Music Theory for Dummies

Helpful hints on melodies, chords, and music development

The fun and easy way to read, write, and perform any style of music

Need to grasp music theory? This hands-on guide explains the concepts in plain English from scales, intervals, and tempos to chord progressions, phrasing, harmonizing, and arranging and shows you how to apply them in compositions ranging from pop and rock to jazz and classical. It’s also packed with musical examples you can hear on the CD!

Discover how to:

• Read notes and understand tones

• Keep proper rhythm

  • Master major and minor scales

    • Build chords and cadences

      • Write in popular musical forms

        Demonstrations of music theory concepts

        Musical examples performed on both piano and guitar

Michael Pilhofer teaches music theory and percussion at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he serves as department head of the Ensembles Department. He has worked as a professional musician for more than 18 years and has toured and recorded with Joe Lovano, Marian McPartland, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, Bill Holman, Wycliffe Gordon, Peter Erskine, and Gene Bertoncini.

Holly Day has written about music for numerous publications internationally, including Computer Music Journal, ROCKRGRL, Music Alive!, Guitar One, Brutarian Magazine, Interface Technology, and Mixdown magazine. Over the past couple of decades, her writing has received an Isaac Asimov Award, a National Magazine Award, and two Midwest Writer’s Grants. Her previous books include The Insider’s Guide to the Twin Cities (3rd^, 4th, and 5th Editions), Shakira, and Behind the Orange Curtain: A History of Orange County Punk Rock.