For my senior project I learned the basics of music theory, jazz scales, R&B and Pop song structures and song writing. For me, it was difficult to learn music theory because I knew enough to read music but not enough to write or understand technical terms and the actually use. The books that I found and started reading were very difficult and material heavy so, instead of continuing with those books I found easier less formal books. The books were Music Theory for Dummies and The Everything Music Theory Book. Through these two books I was able to understand music theory better, match musical terms with things I already knew, and come up with a basic definition of what music theory is. For example, here is a basic indication of the purpose of studying …show more content…
When researching R&B music theory I found mainly books on jazz music theory and blues music theory. This is because R&B is a branch of jazz music and also a combination of rhythm and blues. The jazz theory covered basic keyboard notes and the chromatic scale. This was my first time ever using and reading about the word chromatic so I found out where it came from and what is is; “The word "chromatic" comes from the Greek word chroma meaning "color." The chromatic scale consists of 12 notes each a half step apart. It is from the chromatic scale that every other scale or chord in most Western music is derived (Thought co).” The theory book also covered the cycle of fourths, scales and chord progressions.