Second Edition: The Bestseller is

Completely Revised and Expanded

FREE INDEX
(index in full PDF is hyperlinked)

BASIC
MUSIC THEORY
HOW TO READ, WRITE, AND
UNDERSTAND WRITTEN MUSIC

Jonathan Harnum
Author of Sound the Trumpet: How to Blow Your Own Horn
 INDEX
A chromatic scale, 148 flag, 54, 254
accidentals Circle of Fifths, 164 flat, 147
Clef double flat, 258
general info, 140
general info, 104 order of, 158
sharp, 141
double sharp, 258 alto clef, 105 foot tap, 48
double flat, 258 bass, 106
bass clef, 114
Aeolian mode, 197
C clef, 104
H
augmented triads, 222 half note, 26, 49
rhythm clef, 106, 120
half rest, 50
one line, 120
B 5 lines, 121
half step, 148, 152
bar, 22 harmonic
drum set notes, 121
harmonic, 180
bar line, 22 soprano clef, 105
harmonic interval, 180
bass clef, 106, 114 tenor clef, 105
beam, 54, 254 harmonic minor scale, 190
treble clef, 105
beat, 26 vocal tenor clef, 105
bebop scales, 204 close harmony, 232 I
blues scale common tone, 238 interval, 180
standard, 202 compoiund interval, 226 finding an interval, 180
major blues, 203 Conducting augmented, 181, 182
minor, 202 general info, 212 diminished, 181, 182
recipe for one, 202 left hand, 215 finding, 182
right hand, 215 harmonic, 180
Patterns
C 2/4 time, 214
major, 181, 182
melodic, 180
C clef, 104
3/4 time, 214 minor, 182
chord, 220
4/4 time, 213 perfect, 181
Chord Extensions
right arm, 213 Inversions, see Chord Inversions
general info, 226
conducting, 212 Ionian mode, 196
seventh chord, 227
Counting System
ninth chord, 228
whole note, 49
seventh chord
half note, 49 K
dominant seventh chord, 227 Key Signatures
quarter note, 48
Chord Inversions all keys, 162 to 163
eighth notes, 54
general info, 232 general info, 158
rests, 50
first, 232 flat keys, 158
cut time, 262
second, 233 construct a sharp key, 161
Cycle of Fifths, 164
third, 234 construct flat keys, 159
seventh chords, 234 key of C, 161
Chord Progression D naming flat keys, 159
general info, 238 diminished triads, 222 sharp keys, 160
parallel motion, 239 directing, see Conducting keyboard, 146
rules of, 238 dominant seventh chord, 227
similar motion, 239 Dorian mode, 196
I IV V I, 239 dotted half note, 62 L
ii V I, 240 dotted whole note, 62 leap, 238
iii vi ii V I, 241 double bar lines, 22 leger line, 93
12 bar blues, 242 double dotted notes, 254 line note, 92
chord progression, 238 double dotted rests, 254 Locrian, 198
chord quality, 220 double flat, 258 long tones, 84
Chords double sharp, 258 Lydian mode, 197
Finding name of, 234 doubling, 238
general info, 220 M
triads, 221
close harmony, 232
E major intervals, 181
ear training, 184 major scale, 152, 196
open harmony, 232 major triads, 221
eighth note, 54
seventh chord measure, 22
eighth note triplet, 68
dominant seventh chord, 227 melodic interval, 180
eighth rest, 55
triads melodic minor scale, 191
Extensions
augmented, 222 meter, 42
11th and 13th chords, 228
diminished, 222 Meters
Extensions, see Chord Extensions
major, 221 2/2, 262
minor, 222 2/4, 44
using Roman numerals with, 220 F 3/4, 44
11th and 13th chords, 228 fifth, 221 4/4, 43
seventh chord, 227 first inversion, 232 5/4, Click3
ninth chord, 228

Basic Music Theory d285

 6/8 double-dotted notes, 254 harmonic minor, 190
simple, 262 major, 152, 196
compound, 263 melodic minor, 191
7/4, 7/8, 263
O natural minor, 197
octave, 153
cut time, 262 parallel minor, 189
open harmony, 232
odd, 263 pentatonic, 203
metronome, 85 order of flats, 158 relative minor, 190
minor scale super Locrian, 204
general info, 188 P whole tone, 204
natural minor, 188 parallel minor scale, 189 second inversion, 233
harmonic minor, 190 parallel motion, 239 seventh chord, 227
melodic minor, 191 pentatonic scale, 203 sharp, 141, 147
natural minor percussion clef, 106, 120 similar motion, 239
parallel, 189 perfect fifth, 181 sixteenth note, 56
relative, 190 perfect fourth, 181 sixteenth note triplet, 69
minor triads, 222 perfect intervals sixty-fourth note, 254
Mixolydian mode, 197 fifth, 181 space, 18
Mnemonic Device fourth, 181 space note, 92
bass clef lines, 115 octave, 181 staff, 18
bass clef spaces, 115 prime, 181 staff lines, 18
order of flats, 158 unison, 181 stem, 27
treble clef lines, 110 perfect octave, 181 super Locrian scale, 204
treble clef spaces, 111 perfect prime, 181
mnemonic device, 110
Modes
Phrygian mode, 197 T
pitch, 93 tap, 48
general info, 196 Practice
third, 221
finding or creating, 198 beginning, 80
Aeolian, 197 thirty-second note, 254
equipment, 82 time signature, see meter
Dorian, 196 how much to, 79
triad, 221
Ionian, 196 how to, 82, 83
Locrian, 198 Triplets
using the metronome, 84 eighth, 68
Lydian, 197 where, 81
sixteenth, 69
Mixolydian, 197 private teachers, 78
Phrygian, 197 tuner, 86
pulse, 26 tuplet, 68

