Edley's Music Theory for Practical People TB Study Group

[lowplaces]

It's available as print book and ebook. I have the print book. I've been been meaning to get back to using it and had a thought.

Anyone interested in a study group thread using Edley's ?

Here's his site which has some downloads, typo corrections, etc.
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I have a few theory books but Edley's is the easiest to understand and it isn't as dry a read as the others.

 

[Lobster11]

This sounds good, if it delivers what it promises. I learned most of the theory I know from one of those "...for Dummies" books, which might not have been too different than this one.

I'm not personally interested in a study group, but I think that's a great idea! I've got to think it would be a lot more fun and interesting to tackle this stuff with some like-minded colleagues than doing it alone.

I'll just add that the time and energy I put into reading the "Dummies" book -- which really wasn't much -- was well worth it. Just understanding some of the basics of music theory can be tremendously helpful, even if you're not playing classical or jazz.

 

[lowplaces]

I'm not personally interested in a study group, but I think that's a great idea! I've got to think it would be a lot more fun and interesting to tackle this stuff with some like-minded colleagues than doing it alone.

Around 12 years or so ago we started a study group thread on another forum. It went well for a couple of weeks but some guys with degrees in theory jumped in and it turned into a trainwreck.

They meant well, just trying to help, but soon they were adding to the content in what particular chapter of the book we were working on. For example we were on chapter 2 The Major Scale, and some of those proficient in theory started discussing modes. Edley's doesn't get into modes until chapter 21.

To make matters worse, a couple of them started correcting each other and became argumentative lol.

All of what they were discussing was flying over the head of those of us who were new to theory and trying to follow the book chapter by chapter and it was very distracting.

At any rate we'll see if others would be interested in a study thread. Bass players tend to be more respectful of one another.

 

[bass12]

That's a great book - I recommend it often!

 

[Mr Ralph]

I also agree, it's a great book. Anthony Wellington lists it as a must have.

 

[dreamadream99]

I checked out the sample pages. It seems like really good information, in a very approachable format. Of course, I can’t tell if everything is correct, but the four sample pages I saw were correct.

I’m not interested in joining a study group, because I already know music theory, but I have subscribed to the thread, so if I see any theory questions I would be more than happy to answer them. That’s “answer them,” not argue them.And I promise not to let the thread degenerate into a theory argument as mentioned above. I am merely volunteering my knowledge as a resource for people learning theory.

 

[turf3]

I think I have a copy of this in storage; if memory serves, it was handed out at a workshop I attended and I thought it was good material.

 

[mambo4]

chapter 2 The Major Scale ...doesn't get into modes until chapter 21.

That alone tells me the book is likely well structured

 

[mambo4]

It went well for a couple of weeks but some guys with degrees in theory jumped in and it turned into a trainwreck.

I can see that happening here too. Us theory wankers love to talk shop and split hairs.

 

[lowplaces]

That alone tells me the book is likely well structured.

You can see the table of contents on his site.
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[lowplaces]

A staff member was kind enough to add "study group" to the thread title.
(Thanks Bryan !)

May generate some interest.

 

[Willie5String]

I

It's available as print book and ebook. I have the print book. I've been been meaning to get back to using it and had a thought.

Anyone interested in a study group thread using Edley's ?

Here's his site which has some downloads, typo corrections, etc.
[This invalid link has been removed]

I have a few theory books but Edley's is the easiest to understand and it isn't as dry a read as the others.

I'd be down for that, just bought the book

 

[lowplaces]

I

I'd be down for that, just bought the book

Good deal

I've had the book for a few years but never got past the first 3 or 4 chapters. I dug it out of a storage box a couple of weeks ago and I'm just going to start from the first chapter again.

Did you order it and it's on the way or already have it in hand ?

 

[lowplaces]

Here is the table of contents for Edley's for anyone interested...

Edly's Music Theory For Practical People 3rd Edition
Prelude

Edly’s Quick Guide to Notation
1 The Musical Alphabets: Natural & Chromatic
2 The Major Scale
3 Major Keys & Key Signatures
4 Diatonic Intervals
5 Chords: Triads
6 Diatonic Harmony
7 Chord Inversion
8 Chromatic Intervals
9 I, IV, V & The Twelve Bar Blues
10 iim, iiim, vim, & vii°
11 Minor Scales & Keys
12 The Circle of Fifths (& Fourths)
13 Chords: 7ths (& 6ths)
14 Diatonic Chords & Functions
15 Interval Inversion
16 Intervals for Ear-Training
17 Secondary Chords
18 Transposition
19 Cadences
20 Tritone Substitution
21 Natural Modes
22 Pentatonic & Blues Scales
23 More Scales
24 Chords: 9ths, 11ths, & 13ths
25 Chords: Summary & Exceptions
26 Diatonic Modal Chords
27 Blues Structure Part 2
28 Some Other Common Song Forms
29 Improvisation Ideas
30 By Ear

