Double Bass good theory book to get me started!

[Sarley]

can anyone recommend any good theory books to get me started from the beginning.

thanks.

 

[miles mosley]

I'd say the easiest thing to do would be to go down to the local high school or university and find out what they are using. Those books are a little bland but they work, are always updated (not that you need to update theory), but more importantly they are immediately accessible.

That'd be my suggestion because they're all basically the same but if you use one a school is using you might even be able to coax a teacher into letting you have some of the tests!

 

[waleross]

There are so many books out there for String Bass and Electric bass. Recently I bought a few from: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Check out this site..you should find something that could help you.......

 

[John Goldsby]

I would highly recommend the Mark Levine book:

The Jazz Theory Book

It takes you from the beginning and presents jazz theory in a very practical way.

 

[Square Bear]

if you want to study jazz theory that is. to help you find what you're looking for, it would be good to know what angle are you looking to approach theory from? what styles are you interested in (classical, jazz, rock, zydeco, tuvan throat-singing)? if you are looking for a good classical theory book, the kostka tonal harmony book is a pretty standard textbook often used in universities/conservatories. another book that i have used is steven laitz the complete musician, which is the best book i have seen, though there are many, many others and my experience is limited. i generally work with my own students by approaching theory from a fairly classical angle before branching out into other styles they may be more interested in. a big reason i use this approach is that it prepares them in case they want to study music at the university level, where they will most likely be required to study classical theory even if their concentration is in jazz. it can be a major drag trying to play catch up in those lower division theory classes, especially for people with a foundation in jazz theory - they may know a lot of the material, it's just called something else depending on their background. plus, the systematic approach of classical theory is very thorough and logical and can only enhance your understanding of any other kind of "western" music (yes, even country-western).

the reason i like the laitz so much is because of it's layout. it introduces new chords always organized by their function in a remarkably intuitive way. this may mean very little to you now, but as you learn more you'll find the difficulty is always in organization of concepts - mainly in how things apply to actual practice.

sorry for the long post. good luck! here's the two books i mentioned on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Tonal-Harmony-Introduction-Twentieth-Century-Music/dp/0072415703
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Musician-Integrated-Approach-Listening/dp/0195095677

 

[John Goldsby]

Right you are Square B . . . I was wrongly assuming that Sarley was talking about jazz theory. I think another great book that covers general music theory *really* from the beginning is:

Paul Hindemith, Elementary Training for Musicians

If you need a complete guide to music notation and terminology, you can download this free e-book from the Gutenberg.org Library:
Music Notation and Terminology by Karl Wilson Gehrkens

It's not a theory book, but might answer some basic questions for you.

 

[Square Bear]

yes, hindemith is a great suggestion as well. i'm glad i thought of it...

 

[tzadik]

I would highly recommend the Mark Levine book:

The Jazz Theory Book

It takes you from the beginning and presents jazz theory in a very practical way.

Belated ditto! The Jazz Piano Book is awesome too. These are some of the only theory books that do not cause me to want to defenestrate.

 

[Lumpy]

I would highly recommend the Mark Levine book:

The Jazz Theory Book

It takes you from the beginning and presents jazz theory in a very practical way.

Wow! I would disagree 180 degrees. I think someone wanting to "start from the beginning" would be very, very poorly served by the Lavine approach. I hardly think that it "takes you from the beginning".

I would think a more traditional approach to harmony would be much better start rather than dive into the Berklee chord scale stuff, which is very, very controversial in it's approach.


Lumpy

You Played on Lawrence Welk?
Yes but no blue notes. Just blue hairs.

Link Removed

 

[Marc Piane]

Really like parts of the Levine book but it definitely assumes at least a rudimentary background in 'traditional' theory.

 

[TortillaChip520]

what styles are you interested in (classical, jazz, rock, zydeco, tuvan throat-singing)?

Step 1: Go "Rrrrrrrr"

The End.

 

[Rick Auvil]

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory Complete

http://www.amazon.com/Alfreds-Essentials-Music-Theory-Self-Study/dp/0739036351

This is a very basic self-instruction book. Comes with ear training CDs and answer keys. I use it with my high school Basic Music Theory class in conjunction with some on line resources.

 

[Marc Piane]

musictheory.net is a nice resource

 

[Menacewarf]

I think this book is great ...http://www.amazon.com/Edlys-Music-Theory-Practical-People/dp/0966161602.

It starts at the very basics and will give you a few years of steady digestion.

 

[John Goldsby]

Wow! I would disagree 180 degrees. I think someone wanting to "start from the beginning" would be very, very poorly served by the Lavine approach. I hardly think that it "takes you from the beginning".

