Music Theory For Dummies

( 23 )
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up in Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Paperback (2nd Edition with Audio CD)
$16.15
BN.com price
$24.99 List Price (Save 35%)
Marketplace (New and Used)
from
$14.44
$24.99 List Price (Save 42%)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
All (37)  
Used (8)  
New (29)  
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 4
Showing 1 – 10 of 37 (4 pages)
$14.44
(Save 42%)
SuperBookDeals-
Seller since 2008

Feedback rating:

(14101)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

New
Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.

Ships from: South Bend, IN

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$14.45
(Save 42%)
books_Xpress
Seller since 2012

Feedback rating:

(970)

Condition: New
BRAND NEW - 100% GUARANTEED! Fast shipping

Ships from: Bayonne, NJ

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$14.57
(Save 42%)
indoo
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(21684)

Condition: New
BRAND NEW

Ships from: Avenel, NJ

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$14.60
(Save 42%)
PaperbackshopUS
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(4793)

Condition: New
Shipped from US in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$14.60
(Save 42%)
ExpeditedBooksUS
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(887)

Condition: New
Shipped from US. Express shipping in 3 to 6 business days. Standard shipping in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$14.79
(Save 41%)
TrackedBooksUS
Seller since 2012

Feedback rating:

(88)

Condition: New
Shipped from US in 4 to 14 business days standard or 3 to 6 business days express. FREE TRACKING WITH EVERY ORDER! Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$15.05
(Save 40%)
Great Book Deals
Seller since 2008

Feedback rating:

(12283)

Condition: New
Absolutely Brand New & In Stock. 100% 30-Day Money Back. Direct from our warehouse. Over 5+ Million Customers served. In business since 1997. Happy Customers is Our #1 Goal. ... Customer Service toll free upport Monday-Friday EST Hrs. 4 to 14 business day Delivery Time by US Post Office. Read more Show Less

Ships from: Oldsmar, FL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$15.40
(Save 38%)
PaperbackshopUS
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(4793)

Condition: New
Shipped from US in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$15.91
(Save 36%)
PaperbackshopUS
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(4793)

Condition: New
This item will be shipped from our warehouse in Chicago.

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$16.31
(Save 35%)
SuperBookDeals-
Seller since 2008

Feedback rating:

(14101)

Condition: Like New
Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.

Ships from: South Bend, IN

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 4
Showing 1 – 10 of 37 (4 pages)
Close
Sort by
NOOK Book (eBook)
$13.74
BN.com price
$24.99 List Price (Save 45%)

Available on NOOK devices and apps

  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for iPad
  • NOOK for iPhone
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK for Android (Tablet)
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

More About This Book

Overview

An indispensable guide for music students, musicians, and music lovers

For people who want a deeper understanding and appreciation of music, or who want to do their own composing and arranging, a basic grounding in music theory is essential. Written for the nearly 30,000 college and graduate music students as well as working musicians and serious music buffs, this hands-on guide explains music theory concepts in plain English-from scales, intervals, tempos, and dynamics to chord progressions, phrasing, harmonizing, and arranging-and demonstrates how to apply them in compositions ranging from pop and rock to jazz and classical. The book includes a CD that demonstrates music theory concepts and provides examples of the way sounds and tempos can be mixed and matched for a variety of musical experiences.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781118095508
  • Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
  • Publication date: 11/8/2011
  • Edition description: 2nd Edition with Audio CD
  • Edition number: 2
  • Pages: 336
  • Sales rank: 63,323
  • Series: For Dummies Series
  • Product dimensions: 7.30 (w) x 9.20 (h) x 1.00 (d)

Meet the Author

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Part I: Rhythm: Keeping the Beat.

Chapter 1: What Is Music Theory Anyway?

Chapter 2: Counting Out Notes.

Chapter 3: Giving It a Rest.

Chapter 4: Time Signatures.

Chapter 5: Naturalizing the Best.

Chapter 6: Tempo and Dynamics.

Part II: Melody: The Part You Hum.

Chapter 7: The Musical Staff.

Chapter 8: Instrument Tone and Color.

Chapter 9: Half Steps, Whole Steps, Sharps, and Flats.

Part III: Harmony: Fleshing It Out.

Chapter 10: Intervals.

Chapter 11: Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths.

Chapter 12: The Major and Minor Scales.

Chapter 13: Building Chords.

