Music Theory Book

ok so ive had a good root around the forum and havent found any suggestions on very basic beginners music theory books so suggestions would be appreciated.

ive found these on amazon.

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Music Theory

Music Theory For Dummies

Music Theory for Little Einsteins & Big Dummies

any good?

Are you wanting to learn music theory, or is this for someone else?

If it's for you, and I don't know if everyone will agree with this advice, but do you need it, really? If you're just learning to make music, I think you should wait until you have things like rhythm down, etc. The best way to learn about music is to explore it yourself I think, just find a friend who knows how to play the piano, and ask them to show you some things. Or take very simple advice:

Go on a keyboard, and from one octave, pick 7 keys that you think sound good together. Then just play around with them. A good one to start with is the 5 black keys, and then the one white key to the left of the grouped 3 black keys, and also the other white key to the right of the grouped 3 black keys.

But yeah, if this is for someone else I guess it's pointless to get into it. =P

I dont recall him asking if we think he should learn theory.... he asked for recommendations for a book on the subject.

For all you know he has already done all that other stuff you mentioned, and is merely ready to take the next step of reading/studying it.

It seems people can't even say the phrase "music theory" without some knee-jerk response of "you don't need it!"

NDB: I recall someone posting a website that was free and very thorough.... you said you've looked around, so I'll see if I can find it myself...

A gift from Iain C.

http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm

  Kcinsu said:

I dont recall him asking if we think he should learn theory.... he asked for recommendations for a book on the subject.

 

For all you know he has already done all that other stuff you mentioned, and is merely ready to take the next step of reading/studying it.

 

It seems people can't even say the phrase "music theory" without some knee-jerk response of "you don't need it!"

 

NDB: I recall someone posting a website that was free and very thorough.... you said you've looked around, so I'll see if I can find it myself...

I'm not saying he shouldn't go and learn it, but it would suck if he jumped into it instantly. I think for most people, if they aren't 100% determined to learn it, it'd just make them lose interest in making music.

bollocks, music theory is fascinating. and the more of it you know, the more interesting and useful it is.

  NDB said:

ok so ive had a good root around the forum and havent found any suggestions on very basic beginners music theory books so suggestions would be appreciated.

 

ive found these on amazon.

 

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Music Theory

 

Music Theory For Dummies

 

Music Theory for Little Einsteins & Big Dummies

 

any good?

quite often books that claim to be about Music Theory spend most of their pages talking about Music Notation, which is a lot less interesting.

at a glance, I'd say the "complete idiots guide to music theory" looks like the best one out of those three

There are websites that are very good though,

This site (already mentioned) http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm comes recommended, but maybe it has too much detail?

I found this site: http://www.musictheory.net/ pretty useful - everything is divided up into neat little lesson modules

again, the first sections are all about notation, but when you get further in it starts talking more about music theory