Jonathan Harnum

HOW TO READ, WRITE, AND UNDERSTAND WRITTEN MUSIC

MUSIC THEORYBASIC

Second Edition: The Bestseller is Completely Revised and Expanded

Second Edition: The Bestseller is Completely Revised and Expanded

BASICMUSIC THEORY

HOW TO READ, WRITE, AND UNDERSTAND WRITTEN MUSIC

Jonathan HarnumAuthor of Sound the Trumpet: How to Blow Your Own Horn

Basic Music Theory d285

Aaccidentals

general info, 140sharp, 141double sharp, 258double flat, 258

Aeolian mode, 197augmented triads, 222

Bbar, 22bar line, 22bass clef, 106, 114beam, 54, 254beat, 26bebop scales, 204blues scale

standard, 202major blues, 203minor, 202recipe for one, 202

CC clef, 104chord, 220Chord Extensions

general info, 226seventh chord, 227ninth chord, 228seventh chord

dominant seventh chord, 227Chord Inversions

general info, 232first, 232second, 233third, 234seventh chords, 234

Chord Progressiongeneral info, 238parallel motion, 239rules of, 238similar motion, 239I IV V I, 239ii V I, 240iii vi ii V I, 24112 bar blues, 242

chord progression, 238chord quality, 220Chords

Finding name of, 234general info, 220triads, 221close harmony, 232open harmony, 232seventh chord

dominant seventh chord, 227triads

augmented, 222diminished, 222major, 221minor, 222

using Roman numerals with, 22011th and 13th chords, 228seventh chord, 227ninth chord, 228

chromatic scale, 148Circle of Fifths, 164Clef

general info, 104alto clef, 105bass, 106bass clef, 114C clef, 104rhythm clef, 106, 120

one line, 1205 lines, 121drum set notes, 121

soprano clef, 105tenor clef, 105treble clef, 105vocal tenor clef, 105

close harmony, 232common tone, 238compoiund interval, 226Conducting

general info, 212left hand, 215right hand, 215Patterns

2/4 time, 2143/4 time, 2144/4 time, 213

right arm, 213conducting, 212Counting System

whole note, 49half note, 49quarter note, 48eighth notes, 54rests, 50

cut time, 262Cycle of Fifths, 164

Ddiminished triads, 222directing, see Conductingdominant seventh chord, 227Dorian mode, 196dotted half note, 62dotted whole note, 62double bar lines, 22double dotted notes, 254double dotted rests, 254double flat, 258double sharp, 258doubling, 238

Eear training, 184eighth note, 54eighth note triplet, 68eighth rest, 55Extensions

11th and 13th chords, 228Extensions, see Chord Extensions

Ffifth, 221first inversion, 232

flag, 54, 254flat, 147

double flat, 258order of, 158

foot tap, 48

Hhalf note, 26, 49half rest, 50half step, 148, 152harmonic

harmonic, 180harmonic interval, 180harmonic minor scale, 190

Iinterval, 180

finding an interval, 180augmented, 181, 182diminished, 181, 182finding, 182harmonic, 180major, 181, 182melodic, 180minor, 182perfect, 181

Inversions, see Chord InversionsIonian mode, 196

KKey Signatures

all keys, 162 to 163general info, 158flat keys, 158construct a sharp key, 161construct flat keys, 159key of C, 161naming flat keys, 159sharp keys, 160

keyboard, 146

Lleap, 238leger line, 93line note, 92Locrian, 198long tones, 84Lydian mode, 197

Mmajor intervals, 181major scale, 152, 196major triads, 221measure, 22melodic interval, 180melodic minor scale, 191meter, 42Meters

2/2, 2622/4, 443/4, 444/4, 435/4, Click3

INDEX

Click

Musical Terms 286

6/8simple, 262compound, 263

7/4, 7/8, 263cut time, 262odd, 263

metronome, 85minor scale

general info, 188natural minor, 188harmonic minor, 190melodic minor, 191natural minor

parallel, 189relative, 190

minor triads, 222Mixolydian mode, 197Mnemonic Device

bass clef lines, 115bass clef spaces, 115order of flats, 158treble clef lines, 110treble clef spaces, 111

mnemonic device, 110Modes

general info, 196finding or creating, 198Aeolian, 197Dorian, 196Ionian, 196Locrian, 198Lydian, 197Mixolydian, 197Phrygian, 197

