Grr. I have kind of a slippery question that I have not been able to find a solution for anywhere, despite on the surface seeming like a simple issue. I think part of it is just difficulty asking the question, so I'll try my best and please consider part of the question to be seeking a more specific inquiry. Thank you.
I already play music, been playing primarily guitar for about 15 years, but have also picked up fundamental music theory along the way. I would say it's functional knowledge, and mostly for things applicable to guitar. So I understand roughly how to use keys, how chords are built, how harmony interacts with melody, I know the basics of music notation. All the basics I have a fuzzy to firm grasp on, but I would say nothing at all advanced or even intermediate.
This next sentence... I would like to "understand" music better, but it seems what I want to understand and what basic theory books and lessons want to teach me are very different. I'm still looking for books, but for example the book may talk about keys, but it will only talk about how they are defined notationally, like their pure abstract definitions, and then move on to the next abstract subject. Before I go on, I want to say I'm not expressing frustration with the curricula, not in any form implying music scholars don't "get" music, and I am assuming this method of teaching -- i.e. starting with the abstract and moving towards more concrete skills like composition and performance is where I'll find what I'm looking for -- is tried and true and probably the best way to go, especially if you are a prospective professional musician (I am not, I merely seek the tools to make the kind of music that is in my head for a creative outlet.)
I think what I'm looking for is more of how theory can be used practically. What effect various musical tools have on the music as experienced by the listener. Ok, the main skill I'm seeking, the top of my wishlist for things I wish I could do musically, is to really understand harmony. To be able to write a melody or construct a chord sequence, and be able to make satisfying and interesting music this way. I can put chords together to make stuff that resembles music, but I would like to be able to know what I'm doing. I'd like to write stuff that at least shows I care about what I'm doing.
Or scales and modes is another example. The books describe them as they exist, usually in beautifully clear and easily understandable language. But I would like to find some material to understand *why* they exist. Not just historically (though that's important to me as well), but what they are used for, how they are applied in composition. Should I just be trying to find a good primer on basic composition or improvisation? Is there anything that would be legible without great familiarity with notation or should I really just suck it up and learn the damn basics? :P
I know this is a ramble... Like I said, I really don't know how to ask what I'm asking. All I know is when I go to try to read music theory books, it all seems to be about memorizing the theory, which I respect, and I have done to some degree and intend to do more of in the areas I find I need proficiency (ear familarity with intervals comes to mind, for improvisation), but I would really like to sink my teeth into some meat for what I'm curious about in specific in order to get busy making music asap. After writing this I really am starting to think I should find something on composition. Can anyone recommend good resources for understanding composition techniques that doesn't require strong notation familiarity?
Thanks for any leads guys, it means the world seriously. I have been putting off progress in music for years because of almost just this one problem and it's annoying me lol.
EDIT: Something else I thought of. Perhaps it would help to say I'm looking for composition concepts in the popular music realm. Because I see most of the literature is directed towards academic/art music. Surely there must be resources that respect the importance of popular music.
EDIT 2: Should I be looking more for songwriting than music theory?
Submitted September 06, 2018 at 03:08AM by hackziggins https://www.reddit.com/r/Learnmusic/comments/9dfgr4/poring_through_theory_fundamentals_books_still/?utm_source=ifttt