Hey Indiana,
Over the last decade of teaching jazz online, I've noticed a few fairly common scenarios that come up with students.
The ones I'm referring to revolve around the topic of music theory.
The first one is that many students feel confused or overwhelmed by theory, and therefore believe they will not be able to play jazz.
Someone starts throwing around terms like "2-5-1," "parent key center," "secondary dominant," "mixolydian," and the student starts to feel like this whole jazz thing is too complicated.
The second scenario that arises is an over obsession with music theory while trying to improvise.
The student knows all of their chord tones, chord/scale theory, and is equipped with quite a few music theory tools to improvise over songs.
But when they go to improvise they feel like it's all happening too fast. They can't think of the notes to play in the moment, and then when they do, it sounds mechanical and not a whole like the solos of their jazz heroes.
Can you relate to either of these? If so, you're definitely not alone!
So given these two challenges, the question has to be asked:
Is learning music theory necessary for playing jazz?
Well, let's back up for a second.
When learning a language (think English, Spanish, or Greek), there are a few basic things you need to do to eventually become "fluent."
First and foremost, you need to expose yourself to a lot of the language (listening), and then mimic it (speak it). With jazz this is the same, so, check ✔️
At the same time, you need to comprehend (understand what words and sentences mean). Believe it or not, this is the same with jazz, so check ✔️
Comprehending a musical language, like jazz, is a bit different than a traditional language. There are no words or sentences you can put a "tangible" meaning to.
However, you can comprehend a few things:
1. How to play musical sentences you hear on your instrument
2. How those musical sentences actually work
Now, to be clear, you can completely skip #2 and simply learn music by ear, figure out how to play it on your instrument, and over time develop a musical "vocabulary" that you can naturally play (kind of like how a baby learns a language). In fact, I'd recommend spending a lot of time on #1.
So does that mean using music theory isn't worth it?
Absolutely, not.
In fact, I'd argue that if you choose to completely ignore music theory (especially the basics) you could be slowing your progress down dramatically.
Why is that?
Two reasons:
1. If you can't put a name to sounds you are hearing, there will be a disconnect, or at the very least, a missed neural connection with the music you are hearing.
So for example, if I hear a chord progression played all of the time in jazz standards, and can even recognize it, but can't put a name or category to it, it cuts off an "express path" to playing and understanding the music.
2. Music theory can simplify and jumpstart our progress
For example, if someone tells me that over a minor chord I can play a Dorian scale, that now gives me a jumping off point (though not a final arrival).
Or, let's say you learned a musical line by ear over a minor chord. If you then go and learn the Dorian scale, it creates another connection on your instrument and may help you identify where some of the note choices were coming from.
Or, let's say you just don't quite understand how a great jazz lick makes the chord changes pop out so well (even if you can actually play it). Learning concepts like target notes and approach tones could be helpful in making that final connection in your brain, while clearing some of the fog away.
Now, do you need to spend most of your time with music theory? Probably not.
Do you need to know a lot of music theory to play jazz? I'd argue no.
But, ignoring music theory is like having a tool in your tool box that is perfectly suited to solving some of your musical problems, but intentionally deciding not to use it.
I say, let's use all of the tools, and especially the right ones for the job!
Music theory isn't everything, but it can be incredibly helpful for you on your journey to jazz "fluency."
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