100 Best Music Theory Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

The Jazz Theory Book

Mark Levine

5.0

Endorsed by Jamey Aebersold, James Moody, Dave Liebman, and others, The Jazz Theory Book presents all the information any student of jazz needs in an easy-to-understand, yet thorough, manner. For intermediate to advanced players, and written by one of the acknowledged masters of jazz, it is used by universities around the world.

2

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

Douglas R. Hofstadter

4.8

Douglas Hofstadter's book is concerned directly with the nature of “maps” or links between formal systems. However, according to Hofstadter, the formal system that underlies all mental activity transcends the system that supports it. If life can grow out of the formal chemical substrate of the cell, if consciousness can emerge out of a formal system of firing neurons, then so too will computers at

Recommended by Steve Jurvetson, Seth Godin, Cory Zue, and 2 others.

Steve Jurvetson

Steve Jurvetson recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show". [source]

Seth Godin

Author, Marketer, Entrepreneur

In the last week, I discovered that at least two of my smart friends hadn't read Godel, Escher, Bach. They have now. You should too. [source]

Cory Zue

More recently books like Godel, Escher, Bach and Sapiens have influenced my thinking a lot. [source]

3

Hooktheory II

Stephen King

4.8

There has never been a music book like this. Hooktheory II is a smart, fun, skill-building journey that concretely teaches you how to craft melodies and chord progressions like professional musicians, and gain a deep understanding and intuition for how music works. Validated by 16,435 musicians like you, Hooktheory I and II are the best selling how-to music books for instrumentalists, songwriters,

4

Hooktheory I: Music Theory

Ryan Miyakawa and David Carlton and Chris Anderson

4.8

Librarian's Note: This is an alternate-cover edition for ISBN 9780985681005

This is the music theory / songwriting book you’ll love. Hooktheory is an intuitive, modern take on music theory that answers the questions you care the most about: Why do certain chords fit together easily, and others not so easily? How can I get from this chord to that chord? How can I create a great sounding melody?

The

5

This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession

Daniel J. Levitin

4.8

Whether you load your iPod with Bach or Bono, music has a significant role in your life—even if you never realized it. Why does music evoke such powerful moods? The answers are at last be- coming clear, thanks to revolutionary neuroscience and the emerging field of evolutionary psychology. Both a cutting-edge study and a tribute to the beauty of music itself, This Is Your Brain on Music unravels a

Recommended by Vinod Khosla and Justin Boreta.

Vinod Khosla

Co-Founder/Sun Microsystem

Fascinating though older book. [source]

Justin Boreta

Goes into the evolutionary thinking behind why music does what it does. [source]

6

Music Theory: From Beginner to Expert - The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide to Understanding and Learning Music Theory Effortlessly

Nicolas Carter

4.7

7

The Study of Counterpoint

Johann Joseph Fux

4.7

Since its appearance in 1725, it has been used by and has directly influenced the work of many of the greatest composers. J. S. Bach held it in high esteem, Leopold Mozart trained his famous son from its pages, Haydn worked out every lesson with meticulous care, and Beethoven condensed it into an abstract for ready reference.

8

The Chord Wheel: The Ultimate Tool for All Musicians

Jim Fleser

4.7

(Instructional). Master chord theory ... in minutes! The Chord Wheel is a revolutionary device that puts the most essential and practical applications of chord theory into your hands. This tool will help you: Improvise and Solo Talk about chops! Comprehend key structure like never before; Transpose Keys Instantly transpose any progression into each and every key; Compose Your Own Music Watch your

9

Twentieth-Century Harmony: Creative Aspects and Practice

Vincent Persichetti

4.7

Here for the first time is an orderly presentation of the harmonic procedures to be found in music of the first half of the twentieth-century. The author examines the nature of intervals in various contexts, discusses the modes and other scales employed in modern music, describes the formation and uses of chords by thirds, by fourths, and by seconds, of added-note chords and polychords; he deals w

10

Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain

Oliver Sacks

4.6

With the same trademark compassion and erudition he brought to The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks explores the place music occupies in the brain and how it affects the human condition. In Musicophilia, he shows us a variety of what he calls “musical misalignments.” Among them: a man struck by lightning who suddenly desires to become a pianist at the age of forty-two; an entire gr

Recommended by Aniela Gregorek and Justin Boreta.

