Songwriting can often feel like puzzle-solving. Bridging sections together, making choruses shine, and ensuring songs have emotion and movement sometimes feel like a task akin to cracking the Da Vinci Code.
Possessing a solid grasp of music theory will help, but knowing where to start can be challenging, and finding the time to dedicate to it can be even harder. Recognizing these problems, industry expert and YouTuber Adam Saunders (AKA The Keys Coach) has written two new books that break down music theory into bite-size chunks to make it practical and accessible for all. Ultimately, he hopes they will change people’s perceptions of these valuable tools and remove the headache of understanding them.
Theory for Rock & Pop Musicians, Volumes 1 & 2 are written with contemporary pop, rock, and jazz musicians in mind, providing a cheat code for mastering theory concepts quickly and easily. Published by Trinity College London Press, they bring invaluable concepts to the fore simply and efficiently so that new and experienced players can benefit equally.
The Keys Coach is the perfect musician for the job. Alongside his YouTube videos – which reach his loyal community of 50,000 subscribers and beyond – he’s a university lecturer and the co-founder of the BA Music Performance and Industry program at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. In short, he’s spent his entire career breaking down complex ideas to help musicians elevate their game.
The books have been designed to deliver clear concepts suited for all players, regardless of their knowledge base, that can be applied directly to a reader’s playing and songwriting. This will help empower guitarists, bassists, and players of all instruments to immediately break out of their creative ruts and use their newfound knowledge. The books will make them better players and writers.
Music theory can be a stumbling block for musicians wanting to achieve a particular sound or feat – like shredding the Lydian scale like Joe Satriani or using key changes to take their songs to new places. Even with the most basic understanding of music theory in their back pocket, players can feel better equipped to turn that half-finished demo into something to be proud of, and these books come to the aid of those who don’t resonate with traditional learning methods.
Away from songwriting, with theory, players can also deconstruct their favorite songs to understand what makes them so good in the first place. These books can help with that.
The books are structured but flexible, meaning players can pick them up and add to their skill set even in quick-fire doses. Progress can be made whenever suits, at any pace, with even the smallest investments of time and energy reaping the rewards.
In a departure from traditional teaching approaches, which Saunders finds can often deter players from exploring the theoretical side of music, the books are loaded with hands-on learning covering performing, songwriting, and production methodologies. It places its lessons in real-world settings so players can get the most out of them.
Lessons are interactive too, generating instant hits of dopamine and satisfaction for players who can apply their skills to a vast downloadable archive of over 350 audio tracks. Both volumes also come with downloadable answer books so that players can test their knowledge every step of the way.
Beyond their theoretical foundations, the books also develop musicians’ listening skills through exercises on recognizing different intervals and chords and the roles they play in songs. By linking theoretical and practical knowledge in this way, Saunders aims to help players gain confidence, creativity, and versatility on their chosen instruments.
The books can be taken to music lessons, but, more excitingly, they can be the secret weapon of self-taught players eager to gain a better grasp of music theory, quickly, easily, and without convoluted jargon. It’s a relaxed, informal way to develop a greater musical understanding.
From ultra-complex djent anthems to streamlined and irresistible pop bangers, music theory tricks can turn average songs into classics. Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso, for instance, recently described by one music professor as “a finely engineered product of the pop machine,” just scooped two Grammy wins, and much of its magic comes from subtle hacks; ones these books look to instil into learners.
Jimmy Page once famously said: “I believe every guitar player inherently has something unique about their playing. They just have to identify what makes them different and develop it.”
Understanding music theory can help players unlock their identity as musicians by exploring new possibilities, and these volumes by Adam Saunders provide that knowledge in an easily digestible and engaging package.
Theory for Rock & Pop Musicians, Volumes 1 & 2, is available in physical print and digital formats.
Guitar World readers can get an exclusive 20% discount on digital ebook copies, starting at £18.45, using the code RPTHEORY20 at checkout.
Affordable and accessible, they provide the perfect opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of popular music from an industry insider without breaking the bank… or your brain.
Head to Trinity College to order a copy your ebook copies with GW’s exclusive discount and to learn more.
Johnathon Pingree
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