EVH - can't read and knows zero theory... how many times you heard this nonsense.

[mosiddiqi]

Amusing how none of you you has offered one IOTA of evidence that ignorance is shameful. I still stand by my original post that "I do not buy it". Since no individual can have total all-seeing knowledge then defacto everyone is ignorant. Sorry but I'm not feeling shame because of what I do not know just to satisfy the views of some close-minded internet posts. Knowledge is a tool not the be all and end all. When it gets to that point then its become vanity. Ever hear about the billionaire corksniffer with 200 rare guitars ? He never did play the intro to "stairway to heaven"correctly.

 

Can you play the intro to "Stairway to Heaven" correctly?

[JonR]

Knowledge is a tool not the be all and end all.

Yes, but everything is knowledge. All experience becomes knowledge.

No one is saying that just knowing stuff (without applying the knowledge) is enough. I think we'd all agree that you learn what you feel you need to learn in order to express yourself as fully as you want. When you can do that (and I expect you can), you may well say "OK I know enough now, no more, thanks". Others may stay curious and want to explore more.

There is such a thing as superfluous information. Information (knowledge) CAN sometimes get in the way of creativity, I'd agree with you there. But only when it's not connected, if you allow it to be distracting. (Ie, it's not the knowledge that's the problem, its your attitude to it. You were saying that knowledge, beyond a certain level, automatically curtails creativity. Not so. Only if you let it. Learn how to use it properly and your creativity is enhanced.)

 

As a musician, one's musical knowledge has to be fully absorbed before it can be used creatively. When improvising, we don't want to be thinking consciously about every note we play and how it fits the overall scheme.

But subconscious knowledge is quite different from ignorance. A self-taught musician is not ignorant (even if they say they are), not if they manage to achieve any level of success. Their knowledge may be in a different form from someone who's been through a music college, but it's in no way inferior. At the same time, the academic jargon of the college-educated musician is no bar to improvisation skills. Not unless he/she believes it ought to be.

As Charlie Parker (supposedly) said: "learn all your scales; then forget em all and just play." He didn't mean you really forget them; they just become subconscious. But those first 4 words are critical.

[Krank'N]

I think wilful ignorance is shameful, but I wouldn't expect everyone to agree.

The pervasive influence of didactic culture programs folks with the notion that ignorance is shameful. This is a totally self-serving action in the name of dogma. We all ignore stuff all the time. We are bombarded with data and have to decide what is relevant for ourselves. Disturbing horror movies of dismemberment just arent my cup of tea. I dont dig thru my neighbors trash to experience the rancid smell or find old porn mags and coffee grounds. I dont listen to tele-evangelists that promote shame in old folks in order to cash in. For me personally ,what I choose to ignore far outweighs what I choose to let in.
Music is about expression and even a chimp can pound a stick when in the mood -despite having studied at Julliard:lol:

[jeremy_green]

Amusing how none of you you has offered one IOTA of evidence that ignorance is shameful. I still stand by my original post that "I do not buy it". Since no individual can have total all-seeing knowledge then defacto everyone is ignorant. Sorry but I'm not feeling shame because of what I do not know just to satisfy the views of some close-minded internet posts. Knowledge is a tool not the be all and end all. When it gets to that point then its become vanity. Ever hear about the billionaire corksniffer with 200 rare guitars ? He never did play the intro to "stairway to heaven"correctly.

 

Evidence of an opinion? OK here is the best I have with some questions:

 

-Would you want your son if he knew something ... to pretend not to because he wanted to look uneducated?

-Do you think "looking cool" matters most? More than seeming intelligent?

-When someone asks you a question do you pretend to not know the answer?

 

Hopefully you answered no to all of these

Some people would answer "No" but then act like this, I think that is a shame, or "shameful". Me, I, Personally.

 

I have had this discussion a few times... here is what typically is the result. USUALLY the person defending not having theory knowledge is someone who hasn't bothered to learn it. Not that they are incapable, but just too lazy. They think they are wiz-bang players. When folks like some here suggest it may help, the defensive ego-driven posture comes out, and a defense of "Feel players" everywhere ensues. Typically out of insecurity hidden behind bravado and ego.

 

Let me hit you back with a request for evidence. YOU have not produced ONE stitch of evidence supporting any of your claims. I said I have personally witnessed many players I have played with over the years who benefited creatively from theory. There is my evidence ... Give me some evidence to your claims to the opposite here.