Aniela Gregorek

I gained a deeper understanding of how music affects our moods and our brains. [source]

Justin Boreta

Justin Boreta said this is one of his most-recommended books. [source]

11

Tonal Harmony, with an Introduction to Twentieth-Century Music

Stefan Kostka, Dorothy Payne

4.6

12

Theory of Harmony

Arnold Schoenberg, Roy E. Carter

4.6

Based on the third edition of 1922, this new translation of Schoenberg's largest and most important treatise is well-focused, expansive, reflective, and wittily down-to-earth. The heart and soul of the book is to be found in Schoenberg's vivid and penetrating digressions--they are the fascinating reflections of a great and humane musician.

13

Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression

W. A. Mathieu

4.5

An exploration of musical harmony from its ancient fundamentals to its most complex modern progressions, addressing how and why it resonates emotionally and spiritually in the individual.

W. A. Mathieu, an accomplished author and recording artist, presents a way of learning music that reconnects modern-day musicians with the source from which music was originally generated. As the author states, "

14

Music Theory for Computer Musicians (Computer Musicians, #1)

Michael Hewitt

4.5

15

Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask (Guitar Method)

Tom Kolb

4.5

16

Silence: Lectures and Writings

John Cage

4.5

Silence, A Year from Monday, M, Empty Words and X (in this order) form the five parts of a series of books in which Cage tries, as he says, to find a way of writing which comes from ideas, is not about them, but which produces them. Often these writings include mesostics and essays created by subjecting the work of other writers to chance procedures using the I Ching (what Cage called writing thro

Recommended by Alex Ross, Alex Ross, and Kyle Chayka.

Alex Ross

Silence is one of the great music books. Purely on a literary level, there’s something about Cage’s style which is tremendously unique. [source]

Alex Ross

Silence is one of the great music books. Purely on a literary level, there’s something about Cage’s style which is tremendously unique. [source]

Kyle Chayka

John Cage is one of the composers most associated with minimalism. He’s a kind of pioneer, not just in music, but also for the arts, and for philosophy as well. In the 1940s and 1950s, he had already cultivated an interest in Zen philosophy. He experimented with these forms of emptiness in art that were very radical at the time. [source]

17

Music Theory for Dummies

Michael Pilhofer and Holly Day

4.5

Get more out of music with this essential guideMusic 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 m

18

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory

Michael Miller

4.5

19

Adult All-in-One Course: Lesson, Theory, Technic, Level 1

Willard A. Palmer

4.5

20

The Jazz Piano Book

Mark Levine

4.4

Endorsed by Kenny Barron, Jamey Aebersold, Richie Beirach, and more, this book presents all the information a student of jazz piano needs in an easy-to-understand, yet thorough, manner. For intermediate to advanced pianists, written by one of the acknowledged masters of jazz piano playing.

21

Berklee Music Theory, Book 1: Basic Principles of Rhythm, Scales, and Intervals

Paul Schmeling

4.4

22

The AB Guide to Music Theory: Part I

Eric Taylor

4.4

23

The Study of Orchestration

Samuel Adler

4.4

Written by a renowned composer whose works have been performed by major orchestras around the world, The Study of Orchestration is the only text that explores the characteristics of orchestral instruments and shows students how a master composer approaches orchestration. The Fourth Edition invites students to experience the instruments through online audio and video recordings and now offers more

24

How Music Works

David Byrne

4.4

*Updated with a new chapter on digital curation*

How Music Works is David Byrne's incisive and enthusiastic look at the musical art form, from its very inceptions to the influences that shape it, whether acoustical, economic, social or technological. Utilizing his incomparable career and inspired collaborations with Talking Heads, Brian Eno, and many others, Byrne taps deeply into his lifetime of

25

The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven

Charles Rosen

4.3

This outstanding book treating the three most beloved composers of the Vienna School is basic to any study of Classical-era music. Drawing on his rich experience and intimate familiarity with the works of these giants, Charles Rosen presents his keen insights in clear and persuasive language. For this expanded edition, now available in paperback for the first time, Rosen has provided a new, 64-pag

