The_Complete_Idiot%27s_Guide_To_Music_Theory

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The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music Theory, Second Edition
Aeolian ..........................................................................................41
Locrian ..........................................................................................42
4 Major and Minor Keys 45
Keys to Success ................................................................................45
Using Key Signatures ......................................................................46
Major Keys ......................................................................................46
Minor Keys ....................................................................................48
The Circle of Fifths ..........................................................................50
Accidents Will Happen ....................................................................51
Changing Keys ..................................................................................52
Part 2: Rhythms 55
5 Note Values and Basic Notation 57
Taking the Measure of Things ........................................................58
Taking Note—of Notes ....................................................................58
Whole Notes ....................................................................................59
Half Notes ......................................................................................59
Quarter Notes ................................................................................60
Eighth Notes ..................................................................................61
Sixteenth Notes ..............................................................................61
Taking Count ....................................................................................62
Taking a Rest ....................................................................................62
Taking a Note—and Dotting It ........................................................63
Taking Two Notes—and Tying Them Together ............................64
Taking the Beat and Dividing by Three ..........................................64
6 Time Signatures 67
Measuring the Beats ..........................................................................67
Quarter-Note Time ........................................................................68
Eighth-Note Time ..........................................................................69
Half Time ......................................................................................71
Changing the Time ..........................................................................72
Grouping the Beats ..........................................................................72
7 Tempo, Dynamics, and Navigation 77
Taking the Pulse ................................................................................77
Beats per Minute ............................................................................78
Italian Tempo Terms ........................................................................78
Speeding Up—and Slowing Down ..................................................80
Hold That Note! ..............................................................................80
Getting Loud—and Getting Soft ....................................................81
Dynamic Markings ........................................................................81
Changing Dynamics ........................................................................81
Play It Harder ................................................................................82
More Dynamics ..............................................................................83