Originally Posted By: eddie1261
I looked at the survey but after seeing the questions I think I should stay out of this one.


Or, maybe participate with posts sharing some basic theory where it's appropriate. Unintentionally, in your postings, you make a strong case that a lack of theoretical knowledge is not a barrier but more so a prerequisite to learning how to play proficiently.

<< If they don't know that stuff, they will only be able to play in C. Throw Eb at them and they don't know the scale. >>

They don't know it yet. If they can play it in C, show them how to play it in Eb and they can play it. Maybe would take 2 minutes. They would be learning a pattern. Repetitions are all that's necessary to accomplish. Two weeks later, need to play it in F, show the pattern to them in F.

<< The Beatles did NOT have no musical knowledge. They just didn't KNOW they had a lot of musical knowledge. You don't write chord changes like they did with no knowledge. Learning theory is not knowledge. Theory is tools. >>

Reference back to your first quote... I did a paper on the Beatles while in college and later saw the same information in a video documentary that Paul McCartney did know quite a bit of music theory learned from his musician father. But back to your first quote; Paul would hear a musical phrase while attending Church and 'learn' to play that phrase from the Hymnal and thereafter, use it in his compositions.

Paul was invited to join John Lennon's band when they met because Paul knew more chords and guitar chords rather than the banjo chords john knew. George was invited to the band because Paul assured John he could 'teach' George the correct lead guitar riffs.

The Beatles honed their skills in Germany and advanced their playing skills and knowledge learning patterns from other bands and musicians never being told the theory behind it. Imagine Paul going up to the lead guitarist of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes (Charles “Ty” O’Brien) and saying, " Hey mate, we play that song in C. It sounds exactly like the record when you guys play it. What key are you doing it in? Eb! Hey man, here's some weed, show me how you do that... "

Much of how The Beatles advanced and changed pop music was not just lyrics and instrumentation, melodies and chord progressions. George Martin did most of their arranging and producing and had the necessary academics to do that for them. Many of their advances were actually studio engineering and mechanical technical feats. It was those engineering and technical feats that were the inspiration for Brian Wilson's "Pet Sounds" where he hired session musicians with all the theoretical knowledge and playing skills to replicate his ideas where like the Beatles, he lacked the physical skill to accomplish.

<< The band I played in during the end of the 80s used to do a Genesis medley. 5 songs all strung together. I could walk on stage TODAY and play that medley from memory. Does that make me smart? Nope. But it does mean that I played that medley enough times that it because as engraved into my brain as my name. >>

But it's also true you could play the medley enough times by repetition for it to be engraved into mind to the exact same degree without ever having a day of formal theory training. No musical theory is necessary to replicate existing material. Learn the pattern, the notes and where your fingers go and practice with repetition building muscle memory until it's 'engraved' in your mind.

Watch a Rick Beato "What Makes This Song Great" Video and he'll tell how the artist uses the Mixolydian Scale at this phrase and moves to the Ionian to complete the solo... or slow the video, loop it and memorize his fretboard fingering as he demonstrates how it's played.

That's why Joanne's idea is a great contribution that's likely to help thousands of aspiring musicians begin to reach their musical goals.

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