interesting ebook i came across, some of you may appreciate it

http://betah.co.il/avax/08/www.AvaxHome.ru_-_Understanding.Music.Theory.rar

password for the .rar is http://www.AvaxHome.ru

I learnt most of my theory and how to read standard notation during piano and trombone lessons. Advanced Modern Rock Guitar Improvisation by Jon Finn was pretty useful as well. An interesting and intelligent style, without being patronising or really dumb.

music theory for me is...just fucking play. make some stuff that sounds like it fits together...after maybe a few big time bombs, and few good asttempts you'll start getting the hang of how shit is put together and everything. For me what I keep in mind is stuff like scales and things...if it fits in with a certain scale I'll try and do the rest of a song that way, or something to that extent, you know? music theory to me is all great and everything but you can't beat a vibe or feeling in what you play or jam. no music theory can teach that. and thats how me and my friends always write some seriously kick ass shit. just jammin a few things and then getting into the scale stuff to finish it up.

Music becomes easier when you have the right basis...
You don't need to know all of the scales and stuff to write some nice music though!

Learn a few less used scales, and use those in different keys, you'll have a big bunch of well-blending (between songs) stuff in no time

I think knowing your theory is another tool - sure, you can write stuff without it, but sometimes, it will help you to fill in the blanks and to make things make more sense, of course, for those tech-metallers amongst us, would be bloody difficult to no know any theory

as I said... some of you may appreciate it

all depends on the individual and which is the best way they learn