Acoustic Instrument
Primers
What Kind of Guitar
Should I Start On?
What Kind of Banjo
Do I Want?
Evaluating and
Buying Used
Guitars
Setting Up
Fretted Instruments
Whatever Happened
to the Banjo?
Beginning Five-
String Banjo
6-String Banjos
Banjo Pickups
Axes in my Life
What is a
Bluegrass Banjo?
Dean "Backwoods
Six" Shootout

Music Theory
Primers
Introduction
to Scales
Introduction
to Chords
Circle of Fifths

Other Articles
About Music
How to Give
Guitar Lessons
Musician or
Wannabe?
Did God Really
Give Rock &
Roll to You?
Are You a
"Brand Bigot"?
Who Owns Folk Songs?
















































Click to go to home page.Popular Music Theory: An Introduction

Written by Paul Race for Creek Don't RiseTM
and School Of The RockTM

Rock, Country, Gospel, Urban, Folk, Bluegrass, Worship, and just about anything else you'll hear on the radio share the same basic musical scales, chords, and other structures. I call this "popular musical theory" to distinguish it from the things classical composers do, which go way beyond the scope of the genres named in the first sentence.

When I've attempted to teach musical instruments, I've always pointed out that you really don't understand your instrument until you understand music. Sadly, there are millions of wannabes out there who know a few chords, or a few songs, or a few licks, but think learning anything that takes real work at is for suckers. And when they fail miserably to make any kind of impact and blame everyone but the person in the mirror.

Learning the basics of popular music theory will help you:

  • Understand other people's songs

  • Learn other people's songs quicker

  • Play along on other people's songs without sheet music

  • Improve your ability to arrange songs

  • Significantly improve your ability to write songs

We have several articles in the works that should help you get started. But these three are the only ones ready to publish, even in draft form, at the moment. Stay tuned . . . :-)

We have also found a free downloadable Berklee Music handbook you might find helpful. Click here to sign up for their newsletter and get a free download - although this is a limited offer, so don’t wait too long.


To return to the CreekDontRise.comTM Home Page, click here.

Paul Race playing a banjo. Click to go to Paul's music home page.Whatever else you get out of our pages, I hope you come away with some great ideas for "sharing the joy."

And please stay in touch!

    - Paul Race Click to see Paul's music page on Facebook Click to see Paul's music blog page Click to see Paul's YouTube Channel. Click to see Paul's music home page

All material, illustrations, and content of this web site is copyrighted © 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 by Paul D. Race. All rights reserved.
Creek Dont' Rise(tm) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Note: Creek Don't Rise (tm) is Paul Race's name for his resources supporting the history and
music of the North American Heartland as well as additional kinds of acoustic and traditional music.

For questions, comments, suggestions, trouble reports, etc. about this page or this site, please contact us.

Visit related pages and affiliated sites:
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Carols of many countries, including music, lyrics, and the story behind the songs. X and Y-generation Christians take Contemporary Christian music, including worship, for granted, but the first generation of Contemporary Christian musicians faced strong, and often bitter resistance. Different kinds of music call for different kinds of banjos. Just trying to steer you in the right direction. New, used, or vintage - tips for whatever your needs and preferences. Wax recordings from the early 1900s, mostly collected by George Nelson. Download them all for a 'period' album. Explains the various kinds of acoustic guitar and what to look for in each.
Look to Riverboat Music buyers' guide for descriptions of musical instruments by people who play musical instruments. Learn 5-string banjo at your own speed, with many examples and user-friendly explanations. Explains the various kinds of banjos and what each is good for. Learn more about our newsletter for roots-based and acoustic music. Folks with Bb or Eb instruments can contribute to worship services, but the WAY they do depends on the way the worship leader approaches the music. A page devoted to some of Paul's own music endeavors.
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Visit the FamilyChristmasOnline site. Visit Howard Lamey's glitterhouse gallery, with free project plans, graphics, and instructions. Click to return to the Old Christmas Tree Lights Table of Contents Page Click to sign up for Maria Cudequest's craft and collectibles blog.
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