Music Theory: from Absolute Beginner to Expert

Title is misleading & no audio examples

The title of this book is very misleading. I think it is too complicated for an absolute beginner and it will not make a listener of any level an expert. I consider myself an advanced beginner and there is very little content with which I was not already familiar. It is a solid summary for someone with some musical experience to help them gain a better understanding of basic theory.

Also, being an audio book, I was expecting audio examples of the concepts, but there isn't a single one. There are a number of places where this would have been helpful. For example, when talking about major and minor scales, it would have been helpful to have an audio example demonstrating why major scales are considered to be happy and minor scales sad. To not go beyond simply reading the text of the book is a big miss on the opportunity to take advantage of the audio medium. There are a number of very good free resources on the internet that provide the same content and include audio examples. For me, there wasn't the 'value add' I expected for the price.

44 people found this helpful

To those who are upset about the missing pdf

I know this isn’t a big concern and has probably already been posted but...., if you have a subscription to the Audible app it would stand to reason that you probably have other Amazon-type subscriptions (and you should). This is because the secret fix to the issues of the missing PDF files, lie within in another Amazon app..... kindle! When u purchase the audiobook versions, you are also purchasing the kindle version of the book as well, sooooo....?!Simply go to amazon.com/kindle (or the mobile app) and act like your buying the kindle version and as you will notice, once refreshed, the browser will automatically update the Kindle app library to include the text version. Once done you simply listen to the book until you reach a point where the book has prompted the use of a visual aid, we firstly, navigate over to your kindle app. Then simply open the same book your listening to. There you will find that you can listen and read!! This is not an “excuse”! The audiobook should include all that is supposed to be in the paperback or kindle types without question!! At least now you understand a little more than ya knew before about you Amazon products! P.S....emailing amazon directly about a issue usually gets one something for free or other compensation like full refunds! They’re very nice!

33 people found this helpful

An Excellent Overview With a Missed Opportunity

Would you consider the audio edition of Music Theory: from Absolute Beginner to Expert to be better than the print version?

No. It could be if pdfs of the charts were provided, but more importantly if the examples were actually played on the piano and incorporated into the audiobook.

What other book might you compare Music Theory: from Absolute Beginner to Expert to and why?

I don't know. I was a music major in college and just listened to this as a little refresher course. All the information was accurate.

Which character – as performed by Bryan Howard – was your favorite?

N/A. It was an instructional guide.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Music - It's Just a Theory.

Any additional comments?

Audio examples would have greatly enhanced the material which was presented competently and completely.

7 people found this helpful

For everyone who is trying to get pdf read below

would like to inform you that you are able to download the accompanying material PDF file on your mobile device, but you can only access it from the full Audible website. Please follow these steps:

1. Go to https://mobile.audible.com/ and ensure you're signed in to the correct account.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap on "Full Site".
3. Tap on "Library" and then "My Books".
4. Locate the title with the PDF file and tap the "View PDF" link located below the "Download" button.

The PDF file will open up on your mobile device.

3 people found this helpful

lacking PDF

Would you try another book from Nicolas Carter and/or Bryan Howard?

NO

Has Music Theory: from Absolute Beginner to Expert turned you off from other books in this genre?

yes

How could the performance have been better?

Provide the PDF mentioned. It even says in the Audio that there is a PDF to accompany this audiobook.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment

Any additional comments?

Provide the PDF mentioned. It even says in the Audio that there is a PDF to accompany this audiobook.

16 people found this helpful

This is an excellent book

If I had listened to the other reviews I would not have purchased this title..
But I’m glad I did. It’s all in there logically progressing from very simple ideas to more complex. It may require a second third or fourth listen. You may need to take notes and create charts from what this guy says but it’s all in there. Maybe it’s just not a book for lazy people. Hearing some musical examples would be pleasant and fun but it would just be fluff cluttering up these excellent explanations. If you think hearing a chord or a tone is gonna make you suddenly “get it” you are not ready for this book. I’d give it more stars if I could . It is technically rich and concise at the same time . Love it

4 people found this helpful

very hard to follow the concepts on the audio.

for almost everything he keeps saying this will be covered later. which is fine but he keeps using those terms and goes on talking without explaining the terms or concepts he is using..

4 people found this helpful

Not Great

The information is there, but having purchase this book through Audible, I was not provided with the PDF for references. I also feel that audio examples should have been provided. Talking about music theory concepts such as intervals, scales, chords, and chord progressions and describing how they sound is not the same as hearing how they sound.
I am a high school music teacher trying to find an additional resource for my students and feel that to the untrained or novice musician this book with further confuse them on a topic that is already dry, tedious, and confusing.

1 person found this helpful

Great. Could use music examples.

Great topics. Great voice; it was very easy to listen to. Music examples of chords and keys would have put it over the top. I need to look up the PDF.

1 person found this helpful

Examples

Thanks you. Fast listening. Very concise. I plan on return it and grab the paperback. This one I would have sounds examples with the information too. Thanks for reading

1 person found this helpful