I've been making music for quite a long time (almost 17 years and all this time I always composed by ear) Only basic knowledge about notes and stuff.

This method works well when you are making electronic music with no special harmonies on it, however, I've recently been working making jazzy house, LoFi Hip Hop, funk, and more complex genres, although I draw the notes on the piano roll and play the keyboard by pure intuition I would like to get my shit together and learn real harmony once for all.

I'm struggling to find a great guide or book that teaches me how to compose by following the rules of harmony. I mean, to know the way chord progressions are built, the theory behind it, beyond the classic major and minor chords. to improve improvisation and composing skills.

Do you guys know about books or any nice courses?

Any help would be appreciated

 

Music Theory For Dummies, 4th Edition Taschenbuch – 21. Juni 2019

Inside...

- Master major and minor scales, intervals, pitches, and clefs
- Understand basic notation, time signatures, tempo, and dynamics
- Employ melodies, chords, progressions, and phrases
- Compose harmonies and accompanying melodies for voice and instruments

www.amazon.de/Music-Theory-Dummies-Career-Education/dp/1119575524/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/262-8207406-6109522?pd_rd_w=GvBaK&pf_rd_p=a2e044d8-c6c4-472e-be1b-004f9c16cb56&pf_rd_r=QCKASNYMSDSNE3R8AMSC&pd_rd_r=6547f592-9bdc-4a3e-aa14-017a8dc4c138&pd_rd_wg=XitrD&pd_rd_i=1119575524&psc=1

Harmony and Theory: A Comprehensive Source for All Musicians by Keith Wyatt, Carl Schroeder
www.goodreads.com/book/show/168328.Harmony_and_Theory

Online: What is Harmony in Music? A Complete Guide By Samuel Chase
https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/harmony/
Online: Harmony
www.earmaster.com/music-theory-online/ch02/chapter-2-5.html

 

Last edited: Feb 22, 2022

There're a lot of books, but all theories end up in numbers. If you're not interested in working with numbers and math, don't go for it. Experience has shown me that there're not good relationships between musicians and numbers so reading theory doesn't apply much to them.

 

Thank you, will definitely take a look.

 

I think it depends on curiosity and passion. I have found myself in a position of being at the "peak" in musical composition working with the basics, but I am not so happy with it. There is a whole world of harmonies out there waiting to be discovered. Also I do love the fact that it is mixed with maths. I'm kinda of a geek

 

https://www.tonegym.co/
https://www.soundgym.co/

first one is the music theory second one is how to set different reverb, compressor etc. stuff by ear

 

Michael Hewitt books are great if you mostly work with piano roll.

Michael Hewitt - Composition for Computer Musicians
Michael Hewitt - Harmony for Computer Musicians
Michael Hewitt - Music Theory for Computer Musicians

his books are great, and if you are interested you should buy them, but it's easy to get them for free too haha.

His books are easier to understand than many other more academic books, but still deep enough, unlike many "lol theory for broducers & trap beat makers-books, (I just tell what I learned in elementary school, and earn money for my wisdom)"

 

The real answer depends on the depth of your question. If you want to teach yourself, people here can probably send you links for Africa on home-schooling in harmony. If you are serious, go to an established tutor for private lessons or take a course in harmony at a University.
The first one by the sound of it seems the way. You can also Google Harmony, Counterpoint, Composition and Jazz Harmony from some Universities and buy the books and teach yourself if that is preferred... Some great ones from New England Conservatory, Berklee College, Julliard, Harvard and many written by musicians you probably admire. If self-teaching is the goal, it's worth the time invested to search.

 

Modern arranging technique by gordon delamont