Music theory book?

Uwe Haegg · Post by **Uwe Haegg** » 15 Aug 2002 11:24 pm

Anybody who can recommend a good book on music theory that is digestable?

If it were fun to read too that would be a plus

.

Thanks....

Marty Pollard · Post by **Marty Pollard** » 16 Aug 2002 5:15 am

Improvising Jazz by Gerry Coker
Not so much fun but very concise.
A short book that says it all.

Actually, this book is best if you have a piano or keyboard to use. I then transferred the info to steel, b***o, guitar, etc.[This message was edited by Marty Pollard on 16 August 2002 at 06:18 AM.]

Del Rangel · Post by **Del Rangel** » 16 Aug 2002 8:04 am

Forum member Michael Perlowin has a book on music theory that is easy to digest. The name is: MUSIC THEORY IN THE REAL WORLD - A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR TODAY'S MUSICIANS. It can be had online at http://www.elderly.com and a number of other booksellers

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 16 Aug 2002 6:22 pm

i still have my Jerry Coker "improvising JAZZ
after 30 years ! a great tool indeed
it got me on the right track for sure and i have lent it to few good people who returned it!
Library of Congress Catalog N°64-14024
copyright 1964 Prentice Hall Inc/New Jersey
if you know somebody in the States who could pick it up for ya', i'm sure this book is still available.
Good Luck Uwe...

Steelin'France[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 16 August 2002 at 07:23 PM.]

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 20 Aug 2002 3:33 am

Thanks for mentioning my book Del.

It's just basic harmony, and not nearly as advanced as many other books, but it's written to be as easy to understand as possible. All the examples are from tunes we've all heard our entire lives like Silent Night.

The book is available from Mel Bay Publications.

Uwe Haegg · Post by **Uwe Haegg** » 21 Aug 2002 3:24 am

Thanks for your help - I`ll give them all
a try.
Next spring I`m going to attend one of Jeff
Newman`s classes, so I guess I`d better have my music theory down in order to get the most out of it.
Thanks again.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 21 Aug 2002 5:26 am

I don't know how well Jeff Newman knows music theory, but I don't think he teaches it. In all of his material I've seen, he stays away from theory and tells you to play something just "because it works" or "because it sounds good". Whether he knows why, I don't know.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 21 Aug 2002 5:45 am

In all of his material I've seen, he stays away from theory and tells you to play something just "because it works" or "because it sounds good".

I say something similar in my book. The exact quote is "It's far too easy to get all hung up in this stuff and lose sight of the really important thing, which is how does it sound?"

Marty Pollard · Post by **Marty Pollard** » 21 Aug 2002 7:41 am

Next spring I`m going to attend one of Jeff Newman`s classes, so I guess I`d better have my music theory down in order to get the most out of it.

Uwe's approach is exactly right!
It's best to understand the intervalic relationship of chord stacks and how to build them physically on his steel before his class on 'application'.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 21 Aug 2002 9:32 am

I teach... and have taught... several students who were complete, rank beginners. Didn't know what a key was, what a chord was, and only had an elementary school knowledge of "Do-Re-Mi." With these students, you have to go real slow with the theory and intersperse it with "rote" playing to keep them interested, and inject some additional theory in each lesson. That way the playing hopefully connects with the theory instruction in some way and the concepts dawn on the student when the connection is finally made.

For those students as well as the intermediate players, I recommend the Perlowin book, in combination with face-to-face instruction.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 22 Aug 2002 8:11 am

Herb,

What you say is true, except for us Engineers. Go ahead and give us the theory up front because we're too damn deliberate to learn to play well anyway. If you don't teach us the theory we're always distracted thinking about it.(JK: I'm aware that there are great steelers here who are also highly accomplished engineers.)

Mike's book seems to me an excellent theory basis for steelers. It's right in line with stuff that Jeff teaches too. I have a whole shelf of Jeff's courses, have attended one of his seminars and have read Mike's book at least twice. But don't let this discourage you. Read it anyway.

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HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 22 August 2002 at 09:12 AM.]

Uwe Haegg · Post by **Uwe Haegg** » 23 Aug 2002 2:47 am

Just ordered Mr.Perlowins book from Bayside Press - looking forward to dig into it.

No luck in finding the Jazz book yet.....

Uwe
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Carter S-12DB

Uwe Haegg · Post by **Uwe Haegg** » 23 Aug 2002 2:58 am

Ha ha....... got the Jazz book - at my local library.
Sometimes I`m just too slow.
Well, gotta run - have some studying to do...

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Pete Drake made me do it!
(Buy a steel that is....)

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 25 Aug 2002 2:13 am

Thanks Uwe. If you have any questions, please feel free to E-mail me.