Music Theory

This book discusses tonal music theory, specifically of the common practice period onwards, including jazz, blues, rock, and other modern styles. It focuses mostly on Western (i.e., Western European, Euro-American, and Afro-American) styles, however, all styles of music are discussed.

Common Practice Styles

• Fundamentals of Common Practice Music

Tones, overtones, and harmonics

• Harmony
• Counterpoint
• Form

Basics

• Introduction
• How to read Music
• Music Notation Systems
• Rhythm
• Scales and Intervals
• Modes
• Chords
• Chord Structures
• Consonance and Dissonance

Beyond the Basics

• The Physics of Music
• Finding the Key and Mode of a Piece
• Playing by Ear
• Complete List of Chord Patterns
• Modulation
• Chromaticism
• Syncopation

Harmony

• Tryads
• Seventh chords
• Functions
• Cadences and Progressions
• Secondary dominant
• Dominant substitute
• Reharmonization
• Voicing

Modal Harmony

• Modes

Modern Styles

• Barbershop
• Blues
• Country
• Dance
• Folk, Old Time, Bluegrass, etc.
• Funk
• Hip Hop, Rap, etc.
• Hymn
• Jazz, incl. Swing
• Metal
• New Age
• Pop, Pop/Rock, etc.
• Punk, Hardcore, Pop-Punk, etc.
• Reggae
• Rock, Hard Rock, etc.
• Samba
• Ska
• Miscellaneous Styles
• R&B
• Reggae

Styles in the Western Classical Tradition

• Plainsong
• Early Western European
• Renaissance
• Baroque
• Classical
• Romantic
• Atonal
• Serialism
• Spectralism

Traditional and Folk styles

• African
• Arabic
• Calypso
• Celtic
• Chinese
• Eastern European
• Indian
• Japanese

Composing

• Necessary Tools
• Software Needed
• Four Part
  • Melody(Soprano)
    • Phrasing
  • Bass
  • Alto And Tenor
• Counterpoint

Further Reading

• Western Music History
• Writing Effective Songs

Appendices

• Authors
• Real Book Errata