Music Theory for the Self-Taught Musician: Level 1: The Basics

by Will Metz

It is well known that many musicians, from amateurs to famous professionals, are largely and sometimes exclusively self-taught. Most of the time, these musicians tend to put music theory aside, but there comes a time when many become curious about this science and understand its utility and potential. Unfortunately, they often get discouraged and think it's too late to learn theory, that they needed to start early, and of course, know how to read. Fortunately, this turns out to be completely untrue. Most self-taught musicians will also turn to books and realize many are written for specialists and those who can already read music. They talk about scales and how to write chords on a staff, but if you are not sure what a note is and it takes you twenty minutes to figure out where a C is, it just adds to the frustration. Yet a late start in learning theory has no impact on the quality of musician you can become and your future ability to understand it. It is not too late! Author Will Metz also felt this frustration, which is why he wrote this book. It was originally written for his "former self," who not too long ago was desperate to learn theory in a way that would finally be clear, coherent, and understandable, while not having to read notes. This is the book he wishes he had back then! There are many people who share this feeling, and his main goal is to provide help and clarity. This book is based on simple, day-to-day common sense, and if you know your alphabet and can count to seven, you will understand theory. You may actually find it surprisingly easy, and it will considerably improve your playing and appreciation for music.

Genres: Music

219 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2022

Reviews

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've struggled for a long time to learn music theory. This book didn't clarify everything, and I'm still confused about how to build modes and chords but that's not the failing of this book. There's a lot of images that help visualize the concepts and the writing is very approachable. Highly recommend checking it out. Suspect I'll be back again once I finish The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory. I'll eventually get there.

[Lion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book claims to be "the basics," but definitely throws a lot of information at you all at once, including more unusual scales, and modes.

For me this style of learning works well, and it helped that I was passingly familiar with all the concepts explained. However, I lent the book to my mother, and she was thoroughly confused and disheartened, despite having some formal music education (grade 4), and performing music multiple times a week.

I think it really comes down to how you learn, and if you're a sponge for theory.

One thing that was incredibly frustrating with this book, and the second, was the numerous spelling mistakes, and incorrect diagrams. I don't think there was much editing/proof reading unfortunately.

I also would have liked answers to the exercises, just to be sure I really DID understand the concepts.