26

The Practical Guide to Modern Music Theory for Guitarists: The complete guide to music theory from a guitarist's point of view (Guitar theory)

Mr Joseph Alexander and Mr Tim Pettingale

4.3

27

Basic Music Theory, 4th Ed.: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music

Jonathan Harnum

4.3

What do all those lines and squiggles and dots mean? Basic Music Theory takes you through the sometimes confusing world of written music with a clear, concise style that is at times funny and always friendly. The book is written by an experienced music teacher using methods refined over more than twenty years in schools and in his private teaching studio. Lessons are fun, well-paced, and enjoyable

28

Principles of Orchestration

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

4.3

"To orchestrate is to create, and this cannot be taught," wrote Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, the great Russian composer whose genius for brilliant, highly colored orchestration is unsurpassed. But invention, in all art, is closely allied to technique, and technique can be taught. This book, therefore, which differs from most other texts on the subject because of its tremendous wealth of musical exampl

29

What to Listen for in Music

Aaron Copland, Alan Rich

4.3

In this fascinating analysis of how to listen to music intelligently, Aaron Copland raises two basic questions: Are you hearing everything that is going on? Are you really being sensitive to it? If you cannot answer yes to both questions, you owe it to yourself to read this book. Whether you listen to Mozart or Duke Ellington, Aaron Copland's provocative suggestions for listening to music from his

30

How Music Works: The Science and Psychology of Beautiful Sounds, from Beethoven to the Beatles and Beyond

John Powell

4.3

What makes a musical note different from any other sound? How can you tell if you have perfect pitch? Why do 10 violins sound only twice as loud as one? Do your Bob Dylan albums sound better on CD or vinyl? John Powell, a scientist and musician, answers these questions and many more in How Music Works, an intriguing and original guide to acoustics. In a clear, accessible, and engaging voice, Powel

31

Harmony

Walter Piston

4.3

The major departure of the fourth edition was the addition of seven new chapters, including four on the complicated subject of harmony after common practice, which had not been discussed in the first three editions. However, then as now, the core of the book remains the exhaustive treatment of common-practice harmony, the subject of most one-year or two-year courses in tonal harmony. In the presen

32

Writing Better Lyrics: The Essential Guide to Powerful Songwriting

Pat Pattison

4.3

The Must-Have Guide for Songwriters

Writing Better Lyrics has been a staple for songwriters for nearly two decades. Now this revised and updated 2nd Edition provides effective tools for everything from generating ideas, to understanding the form and function of a song, to fine-tuning lyrics.

Perfect for new and experienced songwriters alike, this time-tested classic covers the basics in addition to

33

Making Music. 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers

Dennis DeSanti

4.3

This book is a collection of solutions to common roadblocks in the creative process, with a specific emphasis on solving musical problems, making progress, and (most importantly) finishing what you start. This site features a selection of chapters from the book.

34

The Jazz Harmony Book

David Berkman

4.3

Starting from the most basic harmonic situations and progressing to contemporary jazz harmony, this book shows how to uncover the best choices for chords to accompany any melody.

The Jazz Harmony Book is a serious study of the fundamentals of Jazz Harmony.

Topics Covered Include:

Basic functional harmony, diatonic substitutes, secondary dominants, passing chords, diminished harmony, tritone substitut

35

Fundamentals of Musical Composition

Arnold Schoenberg, Gerald Strang, et al.

4.3

Fundamentals of Musical Composition represents the culmination of more than forty years in Schoenberg's life devoted to the teaching of musical principles to students and composers in Europe and America. For his classes he developed a manner of presentation in which 'every technical matter is discussed in a very fundamental way, so that at the same time it is both simple and thorough'.

