MUSIC THEORY in 12 minutes for nOOBS 

I am so glad I’m not a ‘beginner’ anymore. A year or two ago I would have watched this and been stressed out. Now, I watched it and it was all stuff I’m already familiar with! Hard work really does pay off when it comes to music theory.

Finally someone actually explains it on a beginner level. I’ve gotten lost after 2 minutes on many other so called beginner lessons. Thank you, sir.

This video probably taught me more about music theory in 12 minutes than I've learned in the past 50 years 🤣

Intervals are arguably the most important bit of music theory that I beginner needs to understand first. Scales won't make sense without knowing the intervalic relationship between the notes, or why a third or a fifth are what they are. Right out the gate, skip learning scales, note names, whatever Train your ear to pick out what a second sounds like, what a third sounds like, and so on. You don't need to know what notes they are. You just need to know what the relationship sounds like. Hum them if you have to. Make it a physical process to make it easier on yourself. But learn what a flat six sounds like, or how a major triad sounds sounds versus a diminished triad, and so on. Again, note names not required. You're trying to learn how this stuff sounds. It will make learning the rest of music theory a breeze, and you will be able to begin taking that music you make up in your head and turning it into actual lines or riffs you can play. and it works no matter what instrument you are focused on. its the thing I wish someone had told me when i started so that i wasn't a perpetual beginner for a decade.

I will not say I totally get it yet, but you have explained so well that I find myself much more interested in learning theory. Thank you, Shred!

I watched many "tutorials" on music theory, but this one finally had everything to keep me focused : simplicity, going straight to the point, good visuals, and funny professor attitude. Thanks Shred

Music theory is very useful when learning to play songs by ear. When you find the key, you don't have to do as much work with the song. Very useful for people, like me, who don't have a perfect pitch.

I am going to keep watching this until it makes sense. This is my 5th time, and I watched 3 times yesterday. Have been watching with guitar in hand. Every time something else you’re saying makes sense. Never thought I’d be able to do this, you’re the man Shred. Thank you.

A very good attempt at explaining music theory. If I didn't all ready know Music theory I would be confused through this. It really does take a lot of study to get music theory.

if moist critical made music

I've been playing for years by ear but this gave me a good grasp on theory and made me more comfortable with learning more. Thankyou Shred

THANK YOU!!! I have ZERO music education and I’ve wondered about this for so long. I’m going to have to listen to it 15 or 20 more times but it’s all in one place. My hero!

So cool to finally see Dadmaster Scott!

I miss studying music in high school. Concert band was literally one of the biggest moments of my life.

It's confusing as a kid looking at this stuff but now it's nearly as natural as forming a verbal sentence. There's a rubrick being applied under the surface at all times. Thank you for teaching me "droning" and "counterpoint" it really helped me begin to form viable riffs!

A buddy asked me to watch this video and give my opinion. Pretty good for being 10 minutes :) Here's a couple tidbits you didn't mention that may help some people. The whole step / whole step / half step pattern you mentioned is known as a "tetrachord". You can simplify the memorization of the major scale by knowing that it's actually 2 tetrachords, separated by another whole step. Less to memorize. The augmented 4th interval is also known as the tritone. Once known as the devil's tritone in classical times. It's very recognizable in the Back To The Future theme between the 2nd and 3 notes of the melody. That's what we were trained in college to listen for, for that interval. For any guitar players, if you play all scales strictly as 3 notes per string, it will greatly simplify the memorization of all 7 modes. That's because any diatonic scale (7 notes) is a repeating pattern that spans 7 strings. Each mode or position of the scale simply starts on a different step of the same pattern. Something I figured out early on but I've never seen in print. I actually wrote up a short e-book on the 3 notes per string pattern stuff to make it crystal clear. If anyone wants a copy, email or message me. Keep up the good work (evil laugh)!

Who else watching this cause they rushing the beginner stage?

Just finished watching your video. Been a musician since 7 (drummer, sometimes bass) and never understood music theory. NOW, it makes sense...thanks dude!

