Originally Posted By: MarioD
As I have told my students learn music theory but don't let it get in the way of your playing. If you ain't playing from the heart then what good is it?


Nothing wrong with playing from your head.

If I look at that chord as a polychord comprising a C Major and a Bb Major, it may give me ideas. If I'm playing a guitar solo, I may play along with it as if it were a plain Bb Major instead of a crazy C Something. If I'm writing parts, I may break it up into a C Major for the piano and a Bb Major for the horns.

That kind of idea comes straight out of my cognitive head, in response to the acquisition of an interesting piece of abstract theoretical knowledge. Some might find this cold and cerebral – it sure isn't watching a sunset from the door of a moving freight train – but it warms my own heart, and I'm sure someone could put it to good musical use.

Last edited by Mark Hayes; 12/28/21 10:21 AM.