This book ca

36

The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

Victor L. Wooten

4.3

From Grammy-winning musical icon and legendary bassist Victor L. Wooten comes The Music Lesson, the story of a struggling young musician who wanted music to be his life, and who wanted his life to be great. Then, from nowhere it seemed, a teacher arrived. Part musical genius, part philosopher, part eccentric wise man, the teacher would guide the young musician on a spiritual journey, and teach him

37

Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist Sixty Exercises for Piano Complete Edition

Theodore Baker and C.L. Hanon

4.3

(Piano Method). Since the first release of this classic Schirmer edition over 100 years ago, almost anyone who has taken piano lessons for more than two years has played from The Virtuoso Pianist . Millions of copies have been sold of these progressive exercises which guide a player's technique, building finger independence and strength. This was the first American edition released of this music,

38

Chord Chemistry

Ted Greene

4.2

Ted Greene's Chord Chemistry was originally published in 1971 and has become the classic chord reference book for two generations of guitarists. Whether you are just beginning to search beyond basic barre chords or are already an advanced player looking for new sounds and ideas this is the book that will get you there. Designed to inspire creativity this book is a musical treasure chest filled wit

39

Scales, Chords, Arpeggios and Cadences: Complete Book

Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, et al.

4.2

Scale, chord, arpeggio and cadence studies in all major and minor keys presented in a convenient two-page format. Includes an in-depth 12 page explanation that leads to complete understanding of the fundamentals of major and minor scales, chords, arpeggios and cadences plus a clear explanation of scale degrees and a two-page guide to fingering the scales and arpeggios. In addition, several "enrich

40

Orchestration

Walter Piston

4.2

The author approaches orchestration from the premise that the principles can best be presented by analysis of music as it has been written.The essentials of instrument combination discussed here are those which can be observed operating in the scores of great composers from Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven down to our own day.

Orchestration is notable for the clarity and logic of its organization. From

41

The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century

Alex Ross

4.2

The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century is a voyage into the labyrinth of modern music, which remains an obscure world for most people. While paintings of Picasso and Jackson Pollock sell for a hundred million dollars or more, and lines from T. S. Eliot are quoted on the yearbook pages of alienated teenagers across the land, twentieth-century classical music still sends ripples of un

42

Style and Idea: Selected Writings

Arnold Schoenberg, Leonard Stein, Leo Black

4.2

One of the most influential collections of music ever published, Style and Idea includes Schoenberg’s writings about himself and his music as well as studies of many other composers and reflections on art and society.

43

Jazzology: The Encyclopedia of Jazz Theory for All Musicians

Robert Rawlins, Nor Eddine Bahha

4.2

(Jazz Instruction). A one-of-a-kind book encompassing a wide scope of jazz topics, for beginners and pros of any instrument. A three-pronged approach was envisioned with the creation of this comprehensive resource: as an encyclopedia for ready reference, as a thorough methodology for the student, and as a workbook for the classroom, complete with ample exercises and conceptual discussion. Includes

44

The Advancing Guitarist: Applying Guitar Concepts & Techniques

Mick Goodrick

4.2

Veteran musician and educator Mick Goodrick presents practical information for guitarists who want to improve their playing technique and style and simply become better musicians. Rather than a step-by-step method book, the information is presented in a general essay format, discussing ways that the various techniques covered may be applied by the advancing guitarist to enhance his/her own style o

45

The Computer Music Tutorial

Curtis Roads

4.2

A comprehensive text and reference that covers all aspects of computer music, including digital audio, synthesis techniques, signal processing, musical input devices, performance software, editing systems, algorithmic composition, MIDI, synthesizer architecture, system interconnection, and psychoacoustics.

The Computer Music Tutorial is a comprehensive text and reference that covers all aspects of

46

How to Read Music in 30 Days: Music Theory for Beginners - with exercises & online audio

Matthew Ellul

4.2

47

The Everything Music Theory Book with CD: Take your understanding of music to the next level

Marc Schonbrun

4.2

Perfect for everyone from the intermediate musician to the collegiate music major, this book is a complete guide to mastering musical understanding! It's a total educational package, with a helpful audio CD, hundreds of illustrations, and challenging practice exercises. You'll learn: How chords and scales are constructedHow rhythm works and how to understand complex time signaturesHow composers an

48

Elementary Training for Musicians

Paul Hindemith

4.2

(Schott). Originally published in the 1940s, Paul Hindemith's remakable textbooks are still the outstanding works of their kind. In contrast to many musical textbooks written by academic musicians, these were produced by a man who could play every instrument of the orchestra, could compose a satisfying piece for almost every kind of ensemble, and who was one of the most stimulating teachers of his

49

Theory Notebook Complete

John Brimhall, Jonathon Robbins, et al.

