What IsThe Best Book For Learning Professional Music Theory?

[hosseinz]

hello.
I am student in computer science.I play classic and electric guitar along 7 years but I was not go to learning music theory and harmony.
I am searching in Google and Amazon site for finding the best professional music theory book for download but I don't find it.
PLEASE INTRODUCE ME ONE THE BEST PROFESSIONAL MUSIC THEORY REFERENCE BOOK FOR DOWNLOAD.
THANK A LOT.

[Km7]

Professional music theory? I have never heard of that term before. Also, what kind of music theory - basic theory, harmony, counterpoint, forms, orchestration, jazz harmony and arranging, contemporary compositional techniques, etc.?

[sauli]

Professional music theory is to music theory as professional wrestling is to wrestling.

[Meffy]

Professional music theory is to music theory as professional wrestling is to wrestling.

KVR regularly features Professional Music Theory League No-Ropes Barbed Wire Death Matches.

Here, from another thread -- I don't know whether it's downloadable but it's lessons:
http://www.musictheory.net/lessons

[wrench45us]

books like teachers have different styles and appeal to different personalities and ways of learning, not to mention background

Mark Levine's "Jazz Theory" book is generally well-regarded

There's a book that expands on the Berklee method of teaching theory called "The Chord Scale Theory and Jazz Harmony"

the most practical book I've found is Marc Sabatelli's "The Harmonic Language of Jazz Standards"

these aren't esp geared toward guitarists, so maybe someione else could suggest books from that perspective


match play notwithstanding

[Artgiver]

For guitar search for Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask at Amazon.

[flugel45]

Professional music theory means nothing. "Practical" is probably a better thing to shoot for.

If you can read music, you have a good start. Find one or two of the short, practical lesson books that gives you the basics on chords, harmony and arranging/voice-leading. The better ones incorporate ear-training with audio examples (on a CD/DVD).

Then, when you feel you're ready for the next step:

Shortcut method. Go online and find the midi files of 5 songs you like and know really well. If the midi files sound good played though a Midi or Karaoke file player, import the midi file to your DAW and you now have a ready-made arrangement you can study and try to duplicate, improve upon, etc.

Longer method. Take 5 songs you like and know well (best if they're in different styles), and try to transcribe them from their recordings, or sheet music. Once you've managed to write out the arrangements, try to recreate the parts in your DAW. See how close you can make them sound to the originals. (Remixes are not recommended at this stage. Why? Because the emphasis now is on composing/arranging, not mixing technique).

Complete the above at least once before you try an original.

Rinse and repeat.

(This is my own personal self-study syllabus for the DIY noob composer-arranger -- completely concocted by a fellow DIY composer-arranger... me). Don't jump down my throat because you have a PH.D in music composition and think my methods are crap. If you know so much better, offer to tutor the fellow...

[jancivil]

I don't know any books, I think we had Elie Siegmeister in community college.
I had 2 classes with great teachers, and it wasn't out of books, it was 'do this exercise and make it work'.

However I can tell you from my experiences lately, that that Berklee approach must work, because I'm working with people what hear the thing, in context, know what to play and contribute. Getting it done with the least fuss = professionalism in my book. It saves me time/money. When that happens, people will call you back.

[tapper mike]

http://www.amazon.com/Arranging-Techniq ... 082561130X

While not delving too deep into harmonic justification it covers a lot of ground.
Form, progressions, how to write melodies that people can sing. Practical arrangement, Time, Timing, and metre as elements of emotive qualtiies.

[Adrian Earnshaw Music]

Here's a link to an old book which takes you through the basics of classic harmony.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ws47 ... &q&f=false

Its a book called Elementary Harmony by Kitson and I've worked through this with my music teacher. It also helped with the playing side of things as at least you understand why you are playing what you are playing.

[seacouch]

"Jazz Theory" by Andrew Jaffee. Very nice overview; basically covers Berklee theory, but much better than most Berklee texts.

[peppy197]

Composing Music, by William Russo

and older book from late 19080s or so

but good


allen

[ttw]

Another book (or set thereof) that's good for a "classical" approach rather a "jazz" or "pop" approach is Steinke's "Harmonic materials in tonal music: a programmed course" parts 1 and 2. (New versions are expensive, 10th edition and all that.) Older versions (written by Harder or Steinke and Harder) are just as good. Even the third edition is quite good. These may be available in used book stores.

I also like Robert Gauldin's book, "Harmonic Practice in Tonal Music." His two counterpoint books (16th and 18th century styles) are also good.

[tomg]

That's a great question. How about some how to books.. Guitar without a master may be just what you are looking for. ... Old but stuffed with info.

Guitar without a master
http://www.archive.org/details/guitarwithoutmas00bost
How to play the piano
http://www.archive.org/details/howtoplaypiano00hamb
How to sing
http://www.archive.org/details/howtosin ... 00aldrgoog
The philosophy of singing
http://www.archive.org/details/philosop ... 00rogegoog