Learn To Read Music: An Introduction To Keys, Chords, Notes, Beats And Everything

What is a treble clef? What is syncopation? How do you notate a chromatic chord? You'll find the answers to these and more than a hundred other questions in Learn to Read Music. Simple, direct, admirably concise, this book will guide the beginner through the mysteries and into the magic of music. Learn to Read Music starts with the idea of pitch. Some sounds are heavy and deep; others are light and high. Similarly, sounds can be long or short. Music is made up of beats, and beats are made up of sounds of different lengths called notes. From here, the book moves to other areas, explaining scales, keys and harmony. Harmony is the main characteristic that distinguishes Western music from other types of music around the world. No discussion of music would be complete without an analysis of the most important instrument -- the human voice. Readers will find out about the four main voice categories: Soprano (a high female voice); Contralto (a low female voice); Tenor (a high male voice); and Bass (a low male voice); as well as: Baritone, a voice between Bass and Tenor, and Mezzo Soprano, a voice between Contralto and Soprano. And of course, this comprehensive guide introduces readers to all the configurations and elements of music. Plus, discussions of common musical abbreviations and terms, and a list of frequently encountered Italian and German terms with their English equivalents. Designed for self-study, each chapter ends with a set of questions to help you measure your progress into the world of music. Enjoy!