4.2

50

Lydian Chromatic Concept Of Tonal Organization For Improvisation

George Russell

4.2

The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization is a 1959 jazz music theory book written by George Russell. The book is the founding text of the Lydian Chromatic Concept (LCC), or Lydian Chromatic Theory (LCT). Russell's work postulates that all music is based on the tonal gravity of the Lydian mode.

51

Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory: A Comprehensive and Convenient Source for All Musicians

Carl Schroeder and Keith Wyatt

4.2

(Book). Following in the footsteps of the popular Hal Leonard Pocket Music Dictionary, this handy pocket-sized book is the most contemporary music theory book on the market! A step-by-step guide to harmony and theory for every musician, it includes thorough, yet to easy-to-understand analysis of: intervals, rhythms, scales, chords, key signatures, transposition, chord inversion, key centers, harmo

52

Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within, Book & CD

Kenny Werner

4.2

Playing music should be as simple and natural as drawing a breath, yet most musicians are hindered by self-consciousness, apprehension, self-doubt, and stress. Before we can truly express our inner self, we must first learn to be at peace and overcome the distractions that can make performance difficult. Kenny's remarkable work deals directly with these hindrances, and presents ways to let our nat

53

Music Theory in Practice: Grade 2

Eric Taylor

4.2

The Music Theory in Practice series has helped more than one million musicians worldwide to learn about the notation and theory of music.

Now fully revised, this workbook remains the best way to prepare for ABRSM's Grade 2 Theory of Music Exam, offering:

• a clear explanation of music notation
• straightforward language throughout
• many worked examples and practice exercises
• definitions of important

54

The Guitar Handbook

Ralph Denyer

4.2

The most comprehensive resource available for beginning and experienced guitarists alike, whether acoustic or electric. Completely redesigned and with many more full-color photos than the original, this new edition surveys recent models and profiles current masters, includes an expanded lesson section, and encompasses 10 years of technological change in recording and amplification.

55

Easy Piano for Songwriters and Producers: The Fastest Path From Beginner To Expert in Scales and Chord Progressions

Eric J. Campbell

4.2

56

Structural Functions of Harmony

Arnold Schoenberg

4.1

The earlier chapters recapitulate in condensed form the principles laid down in his Theory of Harmony; the later chapters break entirely new ground, for they analyze the system of key relationships within the structure of whole movements and affirm the principle of "monotonality," showing how all modulations within a movement are merely deviations from, and not negations of, its main tonality.

Scho

57

Edly's Music Theory for Practical People Level 2

Ed Roseman and Peter Reynold

4.1

Music theory need not be dreary! This eBook is the second in a two-part e-series of the well-loved paperback, picking up where Level 1 leaves off, with a bit of review for good measure. Its clear and friendly writing and wry humor, coupled with fun illustrations throughout, makes the topic that music students often think of as dry and boring, into something approachable, attainable, and yes, even

58

The Joy of Music

Leonard Bernstein, Tim Page

4.1

This classic work is perhaps Bernstein's finest collection of conversations on the meaning and wonder of music. This book is a must for all music fans who wish to experience music more fully and deeply through one of the most inspired, and inspiring, music intellects of our time. Employing the creative device of "Imaginary Conversations" in the first section of his book, Bernstein illuminates the

59

Composing Electronic Music: A New Aesthetic

Curtis Roads

4.1

Electronic music evokes new sensations, feelings, and thoughts in both composers and listeners. Opening the door to an unlimited universe of sound, it engages spatialization as an integral aspect of composition and focuses on sound transformation as a core structural strategy. In this new domain, pitch occurs as a flowing and ephemeral substance that can be bent, modulated, or dissolved into noise

60

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory: Complete

Andrew Surmani, Karen Farnum Surmani, Morton Manus

4.1

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory is designed for students of any age, whether listeners or performers, who want to have a better understanding of the language of music. In this all-in-one theory course, you will learn the essentials of music through concise lessons, practice your music reading and writing skills in the exercises, improve your listening skills with the ear-training CDs (availabl

61

Audio Culture: Readings in Modern Music

Christoph Cox, Daniel Warner

4.1

Cover unavailable

62

Harry Potter -- Sheet Music from the Complete Film Series: Easy Piano

John Williams

4.1

With the Harry Potter film series now complete, Alfred Music and Warner Bros. Entertainment are proud to present easy piano arrangements from the eight epic films together in one collectible volume. For the first time ever, 37 sheet music selections by John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat are collected along with eight pages of color stills from The Sorcerer's Stone

63

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Bk 2

Andrew Surmani, Karen Farnum Surmani, et al.

