Recommend me a music theory book

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Dear fellow TBers...

My guitar student (who also plays piano and flute) wants a intermediate/advanced level book that teaches different modes/scales as well as "how to improvise when given a song or a chord progression."

Can anyone recommend anything?
(Online lessons are good too if they are detailed and instructive)

Thanks in advance!

[allexcosta]

[Aaron J]

If you want to use a good jazz theory book, I would recommend The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine. It is a loaded book, but it is very accessible. Check out this link. I know a lot of older educators/players who also recommend that book.

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Well, it won't be used as much for on-the-spot improvising, but it'll still be used for improvising. I don't think a jazz theory book would be appropriate because it won't be used for jazz, it'll be used for a little bit of composing and a little bit of pre-structured "improvising." I think the more contemporary the better.

[ZonGuy]

Originally Posted by Aaron J

If you want to use a good jazz theory book, I would recommend The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine. It is a loaded book, but it is very accessible. Check out this link. I know a lot of older educators/players who also recommend that book.

Mark Levine's book is the best I have seen for getting the whole picture. The bible. Being able to play a minimal amount of keyboard helps, since a lot of the examples are simplified piano score.

Mel Bay's Jazz Theory is a dumbed down version.

Every Aebersold book has the essential scales broken out by number and intervally.