Does Music Theory REALLY Kill Creativity?

[bats brew]

these things go without saying.

[Mark Morgon-Shaw]

I don't know music theory, but my music's been in over 1,000 TV episodes.

[kennywtelejazz]

The best thing about music theory is once you learn how to put it to work for you in your music  it is no longer a theory .😉

Kenny

 

[Mr No Name]

I know that A = 440 hz, and I know Doh, Ray, Mi, Fa, Soh, La Tee, Dohhhhhhhhhhhh.

and that's about it, I have a discography of about 12 songs.

[T Boog]

33 minutes ago, Mr No Name said:

Dohhhhhhhhhhhh 

😂  Way to reach that octave my friend! 

Nah seriously, my older brother is the most talented musician Ive ever met and he knows almost no theory. He just knows a few basic chord shapes but lets his ear guide him to new and interesting stuff. He's the Kurt Cobain type. He seems to do more with less. 

 

Edited December 15, 2024 by T Boog

[user905133]

Let's open this up a crack: Do some Types of Food for Thought help or hinder Life Goals, or is it more dependent on the ingredients used, whether or not you are a slave to a recipe or a DIYer based on what others have done with similar ingredients, "proper" combinations and presentations, and preferences, sensitivities, and allergies?

For me it's not how big a person's refrigerator, stove/oven, pots and pans, cooking tools, etc. are, it's how they use the ingredients, methods, etc. For me theory unlocks potential, options, choices; theory is not a set of rules to be adhered to as if created by a devine super power.

Not knocking people who prefer to follow; just saying it's a matter of personal preferences. Sometimes following a recipe can be very quick and rewarding--esp. if you have all the ingredients on hand.

[bats brew]

wtf

[T Boog]

 

[craigb]

Forgetting kills something, but I don't remember what...

[hockeyjx]

In my old band, I was the "idea guy". The other guitar player I called BASF(they don't make things, they make things better was their commercial tagline) as he didn't do ideas, but he helped to form and elevate ideas brought in because of his musical knowledge. It worked for us.

I was watching an interview with Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson, and it seemed to mirror my example above.

A ton of variables out there. The biggest thing is an idea person may be stalled progressing, and a theory person may be generic ...and everything in between.