Comments on: Theory is just a theory!

By: EDDIE

EDDIE — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:06:24 +0000

I just wanted to give you some feedback- thanks so much, I finally feel like I’m gettin somewhere with this. I tried to play a few years ago and I simply didn’t get taught right, since I’ve discovered your vids, I’ve just been movin along… makin sense of my bass as I say; playin songs n what not. That’s all I’ve wanted to do, just have fun with it and you’ve made that possible.

By: Blackjack

Blackjack — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:53:20 +0000

There are some attention-grabbing cut-off dates in this article but I don’t know if I see all of them center to heart. There’s some validity but I’ll take hold opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we would like extra! Added to FeedBurner as effectively

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:09:36 +0000

Great post!

By: stephen

stephen — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:52:43 +0000

I’m surprised nobody has pointed this out, but the youtube poster is wrong. The F# and G fits theory perfectly (and simply). For what it’s worth: the F# to G played in the same octave are only a half step apart and would indeed sound kinda klank– if that’s how you were playing them. But you’re playing the G up an octave which creates a major 7th interval. And as we all know, major 7th is one of the intervals that make chords sound beautiful. Sit down to a keyboard or piano and try it for yourself. Play the F# and G together a half step apart (klank) and then shift the G up an octave (pleasing sound). Same notes, different interval.

Two things to think about: 1) notes are nothing. People don’t even hear notes. You don’t hear something resonating at 440 and go “ah, that’s an A note.” You hear intervals. Intervals are everything.
2) Theory shouldn’t ever be restrictive. It is simply a way of describing WHY something might sound good. Then it can offer suggestions on where to go next.

By: skyler waters

skyler waters — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:27:10 +0000

hey kris i was wondering if you could do a lesson on how the play Animal I Have Become by Three Days Grace?

By: Are you physcially suited to play the Bass guitar? | Free. Bass. Lessons...

Are you physcially suited to play the Bass guitar? | Free. Bass. Lessons... — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 13:10:32 +0000

[...] discussion on this post on theory has inspired me to write [...]

By: Kris

Kris — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 12:47:07 +0000

Exactly! Perfect example

Do you know that Bruce Lee’s early Kung Fu teachers told him not to study, as he’d not be able to progress very far due to his physical failings?

One of his legs was slightly longer than the others, and he was actually short sighted. Instead of listening to his ‘teachers’, and giving up, he actually slightly changed the techniques to suit him.

Eventually, this actually gave Bruce Lee an edge, as his slight changes made him more un-predictable, and opened up new opportunities to him.

Beware, the people that tell you that you can’t…

By: Dark Ravencrow

Dark Ravencrow — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 01:56:43 +0000

well, I have a friend who is a really sick guitar player, for some genetic issue he was born with a crocked hand and he lack 2 fingers on it… but still playing so beautiful… somebody should explain him that “in theory” he is wrong because “books says” and “teachers teach” that you need a hand with fingers to play, maybe he should stop playing to avoid offending all those internet gurus out there!

great site! thanks for sharing your art man!

By: Kris

Kris — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 10:44:49 +0000

Amen! That sums it up perfectly…

By: Gilbert Kitchens

Gilbert Kitchens — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:28:24 +0000

Justin Chancellor (Tool) uses the same chord shape in the beginning of “Schism” and it gives it a very beautiful almost haunting sound. I just began taking a theory class at school and I’m entering it with this view. I’ve always thought that people who said “you can’t do that” were some of the most uncreative people out there. I wish more people could see that theory is not law, it’s guidelines.