4.1

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory is designed for students of any age, whether listeners or performers, who want to have a better understanding of the language of music. In this all-in-one theory course, you will learn the essentials of music through concise lessons, practice your music reading and writing skills in the exercises, improve your listening skills with the available ear-training CDs

64

Music Theory for the Bass Player

Ariane Cap

4.1

Music Theory for the Bass Player Have you always wanted to learn music theory but felt it was too overwhelming a task? Perhaps all the books seem to be geared toward pianists or classical players? Do you know lots of songs, but don't know how the chords are put together or how they work with the melody? If so, this is the book for you! Starting with intervals as music's basic building blocks, you

Cover unavailable

65

Contemporary Disney: 50 Favorite Songs

Hal Leonard Corp.

4.1

(Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook). 50 songs are featured in this third edition of an outstanding collection of Disney favorites. Includes: Beauty and the Beast • Can You Feel the Love Tonight • Colors of the Wind • Evil like Me • For the First Time in Forever • Go the Distance • Hakuna Matata • If I Didn't Have You • Lava • Let It Go • My Funny Friend and Me • Part of Your World • Reflection • Seize t

66

Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory

Joseph N. Straus

4.1

For undergraduate/graduate-level courses in Twentieth-Century Techniques, and Post-Tonal Theory and Analysis taken by music majors. A "primer" rather than a survey this text offers exceptionally clear, simple explanations of basic theoretical concepts for the post-tonal music of the twentieth century. Emphasizing "hands-on" contact with the music through playing, singing, listening, and analyzing

67

Adult All-in-one Course: Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course, Level 2

Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, Amanda Vick Lethco

4.1

68

Guitar: The Circle of Fifths for Guitarists: Learn and Apply Music Theory for Guitarists

Joseph Alexander

4.1

69

The Romantic Generation

Charles Rosen

4.1

What Charles Rosen's celebrated book The Classical Style did for music of the Classical period, this new, much-awaited volume brilliantly does for the Romantic era. An exhilarating exploration of the musical language, forms, and styles of the Romantic period, it captures the spirit that enlivened a generation of composers and musicians, and in doing so it conveys the very sense of Romantic music.

70

The Musician's Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness

Gerald Klickstein

4.1

In The Musician's Way, veteran performer and educator Gerald Klickstein combines the latest research with his 30 years of professional experience to provide aspiring musicians with a roadmap to artistic excellence. Part I, Artful Practice, describes strategies to interpret and memorize compositions, fuel motivation, collaborate, and more. Part II, Fearless Performance, lifts the lid on the hidd

71

Form in Music

Stewart MacPherson

4.1

Contents Include: Accent, Time and Rhythm Phrases and Sentences The Half-Phrase, or Section Rythmic Extension and Contraction The Construction of Complete Movements-The Simple Binary, or Two-Part Form The Simple Ternary, or Three-Part Form The Binary and Ternary Forms(Continued) The Evolution of the Ternary Idea: The Minuet and Trio-The Episodical Form The Evolution of the Trenary Idea(Continued)T

72

Adult Piano Adventures All-In-One Lesson Book 1: A Comprehensive Piano Course

Nancy Faber

4.1

(Faber Piano Adventures ). Adult Piano Adventures enables the adult beginner to play music for pleasure while developing musical understanding. This comprehensive "All-In-One" book includes lessons, technique, and theory in a single volume for ease of use. Book 1 presents the fundamentals of music notation, chord playing, and musical form. The redesigned layout improves information hierarchy, putt

73

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Composition

Michael Miller

4.1

Write the songs that make the whole world sing.

