Beginner theory theory of music

[1954pip]

hi can anyone recomend a good book on the theory of music as i have started with no knowledge at all about music, i don't want anything to heavy but i want to try to get a basic knowledge,working knowledge?
pip

 

[Sunray]

Hope these help ...

I am wading through this one at present mate ...

It's OK ... Easy enough to get you started ...

There are many free on-line resources as well to help you ... [Here are a couple of links] ;}

Link1

Link2

Link3

 

[Pyrografix]

I'm also using Music Theory for Dummies - easy reading!

 

[Sweet Dreamer]

I haven't watched these yet myself so I don't know if they are any good or not, but this guy Lypur has a whole slew of music theory videos on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gHEIF0rT2w

 

[jazzdoh]

This a good theory book

The AB Guide to Music Theory, Part I

 

[Steve John B]

hi can anyone recomend a good book on the theory of music as i have started with no knowledge at all about music, i don't want anything to heavy but i want to try to get a basic knowledge,working knowledge?
pip

I've just started on this one, seems straightforward enough:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1860960901/ref=oss_product

 

[Andrew Sanders]

How to Read Music by James Sleigh and Mike Sheppard, very good with a complementary Website.
Very good and covers the basics plus a bit

 

[Sweet Dreamer]

I haven't watched these yet myself so I don't know if they are any good or not, but this guy Lypur has a whole slew of music theory videos on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gHEIF0rT2w

I'm on dial-up. I actually downloaded this video to see what it was like. Well, this is way too basic for me. At the rate this guy teaches it's going to be a very long time before he gets into anything interesting.

 

[kevgermany]

You need something that covers the basics (like notation, note values, pitch and so on) and then something that teaches chord stucture and notation.

This is pretty good for starting:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Harmony-The...9910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295594264&sr=8-1

And follow it up with jazzology:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jazzology-E...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295594366&sr=1-1

There's some overlap, but not too much wasted time.
But I found the second went too quickly for a novice. ymmv

 

[stefank]

Theory of music is best taught in a "practical application" context. What do you want/feel you need to know?

Having said that, I love the Dolmetsch site (Sunray's first link).

 

[TomMapfumo]

Couldn't agree more with Stefank on this one - there is potentially a lot to learn so it would be good to know what your priorities are - for some it might be understanding what the lines mean that music is written on, what a treble clef is, what a scale is, why some notes are written different to others, what 4/4 or 6/8 means and so on. I would recommend both getting one of the books mentioned above and also finding someone to ask questions about it so that your learning is overseen in some way. I'd be happy to act as a mentor, for example, as I imagine so would others. Just let us know......

Good Luck
Kind regards
Tom

 

[1954pip]

hi many thanks to allhave replied ijust feeliammissing some thing but also i need to try to under how to convert the writen word into music ,i know that does not make a lot of sense but i suppose that willcome with more practice.
but i would like to understand writen music more.
pip

 

[kevgermany]

but i would like to understand writen music more.
pip

I think the secret to that is to play from the written music, lookup the things you don't know, and eventually you'll be able to hear the tune in your head from reading. Takes some of us (like me) a long time, though. It may help if you do some interval training/exercises. Good stuff on the site I posted a link to earlier.

 

[stefank]

i would like to understand writen music more.

It's basically a two step process:

1. Learning/understanding.

2, Applying that knowledge to convert the dots into sounds.

When you can do step two without having to think (too much) about it, you have won.

 

[1954pip]

hi that means i've got a way to go, but some times it just seems to work.
maby thanks
pip

 

[swampster247]

Music theory for idiots is a good read, along the lines of music theory for dummies but the second edition is supplied with a cd to aid ear training. Have a look!!!

 

[visionari1]

Hi Tom,

I would welcome this!

I know theory has been holding back my understanding & ability to improvise.
Years ago I went to the Aebersold Jazz week in Louiville Kentucky and all of the theory went over my head.
Have lately been focusing on scales learning by ear and figuring out how to get so fluid with all the various ones.
I have most of the material (I think) sometimes too much choice is overpowering & confusing, so I would welcome some advice/mentoring around theory in relation to playing through the changes including how one fits this into a practise shedule.
I think one can practise scales till the cows come home, yet don't understand the theory enough to make it really come alive in being able to play at a Jam session, for instance.

Your thoughts on this Tom!

Cheers
Jimu

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Jimu!

I'd probably benefit from a little more clarification from you linking improvisation, scales, and jamming, as I am not sure how you would define your aims in this regard. I would find this helpful in order to know how to pitch a response - feel free to PM me on this.

Kind regards
Tom