Which is the coolest book for learning music theory?

[lingyai]

For a different approach, Google for ”HookTheory”.

+100

[xx JPRacer xx]

For a different approach, Google for ”HookTheory”.

This looks interesting. Anyone want to share some info on it?

[Touch The Universe]

jan civil

[lingyai]

For a different approach, Google for ”HookTheory”.

This looks interesting. Anyone want to share some info on it?

In an extreme nutshell, it goes a long way towards demystifying / enabling you nearly immediately to start using harmonic theory (which chords tend to work well together in a given key), and to understand which notes to use to make a "sensible" accompanying melody. Basically uses a framework built on 7 -- 7 scale degrees for the chords (these are usually expressed as roman numerals) and the 7 notes in the scale (usually expressed as note names, e.g. A, B, etc). The layout used is extremely intuitive. It includes audio-visual examples. Be sure to do the exercises as they impart new material.

The only thing is, it seems to assume you already know something about scale degrees. If you don't, I would strongly suggest you spend $10 or so for a brilliant, 12-page primer book called "The Chord Wheel" (which also includes on its front cover a very handy reference device). It's on Amazon. Read that book first, then read HookTheory. Both are written very clearly.

If you are new to music theory, and work through these two, you should have light bulbs popping on all over the place. I did, anyway.

If you don't play an instrument well, I'd also suggest getting some kind of "chording" software so you can apply what these two sources teach. Examples of such software include the paid version of HookTheory's companion software ($5/month, I think); the superb EZKeys, Band in a Box (though that is overkill probably, and in many ways just a huge headache), ChordSpacePlayah, ToneSpace, Cthulu (though that can be a bit baffling at the start) et al.

[Cimbasso]

http://www.musictheory.net/lessons

Everything you need.

[Michael L]

+1 Musictheory.net, 'specially if you have an iPad.

There is an interactive online chord wheel at
Randscullard.com/CircleOfFifths/

Also, check out the book "Making Music: 74 creative strategies for electronic music producers" by Dennis DeSantis (pub by Ableton & Kindle ebook). It has music theory and focuses on being productive.

[Didas_94]

Complet idiot guide music theory 2ed, good writing, all elements are introduce and not very expensive.

[murnau]

Which is the coolest book for learning music theory?

You should try an intuit approach or was it Inuit?

[xx JPRacer xx]

For a different approach, Google for ”HookTheory”.

This looks interesting. Anyone want to share some info on it?

In an extreme nutshell, it goes a long way towards demystifying / enabling you ... ...

Thanks for taking the time to reply. This looks pretty interesting. Price is reasonable, I'm gonna get it.

[blueman]

For something fun and a little less technical, try this one: How to Write Songs on Keyboards

[Compyfox]

In recent years, I tried a lot of things.
In the end, I was really happy to stumble accross one book, and a handful of handy graphs on the internet. And thankfully enough, there are a load of software tools by now that really help you get you faster to a certain place rather than run into frustration with boring theory.



If you're in Germany, the book "Elementarlehre Musik" by Breitkopf & Härtel is a really, really great start and only has 40 pages.

Then, grab any Circle of Fifth you can get your hands on. But what I miss on these pages/apps/cardboard circles the most, are progression charts. I wish my music classes back in the days in school were that simple and informative as the stuff you can find nowadays on the crazy thing called "internet":

http://fabriziopoce.com/progressive.html (take note of the chart to the top right)
http://www.angelfire.com/music/HarpOn/theory2.html (take not of the charts in the middle of the page)
http://www.miltonline.com/2013/09/28/to ... t-diagram/ (a more advanced, however sadly confusing chart)


Once you got that sorted... then creating interesting chord progressions while songwriting is really simple.
From this point onward, you can use tools like old "Nuffink ChordSpace" and "ChordSpace Playa", or the IMO spiritual successor to the latter, the CodeFN42 Cales and Chordz. The excellent Toontrack EZKeys was also mentioned.



Want to find out what key your song is in, but only have a melody?

Also fairly simple:
Take a look at the notes you wrote down (either as actual notes, or as piano roll). See how many sharps or flats were played. Then take a chart like shown on this wiki page (middle, left) and you're good to go.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_key

Adding chord progressions to "harmonize" your melody is now really simple.



Only have chords at hand but don't know how to "interpret them" to find the correct key?

If it's in individual WAV tracks, or even mixed into a song, then maybe try HORNET PLUGINS' "Song Key"
http://www.hornetplugins.com/plugins/hornet-songkey/



Want to know the relation between "third, fifth, seventh" and the likes, and what semitones they represent?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factor_%28chord%29 (take note of the dropdown menu at the bottom of the article)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interval_% ... _intervals

This is where "HookTheory" might come into play. I never invested funds, so I don't know if this book has an easy chart that links "numbers" like "third, fifth" and the likes to your keyboard. But if you're lazy like me... here's a starting point with even more charts.

http://steelguitaramerica.com/instructi ... tion.shtml (shows a list of semitones and their connection up until major 14th)
http://www.soundpunk.com/topic/4150-tra ... semitones/ (lost on what key's to press? This might be a starting point)
http://www.guitarplayerworld.com/beginn ... intervals/ (sub-point: naming the intervals)

Want it even more simplified?
http://www.axecentral.com/music-in-easy ... 11466.html (take note of the top row of this chart, with numbers from 1 to 13, the letters below that show the keys that correlate to that number - it's also a great relative key chart)




This should keep you busy for a while. But it does cover the main theory basics. At least IMO - my main focus is rooted in mixing rather than songwriting these days.

[anomandaris1]

You can basically find most of the musical theories (including some "esoteric" ones like serial and avantgarde stuff) explained online - just check wikipedia.

[manducator]

I don't know if this is the coolest book but it's free:

http://cnx.org/contents/2ad74b7b-a72f-4 ... Music_Theo

[blueman]

The tricky thing about "music theory" is that it is, well...theory The concepts can be difficult to anchor, and thus hard to grasp. The main thing is to get away from the esoteric ideas and into the practical application; iow, apply what you learn.

Other than the How to Write Songs on Keyboards book I mentioned above, the Groove3 training series Songwriting Theory Explained does an excellent job bringing these ideas into the real world, where they can be applied.

As seen from the responses here, there are several different ways to explain and demonstrate the application of theory. Like anything else, it's important to find the technique that works for you. I would encourage you to try different things until something clicks. Don't stay stuck on one format, book, video training, etc. I have bang my head against the wall too many times by staying with something that just wasn't working, simply because it was recommended or I had time invested. If it is not clicking, then move on to something different.

[Ledger Note]

I learned all of the basics easily from: Foundations of Music and Musicianship by David Damschroder. It has plenty of worksheets, works at a natural pace, introduces new elements in a logical order, and has a CD for listen-alongs.