 Review by a beginner |
| Review Date: February 10, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Arthur Bradley, Eastern USA |
I should start by stating that I am a beginning guitar student. So please take my review in the appropriate light. The book "Music Theory" is a unique addition to my quickly growing guitar library. It is broken into 13 chapters:
Chapter 1 - a detailed explanation of the fretboard. This was particularly useful for me, because it explained what every note on the fretboard was. Tuning and intonation are also briefly discussed. Everything in the book is also given in TAB as well as sheet music.
Chapter 2 - covers the basics of reading music including the treble clef, musical alphabet (A-G), accidentals (flats, sharps, naturals), rhythm, time signatures, note values, beams, dotted notes, chords (stacks, names, and frames), repeat signs, and tablature.
Chapter 3 - discusses the major/minor scales, key signatures, and the handy circle of fifths.
Chapter 4 - focuses on intervals (distance between two notes).
Chapter 5 - covers the major and minor triads (chords which are a third interval apart).
Chapter 6 - discusses harmonizing the major scale.
Chapter 7 - a study of chord construction - both in theory and on the fretboard, covering major, minor, power, suspended, sixth, six/nine, seventh, extended, altered, slash, and poly chords.
Chapter 8 - discusses harmonizing the minor scale.
Chapter 9 - talks about key centers (something I must admit I haven't quite figured out yet).
Chapter 10 - covers the 12-bar blues progression, the major and minor pentatonic scales, and parallel pentatonic scales.
Chapter 11/12 - discusses modes, modal harmony, other scales, and chord/scale relationships.
Chapter 13 - covers chord substitutions and reharmonization.
My impression of the book is "Wow!" There is a tremendous amount of information in this book. As a beginner, I really benefitted from the first five chapters, but quickly lost my way as I pushed further ahead. But I fully expect that as I gain more experience, I will continue to consult this very valuable resource.
Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Process of Elimination" - a cool erotic thriller that pits a martial artist against a world-class sniper.
As always, please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful. |
The best book out there for music theory as applied to guitar.
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| Review Date: July 24, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Brian B, |
| There are many things to really like about this book. Music theory throughout the book is presented systematically from triads to seventh chords to altered chords and so forth. There are quizzes at the end of chapters to test yourself to make sure you really understand what was just presented in the chapter. There are ear training exercises in most chapters to develope your aural skills along the way. Graphics are professional and visually appealing. The diagrams really make the book easy to follow. Every critical chord group, scale, and mode is explained. The author gives advice on how the guitarist can apply scales over jazz changes and explains key centers and substitutions. Great book for beginning and intermediate level jazz guitarists. |
Best yet
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| Review Date: August 27, 2005 |
| Reviewer: William L. Whitman, Washington DC |
| After 35 years of self taught guitar and knowing a fair amount about music theory, I found this book to be the clearest, most concise and comprehensive overview of theory I've ever read. This is "must have" for any guitarist who wants to move beyond groping the neck and develop an organized approach to your music. |
Comprehensive, intuitive guide for the guitarist wanting to understand theory...
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| Review Date: September 22, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Aaron Meier, Charlotte, NC |
I have been a musician all of my life, since the age of 4, and a guitarist for a decade, since the age of sixteen. I was in high school orchestra and took guitar lessons for a few years, but at no time during any of this did any of my instructors really help me understand music theory. I tried learning a few times by myself, but that always ended in frustration.
Then I found this book. "Music Theory for Guitarists" is the most in-depth, intuitive, and well thought out book on the subject that I have ever come across. After reading this book and completing the exercises in it, I now feel confident in my grasp of music theory in a way I thought would never happen.
This book deftly guides the reader through the journey from the most basic of basics to much more complex topics, such as chord substitution and reharmonization. It also includes an entire chapter on learning to find the key center of songs, which is an incredibly useful skill to have. You can't always tell by ear what key you are in.
Perhaps the most in depth part of this book...the author analyzes the major and minor scales, and all of their modes, in depth. He gives each scale and mode its own section, discussing the nuances of what sets each apart from the others, and giving ideas for how and when to apply it in real world situations. He also goes into detail about building and identifying chords and harmonizing the major and minor scales (a section that has completely reinvented the way I look at writing music.)
I cannot say enough about this book. It has opened my eyes to a subject I thought I was too "stupid" to grasp, and showed me that I was only unable to learn because it had never been presented to me correctly. If you have any weaknesses in your knowledge of music theory, I would strongly recommend that you take advantage of the goldmine of information found in this book. You will likely find yourself, as I have, seeing the language of music in a completely different light, and for the first time really seeing how all Western music is connected at the root.
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Clear cut theory for the guitarist!
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| Review Date: August 4, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Snowman, Midland, TX |
| If you are like me and have been searching for a music theory tool that is tailored for the guitarist, look no further. This is it. This book breaks down music theory in a simple, easy to understand fashion. It has taught me, so it must work! |
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