Edition: Paperback Book & CD Package

Description: 336 Pages

Whether a student of music or a music lover, Music Theory For Dummies, 2nd Edition, presents readers with essential information on how to read, write, and understand music, as well as helpful hints on composing, arranging, and creating original melodies, harmonies, and chords.

For people who want a deeper understanding and appreciation of music, or who want to do their own composing and arranging, a basic grounding in music theory is essential. Written for the nearly 30,000 college and graduate music students as well as working musicians and serious music buffs, this hands-on guide explains music theory concepts in plain English-from scales, intervals, tempos, and dynamics to chord progressions, phrasing, harmonizing, and arranging-and demonstrates how to apply them in compositions ranging from pop and rock to jazz and classical. The book includes a CD that demonstrates music theory concepts and provides examples of the way sounds and tempos can be mixed and matched for a variety of musical experiences.

This hands-on guide explains the concepts in plain English from scales, intervals, and tempos to chord progressions, phrasing, harmonizing, and arranging and shows you how to apply them in compositions ranging from pop and rock to jazz and classical. It's also packed with musical examples you can hear on the CD!

Topics include:

Read notes and understand tones.
Keep proper rhythm.
Master major and minor scales.
Build chords and cadences.
Write in popular musical forms.
Demonstrations of music theory concepts.
Musical examples performed on both piano and guitar.