KVR Audio

keyman_sam · Post by **keyman_sam** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:18 am

Good post WoJ. Music reading requires practice, and thats what i'm trying to do. Practice to get to that point where I can read any sheet music like i'm reading an english novel.

barbakane · Post by **barbakane** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:18 am

Just about every day I wish I had taken the time to learn to read music, as well as learn theory. But my excuse for not doing it is based on an interview I read back in the 80's with none other than Jimmy Page. The question got raised about theory or whatnot, and his response was that he didn't know scales, or much theory at all. He just played what sounded right thru experimentation and an intimate knowledge of what he was trying to achieve, basically the building blocks of any good song.
Also, I once saw an interview with Vladimir Horowitz, and he said he was envious of people that didn't have classical training and theory backgrounds. When asked why, he said that he is so locked into habit, that he can't think any other way. It was impossible for him to think like a jazz or rock player.
Just my two cents worth...but I learn from listening to other songs and emulating them. By doing this, and changing a few things here and there, I learn what works and what doesn't.
There is also a couple of great books...."How to write songs on guitar", and "How to write songs on keyboards", that give examples of chord progressions, such as I-IV-V-VII, along with the names of world famous songs that follow that progression. That's a great way to learn theory. I start with three chord songs, then goes to 4,5 and six chord songs. Great places to start for the lazy people like me!

barbakane · Post by **barbakane** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:20 am

As another addition note, just saw on CMT the show Crossroads, and Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac was on.... He said he can't read music! Who woulda thought....

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:46 am

I wonder how many authors can't read a book

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:48 am

Here's one:

androidlove · Post by **androidlove** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:06 am

i play what i want to hear. what else is there?

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:10 am

androidlove wrote:i play what i want to hear. what else is there?

ahhhhh I see you like "yes"

WoJ · Post by **WoJ** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:16 am

Hink wrote:I wonder how many authors can't read a book

blind people can still talk.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:18 am

WoJ wrote:
Hink wrote:I wonder how many authors can't read a book
blind people can still talk.

I see

androidlove · Post by **androidlove** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:19 am

Hink wrote:
androidlove wrote:i play what i want to hear. what else is there?

ahhhhh I see you like "yes"

isn't yes prog? that's what i think of when someone asks me if i like prog. i say "no"

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:21 am

androidlove wrote:
Hink wrote:
androidlove wrote:i play what i want to hear. what else is there?

ahhhhh I see you like "yes"
isn't yes prog? that's what i think of when someone asks me if i like prog. i say "no"

actually I was thinking more of a woman saying yes

kaden · Post by **kaden** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:29 am

androidlove wrote:i play what i want to hear. what else is there?

Other people playing what you hear.

VicDiesel · Post by **VicDiesel** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:47 am

kaden wrote:
androidlove wrote:i play what i want to hear. what else is there?
Other people playing what you hear.

You playing what other people heard.

My reading skills are out the wazoo, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I like opening a book of Haydn keyboard sonatas and play some. The man was a genius, and much as I like my own music, every once in a while it's good to genuflect at the altar of the absolute gods.

Btw, even though I haven't had much formal training in theory, I've absorbed plenty. And I don't think it harms my music. It means I can avoid cliches, and have a bigger repertoire of tricks that I can pull out of a high hat.

Victor.

rockstar_not · Post by **rockstar_not** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:19 am

I know enough theory to realize that I don't know enough.

Yes I feel limited and would like to rewind the clock to have paid more attention, learnt the modes, learned the notes on the fretboard - all of them, not just those marked with dots, etc.

So, I scratch my head and try to teach myself some now and then - but I'd love to be able to sight read better, to know when a flat5 sharp 13 chord would be better than a good old major 7, etc.

-Scott

dark.nowhere · Post by **dark.nowhere** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:43 am

I have a hilarious relationship with music theory and the formalisms. Whenever I try to learn more, it doesn't click very well and I get frustrated and give up. Later I'll be doing something where it applies, but not thinking about it, and I'll remember all the unassimilated data that I read up on and it will finally click.

How many of you know music theory?If not,do you feel limited