Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

[Tor]

I have close to no musical theory in my mind, and I'd really like to get some.. Ultimately, I'd love to be able to play some jazz, but I think it's quite far ahead.. But that's my 'ultimate goal'. Of course, having a teacher would be the best, but considering I am on a low level of knowledge concerning theory, it would be a waste of time and money for me to spend hours with a teacher to learn the basics. It isn't so flexible either, although that has its ups too.

I think my mind works best with recognizing patterns when looking at the guitar, if that says something.. I know regular notes, but not well enough to use them effectively. I'd definitely prefer tablatures vs. regular notes..

Just tossing out a few observations that could help with narrowing down to a good book.. Dunno if it's relevant though..

Anyway, any suggestion for a theory book is welcomed..!

 

[edsmith]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Musicians Institute makes the best books I think. I used them with my guitar teacher a about six years ago and it was really good. The books took me quickly through all the basic theory from reading music to chords and scales and then through modes and inversions. If you want a no nonsense approach with easy to read instruction, give these books a shot.

 

[rivera213]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Hey Tor, i don't know if you get the ABRSM books in Norway, but i'd recommend those.

There are 8 grades & the theory gets progressively harder so you learn theory correctly.

These books are general theory- essentials which you need for any genre.

Then you can move on to Jazz Theory specifics like Alfred's "Essentials of Jazz Theory" 3-book set and Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" which is 500+ pages.

I'd also recommending learning to read music (notation). If you come to study scores (which are notation only), you'll be hindered if you can only use TAB.

 

[Tor]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Thanks for the recommendations!

As for getting books in Norway.. I don't mind getting English written books from abroad.. That way I don't see the dreaded H-note either.

 

[rivera213]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

No probs.

Here's the direct links for the ABRSM books from a shop called Musicroom which i've bought alot from and can be trusted.

Music Theory in Practice: Grade 1- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/010607/details.html
Music Theory in Practice: Grade 2- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/010608/details.html
Music Theory in Practice: Grade 3- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/010609/details.html
Music Theory in Practice: Grade 4- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/010610/details.html
Music Theory in Practice: Grade 5- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/010611/details.html
Music Theory in Practice: Grade 6- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/011229/details.html
Music Theory in Practice: Grade 7- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/011230/details.html
Music Theory in Practice: Grade 8- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/011231/details.html


Theory Workbook: Grade 6- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/011268/details.html
Theory Workbook: Grade 7- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/011269/details.html
Theory Workbook: Grade 8- http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/058699/details.html


And here's the direct links for the Jazz theory books from a shop called Sheetmusic PLus which i've also bought alot from and can be trusted-

Alfred's Essentials of Jazz Theory (all 3 books in 1 along with the cd's)- http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store...m_re=289.1.4-_-Results+Item-_-Image+Thumbnail

Mark Levine's "Jazz Theory Book"- http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store...02808144&cm_re=289.1.4-_-Results+Item-_-Title

 

[Osensei]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Music theory is great but you have to watch out! Most music theory books were written from the classical musician's perspective. So if your goal is to play a popular style like Jazz, Rock, etc, then you need to be able to interpret the information that you acquire from your studies.

A lot of information you gather from music theory is useless if applied in the wrong context. You have to learn to apply the theory that you learn to your specific genre. This takes some experience and can be frustrating at first. It will seem like everything you try will sound wrong even though it might be theoretically correct. This is because the styles themselves have specific properties like rhythmic patterns or feels and phrasing that are never mentioned in theory books.

For example - A theory book will teach you about concepts like intervals, harmony, melodic construction and counterpoint. But no theory book can teach you how to put together a melodic phrase in bebop, hard bop, cool jazz or fusion! Each of those are sub-genres of jazz and each sub-genre has it's own characteristic phrasing, feels and grooves! You have to study the grooves and learn to speak the "language" of the groove before theory will start to yield fruit!

So learn theory, by all means, but keep in mind that there is just as much non-theoretical work to do before you will arrive at true understanding! Because there is no theory of how to play like Wes Montgomery! You have to study Wes' style first, then use your theory in that context!

 

[Tor]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Hm, I see.. I will keep that in mind.

Thanks both of you!

 

[jmv]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Music theory is great but you have to watch out! Most music theory books were written from the classical musician's perspective. So if your goal is to play a popular style like Jazz, Rock, etc, then you need to be able to interpret the information that you acquire from your studies.

A lot of information you gather from music theory is useless if applied in the wrong context. You have to learn to apply the theory that you learn to your specific genre. This takes some experience and can be frustrating at first. It will seem like everything you try will sound wrong even though it might be theoretically correct. This is because the styles themselves have specific properties like rhythmic patterns or feels and phrasing that are never mentioned in theory books.

For example - A theory book will teach you about concepts like intervals, harmony, melodic construction and counterpoint. But no theory book can teach you how to put together a melodic phrase in bebop, hard bop, cool jazz or fusion! Each of those are sub-genres of jazz and each sub-genre has it's own characteristic phrasing, feels and grooves! You have to study the grooves and learn to speak the "language" of the groove before theory will start to yield fruit!

So learn theory, by all means, but keep in mind that there is just as much non-theoretical work to do before you will arrive at true understanding! Because there is no theory of how to play like Wes Montgomery! You have to study Wes' style first, then use your theory in that context!

+1

I'm going to school as a music major so i've been studying plenty of music theory... we use a book called "Tonal Harmony" or some-such, written by someone named Stefan Kostka. It has tons of information on musical theory, but most of it focuses on Bach and Mozart era thoery. I have a friend who is really adept at music theory classes, and he tried to help his friend write a country song, and it turned out sounding like ****.

