- Paperback: 360 pages
- Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; Pap/Cdr edition (30 Mar 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0764578383
- ISBN-13: 978-0764578380
- Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 18.8 x 1.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 73,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
Music Theory For Dummies
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Product Description
Product Description
Many people grimace at the sound of music theory. It can conjure up bad memories of grade school music classes, rattle the brains of college students, and make self–taught musicians feel self–defeated. Music Theory may seem tedious and unnecessary, especially since not many people can read music.
Luckily, Music Theory for Dummies shows you the fun and easy way to understanding the concepts needed to compose, deconstruct, and comprehend music. This helpful guide will give you a great grasp of:
- Note value and counting notes
- Treble and bass clefs
- Time signatures and measures
- Naturalizing the rhythm
- Tempo and dynamic
- Tone, color, and harmonics
- Half steps and whole steps
- Harmonic and melodic intervals
- Key signatures and circles of fifths
- Scales, chords, and their progressions
- Elements of form
- Music theory’s fascinating history
This friendly guide not only explores these concepts, it provides examples of music to compliment them so you can hear how they sound firsthand. With a bonus CD that demonstrates these ideas with musical excerpts on guitar and piano, this hands–on resource will prove to you that music theory is as enjoyable as it is useful. Don’t get discouraged by the seemingly complicated written structure. With Music Theory for Dummies, understanding music has never been easier!
Note: CD–ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.
From the Back Cover
Helpful hints on melodies, chords, and music development
The fun and easy way to read, write, and perform any style of music
Need to grasp music theory? This hands–on guide explains the concepts in plain English — from scales, intervals, and tempos to chord progressions, phrasing, harmonizing, and arranging — and shows you how to apply them in compositions ranging from pop and rock to jazz and classical. It′s also packed with musical examples you can hear on the CD!
Discover how to:
- Read notes and understand tones
Keep proper rhythm
Master major and minor scales
Build chords and cadences
Write in popular musical forms
Demonstrations of music theory concepts
Musical examples performed on both piano and guitar
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
67 of 67 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's harder than it should be to find a good, readable book on Music Theory. In my experience many turn out to be classroom references or music notation only books, but Music Theory for Dummies covers the gamut of subjects, including on the way, music notation, a brief history, and forms of music and it does it all logically and informally with clearly laid out sections and diagrams.
So if you want to know the difference between an imperfect and plagal cadence; between a Rondo and a Sonata or the contribution to music of Pythagoras, this 336 page book has it all and for these reasons, I can recommend it to anybody that wants to study music theory from beginners to intermediate level.
So if you want to know the difference between an imperfect and plagal cadence; between a Rondo and a Sonata or the contribution to music of Pythagoras, this 336 page book has it all and for these reasons, I can recommend it to anybody that wants to study music theory from beginners to intermediate level.
51 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an impressive book making a normally dry subject amusing and entertaining. It is fun to read and understand, explaining everything for the beginner and going into real detail for the more experienced.
The only word of criticism is that it is American and as a result doesn't consider that terminology such as semibreve, crotchet, quaver, semi-quaver even exist. Minim is mentioned but the others are not. Having said that the terms note, half-note, quarter-note etc. are more easily understood - however a little addendum would have helped even if in part of the history section.
It also comes with a CD that has a fantastic array of examples and concepts to listen to.
I have yet to work my way through the more complex parts of the book but I'm sure that it will provide me with the answers to questions that have puzzled me for years. I fully recommend buying it to anyone.
The only word of criticism is that it is American and as a result doesn't consider that terminology such as semibreve, crotchet, quaver, semi-quaver even exist. Minim is mentioned but the others are not. Having said that the terms note, half-note, quarter-note etc. are more easily understood - however a little addendum would have helped even if in part of the history section.
It also comes with a CD that has a fantastic array of examples and concepts to listen to.
I have yet to work my way through the more complex parts of the book but I'm sure that it will provide me with the answers to questions that have puzzled me for years. I fully recommend buying it to anyone.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Yet another delightful addition to the Dummies series on Music. I approaching Theory with some students, as there is already some distant memory, probably from siblings or peers, that 'Theory is Dull', and for the ABRSM is a compulsory unit before moving on to the Grade 6 practical examination. Also, arguably, Theory is decidedly useful for those undertaking GCSE & A-level.
I've been collecting different books on Theory, and this is by far the most approachable, and indeed the most useful. Typically for the series, it is set out in a readable, logical format, focussing on history of theory, and then moving from the staff to intervals, then scales and finally form. I do love their attempt to make theory relevant, with the information on important theorists. Also, the CD is hugely useful, in the days of multimedia learning.
A must.
I've been collecting different books on Theory, and this is by far the most approachable, and indeed the most useful. Typically for the series, it is set out in a readable, logical format, focussing on history of theory, and then moving from the staff to intervals, then scales and finally form. I do love their attempt to make theory relevant, with the information on important theorists. Also, the CD is hugely useful, in the days of multimedia learning.
A must.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Music Instruction
This lives up to the excellent information and clear instructions that the Dummie books are renowned for. In my case a great help with self learning for guitar playing
Published 19 days ago by bright
Harder than it looks!
There is a lot of material in this chunky book. However, my impression is that it's not quite aimed at the real beginner: learning music theory is surely only "easy" for a small... Read more
Published 1 month ago by finchy
Excellent for a near dummy
I bought this book to develop my understanding of music theory. And I have found it excellent, though I am going through it slowly and am about half way. Read more
Published 1 month ago by John H. Everington
Good Value
I bought this to accompany my efforts in learning to play the guitar.
It seems to be thorough and I feel it is good value for the £11-12 I paid for it.
It seems to be thorough and I feel it is good value for the £11-12 I paid for it.
Published 3 months ago by Lucky Lad
Music Theory for Dummies
This is a fab book, I haven't done music theory since the age of 11 (and it did not go in then at all). Read more
Published 13 months ago by Emma Lou
American!
Only crjb seems to have gotten the point - this is an American book, and therefore uses the terms quarter-notes, eigth-notes, etc, instead of crotchets and quavers. Read more
Published 16 months ago by anew52
Good for all the basics
Good book for those wanting to learn a bit of music theory basically from sratch
Published 21 months ago by grc
A great place to begin and great to come back to
Really enjoyed this book. Really helped me to start putting theory into practice too (on electric guitar). If you want a practical book this is very good. Read more
Published 21 months ago by BP1
MUSIC THEORY
THIS BOOK IS GREAT FOR LEARNING TO READ MUSIC. I LIKE THE WAY IT IS SET OUT. IF ANYONE IS
CONTEMPLATING A STUDY OF THIS SUBJECT THEN THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.
CONTEMPLATING A STUDY OF THIS SUBJECT THEN THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.
Published 22 months ago by MOSS
An Older Beginner
As I'm learning the piano and an 'older' beginner I wanted to get my head around theory so thought this book would be helpful. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Jay
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