 

I want to listen to you but you keep saying the same point. Convince us, share something other than analogies dude.

[BigTimeFun]

Evidence of an opinion? OK here is the best I have with some questions: -Would you want your son if he knew something ... to pretend not to because he wanted to look uneducated? -Do you think "looking cool" matters most? More than seeming intelligent? -When someone asks you a question do you pretend to not know the answer? /snip

I'm totally going to start doing this on Quizzo night, we'll win for sure!

[Krank'N]

"-Would you want your son if he knew something ... to pretend not to because he wanted to look uneducated?
-Do you think "looking cool" matters most? More than seeming intelligent?
-When someone asks you a question do you pretend to not know the answer?"

I could think of reasons not to answer NO for each question.
Putting on a facade to alleviate peer pressure is done all the time.
Unfortunately "looking cool " is just as important in the music biz if not more so than actual talent. If the trend is to appear "ghetto" then seeming intelligent may be a detriment. Can anyone say 50 cent ?
There are innumerable scenarios for feigning ignorance. For ex " Is that Jew Anne Frank hiding in your attic?"
The point is that you want me to accept an inflexible stance so that my views become a target. You already assumed my answers were in the negative! Sheesh dont take it so personnal!! You are entitled to your opinion of EVH or others who may front but do you think they care? You seem an ok dude but just a bit too serious

[Festus]

The pervasive influence of didactic culture programs folks with the notion that ignorance is shameful. This is a totally self-serving action in the name of dogma. We all ignore stuff all the time. We are bombarded with data and have to decide what is relevant for ourselves. Disturbing horror movies of dismemberment just arent my cup of tea. I dont dig thru my neighbors trash to experience the rancid smell or find old porn mags and coffee grounds. I dont listen to tele-evangelists that promote shame in old folks in order to cash in. For me personally ,what I choose to ignore far outweighs what I choose to let in. Music is about expression and even a chimp can pound a stick when in the mood -despite having studied at Julliard:lol:

 

 

 

You're really going out of your way and trying very hard to justify (and even glamorize) ignorance as some sort of pure artistic necessity, superior to knowledge as you feel it is the antithesis of creativity.

 

Why? What possible reason would someone have to denigrate knowledge and praise ignorance, when it's such an absurd thing to do? I can only think of one---that the person in question lacks knowledge (and the desire to attain it) and is looking for an excuse to justify it to himself. Or maybe you're an adolescent who simply knows everything already and has nothing left to learn. When cornered, you'll likely play the 'feel', 'emotion', or 'expression' card, which is always the last ditch effort of the uninformed. (Oh wait...you just did that in the post I quoted)

 

Since you're in need of no further knowledge, O Artistic and Creative One, why are you even perusing a forum called the Lesson Loft?

[BigTimeFun]

"-Would you want your son if he knew something ... to pretend not to because he wanted to look uneducated? -Do you think "looking cool" matters most? More than seeming intelligent? -When someone asks you a question do you pretend to not know the answer?" I could think of reasons not to answer NO for each question. Putting on a facade to alleviate peer pressure is done all the time. Unfortunately "looking cool " is just as important in the music biz if not more so than actual talent. If the trend is to appear "ghetto" then seeming intelligent may be a detriment. Can anyone say 50 cent ? There are innumerable scenarios for feigning ignorance. For ex " Is that Jew Anne Frank hiding in your attic?" The point is that you want me to accept an inflexible stance so that my views become a target. You already assumed my answers were in the negative! Sheesh dont take it so personnal!! You are entitled to your opinion of EVH or others who may front but do you think they care? You seem an ok dude but just a bit too serious

I think that this feigned ignorance is an attempt at humility... which is why it grates on people, because false humility is almost universally loathed.

 

Oh, and I'm pretty sure you ran into Godwin's Law with that post.

[Krank'N]

Truth has always come with a price. In this this case innuendo and verbal slights are the cost. For those who demean feeling and expression (cornerstones of art) let them think back to WHY they got involved in music in the first place. Did you hear your momma singing a lullabye and think to yourself (that bitch is out of tune on the middle C and her vibrato on the 3rd measure was far too wide) or was it more about feeling and the expression of love from a caring mother? Did you worry about parallel fifths when you first heard the Beatles? For myself, too much detail and analysis can spoil the experience.
As for Godwins law- I technically didnt break it as I didnt compare anyone or their statement to Nazi's. I couldve said " Are there runaway slaves in your basement you filthy abolishonist?"

