Unlock essential guitar theory to boost your ability and confidence as a guitarist. Easy language. Music reading not required! (includes audio lessons - see inside book for details) Inside the 12 chapters of this guitar theory book you’ll learn about intervals, triads, major and minor keys, chord sequences - and understand how to apply them to your playing, improvising and songwriting. I’ll use diagrams and simple, non-intimidating language to teach you in minutes, things which confuse some guitarists for years. This guitar music theory book is for you if: - You want to boost your music theory knowledge so you can become the guitar player you really want to be - You’re a singer songwriter who needs to learn about chords, keys and chord progressions in order to write great songs (like you hear on recordings!) - You want to learn music theory but are unsure where to start - You’re a student who needs a crash course in music theory essentials to prepare for college auditions, entrance exams etc - You’re a beginner who wants to easily learn how music works as you take your first steps in learning to play guitar so you can avoid confusion, improve faster and learn more easily - You feel confused and intimidated by the ‘jargon’ you hear other musicians or YouTube teachers use - You ‘kind of’ understand theory… but you’re not really sure how well! What will this book teach you about? In the 12 lessons you’ll find super clear explanations, practical examples and quiz questions on: - The Musical Alphabet (the only 12 notes used in all music!) - Tones and Semitones - The Major Scale (learn what it actually is…) - Major and Minor Triads (as used in most pop, country, rock and folk music) - Major Scale Intervals (major 3rds, perfect 4ths...what are they?) - Chromatic Intervals (discover what weird names like diminished and augmented really mean) - Major Keys (Parts 1 & 2) - Chord Progressions (start writing pro sounding chord sequences and songs of your own) - Pentatonic Scales (the most common guitar scales ever…) - The Natural Minor Scale (essential for minor key soloing in rock, pop and other styles) - Minor Key Basics (learn the secrets of awesome minor key songs and chord sequences) How will you learn and remember all this? Easy! Each chapter introduces a new element of guitar theory. You get a clear but detailed explanation of the concept and multiple examples/practical exercises, FAQs and more to drive your understanding home. Test yourself using the quiz questions at the end of each chapter (answers supplied). To help you play certain practical examples there is also an appendix of common open chord shapes and barre chords at the back of the book. Plus, every chapter is also available to you as an audio file so you can immerse yourself in guitar theory whilst at the gym or walking the dog! You'll find details for these in the book. You Can Do This … and without all the bull! 'No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists' will make your journey as a guitarist much more enjoyable and way less confusing than mine has been! As a self-taught 18 year old guitarist, it literally took me years to figure this stuff out. I’ve taught the material in this book to thousands of musicians around the world both in person and via my website, and I can tell you this: Learning about music theory doesn’t need to be scary, confusing, difficult or something that you avoid doing because you don’t know where to start. It's time to become the guitar player you know you could be!

(Guitar Educational). Experience must-know music knowledge and wisdom through the highly focused lens of legendary guitar virtuoso Steve Vai. This full-color instructional book written by Vai himself features in-depth discussions of the music theory fundamentals that every aspiring (and veteran) guitar player should know, packed with practical exercises, diagrams, tips, inspiring ideas and concepts, practice methods, and ways of looking at music that you may have never considered. Topics covered include: academic vs. experiential learning * reading and writing music * key signatures * chord scales * rhythm basics * guitar harmonics * modes * and much more.

Taking your ABRSM Music Theory exam can be nerve wracking and nerves can prevent you doing your best in any exam. Good preparation and planning is always the answer to this problem. In this exam guide I give you tried and tested technique, not only how to prepare before the exam but also the best procedure for actually in the exam room.I've been entering pupils for ABRSM Music Theory exams for nearly thirty years and it is not unusual for them to pass with DISTINCTION, some even scoring 100%!Follow these simple steps and improve your chances of gaining TOP MARKS.

