i ordered a few music theory books, and the first of them arrived today... got this one used for less than $9... i'm gonna give it a thumbs up.

i haven't read it yet, but i skimmed through it... seems a decent book. 292 pages, no exercises (i think a separate workbook exists). it seems to give good coverage of many core topics, although the more advanced topics can't be covered in a book like this, it does a good job of giving the reader a basic understanding of advanced topics.

you don't know what you don't know, and this is a good book for letting you know what you don't know. this would be a great next step for anyone who completed the first installment of @Nate Savage's music theory course on this site.

the first chapters cover the typical topics of rhythm, notation, notes, intervals, keys, modes, the circle of keys (fouths/fifths), triads, major/minor/diminished/augmented chords, etc. chapter 8 dives into 7th chords and chord inversions. this is about where my current music theory ends.

it even does a nice little dissection of bach's prelude in C... which makes me want to go back and dissect a few songs in greater detail.

chapters 9 and 10 do a nice job on chord progressions, and there is info there i haven't learned yet, like some of the minor key substitutions.

chapters 11-13 look like they have some great info on harmonizing, modal switching, modulation, and jazz harmony.

chapter 14 gives details on transposing keys and typical keys for instruments (e.g., Bb trumpet).

keep an eye out for used copies.

p.s. it comes with this strange plastic disc labeled "CD". 😄

CORRECTION: it does have some workbook activities... i just hadn't looked hard enough.