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Can anyone suggest any good music theory books?

Hi burn,

As you might imagine, this topic comes up quite often and there are lots of choices. A search (use the "search" tab at the top of the page) on "music theory book" either on this forum or on all open forums will give you the chance to see recommendations people have made in the past.

I have two that I like:

For a light hearted romp I suggest "Edly's music theory for practical people" by Edly (Ed Roseman)

http://www.amazon.com/Edlys-Music-T...mp;s=books&qid=1184554081&sr=8-1

For something more structured, I suggest "Basic Materials in Music Theory: A programmed course." by Paul O Harder. Get a used earlier edition. The newer ones are too expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Materia...mp;s=books&qid=1184554505&sr=1-2

If you are a real beginner with theory I'd recommend Alfred's Theory book

http://www.amazon.com/Alfreds-Essen...mp;s=books&qid=1184596811&sr=8-1

It's got nice short chapters with questions and answers in the back so you can check if you understood it and every 4 or 5 chapters, there's one on ear training, also starting very basic.

And the absolutely wonderful How Music Really Works by Wayne Chase. 888 pages, and lots of "aha" moments.

http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/

-Steve

Contemporary Music Theory
Books 1, 2, 3
Mark Harrison

http://harrisonmusic.bizhosting.com/theory_and_harmony_methods.html

Rodney

To Burn, Theory suggestion... If possible in your budget consider as an option to hire a first class professional, concert level pianist with improv abilities too. Someone at this level who can arrange from lead sheets, who knows theory and uses theory to arrange often, compose,etc. I did this and learned so much in one year. Now I can improv plus pick up a sheet of classical music and read much, much faster. My teacher was so advanced he could perform on the Kennedy stage classical piano and arrange popular songs from lead sheets too. I was blessed to find him in the Yellow Pages... This would open your beautiful world of music even more. Good luck with whatever option you decide to take. Sandy B

I've studied theory off and on all my life. The only times I have really gained any knowledge were when I was in a class or with an instructor. The books just don't really cut it. You need context.

The books are also pretty much all the same.

That said, I like "The Idiot's Guide to Music Theory." Being an expert idiot, it worked for me as well as any.

J Mark... You are so on target with my musicial education experience too... Teachers , professors of music to learn theory alone is the ultimate route to take. We took that route Mark and I recommend this route to all interested... who want to seriously learn music theory. I had two classical piano teachers, both with Masters degrees in Music Ed and I was taught theory too by them. When I really learned theory, many years later , was with an excellent piano teacher, one year of just theory and arranging music, mostly from fake sheets, lead sheets, etc. I had the strong desire to play piano from fake sheets so this is why I went back to study theory. Twenty years after my classical piano studies ended. I worked very hard too as I was thrilled and so grateful to have a top pro teach me theory. Now I can read written music much better and faster too , aside from improv., Big Band, etc. Nothing worthwhile is easy and short cuts are usually a waste of time if one wants to excel. Grandma will stop preaching...Chuckles... I learned all this the hard way...Maybe we will help others J. Mark to learn from our mistakes...Please consider our suggestion for theory studies. Sandy B

Any recommendations where to take a class if you're not a full-time student and/or work full-time?

I'd love to take a Learning Annex class or something of that sort, but I've never seen it offered as "Continuing Ed" anywhere.

Hi Sandra. It's funny how it does come back, isn't it? But in the context of a more mature person, with the right desire to learn, a teacher, and a musical goal, it works so much better.

Mechanical Doll: Where in NY are you? I live in Westchester, and take lessons at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains. I know there are tons of places in Manhattan, but I haven't live in Manhattan for over a decade, so I am not really up to speed on that. Others could help, I'm sure.

If you want to learn Music Theory, get a teacher. Period. You can't ask questions to a book.

Okay, Okay, that's the teacher in me coming out. I just hate to see people confused and give up when it's all so very easy to understand if taught correctly.

Get a teacher! Get a teacher! Get a teacher!

Get a THEORY teacher!

As much fun as the computer games are, and as much as the theory books are all encompassing, they just do not follow the sequential path for a beginner to learn exactly what is necessary at any step of the learning to read and understand music game. Each person has individual needs as to what the content of the lesson should be...whether a music assignment or theory or technique. One size does not fit all!

Everything has to be learned well before proceeding to the next idea. Adults usually read randomly all over the scope of theory subjects when studying on their own. They probably are not aware of the importance of sequencial learning.

Learn what you need to know WHEN you need to know it. Make that AS you need to know it. Instruction must happen at the appropriate time.

Two heads collaborating together are better than one. Better than any book, and better than any website theories. When you are on your own with a book, or a computer game or drill, who do you have to confer and verify things with.

Misinformation, or information applied as knowledge when it is incorrect is very hard to remove. And it colors everything that you would do in the future if it is misunderstood.

This is too serious a project to do it yourself. if you think it's easy, open the hood to your car, and have a go at fixing it. Or, perform surgery starting tomorrow, or, stand up and give a 5 minutes speech on "raptors" for a grade - right this very minute.

Playing piano takes time and effort and preparation by the student and a human guide who is an experienced musician and teacher. Collaboration.

Betty, I love your attitude! Everything you said there strikes me as so fundamentally true.

Now, let's see...I need to understand the movement from G to C...*because* it is what happens right *here* in the Bach C Prelude... Ah, yes. Now it makes sense!

J.Mark!

You don't mind my attitude? I certainly have one about some things. And, this subject is one of them.

I didn't mean to "strike you" J.Mark!

Fundamental it is.

To the serious projects one would attempt with no experience let's add: fly a airplane, and be an attorney. (I hope that was funny to you!)

We know that some things take lots of preparation and serious intent. We all can't "wing it".

Betty

I live in Brooklyn currently, but have Metro Card, will travel.

I agree with superlocrian's "get a teacher" motto, and I have a wonderful piano teacher, but the idea of using lesson-time for nitty-gritty-type theory doesn't really appeal (I wanna play, and it's damned expensive to boot!). My teacher of course does cover some, but I wonder if learning in a classroom setting would help me to retain more and understand the stuff that I can technically recite textbook-verbatim at you, but don't really get in a practical sense.

I'm really interested in Edly's Music Theory for Practical People but the library doesn't have copies, crumbs.