Is it really nessicary to pay for lessons to get a good understanding of Music Theory? I`m a beginner at Acousitc Guitar (and man, my fingers hurt.) and I`d really like to improve my understnding of MT. I`ve never taken a class on it before in my life.

Hi,


I suggest you buy a good book on music theory(for starters, to grasp some basic notions); to learn the keyes, the scales and the way they are structured; to learn intervals; first try to learn the major scales, once you
understand the one in C major, you
will be able to `construct` each
other scale in the major dominion.
Later on minor scales which present more problems and are more
varied than the major one(s).
Easy harmonic stuff to begin with:
chords in C and G, and F; tonic
and dominant(and subdominant);
learn to play a formal cadenza:
tonic(I) move to dominant(V) and
return to I. Vary with I-IV-V-I.

note values; basics; rhythmic
chains in 4 quarters, 4 treble
notes, 4 semiquavers etc.
Try to count loudly and try to make subdivisions.
A scheme I love for note value:
Whole note
quarter quarter quarter quarter
treble(t) tt tt tt
semiquaver(s) ssss ssss
demisemiquaver(d) dddddddd ddddddd
This is the subdivision I meant.

Try to find a good amateur pianist
who doesn`t ask for money(or a
trifle); ask your questions and
underline problems you met in the
theory book. Do the same thing for
scores.
Ask me if you want, here on the site; it has the advantage other
people interested can follow our
explanations snd discussions!
But you also may write to my
private e-mail: p.h.j.dejong@wanadoo.nl

A follow-up message:

I nearly forgot you are going to
study theory on your guitar;
of course I am a pianist myself;
so technically you would have to
turn to a guitar player; though
any knowledge you could master on
a keyborad(not necessarily an acoustic piano!) would enormously
ameliorate your theoretic understanding, and don`t forget
simple piano chords are often easy
to find and to `read` on a keyboard without having to create
your guitar chords(you yourself
describe the painful process!!).
Piano chords are easy to learn,
they are very visible and: sound
continues for a time as long as
you hold the keyes.
Let me know if all these remarks
contributed to any solution...!
Bye for now, lots of success.