Originally Posted by: jwatkins9I'd like some guidance on how to learn music theory starting at a beginner level. How should I start and then progress.
[/quote]This depends on your current skill level. Are you also a beginner guitar player? Or do you have some skill & you're looking to flesh out your conceptual knowledge (theory) about music?
In general, your theory knowledge & your physical skills (the ability to play the guitar) should keep pace with each other. The best way to do this at GT is to use one of the fundamentals courses!
Lisa's courses:
https://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=fundamentals1
https://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=fundamentals2
Those assume you are a beginner in both knowlege & skill. The best part about using the courses is that you will learn the right amount of theory as you gain skills, as you progress along in the courses.
It's important to keep your theory & practice levels close. Otherwise, you wind up being able to play a bunch of stuff, but it's unintegrated: you don't know what you are doing, or why & how to connect all of it together.
On the other hand, if you know some theory, but you can't actually play anything, then your knowledge isn't helping you at all. What good is a scale if you know all the letters, but can't actually play it on the guitar to make music?
[quote=jwatkins9]For example, is it learning scales and the notes in the scales or should I learn the notes that make up chords that I am playing ?? How did you start and then progress?
If you already have some skills, then you might want to check out my older fundamentals course that starts with the basics of music theory: intervals, scales, chords, reading music.
It's a great, organized place to start learning theory also!
https://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=fundamentals2(discontinued)
Hope this helps! Please ask more if necessary & best of success!
