Recommend me a book on theory/composition

[bburk]

Ok, so I know some theory, studied it a bit in University, picked some up in lessons but I'm mostly self taught. I've been browsing local bookstores and Amazon but almost every book I find has exactly the same fundamental stuff for the first hundred or more pages. I simply can't justify buying a whole book on theory for the little bit in the last chapter that would actually be new to me.

I used to have a college level textbook on theory. That's the kind of level I'm talking about here. Beyond the fundamentals. It doesn't have to be a 'text book' and it doesn't have to focus on Classical (like the one I had did).

So please, recommend me a good book, but keep in mind, I don't want to open the book to the middle and see a lesson on intervals or inversions or whatever. I'm much more interested in song composition, advanced harmony, constructing melodies, chord progression and resolution and the like.

Is there anything out there that doesn't assume you are a rank novice to start?


Thanks!

[Eli M.]

I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but check out Twentieth Century Harmony by Persichetti. I found it very helpful as a beginning composition student.

Each chapter deals with a certain aspect of music, such as scales, chords by thirds, chords by fourths, tonality and atonality, polychords, harmonic progression, etc. At the end of each chapter is a series of exercises such as "in a short section for piano dominated by ninth chords, use loud and rough fourth inversions". I haven't looked at it in a year or two but I have written some good music based on what I read in there.

[DocBop]

I highly recommend as do many around here The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine . I like that is uses lots of references to well know Jazz tunes so I can listen to the tunes to hear what he's discussing. Definitely check it out.

[Youngspanion]

Originally Posted by DocBop

I highly recommend as do many around here The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine . I like that is uses lots of references to well know Jazz tunes so I can listen to the tunes to hear what he's discussing. Definitely check it out.

What if you don't like jazz or don't know it too well. is the book still good?

[SundanceChile]

http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-P...961653-2791043

Sold this book once, realized how much I loved it, ended it up buying it again. This is coming from a Music Comp major.

[bburk]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the suggestions. I'll definatly check these out!

[ALiP BoB]

Originally Posted by FretlessFreak

http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-P...961653-2791043

Sold this book once, realized how much I loved it, ended it up buying it again. This is coming from a Music Comp major.

Uh, that book's on COMPOSITION?

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

What if you don't like jazz or don't know it too well. is the book still good?

Well you can always go with traditional Harmony books, but I find studying Jazz is easy to relate to modern music. I have taken a composition class using the Beatle as the music for the examples. It was quite interesting seeing traditional composition methods via Beatles tunes. But I have never seen a book that teaches that way.


I would say you don't like Jazz, but answered yourself as to why you don't it too well. When I first heard I was told was Jazz me and my friends didn't like it. Then a buddy of our who was the hot Jazz player in school said he knew what we'd like. We went to Jazz club and heard Jimmy Smith and loved it. From there we learning more about Jazz and the stuff we orignially heard was really cutting edge. Like any style music Jazz is a general term and if you learn about it there is lots of types of Jazz so you need to learn a little to find what you like. Just like Rock do you like everything that gets categorized Rock? I doubt it.

[SundanceChile]

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

Uh, that book's on COMPOSITION?

Partly. It's mostly based on music theory. Since, I don't know, you kinda need to know your ABC's before you start speaking the language.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

Uh, that book's on COMPOSITION?

Theory is usually taught by having you compose using the element just introduced. How else do you learn to doing something you have to use it. You come up with a new bassline you are composing.