Chapter 14: Chord Progressions.

Chapter 15: Cadence.

Part IV: Form: How It's Shaped.

Chapter 16: The Elements of Form.

Chapter 17: Classical Forms.

Chapter 18: Popular Forms.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 19: Six Most-Frequently Asked Questions About Music Theory.

Chapter 20: Ten Cool and Useful Resources.

Chapter 21: Nine Music Theorists You Should Know About.

Appendix A: How to Use the CD.

Appendix B: Chord Chart.

Appendix C: Glossary.

Index.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 23 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(13)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(3)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 23 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 18, 2007

    A reviewer

    While I have been a musician for most of my life, I don't know much about music theory (including sight reading). It would be difficult for me to pick my favorite chapter in this book, since I learned something new about music theory in every chapter, but Chapter 10 (Intervals) was probably the biggest bang for the buck in my mind. The later chapters that described the use of the intervals were reinforcement, but the explaination of the qualities of major, minor, diminished, and augmented intervals was a breakthrough for me. Chapter 13 (Building Chords) was almost as valuable to me, since it built on the same concepts. This is a textbook that I will be referring to for years. I strongly recommend it to anyone who is struggling with music theory.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted July 12, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    9780764551055 9780764599040

    Music Theory for Dummies and then some...

    For someone who has never approached music theory, this is better than an introduction, because it is readable, informative, clear and contains enough substance to be used as a reference book. It will require some reading and re-reading only because of the subject matter. The expert may not appreciate this book, but Dummies will use it over and over!

    I also like the way it covers key board and fret board.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 1, 2008

    This one rocks...like all the others in the Dummies Series.

    Simple, concise, to the point, and in 'Plain Ol' English'. This offering is just like all the others in the Dummies Series -- a great introduction to an otherwise confusing (to many) subject. Along with the companion CD, this text covers all the basics with easy-to-read explanations and copious examples (both visual and aural). It's especially nice that it's written from an 'instrument neutral' viewpoint. Anyone just starting out in this subject should pick this up and read it before buying any other book.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted December 23, 2011

    Great review of music theory!

    I am enjoying my new copy of "Music Theory for Dummies, 2nd.ed.," and would recommend it to anyone wishing to expand his knowledge of music theory. It is well written and contains a much broader range of musical information than would normally be found in a single text. With the assistance of the enclosed cd, a piano keyboard, or a guitar, it is possible to hear the concepts being presented. Glad to have this handy reference tool!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 15, 2010

    Very Good

    Picked up this book to figuring it would help fill-in some holes in my musical knowledge. If you don't know how to read sheet music expect to spend a long time in the music notation chapters. I picked up some stuff from these chapters even thought I already knew how to read sheet music. The best chapters for me was the intervals and chords building. This helped explain why some things work in music, that I've always used but didn't know why. Some good stuff in the chord progression chapters as well.

    Overall the book exceeded my expectations. Welll written and live up to the "For Dummies" approach better than most books in the "For Dummies" lines.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted February 28, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    9780860010166 9780470224212

    A Music Lesson in A BOok

    As a lifetime musician, music theory has always been something I have planned to studying; someday. I can figure out most pop songs by listening to them and experimenting a little. I can improvise, a little, as long as I can fit my standard forms into the song's chord progression. I get by without knowing theory or how to read particularly competently. I've always wanted to do more than get by, but the time and effort required to do so has been something I'm unwilling to put out.

    This year, I began taking guitar lessons from a local legend and he, immediately, began to talk theory that I didn't know. He, also, expected me to learn how to read. I had this book, which I had used a couple of years ago to slightly improve my music theory knowledge, and I pulled it off of the shelf and began to study it seriously. Between my guitar teacher and Music Theory for Dummies, I began to understand a little more about the structure of music; particularly how jazz chord and scale substitutions work and my playing has improved for the first time in 20 years. Even better, I enjoy playing and studying music and I have Music Theory for Dummies to thank for that. I have a long way to go to become an actual jazz guitarist, but I have a terrific guide for the trip.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 7, 2012

    MUSIC

    DUMMIES RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 16, 2012

    A very good book

    It was okay bt ut i didnt think it was as good as mine

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 19, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 2, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 31, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 30, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 23, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 13, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 8, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 19, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 13, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 9, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 14, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 22, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 23 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit