notes

[Olly]

to learn to play the guitar do you have to know where all the notes can go?

[Strat-n-Paul]

Uh, YAH!

[MrSamson]

The answer to your immediate question is yes.

Perhaps a more detailed question as to what you want to do or exactly what you are talking about...people could give you hints as to how to practice what you are trying to do.

As you question stands now...it is too vague.

[ghodaddyyo]

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif

[StoneDragon]

I would say a qualified no.

I've known a several good players who knew nothing more than a few patterns and the names of a few chords. I've also known many more players who suck and could benefit by knowing something as simple as how the notes line up on the fingerboard.

Some people have an innate connection to music... they just seem to know how to do it without having to be bothered with such trivial details as what notes they are playing.

But.... a lot of people wear their ignorance like a badge. I can't tell you how many guitar players I've met who say something like, "I don't use any of that theory crap. I play from the heart." And then they turn around and play the same old worn out pentatonic licks that everybody uses.

If you're one of those few individuals who can just look at the guitar neck and it makes perfect sense to you without having to "think" about it, then go for it! There's plenty of time down the road to worry about theory.

But... if you're sitting there wondering what the heck you're supposed to be doing with that hunk of wood, I suggest you educate yourself.

[Strat-n-Paul]

Having been one of those people that learned "with out knowing" I can tell you that it is pretty hard to go "backwards" and try and learn theory after you "know" how to play already. You end up cheating, because your educated "ear" tells you what you should be playing, and I sometimes find my self saying "self, you know this stuff, why relearn it a different way?" Well, it's all about growth. Learning new things always open ups new avenues. My advise is learn the basics FIRST; the right way, there is always plenty of time to learn feeling, and playing "from the heart"
My two cents anyway! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/cool.gif

[slydevil]

I learned like that too, just by playing with other folks all the time.. sometimes you look down and see something on that neck and just play it, and it's good, you're pleased with it. And yes, it's a real pain to 'forget' you know how to play to learn the theory stuff... but I'm doing it, it's really easy if you can train your mind to ignore what you know during the period you're learning theory and the like.. then when you sit down and just play you see stuff clearer than you may have ever before.. for me now after learning alot of the theory (still going, there's just so much) i think of some of that theory when im playing my old stuff that i always could do and it fits in with things theory wise now.. and i just grin when i see it, now i understand more music wise, why some things sound the way they do.

I still haven't learned the notes exactly, sometimes, alot of the times just the shapes come to light, or i just close my eyes and let my fingers wander, i get some really nice stuff like that sometimes. *shrug* just play man, when and if one day you think (like i did) hey, im gonna learn this theory stuff, these notes and what not.. at that time you'll really soak it up because you hunger to do it, not just cause everyone says to do it. =)

Sly

[StoneDragon]

That is a great post.

I think you are right on about feeling the need.

For me, the need was sparked by playing in a band with a guy who could run circles around me with both theory and technique. The killer was that I had been playing for 5+ years and he had been playing for 2 or 3.

The difference was that he knew his guitar neck inside and out and top to bottom while I had a few positions that I was comfortable with. I had the desire... he had the TOOLS.

Once you understand what a little knowledge can do for your playing, you tend to pound the pulpit about learning technique and theory... but the real secret is to PLAY.

Get your hands on that guitar every second you can... and when you get bored with what you are playing... play twice as much... work through that boredome and come up with new stuff... learn your notes... or learn some theory... whatever it takes... just PLAY.