Schott Music MusikDurchblick!

Schott Music MusicOverview! At a glance

Schott Music's MusikDurchblick! is a comprehensive handbook that presents both fundamental and advanced music theory in a modern, accessible way. Designed for musicians of all levels, it’s perfect for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of music—whether for playing, composing, or appreciating musical works more fully.

Clear explanations and practical examples make even complex theory easy to grasp, while engaging exercises let you apply what you’ve learned right away—bringing music theory to life. The mix of written instruction and interactive elements keeps learning dynamic and progress easy to follow.

A standout feature of MusikDurchblick! is access to extensive online resources. These include additional exercises, practice materials, and audio examples that enrich and reinforce the learning experience—allowing users to test and apply their knowledge in real time.

With this book, learning music theory becomes an engaging journey that builds not just knowledge, but also a deeper love for music. Whether you're a student, hobbyist, or aspiring composer, MusikDurchblick! is the ideal companion for taking your musical understanding to the next level.

Contents:

NOTATION

• The Staff
• The White Keys (Root Notes)
• Octave Positions
• Clefs
• Whole Steps and Half Steps
• The Black Keys (Altered Notes)
• The Issue with B, B♭, and H (or “B natural”)
• Accidentals Explained

RHYTHM

• The Pulse of Music
• Note and Rest Values
• Binary vs. Ternary – Triplets
• Shuffle and Swing
• Slurs and Dotted Notes
• Time and Time Signatures
• Emphasis and Accent Patterns
• How to Count Rhythm
• Syncopation

INTERVALS

• Intervals from the Root Note
• The Three Types of Intervals
• Step by Step: Forming and Identifying Intervals
• Consonance and Dissonance

TONE LADDER (SCALES)

• The Major Scale
• The Natural Minor Scale
• Parallel Major and Minor Scales
• Leading Tones and Approach Tones
• The Harmonic Minor Scale
• The Melodic Minor Scale
• Step by Step: Building and Recognizing Scales
• The Pentatonic Scale

HARMONY

• Triads
• Step by Step: Building and Identifying Triads
• Triad Inversions
• Suspended Chords (Sus Chords)
• Four-Note Chords
• Extended and Altered Chords
• Chord Symbols Explained

KEYS

• Key Signatures
• Tonal Center and Key Recognition
• Step Theory (Scale Degrees)
• Functional Harmony (Function Theory)
• Chord Progressions
• The Circle of Fifths

PRACTICE: CREATING A SONG

• Foundation: Time Signature, Tempo, Structure, Key
• Intro
• Verse(s)
• Pre-Chorus
• Chorus (Refrain)
• Solo / Improvisation
• Outro
• Final Composition

APPENDIX

• Tempo Markings
• Dynamic Markings
• Repeat Signs and Symbols
• Additional Chord Symbols
• All Major Keys and Their Diatonic Chords
• English–Music / Music–English Glossary
• Index