Many DJs, gigging musicians, and electronic music producers understand how to play their instruments or make music on the computer, but they lack the basic knowledge of music theory needed to take their music-making to the next level and compose truly professional tracks. Beneath all the enormously different styles of modern electronic music lie certain fundamentals of the musical language that are exactly the same no matter what kind of music you write. It is very important to acquire an understanding of these fundamentals if you are to develop as a musician and music producer. Put simply, you need to know what you are doing with regard to the music that you are writing. Music Theory for Computer Musicians explains these music theory fundamentals in the most simple and accessible way possible. Concepts are taught using the MIDI keyboard environment and todayÂ’s computer composing and recording software. By reading this book and following the exercises contained within it, you, the aspiring music producer/computer musician, will find yourself making great progress toward understanding and using these fundamentals of the music language. The result will be a great improvement in your ability to write and produce your own original music!

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 6 Ratings

The best book out there for today's button pushers! - 2008-09-26
Reviewer Rating:
This book fills a gap between a traditional music theory course & today's 'computer musician.' Many young 'up and coming' musicians start with a downloaded version of Fruity Loops and often don't know much about music theory -- some never will. As of today's date, there are 17,955,505 free songs to listen to on myspace music.

That's a lot of competition, and understanding music theory & song structure is essential for anyone hoping to realize any income from their music.

For the disciplined student, this book is a godsend. Because it is interactive with computer software like Propellerheads Reason program and other 'piano roll based' midi sequencers, it is easier to digest than more traditional theory titles.

Lastly: For more traditionally trained OR experienced musicians looking to improve their songwriting & theory chops I would recommend all of Rikki Rooksby's books available here on amazon. They cover a gamut of songwriting topics and are all very well written. Like anything, you only get out what you put in to this craft.

5 stars; A must have for Computer Musicians - 2009-10-11
Reviewer Rating:
This is a really great book;

Very easy to understand since its uses the "piano roll" to explain the concepts; instead of just using the "sheet music format" alone like with traditional lessons

Just that one factor makes learning music theory a billion times easier

I highly recommend this for all computer musicians;

Reading this book was like getting a deluxe set of 1000 crayons when i used to have only 1 crayon to color with

Finally... - 2008-12-19
Reviewer Rating:
...a Music Theory book that someone without any knowledge at all can understand.

It was perfect for a drummer turned into a music producer like me.

Recommended.

Simple but clear explanation - 2009-09-08
Reviewer Rating:
I recommend this book as a reference to music teachers and everyone who is novice, but want to understand music. Not only this book helps readers who cannot play any instrument, as long as they know enough computer knowledge as self-described by the title, it also clearly explains the foundation of music. After making people understand the pitch and duration of notes on the staff system, it explains the way of measuring interval and then the definition or feature of each interval, base on semitone measurement. After assuring the readers about the perfect harmony of the fourth and the fifth interval, the author explained why this leads to the dominant and sub-dominant quality of the chord. The mode, the scale and the key signature are usually confusing, but the author explanation started from the simple C Major and then compares with A Minor, and then leads to the understanding of scaling system, major and minor of the seven diatonic, including the complex scale. Within the process, the author explained how to establish various key signatures based on a particular scale, not just the cycle of fifths.

Thanks again, to the author. This is really a godsend.

great computer music theory - 2009-09-01
Reviewer Rating:
I find this book has helped me with many of my theory problems and use it regularly.
As an average piano player and BBC award winning new music producer, using such programs
as Reason, Cubase and Pro Tools i find i can quickly ascertain the sort of sound I'm looking for, using
the scales and chords described in this book. With a now greater understanding i have created more
complex and intricate tracks using larger 7th and 9th chords and going from major to minor modes to great
effect. I don't feel i will need another theory book other than Composition for Computer Musicians
by the same author which i feel gives a complete a very good level of theory to add to your music
producing skills with of-course practice and hard work.

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