A step-by-step guide to writing music, this book shows musicians how to compose simple chord progressions and melodies, and leads them through more advanced compositional techniques and musical forms. Designed for composers of all types of music, it includes instruction on composing stand-alone melodies, using different scales and modes, themes and v

74

On the Sensations of Tone

Hermann Helmholtz

4.1

On the Sensations of Tone is one of the world's greatest scientific classics. It bridges the gap between the natural sciences and music theory and, nearly a century after its first publication, it is still a standard text for the study of physiological acoustics — the scientific basis of musical theory. It is also a treasury of knowledge for musicians and students of music and a major work in the

75

Guide to the Practical Study of Harmony

Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

4.1

Written during Tchaikovsky’s years as professor at the renowned Moscow Conservatory, this volume presents a clear and thorough introduction to the study of harmony. The great Russian composer expounded upon his views of music while he was in the full flower of his creative powers, offering students a chance to learn the discipline’s fundamentals from one of its great masters.
Out of print for deca

Cover unavailable

76

The Guitarist's Chord Book: Over 900 Guitar Chord Diagrams with Photos

Peter Vogl

4.1

77

Style and Music: Theory, History, and Ideology

Leonard B. B. Meyer

4.1

Leonard Meyer proposes a theory of style and style change that relates the choices made by composers to the constraints of psychology, cultural context, and musical traditions. He explores why, out of the abundance of compositional possibilities, composers choose to replicate some patterns and neglect others.

Meyer devotes the latter part of his book to a sketch-history of nineteenth-century music.

78

Alfred's Basic Piano Library Theory, Bk 1a

Willard Palmer

4.0

Designed to coordinate page-by-page with the Lesson Books. Contains enjoyable games and quizzes that reinforce the principles presented in the Lesson Books. Students can increase their musical understanding while they are away from the keyboard.

79

The Berklee Book of Jazz Harmony

Joe Mulholland and Tom Hojnacki

4.0

80

The AB Guide to Music Theory: Part II

Eric Taylor

4.0

81

Sweet Anticipation: Music and the Psychology of Expectation

David Huron

4.0

The psychological theory of expectation that David Huron proposes in Sweet Anticipation grew out of the author's experimental efforts to understand how music evokes emotions. These efforts evolved into a general theory of expectation that will prove informative to readers interested in cognitive science and evolutionary psychology as well as those interested in music. The book describes a set of p

Recommended by Morten Kringelbach.

Morten Kringelbach

Why is music so powerful? Why it is that music can evoke emotion within two bars as opposed to a story that takes a long time to develop? [source]

82

The Craft of Musical Composition: Theoretical Part - Book 1 (Tap/159)

Paul Hindemith

4.0

Originally published in the 1940s, Paul Hindemith's remakable textbooks are still the outstanding works of their kind. In contrast to many musical textbooks written by academic musicians, these were produced by a man who could play every instrument of the

83

Alfred's Basic Piano Library Theory, Bk 1b

Willard A. Palmer

4.0

Designed to coordinate page-by-page with the Lesson Books. Contains enjoyable games and quizzes that reinforce the principles presented in the Lesson Books. Students can increase their musical understanding while they are away from the keyboard.

84

Counterpoint: The Polyphonic Vocal Style of the Sixteenth Century

Knud Jeppesen

4.0

This classic introductory text focuses on the polyphonic vocal style perfected by Palestrina. Unlike many other texts, it maintains a careful balance between theoretical and practical problems, between historical and systematic methodology. The result is an exceptionally useful resource, ideal for classroom use in teaching modal counterpoint.
In Part One, Knud Jeppesen (1892–1974), the world-renow

85

New Musical Resources

Henry Cowell

4.0

Since its publication in 1930, this text has become recognized as one of the few seminal technical studies to be written by a twentieth-century composer. In 1971, Virgil Thomson hailed it as a classic. This new edition provides an explanatory essay and annotations to Cowell's text.

86

Practical Music Theory

Sandy Feldstein

4.0

Practical Music Theory for Guitar

87

Zen Guitar

Philip Toshio Sudo

4.0

Unleash the song of your soul with Zen Guitar, a contemplative handbook that draws on ancient Eastern wisdom and applies it to music and performance.

Each of us carries a song inside us, the song that makes us human. Zen Guitar provides the key to unlocking this song—a series of life lessons presented through the metaphor of music.

Philip Sudo offers his own experiences with music to enable us to re

Cover unavailable

88

Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Sacred Book, Bk 1

Morton Manus

4.0

Traditional sacred favorites are arranged in progressive order to gradually develop the adult student's technique while providing hours of enjoyment. Selections include "Just a Closer Walk With Thee," "For the Beauty of the Earth" and many others.

