Hey guys -
Is there such a thing as a Music Theory for Dummies book? I found a cool page on theory ( http://www.cis.rit.edu/~jerry/Audio/theory/theory.html ) and would like to learn more. Are there any exceptional texts out there for the music student who can locate notes on a piano scale or a staff, but that’s about it?
A big question comes to mind… Why do you want to learn music theory?
I have my Master’s degree in music, and I remember spending long tedious hours studying Bach chorales in the first year of Music Theory.
If you just want to learn chords, chord progressions, styles, modes and such. The best way I can think of getting a good hands-on understand would be to learn to play the piano. Preferrably with a good piano instructor - a big plus if they play jazz.
If you just want to learn the bare-bones boring theory, I’d recommend checking out your local college bookstore. Many of the 1st year theory books nowadays come with a CD-Rom tutorial. Unfortunately, I don’t know the name of any particular book at the moment to recommend, especially since the theory book I personally refer to is almost 10 years old.
Good Luck, and happy tooting.
-Frank
[ This Message was edited by: DrGiggles on 2002-07-30 14:52 ]
I can’t suggest any books, but let me ask you: Why do you want to learn music theory? Just for the general enlightenment, or do you have a specific purpose or starting point? It’s a huge field, between modes, harmonics, fugues, and twelve-ton music…
EDIT: DrGiggles go there first 
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-07-30 14:59 ]
On 2002-07-30 14:50, DrGiggles wrote:
If you just want to learn chords, chord progressions, styles, modes and such. The best way I can think of getting a good hands-on understand would be to learn to play the piano.
I agree that a piano or some sort of keyboard is a big help. It lets you see relationships that are not apparant on other instruments. If you are primarily interested in this from the standpoint of folk or Irish music you can find some articles on modal harmony online. Here’s one:
http://www.standingstones.com/theorcnr.html
Here’s another:
http://www.celticmusic.com/magazine/tunes/modes/
You might get something out of one of Chris Smith’s articles. Try the one on modes.
http://geocities.com/coyotebanjo/instruction/
Steve
Why? Well…why not? (I am like this. This is the Interesting Hobby of the Month, apparently. If I still have interest in it in September, it makes the “keep” list. Sometime when you have a few hours I’ll give you a list of my wide variety of Interesting Hobbies that never made the cut.)
And I tried to learn piano when I was younger. Also tried guitar. But I can never do two different notes at once, or two different actions with my hands. This is why whistle has been so much more successful!
And I am not so much interested in names and places. I don’t know enough about it to even say what does interest me about it, though. You can blame Tom. 
He said something about ‘fifths’ in Salt Lake and it’s been buzzing around my head.
avanutria=young girl w/ much time on hands
avanutria = young engineer with too much random access memory
My violin teacher required theory as a part of my lessons (she has a doctorate in composition-ugh) and had me get John Brimhall’s Theory Notebook. Although I have never seen or used any other book or method, this book seemed sufficient for me. It is a fairly basic workbook that teaches probably every thing you would want to know (why on earth someone would actually care that a 64th note is called a hemidemi semiquaver, I will never know…). I got it about 5 years ago, so I don’t know if it is still around. But I also have to agree with the others that a piano or keyboard helps quite a bit, at least when it comes to visualizing the chords, etc.
On 2002-07-30 15:46, Karina wrote:
(why on earth someone would actually care that a 64th note is called a hemidemi semiquaver, I will never know…).
Actually, if you play in a traditional British orchestra, they may use the term hemi-demi-semi quaver. And a 128th note is a Semi-hemi-demi-semi quaver. And if you ever go beyond a 128th note, then the composer is showing off, but it would be a Demi-semi-hemi-demi-semi quaver.
In German, a 64th note would be called a Vierundsechziggstel note. If you play in France, it would be called an Octuple croche. And in italian it would be called a Semi biscrona.
This can actually be important if you play in an orchestra that has guest conductors from other countries.
See what you’re getting into?? And this is just over one note!
Merry Pippins,
Frank
On 2002-07-30 16:10, DrGiggles wrote:
And if you ever go beyond a 128th note, then the composer is showing off, but it would be a Demi-semi-hemi-demi-semi quaver.
Okay, now I KNOW I want to learn this stuff. Anyone here ever read Fox in Socks?
Avanutria, don’t let them rain on your parade. YOU’RE INTERESTED, and that’s all that matters; the above replies to you aren’t helpful to someone with a curious mind.
If you don’t have time to audit a college course, try browsing Amazon and seeing what’s there, or finding a local high school music teacher and seeing if there is a tutor who is just as enthusiastic a teacher as you are a pupil.
