Music Theory For Beginners

Illustrated by J. Lee. — Danburry: For Beginners, 2015. — 176 p. — ISBN: 1939994462Learning to read and write music is very similar to learning a new language. Music theory is the study of the fundamental elements of music and how it is written.Music Theory For Beginners was developed for anyone interested in learning to read and write music, a task that can be quite daunting for novices. This book, however, will allay any fears and set you on the path to learning what all those dots, lines, and symbols actually mean. It provides the necessary scholarly muscle to entice and inform the reader, yet it does not require any prior knowledge of music or force the reader to wade through hundreds of pages of jargon and details.Whether your goal is to gain a cursory understanding of music, become fluent in reading music, or start composing your own music, this text will provide everything you need for a solid foundation in music theory. Anyone can pick up Music Theory For Beginners and instantly start learning about—and understanding—music theory.ContentsList of FiguresForewordPrefaceIntroduction: The Elements of MusicNo Pitches Allowed—Rhythm, Beat, Tempo, and MeterThe Building Blocks of RhythmMeter, the Framework for RhythmMusical NotationNotating Pitch (and What Pitch Is)The Evolution of Musical NotationScales and KeysMajor Scales and KeysMinor Scales and KeysMore Scales!Intervals and HarmonyIntervalsSweet, Sweet Harmony Putting (Music) Theory into PracticeWriting HarmoniesWriting MelodiesThe Syntax of MusicEpilogueGlossaryFurther ReadingAbout the Author and Illustrator