but we need to not be robots and allow our natural flair and creativity flow. Not that I'm saying I've got much of that
I don’t mean to go on about it but I have always been fascinated by this perpetual notion that learning music theory, or learning to read music, somehow stifles creativity or turns people in to robots
I can’t think of many other areas where learning the “craft” or theory of something is somehow seen as detrimental
It is like an artist not learning to draw; or learn things like perspective, lighting and composition
It is like a photographer not learning about shutter speeds or aperture settings
It is like a carpenter not learning how to use a chisel or learn about joints
Why is it that “music”, especially “songwriting”, has this dogma that learning music theory somehow makes you less creative?
This is a genuine interest/question and not meant as a criticism of anyoneDo you think it stems back to the Beatles?
In a 1980 interview with Playboy magazine, John Lennon said, “None of us could read music… None of us can write it. But as pure musicians, as inspired humans to make the noise, they [Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr] are as good as anybody.”
Or do you think it relates to the notion of “formulaic pop” - eg Stock Aitken Waterman in the 80s?
I still stand by the notion that NOT learning music theory can make you LESS creative because if you only go by what “sounds good to you” then you are MORE likely to be following the “rules” without knowing them (even if you think you have discovered the I, IV, V chord sequence on your own)
Learning theory can help you understand the rules and therefore help you break out of them to be truly creative
It is interesting to read the last few posts where
@PeteS and
@MonnoDB have previously learnt the rules but forgotten (or adsorbed) them
I think this is a really good place to be as you can just write without thinking about the rules - BUT - if you “paint yourself in to a corner” you can use the theory to get out OR you are able to recognise if you are becoming “cliche”
The other big factor, alluded to by
@MonnoDB is that EVERYTHING you do musically, no matter how creative you think you are being, can be explained by music theory - eg why something sounds “bad” or “good” - which I prefer to describe in songwriting terms as “tension” and “release”, which I think all good songs need - so just using your ears for what sounds “good” may mean your songs don’t have any “tension”
My take on all of this is:
Being CREATIVE is deciding the destination, MUSIC THEORY gives you the map to get there
Eg - you can stumble across a new destination by accident that is amazing - and a map is helpful to show you where you, how you got there and how to get there again
If there is a destination you want to get to (eg you hear a specific section of a song you really like) a map will help you get there quicker (eg you can work out the theory of what they were doing in their song and borrow it for yours)