Music Theory and Composition for Computer Musicians: Theory, Harmony, Composition, and Production

by Wojciech Usarzewicz

Learn how to compose and produce music from scratch! Start as a total beginner and learn music theory, composition and production, and be on your way to becoming an intermediate-level composer!“Music Theory and Composition for Computer Musicians” is a guidebook for absolute beginners who want to start producing music on a computer. The book explains the necessary software and equipment. Then, it goes to teach music theory, and then music composition and production. All of this utilizes MIDI editors so you don’t have to learn how to read music notation, but in case you want to, the book also includes traditional notes on a staff.First, learn what software you need. Then, produce your very first piano track using a graphical guide and explanations - it’s only a few seconds long, but it’s your first track! Then, when you have a basic understanding of how we make music on a computer, start learning music notes, their pitch and values, intervals, chords, chord progressions and more.Once you’re done with this, the book explains music, parts, sections, harmony, voicing and more! The final part of the book teaches the basics of production, such as using plugins and rendering your final track.All of this comes with a lot of files - you’ll find a download link inside the book, and you’ll be able to download all the audio and the source files for this book.This is not a “beginner to master” book, it’s a “beginner to basic understanding” kind of book that teaches everything you need to know in order to start your musical journey. But once you go through this book and actually learn from it, you’ll learn the basics and you’ll be on your way to become an intermediate music composer and producer.

Paperback

Published April 9, 2021

Reviews

[Ricardo Acuña · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it is a suitable book intended for beginners to introduce to electronic music composition. However, it has a some flaws, it covers too many topics in a small book, going from music theory, composition, DAW up to mixing and materialization. It includes examples and MIDI files to practice with. Many topics, perhaps too many, in an introductory book, which may overwhelm more than one beginner.