The Lightbulb Effect

A couple of friends recently told me that music theory makes their eyes glaze over.  Both are guitar players with more than 30 years of playing.  One sells guitars for a living.  Both love the guitar.

And I agree with them.  For many years, I have avoided theory, mostly because I couldn't make myself focus.  It was as though someone was speaking a foreign language, and I couldn't muster the energy to try to understand.

What makes the difference?  For me, it has been a few moments when the lightbulb in my head went on, and suddenly, I understood some little piece of theory.  Every time that lightbulb went on, I could see more of the room.   A brick was added to my little "wall" of theory knowledge.

Now I try to force the lightbulb on.  Just as you might have had to study hard to learn some math topic, or had to research a high school paper, or had to figure out how to properly fertilize the garden, you can learn music theory.  But unless you want to spend money and time on formal schooling, you just have to decide to concentrate.

Good luck.  Don't let that lightbulb burn out!!

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