Roger Hare Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 I have just done a first read-through of Jack Campin's "Scales and Modes in Scottish Traditional Music" (http://www.campin.me.uk/Music/Modes/). Powerful stuff (and loadsa good tunes besides!)! However, I feel that to extract the maximum benefit from these seriously good papers, I need a firmer grounding in music theory. I am currently looking at"Understanding Music Theory" in the 'Teach Yourself' series. It looks fairly good and is not (very) instrument-specific. Can any readers of this forum suggest alternative 'entry-level' introductions to music theory? Thank you. Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adey Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 I found 'The AB Guide to Music Theory' by Eric Taylor very useful. It comes in two slim paperbacks published by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. http://shop.abrsm.org/shop/prod/Taylor-Eric-The-AB-Guide-to-Music-Theory-Part-I/598230 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Hare Posted May 18, 2016 Author Share Posted May 18, 2016 I found 'The AB Guide to Music Theory' by Eric Taylor very useful. It comes in two slim paperbacks published by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. http://shop.abrsm.org/shop/prod/Taylor-Eric-The-AB-Guide-to-Music-Theory-Part-I/598230 Thank you - I will track that one down. I am sitting in the rather wonderful Music Library in the Central Library in Manchester as I type, and Part 1 is out on loan at the moment - curses - I'll just have to be patient! Thank you. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Many English concertina players read music and some have a good grasp of music theory. I have learnt the basics from them, and The Little Book of Music Theory and Musical Terms was also helpful; although this may be too simple for your purpose. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Music-Theory-Musical-Terms-ebook/dp/B003MQMUG6/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463571589&sr=1-6&keywords=The+Little+Book+of+Music+Theory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Taylor Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 (edited) Edinburgh usually run this course in late summer: https://www.coursera.org/course/musictheory It starts off quite easily but gets tough towards the end. The "Everything Music Theory Book" by Marc Schonbrun is a modern, approachable read with exercises and an accompanying CD. It is very helpful to actually hear examples of ideas being discussed. Warning: the Kindle of this book does not include the audio samples. Finally, http://www.musictheory.net is well worth exploring. Edited May 18, 2016 by Don Taylor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Thanks Don. I'm going straight back to the drawing board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Campin Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 (edited) Music Theory for Dummies is pretty good (slightly easier and a good bit chattier than the AB books). How to Crack Music Theory is a bit more elementary. Edited May 19, 2016 by Jack Campin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Hare Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 > Many English concertina players read music and some have a good grasp of music theory. I have learnt the basics from them... If only life were that simple. The only other squeezers I know (perhaps I should say used to know): 1) have never heard of modes 2) do not believe that modes exist indeed, deny it vehemently 3) accused me of 'making up' this modal stuff simply in order to impress them with my knowledge of musical theory - I had a good laugh at that one... I can do without that sort of stuff... > ...The Little Book of Music Theory and Musical Terms was also helpful.. I had a look - it looks excellent - cheap as chips - on my shopping list. Thank you. Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Such ignorance is inexcusable nowadays, given that a simple Google search will show them that they are wrong. Just as well you no longer know them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Campin Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 The way he put it suggests he knows exactly where under his extended patio each of them now is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cboody Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Bravo Jack! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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