I would think a more traditional approach to harmony would be much better start rather than dive into the Berklee chord scale stuff, which is very, very controversial in it's approach.

You're right, Lumpy, that the Levine book is too advanced for someone who wants a basic theory book. That's why in my second post, I suggest these:

Paul Hindemith: Elementary Training for Musicians

and this free e-book (can't beat the price) from the Gutenberg Project:

Music Terminology and Notation by Karl Wilson Gehrkins

That book takes you from the beginning, for sure. The Hindemith book is a classic, and it starts from the absolute beginning. It precedes his "Elementary Harmony" book.

Mark Levine's book is a well-accepted approach to modern jazz theory. It does not come from the Berklee series of theory books. Of course—that's also my mistake—the OP did not say he or she wanted a jazz theory book, and we haven't heard back from the OP since the thread started (Sarley, you out there?).

 

[Bassist4Life]

musictheory.net is a nice resource

YES, absolutely. Great place to start! Try it, it's free.

There's stuff there for beginners and even stuff that will challenge the most experienced musicians.

 

[Lumpy]

Mark Levine's book is a well-accepted approach to modern jazz theory. It does not come from the Berklee series of theory books...

Thanks for the reply.

I'll have to disagree once again. The chord scale approach is probably the most vehemently argued for/against attempts to categorize music in history. Levine's book may not be the text for Berklee harmony, but it's on the shelf of every Berklee student and graduate, I'm sure. It is the quintessential "big volume" approach to the Berklee chord scale method.

I view the Lavine book as a modern day Piston. But instead of Bach and Beethoven analyzed in traditional music theory, as in Piston, it's Miles and Coltrane analyzed in "Berkleecentric". Lavine not only assumes the reader is well versed in existing theory, it also assumes the reader is well versed in the 20th century jazz catalog and artists, AND is ready and willing to accept a very new and controversial approach to music analysis.

The Lavine book, to me, seems to be very difficult to use as a "desk reference". That is, you can't easily go "look something up" in the 522 pg book. Since it's not based on traditional music theory, you pretty much have to start at page one and travel through it in linear fashion. I have a hard time viewing music theory in a linear mode.

Everyone should browse Lavine, I think. But do it in the library first, before spending money on the big tree killer. If it applies to whatever the reader sees/knows/wants, then great. If it doesn't, seek a different, perhaps less controversial approach.

Lumpy

You Played on Lawrence Welk?
Yes but no blue notes. Just blue hairs.

Link Removed

 

[bassphase]

The chord scale approach is probably the most vehemently argued for/against attempts to categorize music in history.

Who says? The explanations in the Levine book seem to be the most logical and common method of conceptualizing modern harmony. His book looks at chords and scales as being different views of more or less the same thing. Plus, there's much more there than chord and scale discussions. I find his books very useful for teaching.

What do you see as controversial?

You sound like Carol Kaye about to rant about "note scales" (her term).



bob

 

[John Goldsby]

A lot of great musicians I know would accept the chord/scale theory as laid out in Levine's book. A lot of great musicians would not. That being said, a lot of lousy musicians and also a lot of great musicians would agree/disagree with chord/scale theory.

It's just theory. Like the theory of relativity . . . one does not have to "believe" in it. I don't think Berklee has a monopoly on theory, and I wouldn't "vehemently" (as Lumpy says) argue against anything with regard to music theory.

I went through all of Carol Kaye's books when I was starting out in the '70s. They were great as a beginning method . . . but there was no theory in there (Did she ever bring out a theory book?)

This thread is getting a little bit OT, and we still haven't heard back from the OP sarley.

I also recommend:
Paul Hindemith: Elementary Training for Musicians
and this free e-book (can't beat the price) from the Gutenberg Project:
Music Terminology and Notation by Karl Wilson Gehrkins

Which books are you recommending, Lumpy?

 

[Ray man]

Wow! I would disagree 180 degrees. I think someone wanting to "start from the beginning" would be very, very poorly served by the Lavine approach. I hardly think that it "takes you from the beginning".

I would think a more traditional approach to harmony would be much better start rather than dive into the Berklee chord scale stuff, which is very, very controversial in it's approach.


Lumpy

You Played on Lawrence Welk?
Yes but no blue notes. Just blue hairs.

Link Removed

Hey Lumpy, I have the chord scale book from Berklee. You say it's controversial in it's approach, no wonder why I find myself scratching my head in total frustration. I mean I get it but, find myself disagreeing sometimes.

I real liked Andy Jaffe's book on jazz harmony, it blew me away. It's not for begginers though.