This book is a "hands-on" approach to music theory with lots of playing examples for the Banjo. Music theory does not have to be mysterious or difficult. In fact, taken a little bit at a time, it’s easy and fun! Each of the approximately 50 lessons in this book has a limited scope, but by the time you complete them, you will have a thorough understanding of the basics of music theory as applied to the Banjo. While a single book can't cover everything in so vast a subject, the author has tried to choose topics that will address the needs of most beginning Banjo players. These include: scale theory, reading tablature and standard notation, key signatures, accidentals, transposition, time signatures and note values, intervals and chord construction, the three kinds of minor scales, pentatonic scales, and more. In addition, each chapter features playing examples and review questions to both test and clarify understanding of the materials presented. Rather than proceeding from chapter to chapter, as each individual Banjo player is likely at a different point in their musical journey, the reader is encouraged to “jump around and spend more time in those areas that interest you most.” The important thing about the journey is to begin. Includes access to online audio and video.
Chapter 1: The Major Scale
The Major Scale is the Basis of All Music Theory!
Producing Musical Sounds
Whole Steps and Half Steps
What is a Major Scale?
Playing Examples
Review Questions for Chapter 1
Reading Notation and Tablature
Chapter 2
Overview
Reading Tablature
Reading Standard Music Notation
Musical Symbols and Song Structure
Review Questions for Chapter 2
Chapter 3. Key Signatures
What is a Key Signature?
Why Even Have Different Keys?
Accidentals
Transposing Between Major Keys
Transposing Instrumentals
Review Questions for Chapter 3
Chapter 4. Timing
Overview: Timing Is Everything!
Time Signatures
Note Values and Counting
Rests
Chapter 5. Musical Intervals
Overview: It's Like Using a Ruler
Musical Intervals Have a First Name and a Last Name
Easy Ways to Remember the Sound of Intervals
Pitch Names
Review Questions for Chapter 5
Chapter 6. Chord Construction
Overview: What is Harmony?
The Triad and Stacked Thirds
Major, Minor and Seventh Chords
Open Voicing
Chord Inversions and X/Y Chords
Chord Extensions
Partial Chords
Each Chord Has a Voice
Review Questions for Chapter 6
Chapter 7. Chords in a Key
Stacked Thirds: The triad
Another Way to Look at It
Stacked Thirds: Seventh Chords
You Are Not LockedInto Anything: Accidentals
Review Questions for Chapter 7
Chapter 8. Movable Chords
What are Movable Chords?
Movable Chords for the Banjo
Using a Capo
Review Questions for Chapter 8
Chapter 9. The Nashville Number System
Play by the Numbers
Where's the Root?
NNS Notation
The Relative Minor
Playing out of the B282Home Position
The 12-Bar Blues
Review Questions for Chapter 9
Chapter 10. Minor Scales and Modes
The Natural Minor Scale
The Harmonic Minor Scale
The Melodic Minor Scale
The Minor Pentatonic and Blues Scales
Modes
Review Questions for Chapter 10
Chapter 11. Answers to Review Questions
The Major Scale is the Basis of All Music Theory!
Producing Musical Sounds
Whole Steps and Half Steps
What is a Major Scale?
Playing Examples
Review Questions for Chapter 1
Reading Notation and Tablature
Chapter 2
Overview
Reading Tablature
Reading Standard Music Notation
Musical Symbols and Song Structure
Review Questions for Chapter 2
Chapter 3. Key Signatures
What is a Key Signature?
Why Even Have Different Keys?
Accidentals
Transposing Between Major Keys
Transposing Instrumentals
Review Questions for Chapter 3
Chapter 4. Timing
Overview: Timing Is Everything!
Time Signatures
Note Values and Counting
Rests
Chapter 5. Musical Intervals
Overview: It's Like Using a Ruler
Musical Intervals Have a First Name and a Last Name
Easy Ways to Remember the Sound of Intervals
Pitch Names
Review Questions for Chapter 5
Chapter 6. Chord Construction
Overview: What is Harmony?
The Triad and Stacked Thirds
Major, Minor and Seventh Chords
Open Voicing
Chord Inversions and X/Y Chords
Chord Extensions
Partial Chords
Each Chord Has a Voice
Review Questions for Chapter 6
Chapter 7. Chords in a Key
Stacked Thirds: The triad
Another Way to Look at It
Stacked Thirds: Seventh Chords
You Are Not LockedInto Anything: Accidentals
Review Questions for Chapter 7
Chapter 8. Movable Chords
What are Movable Chords?
Movable Chords for the Banjo
Using a Capo
Review Questions for Chapter 8
Chapter 9. The Nashville Number System
Play by the Numbers
Where's the Root?
NNS Notation
The Relative Minor
Playing out of the B282Home Position
The 12-Bar Blues
Review Questions for Chapter 9
Chapter 10. Minor Scales and Modes
The Natural Minor Scale
The Harmonic Minor Scale
The Melodic Minor Scale
The Minor Pentatonic and Blues Scales
Modes
Review Questions for Chapter 10
Chapter 11. Answers to Review Questions
| Arrangement | Banjo |
| Genres | Tuition |
| Format | Instrumental Tutor |
| Level | 3 |
| NumberOfPages | 160 |
| Media | Downloads, Sheet Music |
| Publisher | Mel Bay, Mel Bay Publications |
| Contributors | McKeon, Rick (Author) |
| Language | English |
| ISBN | 9781513460789 |