Music Theory: From Beginner to Expert - The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide to Understanding and Learning Music Theory Effortlessly
Language: English
Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018
Series: Book 1 of 2 - Essential Learning Tools for Musicians
- Softcover
- Used

Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.World of Books (was SecondSale)
AbeBooks seller since December 20, 2007
Condition: Used - Very good
US$ 9.96
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Unique, practical and straightforward way to learn music theory and discover how music really works. Newly updated and massively expanded edition with new content, exercises and images. This book also features the links to audio examples (hosted on external website). These examples allow you to hear the relevant music theory concepts and understand them better Have you ever wanted: To know how music theory can make you a better player (on any instrument)?To understand how music works, why we have 12 notes, how they relate to each other and why we use intervals with imperfect resonance?To understand how music theory is not just some made up rules we invented out of thin air; how it's actually based on the natural laws and stems from natural occurrences, like overtone series?To unlock the mysteries of notes, intervals, music scales, modes, keys, circle of fifths, chords and chord progressions, rhythms and other important concepts in music, and how they all relate to one another?To get a deep understanding of scales, modes and chords, where they come from, what are the different types that exist, how they're built, and how to use any chord or scale in your playing?To learn how to form, name and play any chord that is possible to play?To learn how rhythm works and how to master your rhythm and timing skills that will make you sound like a pro on any instrument?To understand harmony and the magic behind all the beautiful music that you love and how you can (re)create it by yourself?To get a wider perspective on tonal harmony and how melody, harmony, and rhythm work together?To understand composition and improvisation, and how to use voice leading and chord inversions to create beautiful harmonies?To get a grasp on the advanced concepts (such as modal playing, atonality, polychords and polytonality, free music, etc.) that usually only advanced jazz musicians may consider using?But.Have you ever had trouble learning music theory or thought that it was unnecessary, boring or too hard to learn?Have you perhaps thought using intellect will be bad for your playing?If you find yourself in any of this, then this book is the answer you've been looking for. It covers pretty much everything that anyone who plays or wants to play music should know. It is the book to have if you want to become a better musician, and have by your side as an immensely useful reference of knowledge. This book is structured in a way that makes it very easy to follow, digest and internalize all important concepts that constitute music theory. What's great is that you don't have to be a college musician in order to understand and use any of this - anyone can do it, even a total newbie. It also doesn't matter what instrument(s) you play, nor your current level of knowledge and playing ability, because music theory is universal and all about what sounds good together Anyone can benefit from it. It explains the WHY and HOW, and it is your roadmap - a skill and a tool, guided by your ears, for creating your best music. This is the most comprehensive and evergreen book on music theory that you can find - a book you'll wish to study and refer to often, and keep it forever. You'll also wish to gift it your friends and discuss about its content with other musicians.It will give you what is necessary to become an expert in music theory without frustration and feeling overwhelmed in the process, and this in-turn will have immense benefits to your playing and musicianship But don't take my word for it, use the Look Inside feature by clicking on the book cover to get a preview of what you'll find inside. Get this book now and solve all your problems with music theory.…
Seller Inventory # 00109488210
- Title
- Music Theory: From Beginner to Expert - The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide to Understanding and Learning Music Theory Effortlessly
- Author
- Nicolas Carter
- Publisher
- Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
- Publication year
- 2018
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1986061833
- ISBN 13
- 9781986061834
- Series
- Book 1 of 2: Essential Learning Tools for Musicians
Understand the music you play and put it to use – one clear path through music theory, from your first note to advanced harmony, on any instrument.
Most of us come to theory wanting the same thing. We want to know why a song works, find our way around the instrument, play by ear, improvise, and maybe write our own music. This book takes you there one step at a time. It starts with what a note is and why we have 12 of them, and it goes all the way to substitutions, modal interchange and polytonality.
Music isn't math. Music is a language, and theory is its grammar. You don't learn a language from a list of rules, so every idea here is explained in plain words, shown on the piano keyboard where you can see every note, and tied back to how it sounds.
What's inside
- Notes and intervals: sound and pitch, octaves, why we have 12 notes, tuning and the overtone series, and every interval spelled out.
- Scales, modes and keys: the pentatonic scales and their five modes, major and minor, the seven diatonic modes, the modes of harmonic and melodic minor, key signatures and the circle of fifths.
- Chords: triads, sus, seventh, extended, altered and quartal chords, inversions and voicings, slash chords, voice leading, polychords, progressions and modulation.
- Rhythm: time signatures, simple, compound and complex meters, tuplets, polyrhythm, and 17 one-beat rhythm building blocks you can hear.
- Putting it together: chord and note function, the types of harmony, composing and improvising, timbre, dynamics and dissonance.
- Beyond: chord and progression substitution, the Coltrane cycle, modal harmony, improvising with chord tones and chord-scales, chromaticism, atonality and the avant-garde.
Hear it as you read. 47 audio examples go with the text. Each mode is played over a drone, so you can hear its character for yourself. In the paperback and hardcover, every example has a short web link next to the text; type it into your browser and the clip plays.
Who it's for. Self-taught players who want to know what they're doing, musicians coming back to music after years away, and curious beginners – on guitar, piano, bass, voice or anything else. Theory works the same on every instrument.
Before you start. This book teaches theory without sheet music, so you don't need to read notes. If you want to learn to read music too, my book How to Read Music covers that, and the two work well side by side. If you're starting from zero, take Part 1 slowly: the sections on tuning and the math behind the 12 notes are there for the curious, and I point out which ones you can skip on a first read.
It's a book to read more than once and keep near your instrument, with comparison charts for the modes, the major scale in all keys, a few short exercises on intervals, scales, modes and rhythm, and a cheat sheet at the back.
First published in 2016 and revised over four editions. Nicolas Carter's music theory books have sold over 100,000 copies.
Take a look inside, start with Part 1, and enjoy the process.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Privately, Nicolas is a swimming coach, cyclist enthusiast and holds a degree in ecology. His diverse interests do not detract him from exploring his deep passion, which is playing music and understanding and distilling complex subjects such as music theory and how music works. As a young guitar player he became very interested in learning about how music and sound work. This led him to discovering music theory, which he spent years studying and has since taught to many other musicians. He was inspired to start creating books because he saw a need for a resource that explains music theory and how music works in an interesting way, accessible to any musician. He wanted to create books that will be an indispensable value and a tremendous resource to all musicians. He loves animals and has two dogs and a cat.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
World of Books (was SecondSale)
Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since December 20, 2007
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