[feniox]

I don't want this to evolve into an arguement, so I will keep this brief and not get upset when you decide to tell me I'm wrong, but this annoys me. I have written classical compositions in the past, and I do a lot of work with symphonic/progressive black metal, which involves layering a lot of instruments together in the same way, but I know next to nothing about music theory. Not that I haven't tried, but I've forgotten it more than once, mostly because it's something that never gets used when I'm working. I don't think you need an encyclopedic knowledge of musical theory in order to be a "good" musician, and in a lot of cases I think it detracts from the art.

This is probably going to sound a little weird considering I have two A-levels in sound engineering and production, but I also refuse to work as a studio artist, because to me this is the equivilent to selling out, ie: playing music you aren't interested in or passionate amount with the sole purpose of financial gain. Where is the love?

To me playing music has always been about self-expression and writing music that I have passion in rather than whether I can sell a lot of copies of it. I'm part of the whole "if people like it, great, if they don't, to hell with them" crowd. Maybe this is why I will never be a millionaire?

I do agree with your kirk hammet comparison though, and it annoys me how many people think that aimless shred makes you an amazing guitarist. Personally I think the best genre for playing guitar solos in is power metal, truly epic stuff, I'm not into these solos that really don't go anywhere.