20 Best Beginner Music Theory Books

Are you looking for the best beginner music theory books? If so, you're not alone. Thousands of people turn to the internet each day to find books that they can purchase and have delivered right to their doorsteps.

The good news is that there are a number of great beginner music theory books. The bad news is that with so many options, it can be hard to know where to start.

To help you make the best decision, we've compiled a list of some of the best-selling beginner music theory books:

Bestseller No. 1
Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Bk 1
  • Additional InformationTeacher Answer KeyThere are five reproducible Activities in each of the six Units, which correlate specifically to the six Units in Book 1 of "Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory
  • " The wide variety of Activities includes Music Crossword, Puzzles, Note Naming, Matching Games, Musical Math, Word Scrambles, and others for a total of 30 Activities in all
  • There is also one Test per Unit that covers all the theory concepts introduced in that Unit
  • Each reproducible page includes scoring boxes to help the instructor grade the page
  • Surmani, Andrew (Author)
SaleBestseller No. 2
Music Theory For Dummies
  • Pilhofer, Michael (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 336 Pages - 07/11/2019 (Publication Date) - For Dummies (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 3
Piano Book for Adult Beginners: Teach Yourself How to Play Famous Piano Songs, Read Music, Theory & Technique (Book & Streaming Video Lessons)
  • Ferrante, Damon (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 122 Pages - 07/23/2017 (Publication Date) - Steeplechase Arts (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 4
Bestseller No. 5
The Best Music Theory Book for Beginners 1: A Guide for Everyone: How to Read, Write, and Understand Music (The Best Music Theory Books for Beginners)
  • Spencer, Dan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 140 Pages - 04/26/2022 (Publication Date) - Best Music Coach LLC (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 6
How to Read Music in 30 Days: Music Theory for Beginners - with exercises & online audio (Practical Music Theory)
  • Ellul, Matthew (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 171 Pages - 10/24/2017 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 7
Piano Scales, Chords & Arpeggios Lessons with Elements of Basic Music Theory: Fun, Step-By-Step Guide for Beginner to Advanced Levels(Book & Streaming Video)
  • Ferrante, Damon (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 158 Pages - 12/15/2013 (Publication Date) - Steeplechase Arts (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 9
Essential Music Theory for Kids and Beginners (Fun Activity Workbook Coloring Book): Beginning Music Education, Music Theory, Children Books, Kids ... Clef) (Music Education Now - The Essentials)
  • Publishing, Livingcolors (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 43 Pages - 03/12/2022 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 10
Music Theory For Beginners
  • Endris, R. Ryan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 120 Pages - 10/20/2015 (Publication Date) - For Beginners (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 11
Level 1 - Theory Book: Piano Adventures
  • The Theory Book is Designed to be Used in Conjunction with the Other Books in Level 1
  • Arranged for Piano
  • Standard Notation
  • Publisher: Faber Piano Adventures
  • 40 Pages
Bestseller No. 12
Easy Peasy Guitar Music Theory: For Beginners: Everything You Need To Become A Complete & Confident Guitarist
  • Bryan, Tiff (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 146 Pages - 07/07/2021 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 13
Piano Book for Kids 5 & Up - Beginner Level: Learn to Play Famous Piano Songs, Easy Pieces & Fun Music, Piano Technique, Music Theory & How to Read Music (Book & Streaming Video Lessons)
  • Ferrante, Damon (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 106 Pages - 04/25/2018 (Publication Date) - Steeplechase Arts (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 14
Music Theory Book for Beginners: A Simple, Easy-to-Use Method for All Musicians
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Shipway, James (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 183 Pages - 04/19/2023 (Publication Date) - Headstock Books (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 15
Music Theory for Ukulele: Master the Essential Knowledge with this Easy, Step-by-Step Method for Beginner to Intermediate Players
  • Shipway, David (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 116 Pages - 07/06/2020 (Publication Date) - Headstock Books (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 16
Mel Bay Beginner Violin Theory for Children, Book 1
  • Smith, Melanie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 84 Pages - 10/05/2006 (Publication Date) - Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 17
The Vibrant Violin Music Theory Book 1 - US Terms: A music theory book especially for violin players with easy to follow explanations, puzzles, and more! All you need to know for violin Grades 1-2.
  • Oosthuizen, Amanda (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 60 Pages - 09/26/2017 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 18
Alfred's Basic Piano Library Theory Complete, Bk 1: For the Later Beginner (Alfred's Basic Piano Library, Bk 1)
  • Alfred's Basic Piano Course Theory Book Complete 1 (1A/1B)
  • Designed to coordinate page-by-page with the Complete Level 1 Lesson Book
  • Contains enjoyable games and quizzes that reinforce the principles presented in the Lesson Books
  • Students can increase their musical understanding while they are away from the keyboard
  • Designed to coordinate page-by-page with the Complete Level 1 Lesson Book
Bestseller No. 19
No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists: Master the Essential Knowledge all Guitarists Need to Know
  • Shipway, James (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 107 Pages - 03/25/2019 (Publication Date) - Headstock Books (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 20
The Best Music Theory Workbook 2: The Fast and Easy Way to Get Level 2 Music Theory (The Best Music Theory Books for Beginners)
  • Spencer, Dan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 200 Pages - 12/20/2022 (Publication Date) - Best Music Coach LLC (Publisher)

If you love to read, there's nothing better than finding to buy new beginner music theory books in your collection. But with so many options available, how do you know which ones are worth your time and money?

Here are a few tips to help you to buy the best beginner music theory books online:

  1. Check out online reviews. With so many different opinions out there, it can be tough to know which books are actually worth reading. Checking out online reviews from trusted sources can help you narrow down your options.
  2. Consider the price. It's important to find books that fit your budget. Fortunately, there are plenty of great options available at a variety of price points.
  3. Look for deals and discounts. Many online retailers offer discounts on certain beginner music theory books, so it's worth checking around to see if you can snag a good deal.
  4. Consider the author's reputation. If you're familiar with an author's other work and liked it, there's a good chance you'll enjoy their new book.
  5. Go beyond the bestsellers. Bestselling beginner music theory books are often popular for a reason, but don't be afraid to explore other titles that may not be as well-known. You might be surprised at what you find!
  6. Make sure you check the shipping policy before you buy anything. Many online retailers offer free shipping, but sometimes it comes with a catch - like a minimum order amount.
  7. If you're not sure about a store's return policy, give them a call or send them an email to ask. Most online stores will allow you to return items within a certain time frame, but some have stricter policies than others.
  8. Be sure to choose a store that accepts the payment method you're most comfortable with. Some stores only accept credit cards, while others accept other forms of payment.
  9. Trust your gut. Ultimately, you should choose the book that feels right for you. If something doesn't feel quite right, don't force yourself to read it. There are plenty of other great books out there!
  10. Take your time. There's no rush when it comes to finding new beginner music theory books to read. So, take your time browsing, and don't feel like you need to make a purchase right away.

With these tips in mind, you should be able to find the best beginner music theory books. Happy reading!