The Right Way to Learn Music Theory

Music theory can help you and hurt you.

If you rely on it too much, your music will sound inauthentic and contrived.

Ignore it altogether, and you could miss out on a world of harmonic and melodic possibilities. I say could because it is possible to pick up all kinds of advanced harmony with just your ear. That said, studying music theory makes it a whole lot easier.

So how do you find the right balance?

Hear what you study, and study what you hear.

Let’s unpack that.

Hearing what you study means playing through or listening to the theoretical concepts you’re learning.

Merely understanding “the math” on an intellectual level is insufficient. You need to create a sound association.

Being able to sing the theory can help, too. Try singing arpeggios, scales, roots of chords, thirds of chords, intervals…whatever it is you’re working on. For if your eyes are the window to your soul, your singing voice is the window to your ear.

(You don’t need to be a great singer. Just keep your voice involved in some capacity.)

Now, the other half of the equation is “study what you hear.”

It’s not enough to just learn theory and then sound it out. You also need to start at the sonic level by messing around on your instrument and/or transcribing records. Once you find something you like, figure out the theory behind what you’re hearing.

The more you adhere to the advice above, the closer you’ll get to being able to actually hear music theory rather than just think it (there’s a big difference).

So, whether you’re analyzing the scale degrees from Licks for Days or identifying chord functions in the slickest chord progressions known to man, i.e. Stanky Loops, remember to use both your head and your ears.

Good luck!

Jeff