Theory Study, Musical Education And Conservatorium, I seek tips, help, websites involving music theory selfstudy Options

[stevie ray hey h...]

Hi,

I want to learn music theory by myself. I understand a lot of it, I think. But I want to train it and know it and also learn to know the things I don't know... Eventually my highest aim is going to the conservatorium if possible. So, does anybody has any tips for me. I know I will have a vry hard time studying the matter, I don't underestimate it since I really never had any musical education and I only recently started caring about what I play and why I play it (I play guitar since I was twelve or so, I am 27 now)

So tips for someone who never had musical education on how to prepare for a possible going to the conservatorium (=music university) in a distant future. My aim is next year, but if I need more time I need more time. please reply if you like, all-o-y'all

joris

[Pedja Simovic]

Hi Joris,

I suggest you start with simple things like Chromatic scale, intervals and then move to scale and chord construction.
Once you master that you can move to cycle 4 and 5 (keys with flats and sharps), then learn more about relative major and minor, and finally learn about modes.
For jamming purpose learn minor pentatonic , it will come very useful for soloing.


One website I suggest is www.musictheory.net

You can also read Andrew's theory lessons on our Theory board.


Feel free to ask any questions on forum or shoot me PM.

Thanks

Pedja

[Ivan Milenkovic]

Pedja pretty much summed it all mate. You have to go through the basics concepts first, like intervals, and then move on to major scales. Study the fifth and fourth circle and all the keys, and understand the relationship between chords and modes within keys. This should help you greatly not only in getting into music uni, but also help you understand music better.

[kjutte]

Understanding intervals of each scale is very important.

[Jesse]

conservatorium (=music university) I'll be going in 2 years, woooy

Chromatic scale.. is that just 1234 5678 ...? Like that

[Pedja Simovic]

conservatorium (=music university) I'll be going in 2 years, woooy

Chromatic scale.. is that just 1234 5678 ...? Like that

If you are talking about fret numbers then answer is yes

[stevie ray hey h...]

Does anybody know why a guitar's highest strings are B and E instead ofC and F? If I look at the chromatic scale I think it would look more logic that way? I've always wondered about that... I used to think it had something to do with the G clef. Now I think it's just cooler to have another high E string when your lowest is also E and some guy decided to tune the second string to B and everybody did the same...

[djohnneay]

I guess it's just called standard tuning, everybody needs some standard don't they ?

You can tune them to C and F if you want to. There's no rule that says you can't.
There are alot of diffrent variations in tuning, Eb tuning (Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, Eb) or drop D tuning for examle (D,A,D,G,B,E).

As said, you can do whatever you want, there are no rules in music, only guidelines

[kjutte]

Does anybody know why a guitar's highest strings are B and E instead ofC and F? If I look at the chromatic scale I think it would look more logic that way? I've always wondered about that... I used to think it had something to do with the G clef. Now I think it's just cooler to have another high E string when your lowest is also E and some guy decided to tune the second string to B and everybody did the same...

I am guessing that it's about more symmetrical scale fingering, but IDK for sure. Imagine moving all fingerings on B and E string a semistep up, it would be weird in comparison!

[stevie ray hey h...]

In my experience the G major scale is the most comfortably playable scale I know, but would my guitar be tuned other than standard or 1/2steps down It wouldn't be. I like the open strings I think and I find easier to remember than other scales (even though they are the same, but moveable) It's because I always learned fretnumbers instead of note names :-) stupid , I know

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

Does anybody know why a guitar's highest strings are B and E instead ofC and F? If I look at the chromatic scale I think it would look more logic that way? I've always wondered about that... I used to think it had something to do with the G clef. Now I think it's just cooler to have another high E string when your lowest is also E and some guy decided to tune the second string to B and everybody did the same...

The standard tuning helps to play barre chords with six strings.

[Ivan Milenkovic]

There are guitar players who use different tunings, but what is good about the standard tuning (versus to all perfect 4ths tuning) is that you can play easy chords and barre them vertically.