Publisher's Synopsis
Master the Secrets of Playing, Improvising and Composing - For All Instruments This 515 page book applies to any musician at any level of expertise regardless of instrument or style of music. Invaluable as a reference book for private lessons or as a textbook for classroom study. Includes a downloadable demonstration audio CD and a 15,000 word glossary! PART ONE - THE BASICS What is music? The three basic elements of sound. How to cure Tone Deafness. Can Perfect Pitch be learned? PART TWO - ESSENTIAL THEORY Major & minor scales & arpeggios, Secrets of Improvisation part 1 Reading Music, Pentatonic & Blues Scales PART THREE - RHYTHM Theory, Secrets of Improvisation part 2, 17 Rhythm Reading Drills Rhythm Section, Grooves, Comping PART FOUR - BASIC HARMONY Intervals, triads, inversions, I, IV, V chords and the 12 Bar Blues Diatonic triads, progressions and arpeggio patterns PART FIVE - INTERMEDIATE HARMONY 7th Chords, Inversions, arpeggio patterns, Harmonic rhythm 12 Bar Blues with 7th chords, Diatonic 7th Chords, Rhythm Changes Secrets of Improvisation part 3 & 4 (basics of chord-scale theory) PART SIX - ADVANCED SCALES & HARMONY History of scales, 28 Diatonic modes, Non-diatonic scales Types of harmony, extended chords (9th, 11th, 13th), slash chords 31 13th Chords defined, Chord-scale chart, more Rhythm Changes Secrets of Improvisation part 5, Intros, Turnarounds, II, V, I all keys PART SEVEN - IMPROVISATION & COMPOSITION Basics of composition, song form, melodic phrasing Styles of music, Harmonic progressions, substitute chords The Chord Progression Encyclopedia PART EIGHT - PIANO & KEYBOARD PLAYERS ONLY Technique, fingerings, chord voicing, solo piano, walking bass lines PART NINE - MUSICIAN'S HAT PART TEN - GLOSSARY of Musical Terms and Symbols PART ELEVEN - APPENDIX Practice Guidelines, How to: practice songs, memorize, learn songs by ear, play in band, play Theme & Variation Improvisation About the author "I enthusiastically endorse this book! It is a wonderful way to enter and explore the adventure that is music, each step expertly presented to ensure a pleasurable and productive experience for any reader!" Mark Isham, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated Performer and Composer "As far as I am concerned, it is the Bible of music theory, including the REAL theory behind composition. There's data in this book that you can't find anywhere else. I can't rave to you enough about it!" Bill Wagner guitarist/composer "The most comprehensive and easily assimilated book on music theory that I have come across in my 30 years as a musician and vocalist." Raven Kane The Complete Guide to Learning Music answers many interesting questions, such as: * What exactly is music? * How do you cure "tone deafness"? * What is "perfect pitch," how important is it, and can it be learned? * What is the secret of great improvisation, and can it be learned? * Will studying music really stifle creativity? * How can you truly learn composing and songwriting? * What is the important difference between practice and performance? And more advanced questions such as: * What is the most recommended method of learning improvisation? * How do you choose the right scale to improvise over a chord progression? * What are the "musical dichotomies" and how do they relate to great improvisation? * What is a "temporary key center" and how does it relate to improvisation? * Did you know that there are actually 28 modes, not just 7? What are they? * Did you know that there are a total of 31 13th chords that can be derived from the eight 7th chords? * What are the 31 scales to use for improvisation on the 31 13th chords? * What are the most common intros, turnarounds and endings to songs? * What is the difference between substitute chords and reharmonization? * How to find virtually an unlimited number of chord progressions?