Nnaming sharp keys, 160natural, 141natural half step, 148natural minor scale, 188, 197neutral clef, 106, 120ninth chords, 228Note

anatomystems up or down, 27

Noteswhole, 26half, 26quarter, 26eighth note, 54sixteenth, 56thirty-second, 254sixty-fourth, 254anatomy, 27eighth

dotted 8th, 64eighth note triplet, 68enharmonic, 147half note

dotted half, 62letter names, 100line note, 92sixteenth note

16th note triplet, 69space note, 92whole note

dotted whole, 62

double-dotted notes, 254

Ooctave, 153open harmony, 232order of flats, 158

Pparallel minor scale, 189parallel motion, 239pentatonic scale, 203percussion clef, 106, 120perfect fifth, 181perfect fourth, 181perfect intervals

fifth, 181fourth, 181octave, 181prime, 181unison, 181

perfect octave, 181perfect prime, 181Phrygian mode, 197pitch, 93Practice

beginning, 80equipment, 82how much to, 79how to, 82, 83using the metronome, 84where, 81

private teachers, 78pulse, 26

Qquarter, 49quarter note, 26, 48quarter note triplet, 70quarter rest, 50

Rrelative minor scale, 190Rests

dotted rests, 65eighth, 55half, 32quarter, 32whole, 32

ReviewsPart I, 35Part II, 123Part III, 73Part IV, 173Part V, 207Part VI, 247Part VII, 267

rhythm clef, 120root, 221root position, 232

SScales

bebop, 204blues, 202chromatic, 148

harmonic minor, 190major, 152, 196melodic minor, 191natural minor, 197parallel minor, 189pentatonic, 203relative minor, 190super Locrian, 204whole tone, 204

second inversion, 233seventh chord, 227sharp, 141, 147similar motion, 239sixteenth note, 56sixteenth note triplet, 69sixty-fourth note, 254space, 18space note, 92staff, 18staff lines, 18stem, 27super Locrian scale, 204

Ttap, 48third, 221thirty-second note, 254time signature, see metertriad, 221Triplets

eighth, 68sixteenth, 69

tuner, 86tuplet, 68

Uunison, 181

Vvoice leading, 238

Wwarm-up, 84washtub bass, 88whole note, 26, 49whole rest, 50whole step, 148, 152whole tone scale, 204

“ D O Y O U W A N T T O R E A D M U S I C ? ”

hat 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 teacher using methods refined over more than ten years in schools and in his private teaching studio. Lessons are short, well-paced and enjoyable.

Whether you’re a beginner of any age, whether you’re an experienced player who wants to bone up on your theory, or whether you teach music and need a fun way to do it, you’ll find this book valuable and will refer to it again and again.

YOU WILL DISCOVER HOW EASY IT IS TO:

• Learn quickly and efficiently with easy lessons designed by a professional teacher.

• Learn the symbols used in written music.

• Understand the terms musicians use. • Use memory devices to learn terms and

symbols.• Use the included study guides to

remember it all.• Apply what you have learned with short,

easy Practical Use sections at the end of each Chapter.

• Tune in to radio shows and the Internet to find musicians demonstrating great music.

WITH INTERLUDES ON:• How to practice. Some topics: where-

when-how to practice, how much to practice, equipment, how to improve, ear training, listening, private teachers.

• Conducting. What does all that arm-waving mean? How does it help? Find the answers and learn how!

• Learn Some Italian. Many musical terms are in Italian. Learn them in this section.

• Ultra-brief history of music notation.

SPECIAL FEATURES:• Piano Keyboard w/ Note Names• Guitar Fingerboard w/ Note Names• Specially Designed Reviews• Practical Use Exercises• Practice Aids• Extensively Cross-Referenced• Musical Terms Dictionary• Book Index• Scales in bass and treble clef

W

THIS BOOK HAS HELPED OVER THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WRITTEN MUSIC. IT WILL HELP YOU, TOO!

“Loved it! Your sense of humor and ability to simplify sometimes convoluted information makes your book a pleasure to read. I was delighted to find myself reading it instead of wading through it as I would a textbook. Your simple layout is fabulous—thanks for not making it cluttered or confusing.”

—Kathy Settevendemie, Music Educator, Kodiak High School

“Fun and engaging. A real winner!” —Terrie A. Lyons, PH.D., P.C.

“An ideal and highly recommended text for anyone of any background wanting to become proficient in the reading and writing of written and notated music.”

—Midwest Book Review (5 stars, highest rating)

“The more I think about your book the more brilliant it becomes. See, the tough part is knowing how to limit the depth to keep it true to your goal of making {music theory} fun and fathomable. You excelled at it!”

—Charles Reynolds, pioneer music educator, Palmer, Alaska

Sol-Ut Press

www.sol-ut.com

$24.95 US

$35.95 CAN

£23.95 UK

ISBN 0-9707512-8-1

Reference/Music Theory