Updated September 2017

There are a lot of people who have been asking me over the years about music theory. Some were even asking me at my music school if they really need to learn theory before learning to play guitar. Theory is not critical to be a good player.

When I was in college, we talked about music theory a lot… probably more than we played music. Now, years later and after playing a lot of guitar, I realize that the “talking” we did helped me to become the player I am today.

Guitar music theory has gotten a bad rap over the years. This is because it has often been taught in a way that it’s not applicable to actually playing the guitar. There is a real place for music theory for guitar, and it can especially be very helpful for beginners. The key is to avoid turning it into an intellectual pursuit that it disconnected from playing and creating beautiful music.

Subjects like guitar chord theory and guitar scale theory should be learned little by little as part of a balanced program for learning to play guitar. This includes learning the terminology that will allow you to talk to other music players. By understanding some of the mechanics of how music works and the language involved you will gain a sense of confidence that the uninitiated long for.

To make the most of your effort follow these guidelines:

1. Learn in small bites. Absorb and apply what you learn. This will help you connect it to the guitar and playing music.
   
   2. Study in the correct order. Start with intervals, then learn how to apply this knowledge to chords and scales.
   
   3. Using your ears is essential. Don’t settle for intellectual understanding only. Learn to identify the sound of intervals, chords and scales.
   
   4. Make time to let go of thinking about music theory and just play from your heart. No amount of intellectual knowledge can replace inspiration.

Intervals, along with rhythm, is one of the basic building blocks of music. An interval is a term used to describe the distance between notes. We’ll use the term "step" to describe the distance. One step is the equivalent of going from the note C to D. On the guitar you can hear one step by playing any note, then go up two frets and play another note.

That’s one whole step. One half step is - you guessed it - one fret. Another term used interchangeably with step is “tone”. One “tone” equals one step, a semi tone equals a half step, and so on.
Steps are combined to form a whole library of intervals starting from the half step.

Here’s a list of the common intervals with their names:

Beyond the octave there is a range of intervals used to name extended chords such as a 9th, 11th, 13th, b9th, #9th, and so on

Chords, like scales, are created by a combination of notes and intervals. Unlike scales, chords are notes played at the same time. When written down they look like they are stacked on top of each other.

The interval between the notes determines the type and sound of the chord. If you play notes in the pattern of a major chord, in this case a major 3rd, then a minor 3rd, you will always have a major chord. The name of the chord will come from the note that is the root (or main) note of the chord. If you play notes to form a major pattern with the A note as the root you will have an A major chord. If you played a minor pattern with an A root you have an A minor chords.