Music is kind of great like that. Much of music theory is over my head but I have spent time to understand a good bit too and I’ve gained a lot of respect for it. Everything you’re doing as a blues guitarist can be explained well by a music theorist who really know their stuff.
I read an interesting article by a music theorist breaking down the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and remarking on the genius and uniqueness of the chord progression and how it violates a lot of what theory says would “sound good” and hence why it’s genius. It can be presumed Kurt Cobain was not too interested in music theory and if he would have been he may have never even considered the progression and other interesting aspects of that song.
I've said it before, I'll say it again. It's more productive to think of "music theory" as a way for musicians and composers to talk about what they just did, or what they are just going to do, than as a way to generate those things.
Giant Steps "violates" jazz music theory on the surface but sure enough Coltrane knew his basic chord progressions. If you look close enough Giant Steps builds on traditional ii-V-I progressions and applies (also well known) tritone substitutions to achieve quick key changes.
the progression you are referring to is I-IV-bIII-bVI, where are all these chords are “power chords” i.e. dyads comprised of a root and fifth.
it is an awesome progression but violates absolutely nothing in music theory.
we can find examples of similar progressions across jazz and classical music, most of which was composed by folks who have mastered western tonal harmony.
I read an interesting article by a music theorist breaking down the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and remarking on the genius and uniqueness of the chord progression and how it violates a lot of what theory says would “sound good” and hence why it’s genius. It can be presumed Kurt Cobain was not too interested in music theory and if he would have been he may have never even considered the progression and other interesting aspects of that song.