89

The Mixing Engineer's Handbook

Bobby Owsinski

4.0

Mixing music -the process of combining and shaping the component parts of a song into a polished, completed recording -was once considered an unteachable art. The first edition of Bobby Owsinski's The Mixing Engineer's Handbook destroyed that myth forever, breaking the craft of mixing down into discrete, understandable steps and showing musicians, audio engineers, and producers exactly how to ge

Recommended by Andi Dumitrescu.

Andi Dumitrescu

The Recording Engineer Handbook and The Mixing Engineer Handbook. These are the books that helped me record music at the level I hoped for. For years I lived frustrated that Romania doesn’t have even one sound engineer that could rise to the level of Western ones and this frustration pushed me to learn recording techniques which are, in my opinion, the most important steps in producing an album. Even more important than mixing or mastering. [source]

90

Poetics of Music in the Form of Six Lessons

Igor Stravinsky

4.0

One of the greatest of contemporary composers has here set down in delightfully personal fashion his general ideas about music and some accounts of his own experience as a composer. Every concert-goer and lover of music will take keen pleasure in his notes about the essential features of music, the process of musical composition, inspiration, musical types, and musical execution. Throughout the vo

91

The Guitar Grimoire: A Compendium of Forumlas for Guitar Scales and Modes

Adam Kadmon

4.0

Cover unavailable

92

Help Your Kids with Music: A Unique Step-By-Step Visual Guide

Carol Vorderman

4.0

A simple, visual guide to helping children understand music.

Reduce the stress of studying music and help your child with their homework, Help Your Kids with Music is a unique visual guide to music theory that will demystify the subject for everyone.

Covering everything from note values to harmony and music appreciation, Help Your Kids with Music helps you work through music step by step. Using clea

93

Play it Again: An Amateur Against the Impossible

Alan Rusbridger

4.0

The Guardian editor’s account of a remarkable musical challenge during an extraordinary year for news

As the editor of The Guardian, Alan Rusbridger’s life is dictated by the demands of the twenty-four-hour news cycle. It is not the kind of job that leaves time for hobbies.
But in the summer of 2010, Rusbridger determined to learn, in the course of a year, Chopin’s Ballade No.1 in G minor, one of t

94

Counterpoint in Composition: The Study of Voice Leading

Felix Salzer, Carl Schachter

4.0

-- Stanley Persky, City University of New York

95

A Geometry of Music: Harmony and Counterpoint in the Extended Common Practice

Dmitri Tymoczko

4.0

How is the Beatles' "Help!" similar to Stravinsky's "Dance of the Adolescents?" How does Radiohead's "Just" relate to the improvisations of Bill Evans? And how do Chopin's works exploit the non-Euclidean geometry of musical chords?

In this groundbreaking work, author Dmitri Tymoczko describes a new framework for thinking about music that emphasizes the commonalities among styles from medieval polyp

96

Alfred's Basic Piano Library Technic, Bk 1a

Willard A. Palmer

4.0

The Technic Books provide reading and rhythm drills and exercises perfectly paced with each Lesson Book in Alfred's Basic Piano Library to improve musicianship and develop coordination of the hands.

97

Preliminary Exercises in Counterpoint

Arnold Schoenberg

4.0

98

Music Notation

Gardner Read

4.0

Unsurpassed as a comprehensive and up-to date presentation.

99

Hearing and Writing Music: Professional Training for Today's Musician

Ron Gorow

4.0

In this book you will discover: Transcribing techniques. How to maximize your creativity and productivity. How to develop your craft by consolidating techniques. How to read music with your ears. How you can write music without using an instrument. How to write music spontaneously, as your ear guides your hand. How to communicate accurately through music notation. Why you don't need "perfect pitch

100

Alfred's Basic Piano Library Lesson Book, Bk 2

Willard A. Palmer

4.0

This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book 2 continues where Level 1B finishes. This book introduces dotted half notes and dotted quarter notes, plus intervals of 6ths, 7ths and octaves. Teaches greater movement of the hands, including crossing two over one and scalework. Students will also learn more about triads, pri