definition of music theory

[jancivil]

you should check out what I typed. it tastes great.

without the context of, say, is the beat straight up and down eights, or swung?; or what's the actual deal-o, yet 'variations' are endless, hey, we're in Elmer Fudd's forest basically.

Find a rock song you will find context.
If that brain with too many holes in it can only percieve Chuck Berry as rock
or a few Chuck Berry songs as rock then that is all you will be able to percieve.

For me to post 10 or 20 or 30 rythmic values and variation to demonstrate the variation of patterns would confuse most and those who didn't catch the subtlety of variaion it would be lost on. For me to isolate a few rythmic examples it would diminish the variance within that realm.

Rock is not a field for reductionists. Nor is it a linear evolution. Those who excel at rock take only as much as they need when they need and aren't afraid of moving in a different direction because they read somewhere they couldn't.

Find a rock beat and you won't find infinity, was my point. That isn't exactly a reductionist statement.

Is Mitch Mitchell on If 6 Was 9 doing rock drumming? If so...

[tapper mike]

Perhaps a rock standard in your mind. Hardly a rock standard in the greater history of Rock. I think I've actually heard the song twice on the radio, and I'm pretty sure I've never seen it mentioned in any "How to Play Rock" publications. Usually when the song is mentioned it's done so by a pretentious critic all a flutter with much to say about nothing.

[jancivil]

Perhaps a rock standard in your mind. Hardly a rock standard in the greater history of Rock. I think I've actually heard the song twice on the radio, and I'm pretty sure I've never seen it mentioned in any "How to Play Rock" publications. Usually when the song is mentioned it's done so by a pretentious critic all a flutter with much to say about nothing.

Uhm... My point was that, that would not be 'rock' drumming, not in my mind. That: that would stretch the concept 'rock drumming' (albeit by a ROCK act, on a ROCK record etc) past its breaking point.

NOT as far as your term 'endless variations' does, however.



And, guess what? I am interested in neither 'how to play rock' publications or any critic's evaluations on a thing. And, re: "pretentiousness"? Tell me this: is 'endless variations' a 'pretentious' thing to say, or not.


Me, I got a lot out of 'pretending', and I still do. (fake it til you make it, as a rule, what) YMMV.

[tapper mike]

Okay so make a point already.

Your not interested in the rock idom.
The information I have presented does not apply to your view of rock.
You don't care about rock.



You didn't start the thread. The thread is not about you or your musical goals.

Stick your nose where it belongs as opposed to where it doesn't.
If you can't provide meaningful information that is pertainent and applicable and you have no interest in the style leave it to those who do have experience in the medium and have information that is applicable.

[eduardo_b]

Hmm.

So music, like other pursuits such as math and its neighbor physics, has a theoretical side and an applied side. Some will be attracted to theory and others to application, but many will find nothing of interest in either -- such as myself. What is more interesting to me are the arguments about where (and whether) theory and application matter in music. I suppose it comes from having a strong intellect but a pragmatic nature.

For example, did all or most of the revered classical composers know and understand theory or did they simply have the talent to apply what they did know in ways that others didn't or couldn't. The poster who discussed the functional working aspects of rock music is on the application side of things, and noted the building blocks that make rock music what it is, but there was no theory given or needed. The theorists seem uninterested, and the poster notes this in a reply. Whatever music theory may be, it isn't likely to have much practical application to popular music, which works off of well-defined sets of applicable "rules."

Carry on.

[Meffy]

(he was an irish elvis impersonator, do you know what its like growing up with an uncle who is recognised as an elvis impersonator )

One can imagine. "Hunka Hunk, O'Byrne in Love."

My definition of Music Theory: The most flame you can have outside HPC. Woo hoo.

[bugs]

Hmm.

... did all or most of the revered classical composers know and understand theory [?]

Yes, they did. Read a few biogrphies.

[eduardo_b]

(he was an irish elvis impersonator, do you know what its like growing up with an uncle who is recognised as an elvis impersonator )

One can imagine. "Hunka Hunk, O'Byrne in Love."

My definition of Music Theory: The most flame you can have outside HPC. Woo hoo.

Woo hoo indeed.

[jancivil]

Okay so make a point already.

Your not interested in the rock idom.
The information I have presented does not apply to your view of rock.
You don't care about rock.



You didn't start the thread. The thread is not about you or your musical goals.

Stick your nose where it belongs as opposed to where it doesn't.
If you can't provide meaningful information that is pertainent and applicable and you have no interest in the style leave it to those who do have experience in the medium and have information that is applicable.

EXCUUUUUSE ME! I forgot the thread was about you and your being an authority.

I am first and last a rock musician. And a pretty damned good rock drummer. I do take exception to your particular brand of would-be authoritative statements. (EG: "using a metronome is good for all musicians")
And your Rolling Stone magazine-esque use of "pretentious", which might tell on you a bit. I disagree with you, and you pretend you know something about me so you can dismiss me. Wowie Zowie.

You're, by contrast with me, providing useful information on the subject?
Cause, I haven't actually seen it. You're hoping to show off, with language you might think through a bit better.

AND! By this point in the thread - NO WAIT, the entire thread! - is some people talking shop. Get real.

[vurt]

its about explaining why or when certain colours might or might not be of the right hue for some people or others.
its like a giant vagina looming over manhattan, ready to reverse birth a planet.
its the words in the spaces in a letter.
its what keeps the dark energy at bay.
its the bollocks of a small dog, removed for the worlds only ever papal castrate chihuahua.
its like ray ay ain on your wedding day.

its all these things and more.

[Melkor]

I always understood theory to be a system of talking/writing about music without having to play said music.

ie i have just composed a new piece and i need it played tomorrow.

I'm gonna write it out in a PRE-DEFINED system that everyone can agree on.
The orchestra will rock up, look at the manuscript and off we all go.

This is the most practical use of theory, but there are thousands more.


Also, there is only ONE Theory Of Rock

" ..... Mine goes to 11"

[vurt]

I always understood theory to be a system of talking/writing about music without having to play said music.

just shows how wrong you are sometimes.

[Melkor]

Ooo jolly fun.

This is a conclusion i have drawn from many outside sources i consider valid.

I wish i could say that this thread has enlightened my conclusions any further, but sadly i cant.

Maybe you could change that?

[Melkor]

however, the theory of rock was certainly an amusing concept (to me) so i guess this thread was value after all :D

[vurt]

Ooo jolly fun.

This is a conclusion i have drawn from many outside sources i consider valid.

I wish i could say that this thread has enlightened my conclusions any further, but sadly i cant.

Maybe you could change that?

if you read it along with my previous reply, i think, it comes across clearly enough that i was joking