W3here do you start?

robgilmo

So I've been watching some YouTube vids on the caged system, then I realised there is a whole bunch of stuff I don't know that I need to know, so is there a starting point and progression ladder when learning theory?

viz

Well this is going to be controversial but I believe the best is the ABRSM theory grades 1-8. 

robgilmo

Are they exams?

Jack_

Justin Sandercoe's Practical Music Theory is good.

It's Justin of justinguitar.com

Winny_Pooh

FWIW
Learn your Pentatonic, Maj & Minor scales first
Then on your scales build intervals and the full chords to understand their relationship
Expand into modes and learn how they sound over keys/chord progressions
Then song structure & progressions ( Ie I IV V) in different types of music and more complex chords

sweepy

The biggest "Eureka" moment for me, many years ago, was harmonising the major scale and the resultant chord triads. Learning arpeggios opens up the guitar neck in a way that the CAGED system never can imho

Barney

I find by learning pemtatonics in all positions then arps all positions then learn the corresponding scale over the arp..i think the important thing is knowing each interval in the arp so that when you build chords you can see the notes that need added ....

viz

robgilmo said:

Are they exams?

Check it on that google thing. There are exams ("Grades"), but of course you can just get the course material. It will teach you, bit by bit, the basics of music theory from note names to rhythm to melody to harmony; basically 99% of classical musicians the world over have gone through the course. Justin Sandercoe et al are also brilliant and probably more accessible and relevant to us rockers, but I still feel the classical route gives you an incredibly solid grounding. 

robgilmo

viz said:

robgilmo said:

Are they exams?

Check it on that google thing. There are exams ("Grades"), but of course you can just get the course material. It will teach you, bit by bit, the basics of music theory from note names to rhythm to melody to harmony; basically 99% of classical musicians the world over have gone through the course. Justin Sandercoe et al are also brilliant and probably more accessible and relevant to us rockers, but I still feel the classical route gives you an incredibly solid grounding. 

I like the idea of that, thank you.

robgilmo

Barney said:

I find by learning pemtatonics in all positions then arps all positions then learn the corresponding scale over the arp..i think the important thing is knowing each interval in the arp so that when you build chords you can see the notes that need added ....

Whats an arp?

Barney

robgilmo said:

Barney said:

I find by learning pemtatonics in all positions then arps all positions then learn the corresponding scale over the arp..i think the important thing is knowing each interval in the arp so that when you build chords you can see the notes that need added ....

Whats an arp?

Its an arpeggio...1..3 ..5th ..7th for example ..or like a broken chord...im surprised you didnt ask what a pemtatonic is...just saw my spelling ..lol

robgilmo

I'm working on my pemtatonics, will google my arps as well , thanks.

ElectroDan

robgilmo said:

I'm working on my pemtatonics, will google my arps as well , thanks.

It's already been mentioned but Justinguitar.com is a great resource for learning about arpeggios and how to use them in your playing. There is much more too. You could find all you need to learn your theory.

Teetonetal

For me , learn Notes - Intervals - Chords/Scales - Moving around,  in that order

bingefeller

Pentatonics is good place to start.  Bruce Saunders Jazz Pentatonics book is excellent and gives you advanced use of pentatonics as well as other pentatonics such as minor 6 pentatonic, dominant 7 pentatonic, minor 7b5 pentatonic and major b6 pentatonic. 

close2u

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/PR-010-PracticalMusicTheory.php



http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TB-030-CAGEDsystemVid.php

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TB-031-CAGEDsystem1.php

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TB-032-CAGEDsystem2.php

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TB-034-CAGEDsystem4.php

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TB-035-CAGEDsystem5.php

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TB-036-CAGEDsystem6.php






https://justinguitarcommunity.com/index.php?topic=20717.0

https://justinguitarcommunity.com/index.php?topic=10372.0

close2u

I wrote a thing here:

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/2990/

Blaendulais

viz said:

Well this is going to be controversial but I believe the best is the ABRSM theory grades 1-8. 

LCM popular Music theory is more relevant to Guitar I think

paul_c2

Blaendulais said:

viz said:

Well this is going to be controversial but I believe the best is the ABRSM theory grades 1-8. 

LCM popular Music theory is more relevant to Guitar I think

In theory, music theory isn't relevant to one instrument over another. In practice, it probably is though.

There's been some reasonable suggestions so far, beware there's a lot of overcomplicated rubbish out there on the internet too. Personally, I like Michael New's channel on Youtube: although its explained on piano keyboard, with passing mention to guitar when relevant.

viz

Good points - I confess I don't know the LCM theory syllabus, will check it, cheers