[JonR]

Music is about expression and even a chimp can pound a stick when in the mood -despite having studied at Julliard:lol:

Don't quite follow your point. Of course, any untrained person (or chimp!) can express themselves adequately - by grunting, yelling, laughing, crying, whatever. But musical expression requires training. We need to learn a degree of technique (instrumental or vocal skills), and a number of formulas (theory). Learning is in the service of creativity, IOW. The creativity is in the juggling of the rules, how we handle the sounds within the imposed parameters and limitations. (All art requires limitation.)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think your central point (which I think is valid) is that one can achieve a satisfactory level of musical expression with a relatively limited amount of learning (self-chosen to some degree); that further learning beyond that point is therefore irrelevant, a waste of time.

I think that's a logical viewpoint. But a lot depends on what kind of music we're talking about. The classical or jazz musician requires a lot more training than the folk or punk musician, to reach a level of skill adequate for free expression in that genre. Ie, different genres have different sets of rules, some more complex than others.

I wouldn't argue that the kind of expression available in classical and jazz music is superior to that in folk or punk. It may be more nuanced, but music serves different purposes for different people (or for the same people at different times). Sometimes we want music to be crude and direct. Maybe some of us like it that way all the time; nothing wrong with that.

[JonR]

Evidence of an opinion? OK here is the best I have with some questions: -Would you want your son if he knew something ... to pretend not to because he wanted to look uneducated? -Do you think "looking cool" matters most? More than seeming intelligent? -When someone asks you a question do you pretend to not know the answer?

I'm playing devil's advocate here to some degree, but I can easily imagine scenarios where I might think "yes" was an appropriate answer to all three.
In an ideal world, of course, the answers would be "no" every time. But we don't live in that world.

Eg, wanting to "look educated", or "seem intelligent" is as bad as the opposite, IMO. I am intelligent, personally (at least according to my last IQ score ), but there are many occasions where I would much rather look cool. Of course, I try to avoid situations where the two are considered incompatible!

[girevik]

The pervasive influence of didactic culture programs folks with the notion that ignorance is shameful.

 

 

Not in many parts of the United States in 2011. There, ignorance is celebrated rather than treated as shameful.

[3shiftgtr]

Krank'n, the ginormous piles of happy horse crap you expouse either:
a) expose you as a troll
b) expose you as a media programmed metal poser who is trying to intellectualize their 'ignorance is cool' stance
c) you really believe that being taught knowledge, or the gathering of knowledge is harmful to the creative process and you are trying desperately to rationalize that by hiding behind 'shame' and 'teaching' and it's negative effects on society.

Amusing how none of you you has offered one IOTA of evidence that ignorance is shameful.

Evidence? Really? Is that what you need? Look around you. Look at your computer. Look at your car. Look at your house, its plumbing and the way that utilities are delivered....all of this comes from people who have gathered knowlege used and or expanded on it to PROVIDE YOU Krank'n, with something to make your life better. Do you really think that this {censored} just falls from the sky? Human endeavor is exponetially propelled by the gathering and expanding of knowledge. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to beam a text into space and back to a phone 30 miles away, to tell your girlfriend your running late.

WILLFUL IGNORANCE IS SHAMEFUL....we all lack knowledge in certain areas, so ignorance is a human trait. But to willfully reject the gathering of knowledge and see it as harmful, which you do, is shameful.

Sorry but I'm not feeling shame because of what I do not know just to satisfy the views of some close-minded internet posts.

No one is saying you should feel shame for what you don't know. We are saying that when you WILLFILLY REJECT information about music theory is just plain silly, since you already use it. Don't feel bad about not knowing, feel bad about WILLFULLY REJECTING something that you already use.

Knowledge is a tool not the be all and end all. When it gets to that point then its become vanity. Ever hear about the billionaire corksniffer with 200 rare guitars ? He never did play the intro to "stairway to heaven"correctly

These 2 things are unrelated. Someone who has a bunch of money and collects guitars and can't play them is different than having an over inflated ego regarding the things one has studied.

