Guitar Theory

Have you ever learned something new on the guitar but had no idea what to do with it? Many guitarists suffer from this ailment and most instructional materials do little to remedy the problem. You can buy a chord or scale book at your local music store and learn some new shapes and patterns, but rarely do these books explain what these components actually do or how they ought to be applied. Without knowledge of how something functions it’s pretty much useless. This is why theory is necessary.

Theory Offers Explanations


Theory will explain what something is and does. For example, a new chord shape might be seen as an extension of a common barre chord. Wherever you may play the barre chord the new shape can be substituted for a new sound. A scale pattern might fit together with a specific chord progression. Each time you play this progression the scale tones can be used to add melody and harmony. Certain combinations of chords will effect a songs overall emotional feel. Choose the right combination in order to successfully convey your song’s meaning.

Scales, Chords, Progressions and More

Music can be approached and studied from many different angles. You can study notation, technique, rhythms, scales, chord construction and so on. While all musical topics are interesting and have their benefits, scales, chords and progressions top the list of must-knows. All guitarists, beginner through advanced, strum chords, follow progressions, and play melodies, riffs, solos and bass lines with scales.