---
title: "Music Theory is Just a Useful Tool"

description: "Would a builder build a house without a hammer? A tattooer do a tattoo without a needle? Would a politician act without a businessman? Of course not! Every job has the tools that the pro needs to succeed. Music theory is one of ours. Neglect at your own peril. Use the right tools to build cool stuff! Ignore them when you don't need them! (But 80% of the time, you'll need them! Especially if you want to do this every day.)"

status: complete

date: 2025-09-09

kind: solo

guestSlugs: []

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Music-Theory-is-Just-a-Useful-Tool-e37u8b0"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-theory-is-just-a-useful-tool/id1567355195?i=1000725666873&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/4OXUMWMTiAPZIlhGG3bHKv"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Music theory"
  - "Creativity"
  - "Songwriting"
  - "Personal anecdotes in music"
  - "Industry jargon in music"
  - "Creative vs. theoretical approaches"
  - "Crafting pop music with theory"
  - "Role of tension in music"
  - "Understanding chords and melodies"
  - "Jargon as a shortcut in music"

hostNote: |
  "By knowing the name of the chord, it's a lot easier to transmit your idea to others." Theory isn't about memorizing rules, it's a shared vocabulary, and without it you're trying to build a house while describing every piece of lumber by feel.
  
  I get into how 80–90% of working musicians use theory daily, why the jargon feels exclusive at first but becomes essential shorthand fast, and the thing theory is actually *for*: managing tension and resolution, not just naming chords. Most people stop at basic harmony: but the real craft starts where the normal stuff ends.
  
  You come away understanding theory as grammar rather than a straitjacket, something that frees you to communicate an idea precisely and then break the rule on purpose.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Introduction to music theory"
    startSec: 96
    note: "Jokingly calling it 'rocket science' and addressing common misconceptions about theory."
  - label: "Personal reflections on jargon"
    startSec: 135
    note: "Industry jargon and its implications for inclusivity in music."
  - label: "Vibe coding analogy"
    startSec: 182
    note: "How coding connects to music theory, knowing the language lets you transmit ideas."
  - label: "Validation of music theory"
    startSec: 273
    note: "Why knowing chord names makes collaboration dramatically easier."
  - label: "Tendencies vs. rules in music"
    startSec: 362
    note: "Musical tendencies vs. strict rules, theory is grammar, not a straitjacket."
  - label: "Tension and resolution in music"
    startSec: 541
    note: "What music theory is really for: managing tension and resolution, not just basic chords."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "For 90, maybe 80% of working musicians, they know music theory. And I want to dig into my own personal life story."
    startSec: 97
    reviewed: true
  - text: "By knowing the name of the chord, it's a lot easier to transmit your idea to others by speaking the same language."
    startSec: 276
    reviewed: true
  - text: "What I'm saying is not that you have to know the name of the chord. I'm just saying that by knowing the name of the chord, it's a lot easier to transmit your idea to others."
    startSec: 316
    reviewed: true
  - text: "A lot of what music theory actually is is how to deal with tension. It's not about how to deal with the normal basic stuff."
    startSec: 539
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Music theory helps you with both, but mostly what it does is it's the craft."
    startSec: 677
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "Why is music theory important?"
    answer: "Music theory is important because it provides musicians with the tools they need to communicate musical ideas effectively and enhances their creativity."
  - question: "How does music theory help musicians?"
    answer: "It helps musicians understand chord progressions and melodies, enabling them to craft better songs and collaborate successfully with others."
  - question: "What is the difference between music theory and music practice?"
    answer: "Music theory involves the understanding of musical elements and structures, while music practice focuses on the practical application of those principles in performance and composition."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---