rpindacity Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 This is a question I have always wondered. I am curious to know because I also cannot read music and have successfully written songs, but am wondering if knowing how to read music and names of chords would be helpful to write and/;or translate a song from the piano to the guitar. Here are videos of Chris descibing the songwriting process - around the 5 minute mark Both describe Chris as not knowing what he is doing when he is writing and just randmoly trying things, does anybody have an opinion on what he really knows? Any music theory, such as chords, or really nothing? Any knowledge/opinion is really appreciated and will give me confidence in my own songwriting process! thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tishferr Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 I'm assuming he can read music because his mum is a music teacher ;-) Sent from my D5503 using Coldplaying mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldplayisawesome Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 in the beginning of the first video from South Bank Show, Chris does say that he can't read music. of course, that video is about 8 years old at this point, but i would guess he hasn't bothered to learn since then :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tishferr Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 in the beginning of the first video from South Bank Show, Chris does say that he can't read music. of course, that video is about 8 years old at this point, but i would guess he hasn't bothered to learn since then :P Wow for someone who does great music but can't read music. Whoa so much respect for Chris. Haha how awkward it must have been for Chris being asked this question while his mum teaches music for a living. [emoji12] Sent from my D5503 using Coldplaying mobile app 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldplayisawesome Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Wow for someone who does great music but can't read music. Whoa so much respect for Chris. Haha how awkward it must have been for Chris being asked this question while his mum teaches music for a living. [emoji12] Sent from my D5503 using Coldplaying mobile app honestly, that probably helps him. so he most likely has a good foundation of how to play music, just not how to read it :P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nie Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 I know a few great musicians who can't read music. I don't think it's an obstacle, but it might be useful. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tov1988 Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Read that he took piano lessons for a couple years as a kid. They require you to read music but some people stop reading after they finish lessons. It's easy to forget how to read sheet music if you never feel the need to do so. You won't forgot completely but will have a lot of remembering to do lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvdmm Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 No. Chris can neither read or write music. He has stated in the past this also helps him break thorough the limitations of constructing music in an old fashioned way. It's also why him and Jonny come up with chords and rhythms not tried or heard before, GPASUYF being an example. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronm360 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Chris' mom is a music therapist, not a music teacher..a subtle difference, but it likely explains why she never taught him music theory as she was used to applying it practically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Didn't he state in one interview that he's actually learning it now (or is already done with it?). Or was it Will..? Ahh, my brain is like a sieve! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronm360 Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 The Oracle stated in late 2013 that he can't, so I doubt it - http://www.coldplay.com/oracledetail_pop.php?id=4757&page=0&iframe=true 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronm360 Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=UpLXEIJ_6V0;t=28 In this interview from 2005, he talks about this "weird chord thing that's too geeky to go on about" in What If..anyone know what he's alluding to? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlylove Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 It is so easy to forget to read music. I played clarinet for 7 years and had forgotten by the first year after I quit. I still have muscle memory for some songs we played all the time 20 years later though. Weird! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpindacity Posted May 6, 2018 Author Share Posted May 6, 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=UpLXEIJ_6V0;t=28 In this interview from 2005, he talks about this "weird chord thing that's too geeky to go on about" in What If..anyone know what he's alluding to? Chris is so mysterious in the things he says... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
42Escapist Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 I feel like Chris must know some music theory just from singing and writing songs for so many years. Perhaps he just doesn't see it in the same way your average musician would, because he never had formal training. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
only.superstition Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Not being able to read SHEET MUSIC does ofcourse not mean you don't understand any theory. He knows notes, chords, everything. What are you people on about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosesTheMarshmallow Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=UpLXEIJ_6V0;t=28 In this interview from 2005, he talks about this "weird chord thing that's too geeky to go on about" in What If..anyone know what he's alluding to? I believe he's alluding to the very end, where the strings do this chromatic (note-by-note) ascending thing, which is pretty unusual. In fact, it's the exact kind of thing someone would come up with if they can't read music because if you don't know what you're doing sometimes all you can do is go to the next note on the piano. GPASUYF is the same sort of chromatic thing, except instead it's descending instead of ascending. Or Guy came up with it. :p 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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