What one has studied doesn't make them a better human than any other. But the rejection of information makes them close minded. A physics professor might not make it out of the woods, but a redneck with a GED would. Both are equally proficient in their field of study. But when the physics professor says "Gathering knowledge about survival in the woods is foolish in this day and age." it is just as dumb as the redneck saying "F*ck a buncha book science bull{censored}." And it is equally stupid to take sides. Which is what you are doing.

The pervasive influence of didactic culture programs folks with the notion that ignorance is shameful.

Evidence?

This is a totally self-serving action in the name of dogma.

If it is done....if the classroom is used as a bully pulpit....then yes didactic culture has shameful consequences. But we are not even talking about the classroom here are we? We are simply talking about the gathering of knowledge, and you don't need a classroom to do that. And you categorically reject the gathering of knowledge on principle and say is harmful. THAT is foolish.

You are hiding behind YOUR rejection of information and it has become YOUR 'dogma of independence'. Shame on you for letting your ego get in the way of your music.

We are bombarded with data and have to decide what is relevant for ourselves......(edit).... For me personally ,what I choose to ignore far outweighs what I choose to let in.

Isn't that what understanding is all about? You gather information and use it how you see fit and let experience tell you it's value to you. Information holds no power over you until you let it. So you gather it, keep what you need and let the rest sit until you need it or don't.

But noooooo....you think gathering information is a result of classroom dogma.

Music is about expression and even a chimp can pound a stick when in the mood -despite having studied at Julliard

Yep. Some are curious though......some search for more.....AND THEN GET INSPIRED!

But their music is irrelevant cuz they are merely responding to didactic dogma.

Unfortunately "looking cool " is just as important in the music biz if not more so than actual talent.

Target identified again. Is that a cause of didactic dogma? Cuz you know, you have to gather information on what "cool" is....

The point is that you want me to accept an inflexible stance so that my views become a target.

Nope. We are not talking relative terms here. Knowledge is knowledge, and the rejection of it as a philosophy is in direct conflict with the reality of what knowledge is.

Truth has always come with a price. In this this case innuendo and verbal slights are the cost. For those who demean feeling and expression (cornerstones of art) let them think back to WHY they got involved in music in the first place.

No one is demeaning expression and exalting theory knowledge! It is not one over the other! THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT!!!!!

"I'll play it first and explain it later." Miles Davis

Knowledge merely INFORMS artistic expression in the way that you choose! THE WAY THAT YOU CHOOSE. You don't have to make music that sounds academic just cuz you know stuff! DUH!!!!!

Many of the greatest musicians in the history of the planet weren't academic in their approach, but the certainly HAD KNOWLEDGE.....THAT THEY GATHERED.....

Music theory is NOT A RULE....it is information...you can do with it what you want....informed or not informed, it is your choice because it is your art. If you are going to REJECT information, fine....there is nothing wrong with the joy of 'discovery'. And expression and inspiration IS the musical process motivator. But to willfully reject the gathering of information as harmful to the creative process is pure politics and foolish.

[3shiftgtr]

Whew!

[Krank'N]

^^^A long post but I guess you needed that much space for such a pile of BS.
YOU dont know jack about me and jump to several conclusions and try to unite unrelated concepts and then ascribe the frankenstein to me.
First I never said I was against knowledge just the way its often applied. I'm not a troll or a poser and I never said ignorance is cool. You may find it interesting that the first people to get shot when the communists took over Cambodia were TEACHERS. They recognized the entrenched control that didactic culture has on a society. Ignorance isnt shameful. I still hold that view. I didnt say it was PREFERABLE to pertinant education. As pointed out before ,ignoring something( for whatever reason) is a useful tool. I never said I was for blanket ignorance. You didnt get the corksniffer comment (maybe too deep of a joke). Instead of explaining it ,Ill let you ponder it some more as an excercise for your wit. Next you claim I reject information on principle. Never said that . I said before that ignorance is used as a tool-to filter out certain data. Then you say "You are hiding behind YOUR rejection of information and it has become YOUR 'dogma of independence'. Shame on you for letting your ego get in the way of your music." What a load of presumptous hogwash. This all took place in your mind dude. After re-reading that Im inclined to ignore the rest of your puke.

[3shiftgtr]

 

Ignorance isnt shameful. I still hold that view. I didnt say it was PREFERABLE to pertinant education.

 

 

Really? Then why the response to the OP? You sure seemed like you were saying all that. That is why I responded so; I was taking, line by line, what you WROTE and responding to it. I didn't take it out of context, I simply responded. This is a thread about how/why artists disavow their knowledge of theory. Every one of my responses was within that context.

