Music Theory in the Real World

Michael Perlowin

Oct 2010 · Mel Bay Publications

About this ebook

In this book Mike Perlowin combines the practical experience of being a working musician in the fields of rock, blues, country, R&B, reggae, and bluegrass with the theoretical knowledge of an academic background to explain music theory in terms that any moderately accomplished musician can understand. Starting with the most basic of lessons, Perlowin clearly and concisely explains the tonal relationships between notes and how they form different types of scales and chords. Instead of using examples from unfamiliar classical music, this book uses well known tunes like Mary had a Little Lamb or Silent Night to illustrate theoretical principles. Rather than offering information on how to play a specific instrument, this book is designed for people who already play proficiently but don't understand music's underlying theoretical principles. Although the book is relatively short, it contains the equivalent of a year's worth of college level material, all made accessible to the average musician desiring a better understanding of music theory.

About the author

Mike Perlowin is one of those people with one foot in the world of classical music and the other in that

of popular and folk music. A music major in college, Mike studied harmony and theory for three years but

dropped out after a teacher said that the Beatles didn’t have any talent (her theory being that nobody with

real talent would play rock).

After Mike left school he went to work playing the guitar in various bands throughout the Los Angeles

area. As a working guitarist he played rock, blues, country, R&B, reggae, bluegrass, and even disco. During

the late ‘70s he took up the pedal steel guitar, and recently recorded a CD of classical music transcribed for

that instrument (Firebird Suite, Newport Classic NPD 85583).

Thus in a real sense he combines the practical experience of being a working musician with the theoretical

knowledge of years of academic study.

In this book, he has taken that knowledge and put it in terms any moderately accomplished musician

can understand. Starting with the most basic of lessons, he has explained, very clearly and concisely, the

mathematical relationships between notes and how they form different types of scales and chords.