help with music theory?

I've recently purchased a used digital piano and am trying to learn basic shit. I just wanna say I did some googling and still can not figure out wtf a scale is and why it matters, if I use a scale am I only allowed to play the notes in that certain scale, lets say i wanna use a blues scale can i play a c major chord in it? If i use scales can i still play chords? If so do i have to change the note of the chords? How do you actually play scales? Do i just play them root to end, or can I play them how i want? I do have some books on the subject such as piano playing for dummies yet they dont answer the basic questions, shit dont even come with chords . Whats a good scale for hip hop? Whats a legato, is it the same as an arpeggio?

Also, if i have the guitar tab for a song, how can I play that song on piano using the guitar tab?

wtf a scale is and why it matters
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu6L5uLhH0aMAa2FXNyoA?p=music+scale+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

If i use scales can i still play chords?
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu_C4uLhHIUwAU0lXNyoA?p=music+chords+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

Whats a good scale for hip hop?
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu61.ubhHFLkAvQNXNyoA?p=music+scales+for+hiphop+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

Whats a legato
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu6c9ubhH_pwAagxXNyoA?p=music+legato+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

is it the same as an arpeggio?
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu6FiubhHtZAAxclXNyoA?p=music+arpeggio+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8[/url]

lamp, i already did some serious googling on music theory and on wikipedia and i tried some of those virtual chord things but still no luck but ill try searching on yahoo. it seems google has lost its searching prowess.

If you ask a question like i play scales can i still play chords. you've got A LONNNNNG way to go...

Try to get a someone teach you the basics, probably a jazz musician.
Else you surely need to do some reading.
Some useful links on this page:
http://db.ancient-future.net/song.html

Click the link "Music Theory For Songwriters", there are the answers to most of your questions, pretty well explained.

now im even more confused the only lessons i can get are from high school (i can take music theory/keyboarding/guitar) as a class

Lampdog wrote:wtf a scale is and why it matters
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu6L5uLhH0aMAa2FXNyoA?p=music+scale+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

If i use scales can i still play chords?
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu_C4uLhHIUwAU0lXNyoA?p=music+chords+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

Whats a good scale for hip hop?
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu61.ubhHFLkAvQNXNyoA?p=music+scales+for+hiphop+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

Whats a legato
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu6c9ubhH_pwAagxXNyoA?p=music+legato+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

is it the same as an arpeggio?
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu6FiubhHtZAAxclXNyoA?p=music+arpeggio+wikipedia&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8[/url]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
































ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha lol

oh yeah thats really funny lith, no one wanna help?

If that was me interested in this artform, I'd take the class as well.

lampdog, its ok i know you cant answer my questions. I mean do you even know the answers to them? I get it its ok

a scale is, in it's simples form, a pattern of notes.

go hear and rear, and reread
musictheory.net


then go here and ask question, to people that can answer better that I can.

a quality music theory forum with helpful, knowledgeable membership.
http://www.bigbluelounge.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=24


I took one semester at community college music theory 100
it fas ffun and I learned enought to get me started on any instrument.

I now play keyboards, guiitar, and bass with minimal instruction

break a eg

alih wrote:lampdog, its ok i know you cant answer my questions. I mean do you even know the answers to them? I get it its ok

I know how to find the answers, I wasn't trying to clown...

Act right..

here's the drill on a real basic level.........A chord is made up of individual notes. Those notes played individually, are part of the scale that corresponds with the chord. Additional notes can also be part of the scale that works with the chord because chords do not use the entire scale.....essentially, if you're playing in the key of Am.....any note in the chord Am, will sound fine no matter what order you play them in.

If you learn the circle of fifths, you'll learn which chords work together....

you'll learn faster if you take classes because you can learn from other peoples mistakes and successes (they already know the answers)

Finally, If you can't "hear" what notes or scales work with different chords - no amount of school will help. Period. It means you are tone deaf.......the good news there is that means you're a perfect candidate to be a producer or record company exec......

I think tone def is a choice, a state of mind.
lazy ears,