The Best Music Theory Book for Beginners 1
The Best Music Theory Book for Beginners 1
How to read, write and understand music on any instrument, the easy way.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars from 475 Amazon ratings Amazon.com, September 28, 2026. Read what Amazon reviewers say now
- Hear every example: 80+ free video examples
- Read music easily, no prior knowledge needed
- Write your first songs with rhythm, notes and chords
See everything inside the book nowWatch a sample now (3:41)
Available now. Printed for your order, then shipped to you.
Free bonus with this book: 80+ video examples and 50 printable flash cards. Scan the QR code in the book, or go to bestmusiccoach.com/books.
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- Free shipping on orders $50 and up (US, UK, Canada); under that, $5.99 flat. Printed in the US in 3 to 5 business days, then about 5 to 7 business days to your door by USPS Media Mail in the continental US. Order today: estimated delivery in the continental US.
- Buy more, save more. 1 book: $29.99 (full price)2 books: 10% off ($27.00 for this one)3 or more: 15% off ($25.50 for this one) Mix any of our books. Applied in your cart automatically.
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- 30-day returns. Ask within 30 days of delivery. Refund policy
- Money-back guarantee: follow the steps in this book, and if you still can't read music or write basic melody and chord songs, you get your money back. To claim it, email support@bestmusiccoach.com with your order number.
Free with the Music Theory 1 course
Buy this book and the Music Theory 1 course ($300.00) together in one order and the book is free. We print it and ship it to you in the US, UK or Canada, shipping included (orders of $50 and up ship free).
Get the course and free book now
Next in the series: save $5.99 on the pair
Add Book 2 now and the pair is $53.99 instead of $59.98, with this book in your cart (20% off Book 2). Both ship free (orders of $50 and up).
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All three books, one price Best value
All three Music Theory books for $74.99 (save $19.98). Ships free to the US, UK and Canada (orders of $50 and up ship free). See the pack now
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- #1 Best Seller in its Amazon categories
- 5,000+ readers helped by this book
- 20,000+ Best Music Coach books sold
- 26 million+ views and 132K subscribers on Dan's YouTube channel, Music Theory for Gamers
- 686 Facebook followers and 1,703 Instagram followers
Read our reviews on Trustpilot now
Pairs well with
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Music Theory 1 $300.00See the course now
Students who worked with Dan
PAT The WhaleReleased Wild Dreams
Geese’s Master Pieces“I never thought for a second I’d be moving this quickly.”
Small Little SquaresReleased Porch
These are Best Music Coach coaching clients, who worked with a coach one to one and in small groups. They are coaching results, not reviews of this book. Faces, names and results as published on bestmusiccoach.com/results.
Do you want to actually "get" how music works?
This book is the key to read, write and understand music on any instrument, and singing. It uses easy tricks called music theory.
It is a #1 Best Seller and #1 New Release on Amazon in multiple categories. This is the 3rd edition.
It uses the same methods behind our courses and Dan's YouTube channel, Music Theory for Gamers, which has 26 million+ views.
Hear every example as you read
- 80+ free video examples so you can hear every example in the book ($89.99 value)
- 50 free printable flash cards so the notes stick ($9.99 value)
- Get them free by scanning the QR code in the book, or at bestmusiccoach.com/books
Read, write and understand music on any instrument
- Read music easily so you can grow your musical fluency (page 61)
- Think about rhythm so you can write music (pages 22 to 25)
- Know why certain chords work together so you can use them in your own songs (page 117)
- Use the easy magic trick that turns scales into chords every time (page 119)
- Write your first songs by matching rhythm, notes and chords together (bonus chapter)
See 5 more things you will learn
- Two tried and true ways to use and think about rhythm in modern music (page 20)
- The music culture secret that makes almost all the music you hear sound the way it does (page 28)
- 3 types of silence so you can shape the music you care about (page 34)
- The one thing most people skip that messes them up for years (page 73)
- Analyze your favorite songs so you can see the patterns that were hidden before (pages 128 to 133)
85+ music theory tips, tricks and shortcuts in all.
These pages have helped 5,000+ people around the world read, write and understand music.
Readers say they make real progress, fast
"This book is perfect for beginners. It introduces concepts clearly and at a brisk pace so you feel as though you are making real progress."
L. W.
"Dan organizes information in a way that makes a lot of sense. Great book, would recommend to any beginner!"
Spencer M.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars from 475 Amazon ratings (Amazon.com, September 28, 2026).