Basically, like osensei said, learn your theory but realize that you may have to adapt some of what you learn!

 

[rivera213]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

The books i mentioned (ABRSM) are just general theory. You need to know that before you learn a specific genre harmony (jazz, classical etc).

The Jazz books are more specific and require you know the general theory before learning the jazz theory.

 

[Tor]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Yeah, that's what I thought. Thanks all!

 

[uOpt]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

I have been put through the whole music theory thing over several years in school. It's useful, but a lot of effort and time that might be spent better elsewhere.

In particular, rhythm is highly underrated, if not ignored, by normal teaching of classical theory. I could really slap my old teachers over this. Rhythm is also useful for Jazz, of course, not to mention for Rock. There's nothing worse than being able to havee 765 scales you can play at supersonic speed but you have no idea where the 1 is, timing-wise.

 

[rivera213]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Are you @ Berklee uOpt?

 

[Tor]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Yeah.. I've always taken songs by the feel, but lately I've had to play a few gospel songs where I have to count. I've never done that before, so I think that's an area I have to focus on from now on..

 

[uOpt]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Are you @ Berklee uOpt?

No, the German school system in combination with my classical guitar lessons did all the damage . I'm more into sound than notes anyway.

 

[rivera213]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Yeah.. I've always taken songs by the feel, but lately I've had to play a few gospel songs where I have to count. I've never done that before, so I think that's an area I have to focus on from now on..

With rhythm i think generally it's easier to go by feel than counting.

Try keeping count of a death metal track for example & you'll get lost. If you go by feel however then you are normally close to spot on.

With classical music its alot harder and you need a high level of rhythmic ability (for the 20th century music- Stravinsky for example).

 

[uOpt]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

With rhythm i think generally it's easier to go by feel than counting.

Right, but that's exactly what the school teachers won't help you with. It's also difficult to do with a whole class, you can only teach this in a 1:1 situation.

 

[Osensei]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Rhythm is probably the most important element! Particularly, if you are serious about learning jazz, as the poster commented! Pat Metheny was once quoted as saying that the audience would be captivated by his playing of the chromatic scale if he played it with groovy rhythmic phrasing. It's true! Jazz guitarists are notorious for abusing chromaticism.

The way I see it you have several tasks that you need to accomplish to get to your goal.

1. Your first task is to understand the different idioms (sub-genres) of jazz. What's the difference btw Bebop and cool jazz for instance? How is Latin jazz like Salsa different from a style like Hard Bop. What are common characteristics of the Bossa Nova? Can styles be mixed as in Samba + Fusion?

This means you have to pay attention to each style and listen for elements like comping styles, Melodic feel (swing/triplet style or straight melodic feel), common accents on certain beats and so on.

2. Understanding harmonies! Unlike many rock tunes, you will encounter fast moving chord progressions. You won't have the luxury of those slow moving chord vamps that you've become accustom to in Rock. So you can't just go nuts on a dorian mode or a pentatonic or blues scale and hope to get by.

There are lots of more complex harmonies involved like dom7b5, +5's, along with various 9th, 11ths and 13ths just to name a few. You need to know how to build these chords from the intervals of the chromatic scale. If you know how to create the chords then you give yourself freedom from just playing modes. This is because if you can arpegiate the chords in all of their various inversions (this is key) then you stand a better chance of putting together a cohesive jazz statement than you would if you relied strictly on modes.

3. Understanding melodic curves and voice leading. There are several modes of melodic synthesis that culminate in the creation of a melodic concept.

a. The first is stepwise progression. I tend to think in terms of arpeggios and not modes! So if that is true then how do I ever end up with scale steps in my solos? It's easy once you realize the arpeggios like chords can be played in all sorts of inversions. Example: B C D E F# A is a CMaj13#11 arpeggio but as you see it has several stepwise intervals! I just collapsed the chord in on itself. And guess what? If I played those notes against a CMaj7 every note would be a member of the Cma7 chord "family". While others might look at the F# and the A as being "accidentals" I look upon them as part of the extended harmony of my base chord CMaj7!

So thats how I use stepwise progression even though I'm not "thinking" in terms scales!

b. The second mode of melodic creation is the arpeggiation of chord tones!
A Bb D F = Bb Maj 7 4th inversion. Arpeggios can ascent or descend or you can mix them up any way you choose.

c. Next you need to consider how to resolve 1 chord to the next. The first option simply involves stepping up or stepping down from the last chord tone of the current chord into the next chord.

Another option is if the last two notes under the current chord constitute a leap where a leap is defined as an interval > maj 2nd. So to resolve a leap up you would step down either by a min 2nd or maj 2nd as harmony would dicate. Obviously, the other option would be just the opposite. A lead down would be resolved as a step up. That's what voice leading is all about!

 

[Tor]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Wow. That was a lot to digest!

I need to take a look at this from time to time while reading a theory book. Thanks a lot for an in-depth reply!

 

[rivera213]

Re: Theory book for a novice, your recommendations?

Rhythm is probably the most important element!

I'm not saying it's unimportant, but it's no more or less important than say harmonic function.

It's also easier to feel than count rhythms- even with jazz, otherwise you can end up sounding robotic.

Rhythm is very important for me since my 2 favourite guitar-based genres in order are Jazz-Fusion & Death Metal. Both have a huge emphasis on rhythm.

Allan Holdsworth is the kig of rhythm when it comes to fusion lead playing. I doubt he's counting it in his head though which was my point.

Pat Metheny is awesome btw, i agree.