Rating: 
Summary: Bester, faster, cheaper than almost any other theory book
Review: Although this book is obviously not geared towards those undergoing heavy-duty classical music training, if you just want to learn what chord construction, chord progression, scales, and a little of what jazz and rock styles are all about, this is the book for you. This is, hands down, the best theory book for the player who just wants to play an instrument well enough to jam with his/her friends or to learn and play songs from a fake book. Even an accomplished musician who knows little about theory (and yes, those people do exist) can benefit from reading this plainly-written, enjoyable, and inexpensive little book.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST-OWN FOR EVERY MUSICIAN!
Review: I do not buy books unless they are REALLY useful. This book taught me much about music theory. If you are a beginner or if you are intermediate in your music knowledge I would recommend this book. It explains what octaves, scales, chords, melodies, rhythm, and so much more are. It also teaches you what a note is (a vibration at a certain rate per second), how the same note an octave higher is vibrating at twice the speed, etc. He makes music theory come alive. I give this book my highest rating. I wish more people would write such easy-to-understand books. It is also very cheap for a book that teaches you so much.
Rating:
Summary: Best book there is on the subject
Review: I do not buy books unless they are REALLY useful. This book taught me much about music theory. If you are a beginner or if you are intermediate in your music knowledge I would recommend this book. It explains what octaves, scales, chords, melodies, rhythm, and so much more are. It also teaches you what a note is (a vibration at a certain rate per second), how the same note an octave higher is vibrating at twice the speed, etc. He makes music theory come alive. I give this book my highest rating. I wish more people would write such easy-to-understand books. It is also very cheap for a book that teaches you so much.
Rating:
Summary: Practical, Easy-to-Understand, Concise
Review: I firmly believe that a knowledge of music theory is an indispensable tool for any musician, regardless of what instrument or style they play. Sadly, I see lots of guitarists who don't learn anything beyond downloaded tablature, and even some orchestra musicians who only know how to play what's written in front of them. But in music, just like any other field, it's easy to learn new things and communicate with others once you know the language. Which brings me to this book...This book is really cheap, skinny enough to fit in a guitar case, good for any instrument, has some funny illustrations, and (best of all) is written very clearly without going against convention. The author starts with some information on the science of sound, a brief history of music development, then looks at notes, scales, chords, progressions, applications to various music styles, and in the end some helpful suggestions on writing songs and jamming with other people. Granted, it's not the complete guide to music theory, and he does get some of the history of Pythagoreas wrong. But it's the perfect introductory book for the many musicians who haven't learned much, if any, music theory (and don't worry -- you don't need to know how to read sheet music to understand this book). If you want to learn the basics of music theory in an inexpensive, straight foward, yet fun way, then buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Title says it all. And don't let the low price fool you.
Review: I firmly believe that a knowledge of music theory is an indispensable tool for any musician, regardless of what instrument or style they play. Sadly, I see lots of guitarists who don't learn anything beyond downloaded tablature, and even some orchestra musicians who only know how to play what's written in front of them. But in music, just like any other field, it's easy to learn new things and communicate with others once you know the language. Which brings me to this book... This book is really cheap, skinny enough to fit in a guitar case, good for any instrument, has some funny illustrations, and (best of all) is written very clearly without going against convention. The author starts with some information on the science of sound, a brief history of music development, then looks at notes, scales, chords, progressions, applications to various music styles, and in the end some helpful suggestions on writing songs and jamming with other people. Granted, it's not the complete guide to music theory, and he does get some of the history of Pythagoreas wrong. But it's the perfect introductory book for the many musicians who haven't learned much, if any, music theory (and don't worry -- you don't need to know how to read sheet music to understand this book). If you want to learn the basics of music theory in an inexpensive, straight foward, yet fun way, then buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: A great value - a great guide
Review: I have tried to understand music theory before but I would easily get discouraged. I picked this up and immediately felt like I'd gotten somewhere closer to understanding something. It's concise so it didn't lose me but took out the complexity so I could follow. I really did learn something and the value is unbeatable.
Rating:
Summary: A great value - a great guide
Review: I have tried to understand music theory before but I would easily get discouraged. I picked this up and immediately felt like I'd gotten somewhere closer to understanding something. It's concise so it didn't lose me but took out the complexity so I could follow. I really did learn something and the value is unbeatable.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely handy little book
Review: I've got a stack of music theory and improvisation books in my collection but this basic, unpretentious little book is one of the ones I come back to most often. Too many music theory books are abstract and geared toward classical music; this by contract is a very practical little book aimed at people more intersted in pop, rock, jazz, etc. And you can't beat the price.
Rating:
Summary: Practical, Easy-to-Understand, Concise
Review: This book is cheap and extremely thin. Despite its unimpressive looks and unpretentious style of teaching, I have learned more about how music is put together from this book than any other book or course that I have tried (which cost exponentially more). This book is perfect for beginners interested in learing to play any musical instrument or music in general. This book delivers knowledge that is absolutely essential to understanding how music is put together, and it also focuses on teaching the many technical terms used in music. After reading this book, you KNOW you've gained valuable, useful knowledge. Imagine having a genuine, solid understanding of the fundamentals of music theory just by reading a simple, 80-page book. That's what Music Theory Made Easy delivers.
Rating:
Summary: Music Theory Made Easy
Review: This book is great! I'm an adult who loves music but whose education was neglected in the field of music theory. This explained all of those "mysteries" and helped me understand that music is simply another language and not just a "gift". The style is clear and easy enough for my 4th grader to understand. It enervated me and made me feel not-so-hopeless and that, yes, someday with practice I can play an instrument and understand why music does what it does.
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