Start from zero, on any instrument
- Complete beginners, ages 12 to adult. No prior knowledge needed.
- Songwriters, producers, DJs, singers, composers and worship musicians
- Every genre. Music theory is the universal language of music.
140 pages, full color. 8.5 x 11 in (21.6 x 27.9 cm) paperback.
Printed on demand and shipped to your door.
About the author. Dan Spencer is a composer, OST creator, author and coach.
He teaches the practical path from idea, or no ideas, to finished music you can actually play, write, understand and ship.
What Amazon reviewers say
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars from 475 Amazon ratings. Source: Amazon.com, read September 28, 2026.
-
5 out of 5 stars
The Best Music Theory Book for Beginners
"If you're like me and always wanted to "get" how music works without banging your head against confusing jargon, The Best Music Theory Book for..."
Edward F.Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2024, Kindle
-
5 out of 5 stars
Thought Out and Well Put Together
"This definitely is more than just a blurb about theory."
MDRVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2025, Kindle
-
5 out of 5 stars
Very impressed! Great buy =)
"Wow, super impressed with this book!"
M. O.Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2025, Kindle
Short excerpts from reviews on this book's Amazon.com page. Each reviewer is shown by first name and last initial, or the name they chose on Amazon.
How it works, in 3 easy steps
- Read one short lesson.
- Hear it in the free video example.
- Play it or write it on your instrument.
Book details
Book details
| Format | Paperback, printed on demand for your order |
|---|---|
| Pages | 140, full color |
| Size | 8.5 x 11 in (21.6 x 27.9 cm) |
| Level | Complete beginner, ages 12 to adult |
| Edition | 3rd edition |
| Included free | 80+ video examples, 50 printable flash cards |
| Weight | 366 g (12.9 oz) |
| Ships to | US, UK and Canada, free on orders $50 USD and up, $5.99 USD flat under that |
Shipping and returns
Shipping and returns
Print books ship to the US, UK and Canada: free shipping on orders $50 USD and up, $5.99 USD flat under that. We cannot ship print books to other countries yet.
Every copy is printed for your order at the printer closest to you. In the US it is printed in 3 to 5 business days, then about 5 to 7 business days to your door by USPS Media Mail in the continental US. In the UK it is printed in about 3 business days, then usually 2 to 5 business days by Royal Mail or The Delivery Group. In Canada it is printed in 3 to 5 business days, then usually 1 to 5 business days by Purolator Ground. Times are estimates, not guarantees.
Your free extras come with the book: scan the QR code inside it to get them.
30-day returns: ask within 30 days of delivery. See our refund policy.
Questions? Email support@bestmusiccoach.com.
Questions
Questions
Do I need to read music first?
No. It starts from zero. Complete beginners, ages 12 to adult.
Which instrument does it work for?
Any instrument, and singing. Music theory works the same on all of them.
How do I get the free videos and flash cards?
Scan the QR code on the How This Book Works page, or go to bestmusiccoach.com/books.
Where do you ship print books?
The US, UK and Canada. Free shipping on orders $50 USD and up; under that, $5.99 USD flat.
How long does a book take to arrive?
Each copy is printed for your order. US: printed in 3 to 5 business days, then about 5 to 7 business days by USPS Media Mail in the continental US. UK: printed in about 3 business days, then usually 2 to 5 business days. Canada: printed in 3 to 5 business days, then usually 1 to 5 business days. Estimates, not guarantees.
Can I return a book?
Yes. 30-day returns: ask within 30 days of delivery. See our refund policy.
How do I reach you?
Email support@bestmusiccoach.com.
Which Music Theory book is right for me?
| Book | Best for | Level | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Best Music Theory Book for Beginners 1 You are here | Start here: rhythm, reading notes, scales, chords, first songs | Beginner | $29.99 |
| The Best Music Theory Workbook for Beginners 1 | Practice for Book 1: exercises, answer key, quizzes | Beginner | $24.99 |
| The Best Music Theory Book for Beginners 2 | Tension and resolution: bass clef, intervals, inversions, 7th chords | After Book 1 | $29.99 |
| The Best Music Theory Workbook for Beginners 2 | Practice for Book 2: exercises and answer key | After Book 1 | $24.99 |
| The Best Music Theory Book for Beginners 3 | Sound like you: borrowed chords, syncopation, new time signatures | After Books 1 and 2 | $34.99 |
