Musicians help please

Question

ok, i play guitar

i have billions of ideas in my head..the thing is that i cant play them on guitar...i know about 18 guitar chords by heart and i can play through all really fast, and im praticing scales i can read tabs blah...im having trouble with music theory..i cant afford a music teacher, and i watch videos on youtube that gives free lessons, but that doesnt help either..so what can i do to become better at turning my ideas to music?? (PLEASE do not say get a teacher)

Answer 1

Basically what you need is to get your ear trained. When practicing scales, really LISTEN to the notes and emerce yourself in the sounds so they get engraved into your brain and can be heard when you're not even playing guitar.

Here, this is perfect for you! Right off the bat you'll find an article that explains your exact problem:

http://www.cyberfret.com/ear-training/in...

Answer 2

email me and i'll help ya =]

Answer 3

What do you EXPECT us to tell you, then?  I have 3 degrees in music - and TWO of them are in Music Theory - a BM and an MM.  Therefore, *I* have had tons of great teachers - and I have TAUGHT music theory since 1971.  If there was a BETTER way of doing this, we would have figured it out by now - but education still seems to work.  There are people every day who ask the same question in different form - they want to SING better, but do not want a teacher;  they want to play the (insert instrument here) but do not want a teacher.  THEN they say that it is their dream to go to Juilliard (which most of them cannot SPELL, let alone pass the audition).  So - if you are REALLY serious - you need to take a class.  NO website is going to help you, because they cannot see you, hear you, or correct your work.  

There are people who refuse to see a doctor - and we all say "when it hurts bad enough, they'll go".  Same deal with the hunger for education.  When you want it BAD enough - you'll  find a class, and a way to pay for it.

NOT what you wanted to hear - but I've been doing this for over 35 years, and the answer never changes - nor has it for people in the generations BEFORE me.  Heck, *Mozart* took theory lessons from Padre Martini!

ADDED - clearly, you are frustrated and upset.  But you delineated what you WANT - and several of us are in a position to tell you how to get there.  You sound very young - if you are still in HS, then take Theory class there, if offered.  If out of HS, then find a community college that offers it - could be a sequence with ear training, solfege, counterpoint, harmony, etc.  If you cannot AFFORD to take a class, then the website, etc. that are recommended are going to be cold comfort for you - you can creep your way through them, blindly, but it's going to take a long time - if ever.  And there are COUNTLESS music theory programs you could buy - but they are more expensive and less efficient that live study.  By now, you probably hate EVERYTHING I have to say - but why, as an EXPERT in music theory instruction, would I tell you anything but the truth, to help you?  I wrote my Master thesis at Boston University on the effectiveness of CAI (computer-assisted instruction - both website and programs) versus live instruction - and in MOST instances, LIVE instruction came out way ahead.  The only time it did NOT , was in those situations where, for example, and isntructor is going around the room playing intervals, and asking the class individually in turn to identify them.  You miss once - he plays it again - you miss a second time - ALMOST never will a student get it the 3rd time, because now they are embarrassed in class.  HERE is where a computer program works better - you play it until you get it, in privacy.  But as far a *delivery of instruction* and also personal attention t6o student part-writing, composition, orchestration,etc. - LIVE WINS.

I hope that SOON in your life, you ARE in a position where you can study theory correctly.  I will never deviate from my position - I have only been a theory teacher FULL TIME since 1971, so what do I know?

Answer 4

The best thing would be to hum your tunes and learn to play them by ear. That way you can transpose your thoughts to the guitar. Then, once you have some ideas down, record them on the computer.

Answer 5

try musictheory.net

its a nice starter, when you exhaust that-email me & i'll tell you what books might help