory? Does that help you put soul into your music? Probably not. Being comfortable with your instrument is more important. You got to let your heart find its voice in your playing then another person will be able to truly hear what you're playing. I sound like yoda There are several bands out there who play what I call "prog by numbers". You can tell that they know scales and modes and harmonies and blah blah but it's so bland. BUT surely you would need to know enough theory to successfully put soul into music? It's like expressing yourself with words - you need to know a language first.

Chanting can be expressive and needs no words. A child's nursery rhyme can be expressive but requires little vocabulary. I could read a book on quantum physics but it would not move me.

Most music (western) is based on a few simple scales. You can whistle them or hum them. Does that mean you know music theory? Or is it a cultural thing. Eastern / middle eastern cultures also have their own scales that give their music a distinctive sound. Sometimes it sounds unfamiliar to those in the western world but to those who are brought up in that culture it is as familiar as DOH-REH-ME-FAR-SO-LA-TE-DO is to westerners.

It is this instinctive knowledge of music that give a musician the skill to communicate the essence of a song, the hook, the melody line, the riff, the bit you whistle. The the next trick is to communicate that essence.

Musical theory helps to add depth or colours to that initial essence. The more theory you know the easier it is to add those musical textures and dynamics.

But the question was specifically about progressive rock musicians? And I think the same holds true. Some are instinctively good at playing. They convey magic in the single notes or even the spaces between the notes... "Gilmour". If you are a natural and have that gift then a basic knowledge is all that is required. If you don't you can flower it up with theory so it "works", as I said prog by numbers.

Now add great musical knowledge to someone who is also a natural then boom!! Light blue touch paper and stand well back. But musical theory by itself... is just theory.


Edited by Q6 - November 21 2008 at 12:09

popeyethecat wrote: Q6 wrote: Chanting can be expressive and needs no words. A child's nursery rhyme can be expressive but requires little vocabulary. I could read a book on quantum physics but it would not move me. Most music (western) is based on a few simple scales. You can whistle them or hum them. Does that mean you know music theory? Or is it a cultural thing. Eastern / middle eastern cultures also have their own scales that give their music a distinctive sound. Sometimes it sounds unfamiliar to those in the western world but to those who are brought up in that culture it is as familiar as DOH-REH-ME-FAR-SO-LA-TE-DO is to westerners. It is this instinctive knowledge of music that give a musician the skill to communicate the essence of a song, the hook, the melody line, the riff, the bit you whistle. The the next trick is to communicate that essence. Musical theory helps to add depth or colours to that initial essence. The more theory you know the easier it is to add those musical textures and dynamics. But the question was specifically about progressive rock musicians? And I think the same holds true. Some are instinctively good at playing. They convey magic in the single notes or even the spaces between the notes... "Gilmour". If you are a natural and have that gift then a basic knowledge is all that is required. If you don't you can flower it up with theory so it "works", as I said prog by numbers. Now add great musical knowledge to someone who is also a natural then boom!! Light blue touch paper and stand well back. But musical theory by itself... is just theory. Don't get me wrong, I do agree with you, to an extent! Someone with no natural musicality or feel can read all they want, that won't produce expressive music. What I meant was that music theory helps you express yourself better and more fluently. It is something that can be learned through reading, but also through experience! You may not know the names for things, but you can work things out. After all, theory is just things people in the past have worked out, is it not?

Yep I would agree with that.

I think that is advisable to know something about music theory if you are into prog. I mean when they start talking about time signaatures and chord progressions all I can say is : " This band Rocks!!" and I feel like an idiot.