Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory – A Comprehensive and Convenient Guide for All Musicians | Learn Harmony, Scales, Chords, and Key Signatures | Essential Reference for Beginners and Advanced Players

Good source of info. My only problem is the text size. If my eyes were still young, it wouldn't be a problem.

This is an excellent compact reference. It is, for the most part, very clearly written, and well organized, and it covers a lot of ground, from the very basic (pitch, intervals), through some intermediate (key areas, modes) to some not-so-basic (altered scales, chord and scale substitution). I'm sure there's still more advanced stuff that it doesn't cover... but I'm not there, yet, either. I started using this as a supplementary reference, to dig deeper into some theory I was being taught by a jazz guitar teacher, but eventually got familiar enough with the material that I could effectively read and understand, from the book, topics that he had never gotten around to discussing. In other words, I went from looking something up in the index, and reading a few pages, to reading whole swathes of the book. It has taught me a lot. (By the way, it has a really excellent index, also. That is becoming increasingly rare, in books on all subjects.) The one downside is the book isn't very well constructed (it is cheap, after all), and the pages are kind of falling out. Not something I'm going to take off a star for, though.

I am 35 yo woman JUST learning piano and music theory..cant tell you how wonderfully easy and helpful this little book has been...I bought this one and the Complete Idiots Guide to Music Theory...I use this one more or as often as the idiots guide..this one doesnt have extra info you dont want or need and thus makes it a handy reference and I love how small it is to carry around. I read it whenever I have to WAIT in line or in a drs office or DMV or other horrible place to sit around and wait. Well put together and easy to read. Would definately buy again, and would definately recommend.

It has been nearly 25 years since I even touched music theory. This book - be forewarned - is not for the pure novice or the extremely rusty. In about 170 packed pages, you get everything from notation through harmonics, tonics, melodics, scales, deep seeded theory and application in jazz, blues, the Beatles and everything else. I will admit it was well over my head for the most part, and I really needed to get back to an Idiot or Dummy guide to rebuild the very old foundations of a quarter century ago. However, if you are up to snuff and are looking for a decent pocket guide, this will do just fine. I can see how other reviewers who have some of these basics down and are looking for a reference or augmentation resource would rate the book higher - and why a few have rated it low due to the "superficial" nature of some of the explanations. For the money - tough to beat. For the size - tough to beat.

The book is exactly what I wanted. However, the top edge of the book looked like it had been kicked through a dirt pile; permanent- wouldn't wipe clean.

Perhaps I'm unique because I decided to play the guitar at age 54. I played drums in high school band. At the time I started with the guitar I still understood time signatures and could read rhythm but, I didn't understand music nor music theory. Until now I had not found any book that, for me, starts at what I now think is the beginning. The only way I can think of making that clear is, you don't teach math by starting with algebra. Hopefully, this gives some perspective to this review. This book and "The Formula of Music" DVD, both I bought from Amazon, did more for me than the previous stack of frustrating books I had purchased. Watch the DVD first. The DVD comes closest to explaining "why". The book re-inforces and expands the theory presented on the DVD. I don't know what else to say so the following is what I am getting from my studies of these two sources. Most everything in music theory is a label. Each scale degree has many labels. For example, picking one degree at random, the third degree of any major scale can and is referred to as the 3, III, Phrygian, a Major 3rd, a Minor chord. So, for me, writing out the C scale, it's stucture, having no sharps or flats, determines how music and all major scales are structured. Below each scale note I write what I have learned. I write the Arabic numbers, 1-8, under each note. Then the Roman numerals I-VIII. Then the words, root, major second, major third, perfect four etc. Then the abbreviations Mj and Mn for the chord progression. Then the Greek Mode names. Then the 7ths. Already this is a mountain of information and when one realizes that the C scale be exchanged for any key, ABCDEF or G and that all the structure, names and formulas work the same for each, a big light may go on. Any player who thinks that Stevie Ray, Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, Richards, Trout, Bonamassa, Santana on an on, didn't or doesn't know what a mn7thb5 or A Phrygian is, is the one that doesn't have a clue. I'm still a beginner at the guitar and theory.

I've revisited this book over the years and I learn more each time I do. This book doesn't explore every nook and cranny of each concept, but it has a good depth of concepts to explore and each concept is adequately, yet concisely explained to give you enough to experiment with on your own. But YOU must personally explore the concepts in order to get the full value of the book's content. I found most of the low ratings and reviews highly misleading, except for the negative Kindle version reviews. First, you must understand that music theory can't be learned just by reading a book; music theory must be heard to be fully understood. If you don't experiment with the concepts by playing them then you'll miss the point. After all, music is an auditory phenomenon. It takes time to connect the theoretical concepts to what you're hearing.

Excellent book, for every guitarist. No matter if yhou are beginner or advanced.

Great little reference with the essentials of music theory. Nice to have in your pocket for when you forget the basics

Would 100% recommend this book! Got me through my exams and helped me to revise and is a nice size to carry in a small bag

Very succinct and to the point book

英語の楽典を探していたらこの本を見つけました。それぞれの項目を英語で説明しているので、英語を覚えるのにとても良いです。サイズももポケットサイズで便利。

Es war mir wichtig etwas Geschriebenes auf Paper zu haben, wo man auch immer schnell mal was nachschlagen kann. Frischt mein Grundwissen, daß ich vor Jahrzehnten in der Schule lernte wieder auf. Erstaunlich was alles in diesem kleinen Büchlein steht.