It’s interesting to read your comment. I think we are, as far as is possible, from the same circumstance.
My background is likely impossible to explain - so, don’t attempt that, or much anymore - it’s not really important or relevant. Well, other than framing context for “this”.
- I only posted this stuff since think I observed folks, whom, if see it may ID a benefit of it.
Me, as one whom then pushed himself into and through theory in an undefined effort - turns out, to prove to myself I was not nuts that how I was being “taught”, so to speak - was “wrong” - entirely, arguably, but how I see it.
I went through full western theory and then european (you UK folks have another standard and slight language shift in Notation idiom, I found in the Boot with my Spanner next to my bag-o-chips et alia : ) - Edinburgh Univ, online.)
Anyway, the real world, as much as it hates to admit it engages some masterful folks that speak, 3rd dot on the neck and you really do want them in your studios playing on your track : )
Anyway, if I was rich and famous, I am sure I could sell, then, an interesting book of what I think and believe is of value or was for me.
One of the best “lectures” I ever read, so to speak, was BB Kings personal websight, which for some reason, after he passed removed it - him speaking in chunks (chunking it out, is the best way, like eating an elephant, one bite vs whole, at a time…) anyway - about his musical path.
If I can do it justice and condense it ? at all, as one may know the Guitar can be or is in standard tuning of a single key. Retune it and it’s quite simplified. So, learn “that”, and 3 chord shapes max, with “fragments” and you’re done - for what he did.
- Got $5 a night to bang a rhythm out to whatever song was popular then, and all night (which is what he made in a week working in a field in the hot sun for 5 days $1/day). Easy motivation, decision, aptitude and passion - no, tv, internet, books or radio - so, a diddley bo, or bang box guitar as I call it.
He said, … I don’t recommend my path since all I did was make up my own language for what already exists… (or similar words). It’s a math instrument and so call it what you like! : ) but, 1+1=2, uno und uno is duo : ) hahh… uNo lol!
All of “theory” class (es) esp Edinburgh was “explaining” what was done. In reality, it is not, arguably a class to learn anything (nothing) - else. You’ll learn how to read Standard Notation, and that’s it.
I have, lectured at least two, Juliard Trained Pianist in what I “do”, one, when teaching her son Guitar and another, with whom I had to play 5 songs every Sunday with (how I put the guitar chords to her piano music and it worked - she just never could wrap her mind around).
They both could sight read to the Keys (piano ivories) and memorized entire works of music to play back like a recording, but live, but, as they said, NO other importance was given to any of their curriculum.
- So, one could ask…, could they even “play” their instrument, the Piano? Really? Actually, just “play it”? - No.
However, “standard notation” and scale “language” is all we have as a standard idomatic language vs 3rd Dot on the neck.
So, learning that there is truly only ONE chord that exists, but it moves around, like on a key board an A-chord is the same as C-chord, et alia 7 others, same three fingers moving frozen in “shape” in a linear fashion. To tell a “kid” you gotta long road ahead with all you have to learn, vs one 7 note scale, that moves and one chord is a very different approach - “leadership management” 101 : ) hahhh… could not resist that. (First comments to a class, as if “winners, or fools” greatly effects what happens next, grade school psychology 101.)
- Same for music.
Me, from day one, never wanted to learn to “play a song” vs the instrument itself. Sure, we use familiar melodies to learn the instrument, but for me, and no one was listening - not the song.
I had no money for records or a a radio and etc. and just wanted to bang on that box alone, happy and maybe others that might hear me, would “value” that in me - they did. Oh, that’s an in for a ~ 12yo, ± etc. age.
If, as I tell “students” - on that rare occasion, to get a 4 string bass and learn it - Triads (same neck as guitar, or even “violin” arguably) and a practice pad/sticks and learn to *sight read, drum Notation - they often connect all the dots on their own, for the Guitar - I did. But, that is just me I guess : ) and who cares, really.
It’s kind of like anything, really - I grew up where Mom baking a cake, from a box was “magic”. Then I asked he one day - whats in the box? - I don’t know she said, paying to much money for that box of flower and backing soda/powder. When I showed her how many cakes $5 could buy if simply mixed that on her own - she was like “oh… my…” - why Mom liked have me around I guess : ) ?
Same for Guitar, or any instrument.
On a guitar or bass or even violin : ) you are only one note away from being “correct”. And if get used to - reorienting - yourself - will sound like a passing tone. I even remember a buddy saying that, wow, you slipped into that 8th, 3rd, dominant 7th as if meant it and then realized you did. Right? You did? Didn’t you? : ) hahh… maybe, maybe not. But, if listen to the noodling track with “cold ears” - yeah, it did. And those “happy accidents” of silence, and etc. is why I love doing lo-fi, 1st pass 1 takes.
- I did them so much, sooo much - one year I had someone call me a liar : ) hahhh… and did, in real time while on Facebook with them, just that - using that present conversation, while in it online - wrote, recorded and uploaded a “song” in was like 20 minutes ± .
- However, they did say like, “wow…”, no - crickets hahh! o m g.
Yes, those are all real. And, if I spend a week on them, they only get worse!! lol! haahah… so - there’s that too. So, to speak.
Yes, me too! - I know what I know and am as good as I will be - yet, seek faster creative paths to more freely translate what’s in my head, musically.
When I was a teen, or early 20’s there was soooooooo much music in my head, that I could not “get out”… now I can, but, don’t have those tracks playing like that to then core-dump out. I don’t know why - but, how it seems to be, for now.
However, I’ve had periods when I could not write fast enough all the stuff in there - and not like the stuff during the early years. However, I really am my worst critic.
I’ll end with - I walked into a room which had a track playing and asked, “wow, who’s that…” then realized it was me. Same happened when fishing through old cassette tape where I’d go into a “state” of mind an just play for 3 hours non-stop… I was like, huhhh… and I thought I sucked? wow… then, why did evenyong want me in their band (then)?
So - I’m glad you find it fun to discuss. I, apparently do - if of a meaningful nature in a conversation like this. I love hearing what you, others think.
But, it was how it was when I was like 14yo, working illegally in an old mafia bar, washing dishes to buy my first “real” guitar and all the old, likely famous ? jazz musicians saying, “shut up and play, don’t worry about the music”… I was a fortunate one in that regard I’ve been told.
- Sorry to go on to much, but it is our “thanks giving” break now and I had the time : ) so, this being how I have fun, indulged a bit. (I’ll proof it after I post it if to many typos since I write in flow of thought as if “speaking”. It may be easier if “read/heard” that way when reading my stuff I am told : ) ).