Prelude To The Remaining Chapters
31 Choosing Extensions & Alterations
32 Ingredients of Voicings
33 Categories of Voicings
34 Voice Leading
35 Harmonizing a Melody
36 Analyzing Chord Progressions
37 Reharmonization

BTW, here are the corrections to the 3rd edition of Edly's.. just a few
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[Willie5String]

Good deal

I've had the book for a few years but never got past the first 3 or 4 chapters. I dug it out of a storage box a couple of weeks ago and I'm just going to start from the first chapter again.

Did you order it and it's on the way or already have it in hand ?

I bought the PDF version, so I have it on hand.

 

[lowplaces]

I bought the PDF version, so I have it on hand.

Ok, I'll get going on chapter 1. Just comment as you feel like. Questions, how it's helpful, whatever.

Chapter 1 is fairly easy it appears. Gotta run an errand then I'll get on it.

 

[Willie5String]

Maybe start with where you are at musically. I have been playing a long time, took lessons from a Berklee grad and really practiced a bunch in my 20s. Now I am trying to fill in the music gaps. Eventually, I just turned into a pattern player, unfortunately. My focus now is to learn to read music and fill in the theory gaps. Reading chapter 1, I picked a couple of things up, mainly the way notes are drawn, including that the stems go up until the C and then point down from there on, that you either have sharps or flats and not both in a piece of music and that the stems go up (or down) to the next time the note occurs. Otherwise my practice this week is 30 minutes a day on 200 Easy Sight Reading Exercises for bass in the Key of F. I play the music left to right, top to bottom, then repeat, right to left bottom to top. I've always been ok playing in the sharp keys, understood my circle of 5ths and 4ths, but have decided to work on my flat keys, spending 2 weeks playing in the Key of F. Next week, I will switch to Bb for 2 weeks,etc.

 

[Daniel B5]

It's available as print book and ebook. I have the print book. I've been been meaning to get back to using it and had a thought.

Anyone interested in a study group thread using Edly's ?

Great idea, I'm in. Just bought the PDF. Looking forward to filling in the many gaps in my knowledge!

 

[lowplaces]

Maybe start with where you are at musically. I have been playing a long time, took lessons from a Berklee grad and really practiced a bunch in my 20s. Now I am trying to fill in the music gaps. Eventually, I just turned into a pattern player, unfortunately. My focus now is to learn to read music and fill in the theory gaps. Reading chapter 1, I picked a couple of things up, mainly the way notes are drawn, including that the stems go up until the C and then point down from there on, that you either have sharps or flats and not both in a piece of music and that the stems go up (or down) to the next time the note occurs. Otherwise my practice this week is 30 minutes a day on 200 Easy Sight Reading Exercises for bass in the Key of F. I play the music left to right, top to bottom, then repeat, right to left bottom to top. I've always been ok playing in the sharp keys, understood my circle of 5ths and 4ths, but have decided to work on my flat keys, spending 2 weeks playing in the Key of F. Next week, I will switch to Bb for 2 weeks,etc.

Ok, I have the hard copy and the guide to notation is at the end of the prelude before chapter 1. May be different on the pfd but no matter. I just looked and see I highlighted a few things in the notation guide when I first got the book. I'll go ahead and review it.

Your notation reading practice routine sounds interesting. I know I'd benefit as well if I got into it. I'll get going on standard notation after I get a few chapters of Edley's under my belt. I've never embraced tab so that may be a plus. At least I won't find myself trying to justify tab or use it as a crutch. Not knocking it though.

I've been playing a while. Blues, older R&B, rock, and country bands in the late 70's to early 80's. Got married in '88 and stopped playing bass.

Anyhow, been single since 2014 and got back to playing bass then. I did continue to play acoustic guitar for the 26 years I was married. Wrote a lot of songs, mostly Americana.

I just want to be a better musician and I convinced learning theory will insure that. And of course a solid practice routine. I have no excuses there. I have 5 days a week to myself for the most part.

 

[lowplaces]

Great idea, I'm in. Just bought the PDF. Looking forward to filling in the many gaps in my knowledge!

Good deal ! Same here, I know some theory but want to actually finish the book as well as understand all of it.

Looking at the final few chapters it's going to take awhile. I like Edley's though. It's not such a dry read as a couple of other theory books I have.