 

See Krank'N, you never ever made a distinction about the various types of information gathering, and what is considered ok and not ok in your purview....but you certainly did go on about evils of didactic education, and how ignorance is not a real problem and useful. Um, THE THREAD IS ABOUT THEORY, so I applied your sentences to that concept. It wasn't in my mind, it is what you wrote.

 

But all that aside. Let's get to the crux of the biscuit.....let's clear it up here and now. Tell us in clear and specific language.

 

What exactly is your view on music theory? Does knowledge of it interfere in a negative way with creativity? If so, why and how.

[jeremy_green]

All right let's cool this thing down.

 

Krank'n first of all peace brother. We are just rapping here. We will never all agree with each other and it is cool. If we were doing this face to face I would have the same disagreements with your stance. I am not taking anything personal nor am I that serious. You have contributed here on other threads so I have no anger directed at you. If it comes off that way it is because words read harsh sometimes. That's one of the issues with forums. If someone disagrees they are painted as "arguing". I see it as discussing. I usually gets more interesting when people have varied opinions.

 

I don't agree with many of your statements about creativity... You have stated strong blanket statements, with zero evidence of that... but I have voiced this. I consider myself a student of creativity as much as music and your statements just don't ring true with my personal life experiences. Not opinion or book stuff - things I have seen with my own eyes.

 

This whole thing erupted with my opinion that "ignorance is shameful" to which I really should have said "pretending to be ignorant is shameful to me". This is my opinion. Can I think of times when this is not true - sure. But in the instance of a guitarist pretending not to know stuff (as opposed to saving a person from prosecution) I still do think it's shameful. Again - to ME.

 

A player of Eddie's position has the ability to influence a huge generation of players. By showing them all his route, he gives back to the community. I personally believe in giving back - I do it daily at sites like this. NOBODY would think less of Eddie for doing this. Van Halen would be no less cool, sell no less albums... So I think this is a SHAME he doesn't use that platform. I have this issue with many famous folks.

 

This is my opinion. I don't expect everyone to agree.

 

JonR:

Sure I can see those too... but that isn't how i roll, nor would i give anyone "props" for answering yes to those questions. Perhaps I am judgmental in that regard, but to me it is pretty lame when people pretend to be anything they are not. Smart people are cool and interesting to me. People driven by pop culture typically don't hold my interest... I just don't relate and never have. It all seems like dumb-{censored}.

 

3shift:

I am in full and complete agreement.

[1001gear]

Yeah but it's showbiz. And who here believes Eddie or any musician wearing the VH label GAF about the public?

On the binnit end, dumbing down can be attributed to shrewdness. And truthfully, he does know comparatively little from a formal musical standpoint.

[Festus]

A player of Eddie's position has the ability to influence a huge generation of players. By showing them all his route, he gives back to the community.

 

 

I agree with that intensely, except I would put in the past tense. His feigned ignorance has already run much of its course; when VH was at the peak, and Eddie had his widest influence, he had already begun his savant routine. And now, well, he's become pretty much a laughing stock due to the numerous disasters revolving around his band and his substance abuse problems.

 

There have been but a few excellent players in rock that actually had long-term broad-appeal commercial success (outside of an audience composed entirely of guitarists), and the record industry has never been too fond of them in general. So when Eddie slipped through the pop music dumbing-down-for-mass-consumption filters, he had a golden opportunity to really help a LOT of future musicians. Instead, he played the magical 'higher powers are speaking through my illiterate fingers' card, and that's a real shame. Comments like 'I never practice...I just play until inspiration hits me' (that's paraphrased) and 'I can't read a note' set a bad example that didn't help anyone but himself.

 

What have we had for the last ~20 years??--airwaves full of players who truly ARE musically illiterate...famous, but not really any good, and good players who have been scoffed at for actually learning about music and bettering themselves as players.

 

Chet Atkins must be rolling in his grave 24/7.

[3shiftgtr]

 

Instead, he played the magical 'higher powers are speaking through my illiterate fingers' card, and that's a real shame. Comments like 'I never practice...I just play until inspiration hits me' (that's paraphrased) and 'I can't read a note' set a bad example that didn't help anyone but himself. What have we had for the last ~20 years??--airwaves full of players who truly ARE musically illiterate...famous, but not really any good,

 

 

Ttttthhhhhhankyou for saying that. Theory knowledge is not a trade secret.....

