Should guitarists learn music theory?

Should guitarists learn music theory?

Music theory will help improve your ear, knowledge of notes, scales, chords, and different rhythms that will help speed up just how quickly you can learn how to play the guitar. Without any knowledge of music theory, it will be very difficult to compose or improvise.

How does music theory help guitar?

To help players understand its value, he’s put together what he calls the top five reasons guitarists should learn music theory. As he points out, music theory can help you improvise over any chord progression, overcome writer’s block, harmonize, and much more—including make more money by scoring higher-paying gigs.

Why do most guitar books teach standard notation?

If you pick up a book on guitar theory, it will always teach standard notation as well, since that is the common written language of music. For example, if a pianist looks at guitar tabs, he won’t know what to make of it. There is no rhythm, there is no key signature, no notes, etc.

Is “tab” easier to learn than notation?

Guitar “TAB” (short for “tablature”) is easier to learn than music notation. It’s a quick way to learn songs. But while there are definite upsides, TAB also has serious shortcomings (especially for classical guitar music). So is it for you?

Why is classical notation so important?

That’s one of the great things about classical notation: it is universal for every type of instrument. Sure, each instrument has its limits, and those limits are reflected in the sheet music, but for the most part, the notes can be transcribed from one instrument to the next.

Can you play guitar without knowing the note names?

So without knowing note names, or anything about music, you can get your fingers where they need to go. In guitar music, TAB actually predates standard notation. In lute music, TAB was the norm. Eventually, leading classical guitar composers adopted standard notation, and largely abandoned TAB.