Music Theory and Chords. How much??

[rattley]

Hello Friends!

Most of the music theory I know was learned at an early age in grade school when I joined the school band. In second grade I started learning french horn. I used to pull it in my red wagon 3 blocks twice a week until somebody stole my wagon. I switched to trumpet (cornet actually) and got to be pretty good. At that time you had to be in 5th grade to take a music theory class. My band director gave me private lessons free.

This term "music theory" seem to give chills to many. On does not ever finish learning music theory. You probably use it all the time and don't even know it. The knowledge of chords is only a part of music theory. But in the world of arrangers and styles chords are everything. Even if you only have a basic understanding that's all you really need. How could you ever teach someone to read without first learning your letters and words?  How many times did you learn to read??  Hopefully your answer is only once which makes my point. Spend a little time learning chords. Even if you play single finger chords it helps to understand chord progressions. Don't laugh..........but I have a poster of the Circle of Fifths in front of me. I don't really reference it anymore as I know this "roadmap" for playing song chords. That poster just shows and inspires me to see the world of chords in such a small package.

It's only been a few months since I "discovered" sus4 chords. I've played arrangers for years without using them.  Now they are used all the time and gives my chords a different flavor. I know about a lot of different chord I never use, but remember once you learn 1 chord you really have learned 12 chords. 12 notes can make any song there is just as 26 letters can write anything. I should have been practicing what I have been preaching.  Me bad!  -charley

[mikf]

Charley, learn the half dismissed chord next, .....great chord with many more uses than most people realize.
The suspended chords are a huge part of traditional church music. Elton John went to a famous choir school and that's where he got his musical training. So guess what, Elton John compositions are full of  .....sus chords!
Mike

[Michael Trigoboff]

I started with accordion lessons at the age of 9. The buttons for the left hand are laid out in the Circle of Fifths, so I got that concept right at the beginning, and it has served me well.

Cubase has a great set of "Chord Assistant" features that can help you audition and select chords, build a chord progression, and navigate the Circle of Fifths