N Q
naming sharp keys, 160
U
quarter, 49 unison, 181
natural, 141 quarter note, 26, 48
natural half step, 148 quarter note triplet, 70
natural minor scale, 188, 197 quarter rest, 50 V
neutral clef, 106, 120 voice leading, 238
ninth chords, 228
Note R
anatomy relative minor scale, 190 W
stems up or down, 27 Rests warm-up, 84
Notes dotted rests, 65 washtub bass, 88
whole, 26 eighth, 55 whole note, 26, 49
half, 26 half, 32 whole rest, 50
quarter, 26 quarter, 32 whole step, 148, 152
eighth note, 54 whole, 32 whole tone scale, 204
sixteenth, 56 Reviews
thirty-second, 254 Part I, 35
sixty-fourth, 254 Part II, 123
anatomy, 27 Part III, 73
eighth Part IV, 173
dotted 8th, 64 Part V, 207
eighth note triplet, 68 Part VI, 247
enharmonic, 147 Part VII, 267
half note rhythm clef, 120
dotted half, 62 root, 221
letter names, 100 root position, 232
line note, 92
sixteenth note S
16th note triplet, 69 Scales
space note, 92
bebop, 204
whole note
blues, 202
dotted whole, 62 chromatic, 148

Musical Terms 286

Reference/Music Theory

“D O YOU WANT
READ MUSIC?
W YOU WILL DISCOVER HOW
hat do all those lines and
squiggles and dots mean?
Basic Music Theory takes you
through the sometimes confusing world of
written music with a clear, concise style
that is at times funny and always friendly.
The book is written by an experienced
teacher using methods refined over more
than ten years in schools and in his private
teaching studio. Lessons are short, well-
paced and enjoyable.
Whether you’re a beginner of any age,
whether you’re an experienced player who
wants to bone up on your theory, or
whether you teach music and need a fun
way to do it, you’ll find this book valuable
and will refer to it again and again.
EASY IT IS TO:
• Learn quickly and efficiently with easy
lessons designed by a professional
teacher.
• Learn the symbols used in written
music.
• Understand the terms musicians use.
• Use memory devices to learn terms and
symbols.
• Use the included study guides to
remember it all.
• Apply what you have learned with short,
SPECIAL FEATURES:
easy Practical Use sections at the end
of each Chapter.
• Tune in to radio shows and the Internet
to find musicians demonstrating great
music.
TO
”
WITH INTERLUDES ON:
• How to practice. Some topics: where-
when-how to practice, how much to
practice, equipment, how to improve,
ear training, listening, private
teachers.
• Conducting. What does all that arm-
waving mean? How does it help?
Find the answers and learn how!
• Learn Some Italian. Many musical
terms are in Italian. Learn them in
this section.
• Ultra-brief history of music notation.
• Piano Keyboard w/ Note Names
• Guitar Fingerboard w/ Note Names
• Specially Designed Reviews
• Practical Use Exercises
• Practice Aids
• Extensively Cross-Referenced
• Musical Terms Dictionary
• Book Index
• Scales in bass and treble clef

“Loved it! Your sense of humor and ability to simplify sometimes convoluted information makes your book a pleasure to read. I
was delighted to find myself reading it instead of wading through it as I would a textbook. Your simple layout is fabulous—thanks
for not making it cluttered or confusing.”
—Kathy Settevendemie, Music Educator, Kodiak High School

“Fun and engaging. A real winner!” —Terrie A. Lyons, PH.D., P.C.

“An ideal and highly recommended text for anyone of any background wanting to become proficient in the reading and writing of
written and notated music.”
—Midwest Book Review (5 stars, highest rating)

“The more I think about your book the more brilliant it becomes. See, the tough part is knowing how to limit the depth to keep it
true to your goal of making {music theory} fun and fathomable. You excelled at it!”
—Charles Reynolds, pioneer music educator, Palmer, Alaska

THIS BOOK HAS HELPED OVER THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE TO

UNDERSTAND WRITTEN MUSIC. IT WILL HELP YOU, TOO!

ISBN 0-9707512-8-1
$24.95 US

Sol-Ut Press $35.95 CAN

£23.95 UK
www.sol-ut.com