 

 

and good players who have been scoffed at for actually learning about music and bettering themselves as players.

 

 

And that is the result! And that is SO sad....it has become cultural. People make excuses for why lack of knowledge is favorable in a creative setting in all kinds of endeavors. You're cool if you bang china white, hump porn stars, are an alcoholic, and perform at 1/2 your abilities, but you are uncool if you focus on getting better. Slash is a genius and Pat Metheny is a geek....not a hack on Slash either; I was listening to Velvet Revolver on the ride home this morning.....but it is a matter of perception.....why is one negative and the other positive?

 

If one doesn't want to learn it, cool. Just don't act like you haven't set any boundaries, cuz we ALL do.....art is about freedom within a set of boundaries. Bidnit savy notwithstanding......

[BydoEmpire]

I went to a Steve Vai clinic a year ago and one of the best moment was how he talked about he gets ready for a tour by practicing his ass off for months. You see him on DVD, or live, or on Youtube or whatever and think "wow, he plays all this amazing stuff and doesn't miss a note." He was very explicit at the clinic that even though he wrote the songs and played them 1000 times already, he still has to practice the heck out of them before a tour to get them up to that level. I thought it was a great moment, because he's one of those "guitar god" type of guys but is very open about the fact that he has to practice his stuff.

[polishpaul]

Knowledge........creativity..........hmmmmm......

 

Over the years I've picked up some knowledge:

 

Welding, soldering, basic electrical theory, car mechanics, Polish, plumbing, Microsoft Paint ()................

 

A couple of days ago, it all paid off! I made this:

 

 

 

Here it is in action:

 

 

 

 

(Click on the images for a better view)

 

 

It's a 50 watt, 240 volt halogen work lamp. It's made from:

 

The long brass rod of an old fire poker, cut in two;

 

A fibre water tap washer (to protect the power cable from the copper binding wire);

 

Two lengths of old fishing rod, to cover the heatsinking brass rods;

 

A piece of scrap copper for the anti-glare shield;

 

An electric shaver power cord;

 

A Polish 5-groszy coin, acting as a tensioner between the two bits of fishing rod;

 

Three lengths of copper wire from an old transformer;

 

A halogen bulb;

 

Some solder.

 

 

 

I go with the view that knowledge does not hinder the creative juices

 

 

 

PS, while I'm here.....

 

Check out this website....guaranteed to activate the smile muscles:

 

www.xkcd.com

 

Don't click "Next", coz it's the last one. Try "Random" then carry on, and do try to get to bed at some point.

 

Superb!!!!

[1001gear]

You sir are a gentleman and a sculptor.

[polishpaul]

It's good fun. By chance, the colours of the lamp - the copper, the fishing rod tubes and the glare shield - look really nice together. Kind of Victorian. It looks about 150 years old!

 

I just wish I could be as imaginative on guitar . Getting somewhere slowly, though.

 

 

Go for knowledge, then apply it. Endless possibilities!

[benzem]

Maybe it has something to do with their musical mystique, being magically able to create ripping solos seemingly out of thin air!! The same could be said about being smart at school... not cool at all. The average person has no idea that EVH or whoever has played those magic licks hundreds of times if not thousands and it looks like magic when they play em. But yeah, I think most guys out there know more than they let on. I saw an interview show with Dave Navarro talking to George Lynch and they both said I don't know any theory etc. Ten minutes later they were talking about a signature lick that was "from the aeolian mode" and the like. OOPS! Your theory is showing!!

Agreed! Well said!

I have encountered some strange attitudes when I started with guitar, way late in life(27) and 29 for electric.

I had a close friend who went to Cornish. He studied upright bass. He could also play guitar/keys...he was brilliant.

We wrote/jammed together.

He seemed to think his studies actually limited him, and that true artists (his fav black blues players) were superior due to "playing from the heart". AND that after you knew the rules!, your ear was tainted!

Years later, I was judged as a guitarist because I happened to know how to read music!

Like...it was easier for me because I knew some theory!

To the OP, I think it's simply a cool factor. And like someone said, the artist does NOT want to be quizzed in theory and found a fool! Even tho he may know some theory, maybe over the years he has forgot how to explain WHAT he is doing exactly...yadayada