Get more out of music with this essential guide Music Theory For Dummies makes music theory easy to understand, with a friendly, unintimidating overview of everything you need to know to become fluent at knocking out beats, reading musical scores, and learning to anticipate where a song should go whether you're reading someone else's music or writing your own. Whether you're a music student or a music lover, you'll learn to read, write, and understand music with this informative guide. With expert instruction, you'll put it all together as you compose, arrange, and create original melodies, harmonies, and chords of your own, with helpful tips for performing your pieces in front of an audience. This new third edition presents the most current teaching techniques, the newest music genres and examples, and updated information on all aspects of understanding, creating, and performing music. Studies have shown that music training improves children's' verbal and spatial abilities, and it's been associated with cognitive and mathematical benefits in adults. The music job market is expected to increase over the coming years, and music theory is becoming an increasingly common part of education at all levels. Music Theory For Dummies provides the instruction you need to get more out of music than you ever thought possible. Master major and minor scales, intervals, pitches, and clefs Understand basic notation, time signals, tempo, dynamics, and navigation Employ melodies, chords, progressions, and phrases to form music Compose harmonies and accompanying melodies for voice and instruments Whether you intend to pursue a degree or career in music, or just enjoy listening to it, understanding the theory behind it gives you a whole new appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship behind the pieces that give you goose bumps. It's a mix of technical skill, inborn talent, and plenty of practice and now you can try your hand at it, with Music Theory For Dummies.

Get more out of music with this essential guideMusic Theory For Dummies makes music theory easy tounderstand, with a friendly, unintimidating overview of everythingyou need to know to become fluent at knocking out beats, readingmusical scores, and learning to anticipate where a song shouldgo--whether you're reading someone else's music or writingyour own. Whether you're a music student or a music lover, you'lllearn to read, write, and understand music with this informativeguide. With expert instruction, you'll put it all together as youcompose, arrange, and create original melodies, harmonies, andchords of your own, with helpful tips for performing your pieces infront of an audience. This new third edition presents the mostcurrent teaching techniques, the newest music genres and examples,and updated information on all aspects of understanding, creating,and performing music.Studies have shown that music training improves children's'verbal and spatial abilities, and it's been associated withcognitive and mathematical benefits in adults. The music job marketis expected to increase over the coming years, and music theory isbecoming an increasingly common part of education at all levels.Music Theory For Dummies provides the instruction you needto get more out of music than you ever thought possible.* Master major and minor scales, intervals, pitches, andclefs* Understand basic notation, time signals, tempo, dynamics, andnavigation* Employ melodies, chords, progressions, and phrases to formmusic* Compose harmonies and accompanying melodies for voice andinstrumentsWhether you intend to pursue a degree or career in music, orjust enjoy listening to it, understanding the theory behind itgives you a whole new appreciation for the artistry andcraftsmanship behind the pieces that give you goose bumps. It's amix of technical skill, inborn talent, and plenty of practice- and now you can try your hand at it, with Music TheoryFor Dummies.

Introduction 1Part I: Getting Started with Music Theory 5Chapter 1: What Is Music Theory, Anyway? 7Chapter 2: Determining What Notes Are Worth 13Chapter 3: Giving It a Rest 29Chapter 4: Introducing Time Signatures 39Chapter 5: Playing with Beat 53Part II: Putting Notes Together 61Chapter 6: Music Notes (And Where to Find Them) 63Chapter 7: Mastering the Major and Minor Scales 81Chapter 8: Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths 95Chapter 9: Intervals: The Distance Between Pitches 109Chapter 10: Chord Building 135Chapter 11: Chord Progressions 169Part III: Musical Expression through Tempo and Dynamics 187Chapter 12: Creating Varied Sound through Tempo and Dynamics 189Chapter 13: Instrument Tone Color and Acoustics 201Part IV: Musical Expression through Form 207Chapter 14: The Building Blocks of Music: Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, and Song Form 209Chapter 15: Relying on Classical Forms 221Chapter 16: Tapping Into Popular Genres and Forms 231Part V: The Part of Tens 239Chapter 17: Ten Frequently Asked Questions about Music Theory 241Chapter 18: Ten Keys to Reading a Musical Score 247Chapter 19: Ten Music Theorists You Should Know About 251Part VI: Appendixes 259Appendix A: Audio Tracks 261Appendix B: Chord Chart 267Appendix C: Glossary 305Index 309