Guitar And Theory

I'm trying to figure out how to use the theory I used so far on guitar.

Having trouble.

What basics do I need to know to create my own songs?

The reason I want to do theory is I want to do a good job. Yet the language is very difficult to understand.

So far I am sorta thinking scales are used as the basis for songs.

How?

How would a song based on The Whole Tone Scale sound different then say one on the blues scale?

Is the key of the scale the 1st note a piece begins and ends with?

Learn the theory and learn how to apply it on the fret board. Example: when learning intervals, learn the shapes of the intervals on the fret board. Play a whole tone scale and then play a blues scale, they have different sounds, they function differently... so it's going to sound different. I think you need to go back to the basics a bit. Learn your major scale inside and out, most all scales are derived from the major scale. Learn how harmonies can be built off the major scale etc.

If your aim is to write 'pop' or 'rock' music on the guitar then I would suggest to you the books of Rikky Rooksby. In particular his 'How to Write Songs on Guitar: A Guitar-playing and song writing Course'.

His approach to theory is extremely un-daunting and practical. No need for previous knowledge at all.

Here is a link if you want to check it out: http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Write-Songs-Guitar-Guitar-playing/dp/0879309423/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341951307&sr=8-1-spell

I Hope it helps

I would say, at this stage:

Bork theory.

That sounds a little silly, but bear with me. Play with your guitar, as if it were a toy. Try to make weird noises, see what the instrument can do. Make melodies devoid of scalar thought and harmonic motion. Record them or write them down.

Then, go back and figure out the theory behind it all. Figure out why you felt something was good/pretty/whatever. Believe me, there's a name for every thing you can think of.

Find a song that has something in it that you would like to emulate, like a riff or a chord sequence. Then use some basic theory to work out how it was done and why it sounds so good, then use the principle you just found to put together something of your own. The more songs you take apart this way, the more yo will learn what sounds 'good' and what sounds 'bad' on the guitar, and then it's a case of putting the 'good' things together.

Well, it's not quite as simple as that, but it helps, trust me.