Berklee Music Theory Book 1 - 2nd Edition with Book/Online Audio - Music Theory Simplified with Practical Exercises - Rhythm, Scales, Musical Signatures, Intervals, and More Paperback – March 1, 2011

This book (Berklee Music Theory Book 1) is helping me confirm what I already know about music and slowing introducing the next levels of theory in a clear and comprehensive fashion. The textbook offers room for written responses within each chapter and the CD (included) offers listening lessons with written response areas provided in the text as well. My guitar teacher recommended this purchase and now that I have both books 1 and 2, I see the need for these items. My instructor and I go through 3 chapters a week and the lessons flow quickly and easily. I highly recommend this item (book 1) as well as book 2.

I figured if there is any go to source for music theory, Berklee would be it. This book was tough, but ANYTHING worthwhile is NOT easy! Not knowing scale degrees really stumped me but now I feel really confident in all keys. I always had nagging doubts concerning theory, but this book was a godsend. I learned more from this book than all my previous schooling/training etc. And I have been playing guitar for 47 years!I HIGHLY recommend though that you 1. Have a keyboard handy and 2. Have a Circle of Fifths handy. This will make life much easier!

Great book. Great service.

Since I knew nothing about audio studio design or listening area design these were all new to me. They do a nice job of treating the subject with both history, math, and physics. Those are the things that make up acoustics and what you have to learn. So they get five stars. These books all overlap but each is a refresher and builds on the next. So none of them are a waist. You could do with just one or two but I don't honestly know which ones I would pick.

Berklee has been in the business of teaching music to a diverse population of students for decades. They are experienced professionals at this. So there should be no surprise that the instruction in their music theory books is clear, concise, complete, well organized, and well-sequenced. The instruction is specifically targeted to piano/keyboards; even so, guitar players may also benefit from this training.This book was designed to be used in a class at a music college, with a music teacher. As a student workbook for such a course, this book would deserve a five star rating. I gave it a four star rating because it does not include the explanations that the instructor would (perhaps) normally provide. It would probably be best if you went through these music theory books with a music teacher (perhaps two or three chapters per week) as an integrated part of instrument instruction. Because of the lack of detailed explanations, I doubt that a self-studier could learn this material.Book 1 focuses on learning how to read and write music notation, as well as the major and minor scales. Book 2 focuses on harmony, including chords (triads, seventh chords, etc.), inversions, and voice leading. Each book develops listening, reading, and writing skills through exercises and "ear training" (included on audio CD).By way of contrast, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd Edition is much better at providing detailed explanations (with an easy-to-read narrative). I would highly recommend reading the Idiot's Guide before starting the Berklee Music Theory books.List of lessons: Pulse and meter; notes; rests; eigth notes and rests; beaming eighth notes; dots and ties; rhythmic notation guidelines; eighth-note and eighth-rest placement; other time signatures; pitch notation; the treble clef; the bass cleff; the grand staff; accidentals; enharmonic equivalents; half steps and whole steps; the chromatic scale; the whole-tone scale; the major scale; scale degrees; major scales using sharps; major scales using flats; the natural minor scale; the relative major/minor scale relationship; minor scale syllable names; the harmonic minor scale; the ascending melodic minor scale; the descending melodic minor scale; minor scale key signatures; interval naming; perfect and major intervals; major vs. minor; perfect and diminished intervals; augmented intervals; compound intervals.My book came with an answer key. A great number of people have given this product a lower rating because they were mad that their book did not have an answer key. If you obtain an older edition without an answer key, simply contact Berklee (at berkleemusic dot com slash contact) and ask for the answer keys to Music Theory 1 and Music Theory 2.For a (literally) heavier book on music theory, take a look at Tonal Harmony by Kostka and Payne. This is a textbook that is intended to support a music college classroom/lab course with a music teacher. I really doubt if anyone could self-study their way through this book. You might want to try to get your public library to buy one, so you can take a look before buying. (It is rather expensive.)

Excellent Music Theory Book!

No formal schooling? DIY individual? This is THE Theory textbook for you. I have purchased many a theory book only to find out that I wasted my money. This was NOT the case here. It is thorough and precise and makes a world of sense to a complete novice of music. If you don't know NOTHING about music this is your book. If you don't have time for music school for whatever reason you can feel comfortable with getting this textbook and progressing successfully. Going to stop laying compliments on this and get back to studying.

I went to berklee years ago and wanted to refresh my memory on music theory, so I bought this book because over the years I have lost my old harmony books. I have looked through it and have to say it's pretty basic to me, I mean I did go to berklee, but I can't recommend it more to anyone just starting out. I plan on buying book two once I have fully read through it and made sure I really do remember it all. But I will say this, I learned something new in lesson 1 that I don't recall learning while in school. But it has been 12 years since I took harmony at berklee.