Been playing guitar for almost two decades. Never underestimate the basics. I am not formally trained though I learned theory and sight reading in highschool but haven't touched it in over ten years. I had two guitar teachers and neither even mentioned the circle of fifths, this is a good simple explanation of it and there's some others as well. Modes still kind of fuck me up though. I am familiar with some and I know I have used some in my playing and writing. But in an on paper way, I have had different musicians give completely different explanations of the what and how in relation to scales. I would definitely like to have a better understanding of modes and their application.

Finally, after watching this I crossed the fear threshold stopping me from learning music! This 40 year old woman is already making progress with guitar chords! Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

Thanks, Lord Shred! I’m finally one step closer to learning how to play Wonderwall!

Thank you for explain to me the biggest mystery in music theory and that is the intervals. I always thought a 5th was a fraction and explains why a 4th is not a quarter and a 2nd a half.

As someone who knows about major scales and how to construct them, and is also learning about modes and therefore how to construct minor scales, Lord Shred has made music theory very easy to understand.

This was really helpful. Thanks a lot!👍 I had music classes once, and I was a little thrown off since the note 'b' is 'h' in german for whatever stupid reason. I can't read notes yet, but at least I can always tell what 'c' sounds like. It's (as you've already explained better than I can) a signature note. I always found music fascinating and admire people that can analyze chords, key, rythm etc. in songs. You earned yourself a new sub. Keep up the great work!

This coupled with time signatures is basically it. Spent six years of my life learning this before I felt comfortable writing music

This is amazing, thanks you! I've been playing scale notes all along because they sounded good without knowing what they were. Very useful information.

I have been doing music in one form or another for more than a decade, but never took a music theory course. Thanks for clearing up some of the basics I kind of knew but never had a definition for.

13 minutes would have been sick af

This content is the portal to the darkest path of pure music evilness. Thank you so much, Evil Lord. You are a hell of a master!! Muhahahaha 😈

Been playing guitar for 17 years and piano for 5 and I could watch this video several times and learn more. Kudos / Subbed

You are a great educator. Thank you for making this fun and easy to understand as well as keeping my attention with your epic personality.

Omg, I think I'm finally getting the circle of fifths, Shred, you are awesome man.

Shred, thank you for all of your musical knowledge, I've been playing metal on guitar for 30 years but I don't know much theory, I just let my hands go and it works, thanks shred, !!

You're amazing man, thanks a lot for the great run down! I've read two lesson books on the matter but still had some connections to make.

I have heard of the circle of fifths for years. And it wasn't until you mentioned it here, that each key is five notes apart, that I understood why it was called that.

Mind already blown on just the major vs. minor scales. 🤯 It makes so much more sense now! I always wondered why at Sacred Harp, they'd "teach" us a major vs. minor scale by singing what I assumed were the same series of notes, but at different starting and ending points. Seriously, music people need to stop teaching music by ear and start explaining ideas in words! This is so educational - and I'm only 4 minutes in. 😂

Music Test is next week and your video appeared on my YT feed. Such a blessing

Usually I have to take weeks, months, years and so much suffering of watching 40 minute tutorials which I don't even understand by the end to learn something. Recently I learned 3D animation which has been a goal one of my biggest goals for a long time, it took 3 years to get the basics down. I decided I was ready to try music, and I knew I wouldn't get it even with a simple tutorial. That was until I was halfway through watching this video and everything you said just clicked instantly. You explain it so simply yet in a fun way. This was great, thank you so much.

Damn, thanks for providing this. I love your videos but I'm a complete noob at playing guitar.

As someone who is used to calculus and high level math and physics, this was very well put and I found it easier to understand than I've ever seen music theory explained before. thank you!

A lot of this went over my head but I love this guys personality. Subbed

Super interesting! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, humor, and fun personality. I’d love to hang out and talk about this all day.

Doing Intervals on my A string at C helped my already trained brain really grasp the counting. However easier in dexterity for the first half on your higher G string. Following a perfect 5th on your actual Fifth fret, whilst now reminding yourself all those power chords from all those years WERE PERFECT. . . You have your perfect 5th to count from. I am in hopes this helps others with who may also look at the fret board as I do. . . I hardly touch my high strings. CHEERS BROTHER, YOU HAVE HELPED ME GREATLY.. hmhmmmuahahaha.

My friend taught me basic chords for a week then barre chords for a month. After that, he then taught me power chords for a month. After studying chords for almost 3 months. He said to go practice tabs without saying anything. It sounds amazing when I'm practising tabs, only to learn now that it is called music theory.

So informative! Your use of education and humor is so well executed. Your information is clearly presented and the humor provides comic relief that the viewer didn't even know they needed. Your humorous personality is very likable. Thanks for the great lesson 😎

Im so new to this but ive actually retain so much of it because of how entertaining it was so thank you!

I can’t believe it took me this long to finally put in the effort to learn this stuff. I always thought it would just come to me over time but I actually needed to start taking notes and writing it down

I keep coming back to this video for reference and I just now noticed the cursor that's used on the keyboard at 3:45. I had a much needed laugh seeing that :)

Amazing ! Thank you so much ! As a total beginner this helps a lot ! I will have to re watch it various times but glad it was simplified for us noobies ❤

This is pretty much a good summary of my Music Fundamentals class in college--great stuff! I just found this channel but I love the humor!

Thanks for the darkness. I've tried to learn theory multiple times hopefully it sticks somewhat this time. Shred 4 life!!!

I don’t know why but I understand all of this yet I’ve never had a single music lesson, nor have I ever read up about it, you explained this so well

Crazy to think that there’s so much information online! This video helped me out a lot!

bro lowkey looks like dumbledore

Thanks. This the only theory video I've been able to watch completely

Just found your through your shorties. You're good you . You have a gift. Cheers 🍻

One of the best musical lessons i've ever seen on RU-vid or elsewhere

This dude deserves millions of subscribers. Gold content.

I stack cinder blocks with my bare feet while watching these videos. I have been doing that for a long time. Hey,could you do a video or two about 12 tone serialism or maybe Ron Jarzombek's variations on the 12 tone row technique? If you know of any other similar techniques,include those too. That would rule!

not only is this genuinely beginner friendly, but also very entertaining and engaging to watch. i feel like i'm actually starting to get music theory after months of being too intimidated to touch it! thanks Shred, you've earned yourself a sub :D

This is an excellent tutorial. Thank you for putting it together.

I have idea for a lesson: teach people how to make their left hand talk to their right. Usually the picking hand is the fastest so what are you exorcises to make sure they talk to each other in syncopation

Everyone here has talked and shared how amazing this lesson was, BUT I CANT GET OVER THR LAUGH ITS SO FUNNT EVERYTIME

Wow. This is one of the best tutorial I have ever found on music theory for beginners… absolutely brilliant

thank you so much man! im doing music GCSEs next year and this really helped :)

This is awesome, now I can learn cardi b songs

Ive been playing guitar for 7 months and have been thoroughly teaching myself music theory during that time and its made it so that people who've played for years are impressed or learn something from it. Its kindve funny.

I have been digging into this stuff way more often than usual...I can't stop I'm hungry for the knowledge

Thank you so much man, I'm planning on taking music in college after year 11 (UK) and i had no idea abiut most of this. I niw feel i could confidently explain this to someone.

Being a mostly Bass Player, seldom worried about music theory. But this does help when creating solos. Also most of this stuff, I recall from High School band.

This video was actually really helpful

your humor is absolutely perfect

OMFG I’M STARTING TO SLOWLY BUT QUICKLY UNDERSTAND!! EVERYTHING IS STARTING TO CONNECT! THANK YOU SO MUCH

"Confirming your knowledge from as many different angles as possible makes it stronger" Hell yes dude. This is a great video, recommended to me by my cousin. He deserves a cut of the profits 👍🤭

You should specify that those were the natural major (i.e. the Ionian mode) and natural minor (i.e. the Aeolian mode) so viewers who are unfamiliar with music theory don't become confused as they learn the other 5 diatonic major and minor scales (modes). Also, the circle of 5th is just confusing in general and should be taught after the modes. And fuck sight reading - the majority of the greatest rock and metal guitarists can't read. notation.

Been playing for 8 years yet this stuff goes over my head. Very helpful!

I haven’t been this entertained in AGES! Thank you for the knowledge and laughs 😂

More effective than a 24 hour music theory course at my university

So Is B flat the same thing as A sharp ?

Absolutely love your channel!

I'm at the step where I'm learning scales. They can be quite intimidating when you first start learning them. After watching this, you made it enjoyable and broke it down in a way that it's not as intimidating trying to learn them. When you start throwing out all the terms it's like triad, fith, sharp, flat, you're like what? But I dig your way of explaining it. Thanks for breaking it down to where its understandable

Bro how can there be music theory, it literally exist?

I am in a good place when it comes to music theory today, but I wish I had a video like this when I was first starting to take it on many years ago. As a self taught musician, I spent years staying away from music theory and anything else that I deemed overly complicated, like reading and writing music. That, and the fact that I didn't think I needed it. I taught myself to play, I played extremely well, so for most years, I thought music theory and reading music was simply a huge waste of time. I also had many musician friends constantly telling me that I didn't need it. The problem with that advice was that I never stopped to consider that their of lack success could have been rooted in the fact that they had no knowledge of music theory. In other words, these people could have been somebody, they could have been contenders, but their lack of music theory stifled their growth and success! After some years, it became clear that I could no longer avoid music theory because it was the only thing that would allow me to elevate to my next guitar level. I also felt that I wanted to do something different, learn something different, too. I eventually learned that there is no greater thing in the world than a thirsty mind and lots of time on your hands! Still, at the time, a video like this would have made the process far easier for me. This is such a great video that I passed it along to my son in the hopes that he will take on music theory far earlier than I did. Like me, he is self-taught and he is good. I am hoping that he can elevate far more than I ever did!

Wow. This was actually really helpful. Thank you brother.

Your style and cutaways are magnifique, thank you for that :>

It’s the winking that’s cracking me up.

My favorite music theory topics are borrowed chords and augmented tri tones, what is all of your guys’

Thank you! This makes a lot more sense than a lot of videos and lessons I’ve seen.

This video was well received. I was able to understand well thanks to you. Many thanks!

4:07 "Start on the note" is in beat

Shred’s workout plan coming soon?

This video, sir, earned your a subscription today! Pls keep up the good work

Thanks for introducing me to MT. Before this I wasn’t really motivated to play guitar and had one in my basement for 10 years. Tuned it up and now I’m vibing 😎

Even tho I'm a Christian, I still think you're funny! 🤣

I always had problems to understand music theory. But why? I guess as an engineer, I have a far better background in physics than many musicians. Although music theory is clearly based on physics, the explanations are mostly not done in a "scientific way", especially by my teachers back then in school. Apart from the fact that a lot of historical, psychological or cultural things seem to determine what people like, there are so many names and conventions that confused me. As Shred explains, the same note can have 2 different labels, depending on where you come from. Of course that makes sense, but I didn't get that in the beginning since it's just the same frequency. An A note is at 440 Hz for whatever reason - 447.57 Hz could have worked as well, but I didn't know that. Not to speak about weird chords that may have 6 different names or no name at all... To me, it was all a set of a few different, but well defined frequencies, no matter if it's called an "A chord" or "Omega-Gapsilon-11". I am not saying that the standard approach to explain music theory is bad, it's obviously very useful and successful. But back then, it would have been very helpful to me to start with how the notes of the "standard alphabet" relate to each other in terms of frequencies, why it was defined in that way, how the frequencies are generated on the instrument (which is typically not even "frequency correct" ) and that the interval between notes determines the music. That would have made things far easier for me, but maybe not for others. Just to mention: It's just a different point of view, I don't want to criticize the video at all. The video is a good summary and in the end, Shred can't explain every detail in a 12 minutes short video anyway.

Nice job with this. Enjoyed it. You kept it "Different" and interesting. oNe LovE from NYC

Have never had or used theory and totally self taught but this all makes sense, thanks for the vid it will give me some new tricks in my bag.

Cringey but good

come to jesus ,...he rocks better

First time finding your channel I really like your personality you made me laugh & you educated me great experience