And a suggestion. . .for anyone who has the gall to say “Why would you want to know that?” you might fire back, “Why does that matter to you?”
Right on, Tyghress.
Beth, I’ll ask Barb tonight. She can probably recommend some books to get you going. We may even have a couple you’d be welcome to borrow.
The question of why do you want to learn music theory is in no way a discouagement to do so. Please don’t think of it as such. Any willingness to learn is always a synergistic advancement to the whole.
However…
Why you want to learn music theory is a perfectly valid question.
Are you learning it to improve your whistle playing? If so, you’ll want to learn ear-training and interval recognition as well as theories in synchopation and some Music History.
Are you learning it to be a better improvisional player? Then you’ll want to study Harmony Theory, Progression Theory and Basic Composition.
Are you learning it to be a composer? Then you’ll want to study all of the above, plus Theories in Conducting, Advanced Meter theory and Extended studies in Chordal Progression.
In NO WAY was I trying to discourage the learning of music theory. However, giving someone a yellow-brand “Music Theory” book isn’t always the best solution - even at an introductory level.
Sincerely,
Frank
I would recommend keeping things simple at first and stick to learning more about: scales, modes, and intervals. Those are the foundational basics anyway and are directly relevant to your whistle playing.
As far as resources, here’s something for free:
http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm
I haven’t really looked through it though.
You might also do a http://www.google.com search for “scales modes intervals music” and see what you get.
-John
I agree, DrGiggles. (Sorry Tygh )
aventuria, if you don’t know what a fifth is and why it matters to a whistler, you should look at different stuff than you would want to look at in order to analyse a Bach fugue.
I think in your place I’d surf the web a bit until you get the basics (like names for intervals, scales, chords), and then see what else you are interested in.
On 2002-07-30 18:03, DrGiggles wrote:
The question of why do you want to learn music theory is in no way a discouagement to do so. Please don’t think of it as such. Any willingness to learn is always a synergistic advancement to the whole.However…
Ahh, there’s the help I need. See, I didn’t know those differences. Okay, based on the options you listed, which I understand do not represent the entire spectrum of possibilities, here’s what interests me:
Are you learning it to improve your whistle playing? If so, you’ll want to learn ear-training and interval recognition as well as theories in synchopation and some Music History.
Are you learning it to be a better improvisional player? Then you’ll want to study Harmony Theory, Progression Theory and Basic Composition.
So with that in mind, now what? BTW I do currently play by ear, can recognize the notes of the staff but not everything else on it (never quite got time signatures down in my ill fated piano lessons) and want to improve my music reading as well.
Ahh… Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. Now tell your friends to put their pitchforks and torches away.
So, what we’re looking for is more of a hands-on approach to theory as opposed to a cold-facts approach.
Check out this website: http://www.mibac.com
They have a very good rudimentary hands-on theory instruction software. Download the demo and see if it’s what you’re looking for. The software is about $100, but it’s very clear on the fundamentals of music theory and ear-training.
Hope this helps,
Frank
Another series of books/software (if you can find them) that you might want to look into is called Essentials of Music Theory. I have a copy of the book, but I understand that a supplement has been added for computer.
It’s pretty good, and will give you a good fundamental understanding of modes, time signatures, and the such.
However, remember, while you’re learning all this: It’s called theory for a reason.
Don’t let it take the joy out of playing and listening. Listen to other players, ask questions, use what you like, and disregard what you don’t. Most of all, let the music be in you… it’s a sad world when people lose their tunes.
My sincere apologies.
I don’t have a pitchfork, but I am gently setting my printing calculator back on my desk. (I think I’ve been working too hard on these quarterly taxes–temporary insanity.)
You guys are cool. Great to have so many music teachers on the board.
Anyway, Beth, if none of the above ideas work, I’d be glad to show what a fifth is next time we see each other. (for starters, it refers to the distance between two notes on a scale, or less properly between two chords in a progression) I find that some of these things are hard to explain through mail, but easy to show. But maybe that’s just me.
By the way, (Giggles, you might be amused by this, too) last year I have my fifth graders doing college intro level music theory, mostly chord progressions, and composing their own music. Not only did they get it, they loved it. My secret? I never told them they were learning music theory. 
The basics really aren’t that hard, especially for someone with your innate “ear.” You’ll pick it right up.
May I echo…whose suggestion was it?..to try to find a private teacher, or audit a college course. Both require money and time, but no one said it would be easy.
Good luck–Tom