Product Description

This book uses extremely simple language to explain the basics of music theory. Exercises require the student to write out examples using staff notation and find these notes on the guitar fretboard. Exercises include simple interval to highly complex chords.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #154993 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

From the Publisher
We are very excited about Mr. Arnold's Workbook series. The feedback we have received has validated our instincts that the books are a long-needed breakthrough in music education. Mr. Arnold has culled from his many years of teaching both privately and on the university level, and has provided information and teaching approaches which have never been presented in quite this way. The serious student will find the books to be a real "Rosetta Stone" for music theory and its application, while the professional musician will find them to be bountiful compendiums of information and lifelong companions in the voyage of musical discovery.

From the Inside Flap
Many of my students have asked me how they can improve their music theory and fretboard knowledge. This book is an attempt to fill those needs.

Learning the language of music is imperative to becoming a professional musician or communicating intelligently with other musicians, but more importantly, applying this knowledge to your instrument will give you the ability to create music with greater flexibility , coherence, and confidence.

Future volumes of this Music Theory Workbook series will cover scales and diatonic chords of a key both of which are very important to playing and understanding music. See the final pages of this book for a complete listing and description of current music related publications.

A very special thank you goes to Tina Sobin for her patient and meticulous work in editing this book.

From the Back Cover
Music Theory Workbook for Guitar is an excellent learning tool for both the beginner who has no knowledge of music theory, and the advanced student looking to improve their knowledge of the guitar fretboard. An easy to understand music theory section is included to help a beginner understand the basic theory of interval and chord construction. This book takes a student from the most simple construction of basic intervals to the most advanced chord structure while at all times applying this to the guitar fretboard. All answers are included in the book so a students can check their work.

Customer Reviews

serious minded guitarist
I was a little shocked when I opened this book. There are a couple of 100 pages of exercises. I can see why this book is a textbook used at hot shot schools like Princeton and NYU. If you make it through this book you really will know your guitar from a different perspective. There is no "hot licks" found here...There is just page after page of exercises to ingrain where the notes for every chord on the guitar are and what notes make up each chord. The author has some very useful websites too. for tons of free exercise materials and muse-eek if I have any questions. I did have a question and found Mr. Arnold very forthcoming in answering. I don't think this book would be for everyone though. I'd say if your serious about really learning the guitar. ya know like knowing the notes and how to build chords etc. this is an essential book to work through. By the way I also just purchased the Music Theory Workbook Volume Two (call me crazy) Anyway, I'd have to say the second volume is way cool. You get the same crazy amount of exercises but thank god you get free midifiles from the muse-eek site to play along with. I highly recommend both these books for the serious minded guitarist

Not easy, but definitely worth it
I think one would be fooling themselves if they thought this book is fun. Some things, like Music Theory on your instrument isn't easy. It's a challenge that many of us take on because we know that if we can understand our instrument through music theory we will be better able to express ourselves.

Don't buy this book if you are looking for a quick fix, it's a course of study where you have to fill in 100 pages of exercises to make sure you have memorized how every frick'n chord is built on the guitar. It's one thing to understand music theory, it's another to have a working knowledge of it and be able to use it like you use the language that you speak. I bought this book many years ago. I kept the filled in book just so I can show people one of the steps I took to get to where I am today. If you are serious about learning then I would seriously check out Mr. Arnold's books - their not the typical U.S.A. guitar edu-tainment books, they're in a class by themselves. If your looking for something entertaining or a book that just gives you a general understanding of music theory then you won't like this book. I have many music books and guitar books on my shelves. Mr. Arnold's books are definitely written for someone who wants to study on their own but get the same sort of education you would receive at Berklee College of Music, NYU, Princeton, etc ...

I like others have had multiple correspondences with Mr. Arnold. I was very impressed by his teaching skills and dedication to seeing me improve. If you don't understand something about this book or any of his books he's an email away, how much easier could it get? There is a huge database of questions people have asked. All you have to do is read it and you will have many doubts and questions answered. My recommendation is to check out the muse-eek website first. See for yourself what is involved. Their books are directly linked to amazon so you can go back and buy them if you want. I've noticed recently that they've added 100's of videos for many of their books. These are free mates, you just have to buy one book and your into a resource that is amazing.

Sorry for the edu-commercial, I've just seen some of the reviews and thought I'd give you my two cents on this stuff.

What ever serious guitarist needs to study...
I'll admit, I got into playing guitar just to learn the songs of my favorite bands. But, after awhile I got bored, and decided to really sit down and try to begin to master this instrument. Bruce Arnold's book is a great place to start, with Chord Workbook Volume One being a great supplement. In this book you'll learn (by endless practice) what notes make up what chords on the guitar, this process and knowledge may not seem important now, but if you stick with it, you might just start noticing patterns in guitar music. Knowing what notes make up the chord voicings you use, will, if you practice and stick with it, open up a whole new world of guitar playing for you: where you can improvise and solo and go off whenever you like, because you know what chords/notes go where. Give it time, and good luck!