I do to an extent. However, there is always a time where I just say fuck it and revolve around what I already know that does not pertain to theory at all. I am getting less interested in theory as time goes on and just play from my mind.

Theory always made me sound mechanical, since I don't feel I used it properly. I wouldn't just run down super phyrgian super fast and use it as part of my solo, but I also wouldn't chop it up properly.



Here is one of my older riffs

|---------------------------------------------------------------------
|--------------------------------------10---------------------10-----
|----9h10p9h10-12-10-9----9h10p9h10----10-9----9h10p9h10----10-9
|-12--------------------12----------------------8--------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------

|------------------
|------------------
|-------------------
|12-10-9--14-12-10
|------------------
|------------------

I tabbed that from memory, and it should be accurate.

I wrote that with no theory at all, and it is part of one of our most popular songs. Not that we are(popular) or anything, but we have demos recorded(one of them was online) and we(have a small fanbase) are working on our first album right now. We are somewhat known around town however since I used to hand out demos until my drummer got all upset since I did the drums on the demos.

About 90% of the time, no, I don't.

I thought riffs consisted of chords, and gave people that 'moshy' feeling.

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If you do say that you don't use theory while writing, you're lying, you're always using theory, but in some cases, you just don't notice it, depends on your knowledge...

particularly, i do write shit based on theory, yes, its kinda very effective, just don't ask me what scale do i use...

check some of my Riffs...

Attached Files

	Viscera - Disemboweled.txt (3.4 KB, 175 views)
	Viscera - Dissecting The Guts.txt (8.5 KB, 147 views)
	Viscera - Embalming Underneath Sores.txt (2.5 KB, 134 views)
	Viscera - Spike Sharp Cunt.txt (6.4 KB, 144 views)

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what he said ^

i think most people will use theory subconciously without even realising it.

when you play guitar, you figure out which notes sound good together and which work well together, even if you have never picked up a theory book in your life.

It's just the way the brain works, the majority of people want something that sounds good to the ear, not just a wall of noise (unless you intend to sound like that).

Ever wondered why pop songs are always in 4/4?

cuz the people singing aren't REAL musicians?

I don't know any theory other than the stuff I've learned from playing like poultonjoe said. You learn what sounds nice...but even then you have to forget about that if you want to sound original (to yourself) after months/years of playing. I read a guitar interview once or something with the 2 guitars of shadows fall and they said something to this extent, "learn everything you can about theory and then forget it." I don't know if that is right, but it sounds like a plan.

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I hardly don't know theory. I only know in what tuning my guitar is and I don't know if that's considered theory

But I guess I use theory without noticing. I mean..When A song I wrote contains a sweep it must be some way connected to theory I guess.

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i have started learning theory.obviously i dont know much as yet

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I always use theory to write riffs. I'll use theory to the extent of what scale (major, minor, diminished) and key I want the a progression to be based out of. I then apply all my guitar techniques to the valid notes till something chimes. 75% of the time, I just sit down rip a riff... then use theory to fine tune it. I mean, theory encompasses everything there is to music. Just like obrien20 said, whether your consciously aware that your using theory or not, your using it.

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Great reply. Nothing more for me to say, good job. Oh I guess there is, sweet axe you got there in your avatar.