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

This music book is nice and well-written. I enjoy having it in my collection. I would purchase it again.

Music theory can be a very dry subject. I had music back in high school and starting to play again, but my memory is a bit rusty. I didn't want a book that would bore me to death or take too long to find what I'm looking for.This book does the trick. It is very approachable, it has a discussion with you. It offers tricks to help you remember which is which (example such as the whole or half rests (hole or hat....how it looks on a line). I wanted to have a book where I could find the answers quickly so I could get back to playing. Although I do have some music experinece, I think this would be great for the beginner. I think, for this case, this book would be better choice than the idiot and dummies books and I am a big fan of those books.

Basic Music Theory by Jonathan Harnum explains the subject in a manner that is light-hearted and easy to follow. For someone in their late forties (like me) who hasn't had formal music training since the age of thirteen, nor picked up a musical instrument until now, it's been extremely useful. To the extent that the dots, p's and d's on a musical score actually have meaning. There is a free pdf version of this book online (1st edition, which you can't print) but, honestly, it's well worth paying to get the hard copy. I can now say that I'm able to read music and understand some of the more-complex musical arrangements. I've been playing the saxophone for about 18 months now and the book has helped to bring me from a level of not being able to read music up to one of reasonable competence at sight reading.The book is set out in seven parts, each part progressing the readers knowledge and ability in a logical manner. Naturally, parts 5, 6, and 7 require more of the reader than the earlier chapters, but I haven't come across anything that better explains the theory behind intervals and chords. It's an American book with American notation, so Harnum talks in terms of whole notes and fractions of notes, not crotchets and quavers, but that's fine with me.I have two pieces of advice... Buy the book and, don't skip any section, test, or review until you're absolutely certain you understand the theory. Otherwise you'll either be a less competent musician, or you'll end up re-reading sections (like I did!).

I really wanted to learn how to play guitar really well, and be able to understand the concept of music like read and write music, but I didn't know where to start. I have been doing a lot of research. I searched books and really studied their contents, and I came across with this book and read the reviews, and learned something good about this book. Then I had decided that I would purchase one. I was really excited about it. Finally arrived then started reading it. I was so amazed that I started to learn how to read notes, learned about circle of fifths and key signatures. I also used this book as a reference for the songbooks I have, I couldn't be happier than I have ever been. Studying music can be a long journey, but with this book, you'll gain tons of information that you really need for music in a short period of time. I am so glad I purchased this book. For the author, I give him much respect!

Having played piano off and on over a lifetime, I had somehow managed to remain ignorant of music theory. Like math, it was white noise when anyone started explaining meter and triplets etc. this book makes music theory wonderfully engaging and even funny.

Several other reviewers diss-ed this book because it didn't answer their particular questions, though it is plain from the outset just what the author's intent actually is. I don't credit those reviews very much.I came to the book with some (very) basic information about reading music (choir-member level), but tried to approach the content with an open mind. Where the book covered some things that I was already familiar with, I moved on. There were other sections that were truly new territory and I did get some mileage from them. For my purposes, the text largely worked.But I found it frustrating that there were multiple typographical errors (at the level of mislabeling illustrations, for example) and what appeared to be flat mistakes (e.g., claiming that a particular illustration was of a particular concept, when in fact it was not -- the author surely knew better, but didn't proofread carefully). For a real beginner, who might lack enough background to see such missteps, the text could prove to be problematic. (I sent a list of such problems areas to the author, in the spirit of helping him improve his presentation, but have yet to receive an acknowledgment of their receipt.)As a first go-round with music theory, the approach of using bite-sized pieces, with multiple review and quiz sections, is probably pedagogically sound. It almost certainly should not be the only music theory book such an individual should read, however; there is simply too much more information to be had on the general topic of music theory. A reasonable second choice might be  The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd Edition , which is somewhat more detailed, but still accessible (and arguably better written); in fact, that might be a preferable first choice.Neither book, by the way (indeed, no reference that I've been able to find) adequately explains why a perfect interval is considered to be "perfect."

Great review of music theory for me as I have a band and orchestra back ground of long ago. Having a lot of oh yeah's. The author in my opinion does it in a humorous way in places so it doesn't feel like you're studying music theory and is one of the few books on the subject a person can actually enjoy the subject while learning. I'm using this book in conjunction with two other practical practice style books to learn bass guitar. My hat's off to the author because if he set out to write the first book on music theory a person could actually read he succeeded. I guess that's why he has a doctorate and I do not. Highly recommended to learn theory or as in my case needed refresher.

As someone who studied Music over fifty years ago, I found this book and excellent reminder of all the things I had forgotten, and an introduction to many things I had not known earlier.An excellent reference for anyone, who wishes to understand more about written Music.

Excellent book. Easy to understand.

Excellent book! Music learning is made easy and fun to quickly grasp and remember. Great value for beginners and intermediate level music learners. I bought this book in spite of lots of free downloadable from the net. I am happy the book certainly is worth the money spent.

This is an excellent book on music theory, very well written, detailed, and easy to follow. My only negative comment would be the lack of an audio CD or Internet audio files to work on the exercises. That would make it perfect!

I have virtually no ability to read music. I understand how to make a noise with musical instruments, I can play some tunes by ear and I enjoy messing around with music. I've always wanted to know and understand more no I'm amazed that this book, with the back up links, is a comprehensive and fascinating learning guide. I'm working through it and enjoying it.