Music Composition for Dummies

Music Composition For Dummies explains how to use music theory to write music in a variety of forms. It introduces the basic chord construction and shows the reader how to compose music both with chords and melody, develop simple melodic motifs and themes into longer compositions, arrange compositions, create scores, and select the right instruments and voicing to express musical ideas. Music Composition For Dummies also tells how to create popular songs, classically structured pieces, film and television scores, videogame soundtracks, and more using both traditional and improvisational techniques.

Scott Jarrett is founder of Monkey House Recording Studio. He has taught music composition and served as music director on Broadway. He has released three albums of original music. Holly Day has written for over 3,000 print and electronic publications, including Guitar One Magazine, and Music Alive! She is coauthor of Music Theory For Dummies.