Do You Need Music Theory to Be a Good Ukulele Player?

[@RockClass101]

Want to learn the fundamentals of music theory and how to apply it to the ukulele? Jump into our course: rockclass101.com/introduction-music-theory-jamming/

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

I have first hand experience with what your discussing here. When I was in 4th grade we were offered music instruction with the instrument of our choice. My dad was very much into music and played the saxophone. I wanted to play either drums like my grandfather, or the flute as I loved its voice. My parents felt that the drums would be too loud for our household and that the flute was a girls instrument and I would be made fun of, so they decided that I would play the Clarinet. It was always a struggle for my dad to get me to practice every night but once I got started I didn't want to stop as after I played my boring school music, I would play by ear all my favorite songs from the radio. My dad was always telling me that I had a gift as he could not do that and needed sheet music to play a song. It came so naturally to me, I couldn't understand at the time why it would be difficult for others to play by ear. When I gave up the Clarinet in 9th grade my dad was crestfallen as he felt I was wasting a talent he wished he possessed. In 2023, six years after his death, I started learning piano, became a seasoned beginner on Baritone and Tenor Ukulele, and a seasoned beginner with the Irish Tin Whistle and NAF. I wish he could have seen how music re-entered my life and has became my reason for living. Even though I can still play most songs effortlessly by ear I need all the music theory I can get and study it daily now just so I can communicate with other musicians or follow along with music instruction.

[@tehdood]

This is a conversation I've had repeatedly with different people. I'm still learning and my instructor is very deep in music theory and we've been spending more and more time working on getting me more solid footing in theory - meanwhile a friend of mine who is a professional guitarist who's been playing in rock bands since the mid-nineties somewhat scoffs at the notion of needing theory "unless you're playing jazz for some reason." 😆 Of course, I _am_ trying to play jazz, so... Anyway, great video. IMO learning theory is one of those things that at worst doesn't hurt and at best can really unlock a lot of your playing.

[@thebumblebard]

This was an amazing lesson, as always! Thank you so much for creating such beautiful lessons! 😊 I wrote out this ahead of time because I had an analogy for this concept that I thought was pretty good, but didn't know if I'd have time to write it out today. This is already TMI. Keeping in mind, as you pointed out, that this is a spectrum and these are "the most extreme examples." But here 'tis: *Theory-based players = Batman.* They create their own superpowers through ingenuity, hard work, and determination toward a higher goal. They are arcane, cool, and enigmatic. They have many "gadgets" they use to create music... fight crime. Fight music crimes... *Combo players (middle ground) = Spider-Man.* They have inherent ability but use gear to harness their powers, like the device used to control his webs (I don't know as much about Spider-Man, lol). They are balanced, as if perched atop a skyscraper. *By ear players = Superman.* Unquestionably, the lamest of the superheroes because he doesn't even have to try that much to fight crime and is annoyingly perfect. He only has one weakness and it's a stupid rock. He is an alien pretty boy whose best disguise is slightly unflattering, fake spectacles. He is very boring. He makes a mean cup of coffee though and I guess is well intentioned. Okay, that's it. I think I fall more towards Superman, which makes me so sad inside, apart from the "annoyingly perfect" part. Meaning I am not that, quite obviously. 😂 Thank you so much for tolerating me for this long!! Have a great day!! 😅😅😂😂

[@leonesteele177]

I believe in theory. I love the challenge. The more i learn, the more i want to learn. It has really helped my playing in my little uke band. And, learning theory has helped me be a more intuitive player, too!! Does that make sense?😅🎶

[@samuellanglois-michaud9694]

It makes me think of the book "The Chess Player", depicting one true chess master with so much experience playing a random guy who just learned by heart every possible move and sequences. I'm definitely more like you are/were Matt (If I have tabs I can learn a song relatively easily and reproduce it), but I would love to be capable of easily jamming with other people and improvising and adapting. I find I'm good with learning stuff by heart. Do you think one way to tackle music theory would be to learn by heart every chord name/pattern and every note on each strings? (I've done the course on RC101 already but maybe I should redo it again... and again).

[@MattDahlberg]

It’s all about context. Work on arrangements with songs that have chords you don’t know and you’ll find that you’ll start to learn them more. This is especially true when you are playing with other people you need to communicate to, or when you are making your own arrangement and needing to find the best way to play the chord. I think memorizing chords is a myth, but rather you learn them when you need to know them.

[@G..G..]

Great video. Don't you think your brothers learned from inside your Mother's belly as she sang?