**Music theory doesn't need to be complicated, and this guide will show
you how to make it simple.
**
Idiot's Guides: Music Theory, Third Edition, is a concise and clear
guide that teaches any budding musician or experienced musician how to
read musical notation by navigating the basics of reading and composing
music. Here's what you'll find:
- The basics of tones, including pitches, clefs, scales, intervals,
and major and minor keys
- The building blocks of rhythm, including note values, basic
notation, time signatures, and tempo, dynamics, and navigation
- How tunes are created, starting with melodies, chords, chord
progressions, and phrases and forms
- The basics of accompaniment, including transcribing, accompanying
melodies, and transposing to other keys
- Composing and arranging, including coverage of musical genres and
forms, how to compose your own music, arranging for voices and
instruments, working with lead sheets and scores, and performing your
music
- Helpful reference appendixes, including a glossary, chord charts,
and instrument ranges
- Expanded online ear-training and transcribing exercise content,
including exercises at the end of each chapter and an answer key
appendix