When should I consider doing the Practical Music Theory Course?

What would be more advisable? That we do all the practical music theory grades before we do the any of the main guitar courses, or should we do them both at the same time? Like as soon as we finish a practical music theory grade we go and do that course for the main guitar courses.

The general recommendation is feel free to do these in parallel. The theory lessons are not required for the play lessons, but they will augment your understanding.

My experience suggests that you will want to go through about the first half of grade 1. At that point you will have a few questions that the theory classes will answer. I also find myself doing the theory classes with my guitar in my lap to test out ideas and verify/clarify what is being taught, so you need to have some finger control for that part.

Lessons in theory are not designed to align with play lessons. I do find enough alignment that doing these in parallel seems reasonable. Just don’t try to align the grades, align the content to fit your ability to learn the content.

2 Likes

Would it still be okay to do all the guitar theory first, then do any of the main guitar course?

Sure. you could get use from the theory classes without playing guitar at all, but I still think it is better in parallel. The theory gives details for WHY you are doing the the things you’re learning HOW to do in the play classwork.
I have trouble finding time, so work in short bursts of time, I may go through a few hours of theory in place of play on a weekend.

I would say no if you are a beginner. Get some chords under your fingers and start learning a few songs. Then as Michael says maybe start towards the latter half of grade 1 at the earliest.
Then by all means do the Grades and MT in parallel, just remember they are not interdependent. :sunglasses:

1 Like

Definitely not the first.
The first and most important thing you or any beginner can do is get your hands on the guitar and learn to play - the practical skills.

Theory can wait until some time later.
Many people never learn it.
If learning it matters to you then I would recommend waiting until you are at least a Grade 1 player or beyond.

The grade system in the theory course does not correspond to the grade system in the beginner course.

3 Likes

Hi everyone, this might be a naive question. I just finished Grade 2 of the guitar course, and I am taking ~2 months to consolidate my skills, as Justin suggested. I already completed the first two modules of the music theory course some months ago. In you theory, is it possible/advisable to take the rest of the theory course in these months (part of it, at least), while I practice on songs and techniques? I feel really frustrated when in the lessons Justin says something about a particular name of a chord, a scale and so on, and I don’t know what it means :slight_smile:

Hi Fabrizio @fabhertz
There is nothing naive about your question at all :smiley:

I would definitely continue with the theory course … since you have already started and are making good progress, just continue quietly while playing the guitar :sunglasses:

Things will be clear a little bit more every day :smiley: :sunglasses:

Have fun ,greetings,Rogier

Thank you Roger :slight_smile: So the grading system of each module does not have to correspond 1:1 to the level you’re at in the guitar course, right? For instance, I don’t think I will get past grade 4 before end of the year in the guitar course, while I think I can get much farther in the theory one.

1 Like

Hi ,

Yes, you have to look at that grade stuff completely separately… I personally took all the lessons that can be found on this site long ago (well only 5 years playing but in the beginning sometimes 5 to 8 hours a day learning and playing :smiley:)… except for a single lesson in 2 modules, not done all due to physical linits, and a few song lessons…

I finished the theory course much earlier than I finished the lessons grades and Playground and very quickly knew a lot more than I could (and can) play…

Now a days I have already forgotten so much that I wonder when I will look at the theory again… :roll_eyes: although I am now at a level where I can play the things without it or the need of thinking of it…and if I wanted to know, I know where to look for it

So As long as learning a lot of theory does not come at the expense of the time you invest in actually playing the guitar, I say…“have fun”

And the great thing is that this great and brilliant theory course involves the guitar in hand for most of the time :smiley: :sunglasses:

Greetings

1 Like