PSA: Say no to music theory

[Mixolydian]

If you have any intention of keeping your sanity, DO NOT ever study music theory. I just spent the past 2 hours at the keyboard playing an instrumental song I found in a production music library. Chord progressions, scales, key signatures (mostly F Melodic Minor) and other BULLSHIT has not only crippled my fingers but completely fried my brain. I wish I could say this is an isolated occurrence, but now whenever a song catches my ear, I MUST be near a piano so I can ANALYZE IT! Hours go by without even realizing it. It is a drug. It is addictive. Once you're familiar with it, it sticks with you forever and haunts you every day. You will no longer listen to music, you will ANALYZE IT! Analyzing music you like can actually be pretty stimulating, but once you understand the logic behind a piece of music, it feels like it's not worth listening to anymore. You'll keep searching for more challenging songs to learn. It's an endless cycle.

If you're a composer, the damage is even worse.

Music theory has messed me up pretty bad. HELP!

 

[skyking]

My sister, who loved to play and loves music, got her ass kicked by music theory in Hawaii. Mind you this was more than 40 years ago, but it sent her on her current career path in education
After hearing her story I can sympathize.

 

[Mixolydian]

I've never met a person who wasn't affected by music theory in such a way.

Please excuse me while I go hang myself...

 

[Poulsonator]

I love music theory, but I obviously haven't hit the levels of understanding that you have. One day, when I come crawling back, defeated, you can say I told you so...

 

[Mixolydian]

I love music theory, but I obviously haven't hit the levels of understanding that you have. One day, when I come crawling back, defeated, you can say I told you so...

I loved music theory at first. It's a drug. The more you do it, the more you NEED to do it. And then you can't stop! :'(

 

[sandorski]

It's just a theory!!!!!!!

 

[ImpulsE69]

I started to take music theory years ago, but then decided I wanted to like music I continue to right and listen to new things..and I do analyze things, but not for the same reasons.

 

[preslove]

I loved music theory at first. It's a drug. The more you do it, the more you NEED to do it. And then you can't stop! :'(

Don't stop. Adapt the rest of your life around it. You should come out of it pretty well, compared to those with other addictions. Along the way, learn to stop whining about your compulsion.

 

[Printer Bandit]

what's the music theory behind the autotuned stuff on radio?

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'm glad to hear that I made the right decision to stay far away from it.

I've been careful to pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

When I listen to Vivaldi or Mindless Self Indulgence I want to focus on enjoying the music instead of watching the wires pull at my brain-meat.

 

[yhelothar]

What's the music theory behind this piece?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3E--ZXTVdw

 

[Triumph]

I've tried to apply what music theory I have (limited) to jamming on the guitar, and I just don't get it. All I get are mindless scales in the root key, or pentatonic blues scale applied to everything and anything. I have no idea how to put this stuff together to make it sound good. I always thought there were two types of musicians, naturally gifted players who just "get it" and don't know or need anything from music theory, and those who aren't who use music theory to create pleasant sounding music. I seem to be neither, oddly enough. So I guess I'll just continue copying songs already written.

 

[BladeVenom]

what's the music theory behind the autotuned stuff on radio?

That most of the popular "musicians" suck.

 

[Mixolydian]

That most of the popular "musicians" suck.

This.

 

[Imp]

Music theory like learning the Italian words and notes?

I took two levels of that as a kid... Got really good grades.

But ya, it took all the fun out of it. I can read notes and play 3 instruments, but it's all "meh" now. It turned into a school exercise and I get no pleasure from playing.

 

[Crusty]

I loved music theory, it's all math.

 

[Mixolydian]

I loved music theory, it's all math.

Ugh, I hate math... :whiste:

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

It's just a theory!!!!!!!

Teach the controversy!

 

[SheHateMe]

I really hate Music Theory too. My Piano teacher in HS stressed Music Theory, he would give us assignments to do and there was no way to get around it.

I do enjoy doing scales and arpeggios, though. Chords are a pain and learning to read music was a pain for me when first started. I am very good at sight reading now, but I become frustrated sometimes with harder pieces because its so much to look at.

 

[Albatross]

This song made my appreciate the beauty of music theory.

 

[nanette1985]

I loved music theory, it's all math.

Same here. I wrote a book on music theory in grad school. That was fun.

 

[Mixolydian]

I wrote a book on music theory in grad school. That was fun.

Oh good lord... D:

 

[masamune2387]

I love music theory too. Did a software project for school once where I used music theory to automatically correct, accompany, and improvise on what people played on a MIDI controller.

It's awesome stuff ... just wish I could do it for a living. Too bad nobody really needs this type of software

 

[manimal]

Music is a fickle mistress and theory can shake your will to go back for more. First couple of years of music theory at the school I went to was awesome. It just made sense. When we got to twelve tone music it just became self indulgent ramblings put on paper to make everyone think your a genius because you wrote something almost impossible to play.

My spirit was actually broken when I had to retake Aural skills 103 a second time because that shit sucked worse than cleaning stalls on a farm with toothbrushes. Seriously Fuck you to my theory and aural skills 103 teachers who made it a point to single out the opera singers.


Theory did for a time sour music to me. I would like the OP analize every single thing I heard like an automaton. I would even reflexively repeat intervals and interesting passages and be visibly bothered by ANYTHING THAT IS EVEN CLOSE TO BEING OUT OF GD TUNE.

ruined live band music for me for 20 years. I could rant about this for a while but my music career ended abruptly after a surgery so music in general makes me melancholy these days.