Advice from a Musician Who Hates Theory
When I first started piano lessons, I couldn’t have been more excited to learn “Hot Cross Buns.” After months of practice, I finally got it down, and I couldn’t wait to show my friends. It was a short high, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Afterwards, I was as ready as ever to move on to “Greensleeves,” but that excitement slid to a halt when my piano teacher hit my unsuspecting eight-year-old self with perhaps the worst news I had ever received: it was time to learn why C major was the easiest key to play in.
I was given a workbook that I could’ve mistaken for my third-grade math textbook. I was told to have a certain amount of pages done before the next lesson. By the time I stopped receiving lessons around the age of fifteen, my understanding of music theory was about at the level it should have been at ten.
Why am I telling you all this? Is this a rant about how much I hate theory? Am I just giving you an excuse as to why I’m a washed-up musician?
I’m writing this to offer my advice and experience for those like-minded people who want to, as they say, “fake it till you make it.”
Whether you're a seasoned performer or just starting your musical journey, grappling with complex concepts like scales, chords, and intervals can be an incredibly difficult task. If you find yourself among those who dislike music theory, fear not! Here are some of my hacks to help you navigate a chart with confidence and ease:
Get the melody down in your right hand. It’s your lifeline.
When trying to learn a song, having the melody down pat means you’re pretty much halfway there. The song is recognizable, and you can build off of it as you please. Even if you cut off some of the extra notes, you can still maintain the song’s integrity by just playing one key at a time. It’s simple, but it’s as important as anything else. Think of your favorite song to play on the piano, and then try to imagine it without the melody; it’s just a chord progression – which leads me to my next tip…
Listen to the little letters above the bar lines. They are your friends.
These letters are the base chords that back each measure, or, with more complicated songs, each note. To start, just play that note with your left hand, accompanying the melody you’ve already mastered with your right. Once that feels good, stretch your left pinky to the same note but one octave lower – this will give it a little more umph. Get that down, and you have a solid, recognizable base for the song. If you think that’s good enough, then you’re done! Congratulations, you’ve cheated your way through a song, and you’ve “learned” it in a fraction of the time it would take for you to learn it in its entirety.
Don’t take it too seriously. Have a little fun with it!
If you’re trying to create an original song, it's essential to remember that music theory is not a set of rigid rules but rather a set of guidelines and principles that can be interpreted and applied in various ways. There are all kinds of different progressions and harmonies that can and will sound good with what you have. Don't be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and explore new avenues. Some of the most groundbreaking music has emerged from artists who challenged conventional norms and pushed the boundaries of traditional theory. In other words, don’t let it dictate your creativity. Beyond basic music theory principles, you can oftentimes do whatever you want. Hell, that’s how Jazz was born.
Like I said before – fake it till you make it.
Confidence is key. Don’t let your shortcomings in theory derail your pursuit of musical excellence. Paul McCartney and John Lennon are some of the greatest songwriters to ever live. Guess what. They didn’t know shit about theory. Instead, they listened to the work of their predecessors and had an ear for good music. The foundation of their success wasn’t technical knowledge; it was curiosity and experimentation. If you can work those into your repertoire, you can fool just about anyone.
Forget everything I just said. Learn music theory.
I really hate contradicting myself, but I have to say that this is probably your best bet. Don’t be lazy about it, and don’t make up excuses to not do it. To have a deep understanding of music theory is immeasurably valuable when trying to become a great musician. I kick myself all the time for not putting in the necessary effort when I was younger, and I would absolutely do it right if I could go back. Trust me, it’s really not as hard as you think. Your future self will thank you.
While music theory may seem intimidating at first, it doesn't have to be a barrier to your musical journey. By approaching it with an open mind, integrating it into your practice routine, and embracing experimentation and creativity, you can develop a deeper understanding of music and unlock all kinds of new avenues of expression. Or, you can be like me, and have to walk your hand up each note while simultaneously counting the spaces between notes to figure out what you’re supposed to be playing. Up to you…
