Recommendations for Music Theory?

[hswarden]

for an avid guitar player with no theory background? She is interested in learning, but I cannot find any teacher that really suits her interest & my wallet. She doesn't want to go to community college for this, but wants to learn it at home. Any ideas?

[Michelle in MO]

nothing about guitar, but I did a search and came up with this list of guitar theory books from Amazon.

 

Also, in St. Louis there's a great music store called Shattinger Music Company. I pulled up this list from their website (scroll down to the bottom of the page). Their 1-800 number is listed at the top. The great thing about Shattinger's (or similar music stores) is that they hire very knowledgeable people about the particular instrument you're looking for. It's kind of like the difference between trying to find a special screwdriver and going to your local corner hardware store, where the guys and gals know everything about what they sell, as opposed to going to Wal-Mart, where you may or may not get someone who knows what they sell and what it's used for, kwim?

 

Even if your student doesn't take lessons at the cc, you might call the music department there and try to talk to the person who would give guitar lessons. You could ask him/her for their recommendations for a good, self-teaching guitar theory book.

 

HTH! I wish I could have helped you more; for piano, I would recommend the Bastien series, because it is self-teaching (although we have a piano teacher); our teacher has used Bastien to lay a good foundation for theory, technique, and instruction with the piano. Now the girls used Suzuki for music literature but still do the Bastien theory and technique books.

 

Best wishes to you in your search!

[Big Buckin' Longhorn]

I like Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory. They have it as both a book and cd set as well as a cd-rom computer curriculum. It has levels 1 - 3. It looks simple enough, but when my son and I went through it, we found level 3 to be fairly tough and he's taken music lessons all of his life.

 

It's not for any particular instrument, but if you get the computer software, you can set it up for any clef that you want (base, tenor, etc...). You can purchase it straight from Alfred, another of other music websites, and I actualy thhink they have it at CBD and Rainbow Resource as well. If you get the complete 3 in 1, it is self teaching for a junior high or high school student.

 

Hope that helps!

[Mrs. Readsalot]

My ds who is also an avid guitar player is using the Alfred's book and doing very well. I was a music major and I think the course is excellent. I would suggest a bit more "practice" with note recognition than is provided.

[hswarden]

I don't know anything about music theory, and I really appreciate the input!

[HSKLNG]

I was looking for an emailed guitar lessons with cards, but I could not find it...this was a long while ago, so I went to search and found this two out front. Hope this helps.

 

 

 

http://www.freeguitarvideos.com/

 

and

 

http://guitar.about.com/library/blguitarlessonarchive.htm

[hswarden]

I happened by clickschooling's archive and found this great site: musictheory.net. In case anyone else is looking.

[Moni]

http://lphrc.org/curricul.html#Music

 

may be of interest.

 

:)

[dawn of ns]

Here's another site with free guitar lessons, The Guitar Foundation.

 

From the site:

 

This site has been designed to bring a comprehensive approach to contemporary guitar. We, at the Guitar Foundation would love to take you for a tour. So come along and see where we can take you in a short period of time! Your interaction with each lesson is imperative. So pick up your guitar and be ready for action, because once we start... We don't stop!

 

- All lessons are fully animated and downloadable!

[readwithem]

The great thing about Shattinger's (or similar music stores) is that they hire very knowledgeable people about the particular instrument you're looking for. It's kind of like the difference between trying to find a special screwdriver and going to your local corner hardware store, where the guys and gals know everything about what they sell, as opposed to going to Wal-Mart, where you may or may not get someone who knows what they sell and what it's used for, kwim?

 

 

 

 

Great analogy and I totally agree. I'm always amazed at the knowledge of our local music store (Penders) employees.

[Lizzie in Ma]

I ended up getting Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory

isbn:0882848976 from CBD.

It is perfect for my 7th grader guitar student. Fits the budget also. :)

[Tina in Ouray]

You might try "Practical Beginning Theory" by Benward, Jackson, and Jackson. We were in your shoes a couple years ago, and this is what my daughter ended up working through.

 

Tina in Ouray, CO

[yslek]

Here's a site with free music theory instruction:

 

http://www.gmajormusictheory.org//Fundamentals/workbooks.html

 

This might be helpful, too (free music theory worksheets):

 

http://www.musictechteacher.com/musicquizzes.htm

 

:)

Kelsy