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Edly's Music Theory for Practical People

J

JOE_MARSH

Sep 29, 2009
51
0
Anderson Indiana
#1
JUST got my book a few days ago...


I was so excited to see it had came... Everyone on here has been saying so much about this music theory book! So, I decided to give it a try... The first day...I was too excited to read from the beggining and so I just started jumping around in the book.. WOW..Im so impressed already... Things that made some sense, things that were a mystery and things I already know seem to be falling into place... My understanding of theory is basic, but with this book Im sure I will see the light bulb on with me all the time

So far I can not stress how EASY it is to follow along... Now not every person is going to be ready to learn something like this...Im a big believer of...when your ready to learn, you will be able to learn it... sometimes things will be a bit hazy, but then ask for help...and the understanding will become 2nd nature...

I have the motivation within myself to learn and get better...I set my bass down for a few days and have been ABSORBING this book...

I want to learn to read music again, as well as im really excited about looking at things from a different standpoint...My old cello teacher did not want to take the time to make sure I understood things correctly and I know for a fact I missed out on so much! Now Im hoping it will all come together with this book


ALSO...spilled some checmical on my left hand middle finger, and the skin is cracking so bad that I cant play bass...Ive got neosporin and a band aid on it but it wont heal...just gotta give it some time I guess.... Atleast I have this book to read till it heals!
 
#3
I've loved this book for years. It's exactly what I wish I'd had for my students when I was teaching back in the '80s. It's got a lot of the same diagrams I used to make for my lessons (only legible), and it's laid out very logically.

I like it because:

A. He doesn't assume you know and have access to a keyboard.
B. He uses music besides western classical, but pulls from folk (all over the world folk), jazz, rock, etc.
C. He uses bass clef for some examples
D. His diagrams are very very clear and to the point
E. He isn't above some whimsy so that it's not as dry as most theory books
F. He stresses listening to what you're learning.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

John
 
#5
That's great. I'll have to look into that book. Theory is something you have to want to learn. I played piano for years when I was younger and my teacher always tried to drill theory into my head. I wanted none of it. When I started playing bass in a band way back when I was 14 theory became something I needed to know.

If you take the time to understand it, the patterns all fall into place. There comes a point when theory all becomes second nature and your improvisational skills will skyrocket. Once you know where to go logically on the fretboard, everything starts to make sense in real time. It's quite a nice feeling.
 
#7
Robs1887- I have to agree with you totally!! A lot of my playing requires me to "on the spot" improvise a section within a few takes that works in my head/ears...i never take the time to transpose anything..but as Im reading this book..things are getting interesting...(WHY U ASK) well...as i just improvise..somethings work better then others...but I never know WHY they work...why they sound so good...looking at some of things ive been learning in Edly's book( is to look outside of my normal play) how some very simple theory can be put to a normal bass line and drastically make it sound so different( Yet it feels so good)...Its funny(IN THEORY) its all so simple..but understanding how to apply it properly is what is making me reconsider harmonic music all together

For example..check out the section in the book on Chord Inversions...Now i dont play piano, but I want to learn now...I looked at chord inversions of cool ways to play the same thing a little bit differently...which is true in theory..but really, you can apply the simple procedure of re positioning the chord tones to make simple patterns turn into new lines..( I look at it as- play the same line 3 or four different ways-) Now instead of just writing a line...I can think about how it best fits the overall picture in the harmonic perspective...One line is really a bunch of lines now..I just figure out what feels or sounds best in the same spot ((this maybe a lot to understand, but trust me...once you figure it out...its like everything becomes better in music))

I cant stress how much in just a few days of reading this has changed my thought process in my writting... I dont want to say it has totally changed me...more like it has added a few extra ideas to my thought process
 
#9
I bought this book a few weeks ago based on some recommendations here (not that I need it - I know plenty of theory, but I plan on teaching soon & wanted good presentations of the basics) and I have to agree with JTE, it's very clear.

Prior to this, the best simple introduction to music theory I knew of was Writing Music for Hit Songs by Jai Josephs, but this one tops that book & will be the one I recommend from now on.
 
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#10
I don't want to rain on any body's parade here guys, but I was reading reviews elsewhere about this book, as I'm considering getting it myself.

All reviews agreed that it was a good book. However, a lot said that a basic grounding in theory was needed to get the best out of it, and that they were lost after about a dozen pages or so, as they were starting from scratch.

Would this be a fair criticism ?
 
#11
Theory takes time to learn

To understand theory, you have to understand the back story

I would say that you dont have to have a theory understanding, but as you learn, you will start to look at different aspects of music a bit differently, and you might have a lot more, LIGHTBULB momments..

To make this simple...AS you go threw the book, it expounds on simple principles that you have to utilize to understand...As I am currently going threw the book, Im learning tons...but if I dont apply what Im learning, and use it...it wont mean a thing( You have to practice what you learn in the book, you just cant read it and say..hey I know everything about theory!! Theory has so much information, you wont be able to learn it just by reading it a few times...The great thing I noticed about the book, is how they have mini Test's within it...These test's make you re-think what you have learned so far within the chapters... For example...The test early on in the book checks up on if you really memorized the circle of fifths and fourths....I thought I had this in the bag, but I quickly realized, I had a few keys mixed up...not because I cant play them, but because I had to write it out on paper...Now my goal is to go back everyday and practice re-taking the test till its second nature.... I think that once I know it in a second nature manner, a ton of stuff will fall into place....

Im a big believer of "when your ready to learn, you will know"

Anyone can try and learn something new, but if you give up on the first something doesnt make sense, you have let it "beat you"..
 
#12
fearceol said:
I don't want to rain on any body's parade here guys, but I was reading reviews elsewhere about this book, as I'm considering getting it myself.

All reviews agreed that it was a good book. However, a lot said that a basic grounding in theory was needed to get the best out of it, and that they were lost after about a dozen pages or so, as they were starting from scratch.

Would this be a fair criticism ?
Click to expand...

It's sort of hard for me to judge, but I'd agree that the first dozen or so page are the least strong in the book.

The first bit is ALWAYS the hardest. There is a certain amount of memorization you'll have to do no matter what - you have to learn the 12 notes in the chromatic scale. You have to learn the how to construct the major scale. You have to learn the basic intervals (major & minor thirds, and fifths especially). You have to learn basic chord construction from intervals & from scales.

And you have to know all this on YOUR instrument. A general music theory book will always have a hard time conveying this information in a general way to all musicians - guitarist, keyboardists, horn players, etc.

That's tough stuff to teach in book form, and the fact that the book goes through it in so few pages may make it difficult for the ABSOLUTE beginner. You may want an instrument specific book first that can show you all the notes on your fretboard & teach you about scales & chords.
 

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