Ok... I am having a tough time understanding where to start with theory. I played for about 10 years. Even though I dont know any theory I have a good ear and I can still write some decent stuff. But I can really see where its holding me back not knowing this stuff. But thats why I joined this site... To fix those problems. So if you could help me I have a few questions.

Say I start with this riff... this is something I wrote for my band, its a metalcore type riff along the lines of as I lay dying:

tuning: cgcfad



C -------------------------------------------------------]----------------------------------
G ---12---10---8---10---12108---------------------]---8----7----5---7----875---------
C 99---99---99--99---99---------12-10-8-10-12-]55--55--55--55--55-----87578--

*bottom set of nines and fives are palm muted...

Well first of all I couldnt tell you any of those notes without starting with the open string/first fret and counting up to them. Thats bad I know... lol

But say I wanted to write some lead on top of that. Or maybe even harmonize parts of that. Where would I start? What key would that riff be in and how do I tell? And once I know that stuff what scales would I be able to play on top of it... and how do I pick and choose them?

sorry the notes got a little messed up in the 2nd half... they need to look like that first section.

if you rewrite the tab in a different font it should turn out ok. you need to use a font in which every letter number symbol etc is the same size. there's a technical word for it but i can't remember.

ok i figured something out to where it looks more orderly... so any ideas?

anyone? I could REALLY use the explanation....

What I do, when im writing riffs or w/e. I either just pick a scale in any key, and just go like that. Or when im just screwing around, and when i notice I have somethign sounding pretty nice. I look at the notes Im using, and either just go and put more notes in. Or i try to fit that part of a riff into a scale, for however it makes me feel yeah konw. Sad, Minor, Happy Major, or w/e.

Honestly, you shouldnt take advice from me. You can find really everythign you need. In Andrews Theory Lesson's, and those are all correct, I may not be to good of a person to tell you. Hope any of this ehlps htough!!

Not used to the tuning you're using here osakamitsu - so apologies if I've got this wrong (I haven't got a pen to work this one out on paper ). Looks like it's either in Bbmaj or Gmin. I think there is something in Andrew's theory lessons on harmonisation.

Couple of quick ways to visualise the fret board and save you counting up form the nut. Octave at 12th and 5th at the 7th fret on a guitar irrespective of the tuning note. So for C string you will get G at the 7th fret (5th of C) and C one octave higher at 12th. Similarly for G string you get the 5th (D) at the 7th fret and the octave at the 12th. There's a thread on the board concerning how to learn the notes of the fretboard.

Cheers,
Tony

Yeah that is a weird tuning.

My first guess, just a shot out of the dark, Drop C, but then again lol. There 2 C's up there.

hey thanks for the info. I'll look into it and see what happens. It is Drop C... it sounds alot like a much deeper drop D.

Yes it's dropped C though I meant the scale rather then the tuning...

Cheers,
Tony