>>131530 (OP)Honestly just learn the songs you like. If you can't play them normally just play the melodies with single notes. Make practicing fun or you won't want to do it
Music theory isn't necessary unless you're playing with others in a band or something, then it's definitely necessary. I took a MT class in HS and it didn't help with my actual playing, but it does help with understanding the music and being able to speak to other musicians without sounding like a bumbling retard "Uhh yeah so the riff goes like this. You're gonna play the third fret, no not that string, the other one, then this other fret," it's so fucking annoying playing with retards that don't know theory. You can do that long ass process, or you can say "Yeah it's a IV, V, III, VI in D major" and the whole band gets the picture instantly