This powerful little 52 page music theory book is a great place to start for any music lover wanting to understand how music works. Also a YouTube sensation with over a quarter million students, this method shines a fresh light on music theory. The most basic and necessary topics in music theory are covered in depth here, using easy to understand visual aids and straight-forward English. This book applies to anyone who plays any instrument. The Musical Alphabet - Begin to associate pitch with letters. Scales - Use those letters to build scales, the most basic building block in music. Intervals and Musical Distance - Use scales to build intervals and create beautiful harmony. Melody - Use scales to create beautiful melodies. Harmony - Create chord progressions that make your melodies sing. Inverting Intervals and Chords - Learn to manipulate your intervals and chords for more interesting sounds. The Tritone - Use this spicy interval to create tension and resolution in your audience. Other Types of Chords and Their Functions - More chord flavors so you can begin mixing unique sounds together. The Circle of Fifths - This secret ingredient for knowing all chords and scales instantly is covered in depth. Borrowing Across Keys - Learn to borrow from other scales to create a mixture of feeling. Modes - Learn modes to create even more melodies!

Covers everything novice musicians and lifelong learners need to know. Full of music trivia, music history, comprehensive instruction and visual aids, music symbols, and chords throughout. This is a crash course in music theory that even professionals will enjoy.

This concise and clear guide to simplified music theory teaches readers who play music by ear how to read musical notation by guiding them through the basics of reading and composing music to share with others. In this revised edition, renowned music author Michael Miller will help you learn: The basics of tones, including pitches, clefs, and major and minor keys The building blocks of rhythm, including basic notation, time signatures, and tempo How to create tunes, starting with melodies, chords, chord progressions, and phrases and form Composing and arranging your own music, including coverage of musical genres and forms, arranging for voices and instruments, working with scores, and performing your music The basics of accompaniment, including transcribing, accompanying melodies, and transposing to other keys Michael will also share online ear training and transcribing exercises to help you better understand music analysis. If your goal is to learn how to read and compose music, Music Theory Note by Note will provide just what you need to become successful.

Take note: You can enjoy music analysis. This concise and clear guide to simplified music theory teaches readers who play music by ear how to read musical notation by guiding them through the basics of reading and composing music to share with others. In this revised edition, renowned music author Michael Miller will help you learn: The basics of tones, including pitches, clefs, and major and minor keys The building blocks of rhythm, including basic notation, time signatures, and tempo How to create tunes, starting with melodies, chords, chord progressions, and phrases and forms Composing and arranging your own music, including coverage of musical genres and forms, arranging for voices and instruments, working with scores, and performing your music The basics of accompaniment, including transcribing, accompanying melodies, and transposing to other keys Michael will also share online ear training and transcribing exercises to help you better understand music analysis. If your goal is to learn how to read and compose music, Music Theory Note by Note will provide just what you need to become successful.

Basic Music Theory takes you through the sometimes confusing world of written music with a clear, concise style that is at times funny and always friendly. The book is written by an experienced teacher using methods refined over more than ten years in his private teaching studio and in schools. --from publisher description.

The main purpose of the book is to explore basic music theory so thoroughly that the interested student will then be able to easily pick up whatever further theory is wanted. Music history and the physics of sound are included to the extent that they shed light on music theory. The main premise of this course is that a better understanding of where the basics come from will lead to better and faster comprehension of more complex ideas.It also helps to remember, however, that music theory is a bit like grammar. Catherine Schmidt-Hones is a music teacher from Champaign, Illinois and she has been a pioneer in open education since 2004. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois in the Open Online Education program with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction.

(Berklee Guide). Learn the nuances of music notation, and create professional looking scores. This reference presents a comprehensive look at contemporary music notation. You will learn the meaning and stylistic practices for many types of notation that are currently in common use, from traditional staffs to lead sheets to guitar tablature. It discusses hundreds of notation symbols, as well as general guidelines for writing music. Berklee College of Music brings together teachers and students from all over the world, and we use notation in a great variety of ways. This book presents our perspectives on notation: what we have found to be the most commonly used practices in today's music industry, and what seems to be serving our community best. It includes a foreword by Matthew Nicholl, who was a long-time chair of Berklee's Contemporary Writing and Production Department. Whether you find yourself in a Nashville recording studio, Hollywood sound stage, grand concert hall, worship choir loft, or elementary school auditorium, this book will help you to create readable, professional, publication-quality notation. Beyond understanding the standard rules and definitions, you will learn to make appropriate choices for your own work, and generally how to achieve clarity and consistency in your notation so that it best serves your music.