Music theory is a simple matter, but the books complicate the subject. Perhaps you’ve tried to study music theory on the internet, in books, or even with teachers, but without understanding or get put into practice the concepts. Why is that?
First of all, know that music theory teaching stopped in time. The didactic of the books is still very similar to the teaching of the last century; few contents were written in a modern language, simple and direct. Most of the content you’ll find there are far-fetched and formal. But that’s not the only problem. The other problem is the lack of connection between the subjects. For example, an article discusses the major scale, another talks about the melodic minor scale, and another talks about the whole tone scale, but none of them shows the relationship between this concepts. Why are there different scales? How can I use each one in practice? Such doubt ends up not being answered.
The result is that you accumulate knowledge, but does not understand any of them. And when the books try to explain something, they do not care about the prerequisites the student have. It is not useful explaining chords using the concept of tetrads if the student does not know what a tetrad is. It is not useful showing arrangements in a sheet music if the student does not know how to read sheet music.
If you struggle to learn music theory because of these factors, do not worry, that does not mean it is difficult. It just means you did not have access to quality material. If you have a well-organized material, divided into modules, advancing the concepts slowly and steadily, with examples and practical explanations in an easy and simple language, you will certainly understand music theory. Most of all, this will make you a better musician!
The musician who knows the theory behind the music is way ahead of others. He knows how to build arrangements, have innovative ideas, knows how to improvise, how to surprise the listener. He who knows the theory knows the rules of the game. An engineer does not look at a building in the same way that anyone looks. He notes the details, think of solutions, knows whether it is safe or not, have ideas of how to optimize the spaces, and can learn from the design of others. For the rest of the people, any building is just a building.
In the music world is the same thing. Fortunately, this study is not difficult as to study engineering. Rather, it is easy, motivating and very interesting!
The Solution
After suffering a lot to learn the concepts of music theory, studying with complicated books and seeking the help of many teachers, the creators of this website decided to create a single material about music, an ebook in PDF to approach all about music theory, since the definition of music, musical notes, timbre, to more advanced concepts such as jazz improvisation, reharmonization, etc. All in an organized manner, connecting and showing the relationship that matters have each other, with a simple and clear language.
We create the material for the student to understand everything he is reading, without doubts and knowing how to put these concepts into practice. After all, the theory that does not serve to improve your musicality is good for nothing.
We want to fill the gaps in your knowledge, whatever they may be. This PDF is a guide for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. Our beginners are very happy to be able to learn music theory even without any prior knowledge. And our advanced students, who already had prior knowledge, commented that are also starting to read the first chapters because of the beauty that is in read well-written texts, with simple language and interesting explanations about music. This is our English version of the music theory PDF booklet.
Check out content that is covered in each one of our eBook modules:
Music Theory PDF Content
Module 1
What is Music?
What are musical notes?
What is Timbre?
What is Sharp and Flat?
What are Tones (Whole Steps) and Semitones (Half Steps)?
Identifying notes on instrument
Module 2
Intervals, enharmonics, pitch and intensity
What are scales?
Shapes for natural scales
What are degrees?
Diminished, augmented and perfect intervals
What are octaves?
Module 3
What are chords, triads and tetrads?
Complementary concepts about degrees
What are chord notations and bars?
Notation for fingering
What is a chord arpeggio?
Some relevant definitions
Module 4
How to name chords – Part I
How to name chords – Part II
How to name chords – Part III
How are chords of a key formed?
Tonal, atonal, passing notes, outside notes
Chromaticism – Chromatic Scale
Module 5
Introduction to improvisation
Relative minor
Counter parallel chords
Greek modes
Modal Music
Pentatonic Scale
Introduction to Blues
Blues Scale – Blue Note
Module 6
Harmonic Functions
Supertonic, mediant, leading-tone
Tritone, the sound of the devil
Deceptive Resolution
Inverted Chords
Modulation (concept)
Target notes in improvisation
Module 7
Octave Displacement
Target Notes by Chromatic Approach
Cadences and Chord Progressions – Part 1
Cadences and Chord Progressions – Part 2
Cadences and Chord Progressions – Part 3
Cycle of Fifths and Fourths
Secondary Dominants
Module 8
Tension Notes and Avoid Notes – Part 1
Tension Notes and Avoid Notes – Part 2
How to use suspended chords?
Disguised Chords
Tone x Tonality
Parallel Keys
Closely related keys
Module 9
How and where to apply the scales
Harmonic Minor Scale
Melodic Minor Scale
Altered Scale
Symmetric and asymmetric scales
Chromatic Approach Chord
Diminished Chord
Diminished Scale
Quartal Harmony
Module 10
Equivalent Chords VII° = V7(b9)
The SubV7 Chord
Interpolated Chord
Borrowed Chords
Modulation (Resources and Analysis)
Bebop Scale (Bebop Jazz)
Module 11
Hexatonic (Whole tone) Scale
Hexatonic Scale and the Lydian Dominant Mode
The II7 chord
The IVm6 chord
Improvisation with outside notes
Advanced Improvisation in Blues
How to Improvise in Jazz
Module 12
Reharmonization – Part 1
Reharmonization – Part 2
Reharmonization – Part 3
Reharmonization – Part 4
Reharmonization – Part 5
Advanced Blues Harmony
Rhythmic Analysis
Off-beat
Mathematics in Music
Module on How to Read Guitar Tabs
Notes, chords and techniques
Module on How to read Sheet Music
All about sheet music (18 lessons).
Music theory is not difficult, you will see!
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