A question about music theory......

[cydad761]

I have been playing sax for 30 years. I am pretty good, but have never had any real music training beyond my high school band director.

I must confess that some of the posts are above my head and use terms or ideas that I am not familiar with.

I am starting to practice more and would like to rekindle my old jazz band days as a hobby, but as I begin to consider learning more about improv I must confess that I have no clue about chords or major or minor, etc. :oops:

Where could I go to get a good basic teach yourself course in music theory?

Thanks!

Jeff

[Mr. Blue Note]

A decent beginning book that I found helpful is "How to Read Music" by Terry Burrows. It is published by St. Martin's Press. It comes with a CD to demonstrate the theories that you are learning. It also has various quizzes to gauge your understanding. It is not a comprehensive work on theory, but it will certainly make the concepts clear and give you a good basis for further learning.

[blueangel]

Here is a good site I found --- probably won't make due on its own but should be a good suppliment!

http://www.jazclass.aust.com/scales/scablu.htm

Kita

[Dave Dolson]

Jeff: I'm an ear player (what ARE those little flags and dots for?). I learned improv by hearing a melody, then figuring out the harmony notes.

Most piano stores have small books that describe chords - I even have an electronic gadget like a small calculator that shows the notes of most chords you'd need. Once you master chords, it all comes together.

I can hear melody and chords well enough to bluff my way through any Dixieland tune anyone calls - in most keys (although by now, I know most of the early jazz stuff). I've finally reached a level where I can play with tunes I've never heard before just by listening closely.

You'll need reading skills to join a larger band, but if improv and small ensemble music is what you want, you'll need a good ear. Best o' luck, DAVE

[johnsax]

Get this book for a great introduction to music theory: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory" I think you'll like it.

John

[cydad761]

I am a really good sight reader, I can play most tunes the first or second time I read them, but my weakness is improv, I don't have either the knowledge or the feel for what notes will sound good with a given song and as a result my attempts at improv have been less than spectacular. :oops:

I am really looking for that way to bone up on chords and keys and learn how to "think on my feet" as I attempt to improv with a given tune.

Most of my playing is solo or small group at church, so improv not too important there, but I would love to play along with a CD for fun and just let er rip once in a while.

[arsenic87]

Try this site

www.visual-jazz.com

[Jake in SF]

Here is a link with some information on learning music theory. Jim's course offers a good foundation for jazz improvisation and if you do the work, you can't help but learn.
http://www.jazzmasterworkout.com/

[Troy]

Here's are a couple of my favorites:

http://www.musictheory.net/

http://www.jazzbooks.com/jazzhandbook/Default.htm

http://www.saxlessons.com/

http://saxshed.com/

[Lyle]

Question:

Would a keyboard be a good assist in learning chords? Especially one with teaching mode.

[singlereed]

Yes, a keyboard would undoubtedly help to see the structure of chords. I also suggest the following as a good theory site:

http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm

Absolutely superb, and with loads of audio examples.

[Lyle]

Singlereed

Thanks for the link. Very good!

[rollen]

Another excellent book:

Basics of Music: Opus 1
Michael Zinn, Robert Hogenson