Music Theory for Dummies

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; and 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 e-Book file.

Introduction.Part I: Rhythm: Keeping the Beat.Chapter 1: What Is Music Theory Anyway?Chapter 2: Counting Out Notes.Chapter 3: Giving It a Rest.Chapter 4: Time Signatures.Chapter 5: Naturalizing the Best.Chapter 6: Tempo and Dynamics.Part II: Melody: The Part You Hum.Chapter 7: The Musical Staff.Chapter 8: Instrument Tone and Color.Chapter 9: Half Steps, Whole Steps, Sharps, and Flats.Part III: Harmony: Fleshing It Out.Chapter 10: Intervals.Chapter 11: Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths.Chapter 12: The Major and Minor Scales.Chapter 13: Building Chords.Chapter 14: Chord Progressions.Chapter 15: Cadence.Part IV: Form: How It's Shaped.Chapter 16: The Elements of Form.Chapter 17: Classical Forms.Chapter 18: Popular Forms.Part V: The Part of Tens.Chapter 19: Six Most-Frequently Asked Questions About Music Theory.Chapter 20: Ten Cool and Useful Resources.Chapter 21: Nine Music Theorists You Should Know About.Appendix A: How to Use the CD.Appendix B: Chord Chart.Appendix C: Glossary.Index.

 Be the first to write a customer review