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The 8 Best music theory books of 2025

Are you trying to find music theory books among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!

We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling music theory books on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 16 hours of research and did 58 music theory books tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!

An overview of our top picks

Table of contents

The best music theory books you can buy today

SaleNo. 1
Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory: A Complete Self-Study Course for All Musicians (Book & 2 CDs)
  • Format: Book & 2 CDs
  • Category: Textbook - General
  • Contributors: By Andrew Surmani, Karen Farnum Surmani, and Morton Manus
  • Pub Date: 8/2004
  • Series: Essentials of Music Theory
  • Surmani, Andrew (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 152 Pages - 08/01/2004 (Publication Date) - Alfred Music (Publisher)
SaleNo. 2
Music Theory For Dummies
  • Pilhofer, Michael (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 336 Pages - 07/11/2019 (Publication Date) - For Dummies (Publisher)
No. 3
Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Bk 1
  • Package Quantity: 1
  • Excellent Quality.
  • Great Gift Idea.
  • Satisfaction Ensured.
  • Produced with the highest grade materials
  • Surmani, Andrew (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages - 01/01/1998 (Publication Date) - Alfred Music (Publisher)
SaleNo. 4
Music Theory: From Beginner to Expert - The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide to Understanding and Learning Music Theory Effortlessly (Essential Learning Tools for Musicians)
  • Carter, Nicolas (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 242 Pages - 03/17/2018 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
SaleNo. 5
Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory A Comprehensive and Convenient Guide for All Musicians | Learn Harmony, Scales, Chords, and Key Signatures | Essential Reference for Beginners and Advanced Players
  • 176 Pages
  • A Comprehensive and Convenient Source for All Musicians
  • Packed with info from the Harmony & Theory course at Musicians Institute!
  • Authors: Carl Schroeder and Keith Wyatt
  • Softcover
  • Schroeder, Carl (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 176 Pages - 09/01/2002 (Publication Date) - Hal Leonard (Publisher)
SaleNo. 6
Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory: Complete, Book & 2 CDs
  • Alfred Publishing Co. Model#0016486
  • Surmani, Andrew (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 120 Pages - 05/01/1998 (Publication Date) - Alfred Music (Publisher)
SaleNo. 7
AP Music Theory Premium, Fifth Edition: Prep Book with 2 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Audio (Barron's AP Prep)
  • Barron's Educational Series (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 756 Pages - 07/04/2023 (Publication Date) - Barrons Educational Services (Publisher)
No. 8
The Essential Guide to Music Theory: Everything You Need to Learn the Basics and Beyond
  • Roscher, James (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 181 Pages - 08/22/2023 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
No. 9
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)
No. 10
Music Theory for Guitarists, the Complete Method Book: Volumes 1, 2 & 3 of the Music Theory for Guitarists Series in a Single Edition
  • Shipway, James (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 380 Pages - 09/29/2022 (Publication Date) - Headstock Books (Publisher)
SaleNo. 11
Practical Theory: Complete, Spiral-Bound Book
  • Contains 28 Lessons
  • Combines Text And Workbook
  • Contains All Areas Of Music Theory
  • Provides A Concise And Practical Manner At Each Level
  • 96 Pages
  • Feldstein, Sandy (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 96 Pages - 10/01/1982 (Publication Date) - Alfred Music (Publisher)
SaleNo. 12
Berklee Music Theory Book 1 - 2nd Edition with Book/Online Audio - Music Theory Simplified with Practical Exercises - Rhythm, Scales, Musical Signatures, Intervals, and More
  • Book/Online Audio
  • Pages: 120
  • Instrumentation: All Instruments
  • Schmeling, Paul (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 120 Pages - 03/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Berklee Press (Publisher)
No. 13
Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Bk 2
  • Surmani, Andrew (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages - 01/01/1998 (Publication Date) - Alfred Music (Publisher)
No. 14
Master Theory Beginning Theory (Book 1)
  • KJOS Model#L173
  • Charles S. Peters (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages - 06/01/1963 (Publication Date) - Neil a Kjos Music Co (Publisher)
SaleNo. 15
How to Read Music in 30 Days: Music Theory for Beginners - with exercises & online audio (Practical Musical Theory)
  • Ellul, Matthew (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 171 Pages - 10/24/2017 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
SaleNo. 16
Music Theory for Guitarists Book/Online Audio (Hal Leonard Guitar Method) - Guitar Chord Book with 94 Tracks - Guitar Learning Book with Step-by-Step Lessons - Easy-to-Read Guitar Scales Book
  • Song List -
  • Chromatic Fantasy
  • Come On, Come Over
  • Continuum
  • Donna Lee
  • Kolb, Tom (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 104 Pages - 05/01/2005 (Publication Date) - Hal Leonard (Publisher)
No. 17
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)
SaleNo. 18
Music Theory 101: From keys and scales to rhythm and melody, an essential primer on the basics of music theory (Adams 101 Series)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Boone, Brian (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 256 Pages - 08/08/2017 (Publication Date) - Adams Media (Publisher)
No. 19
Music Theory Simplified: Demystifying The Language Of Music
  • Tellier, Melvin (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 118 Pages - 11/18/2024 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
SaleNo. 20
The Chord Wheel: The Ultimate Tool for All Musicians | Music Theory Learning Tool for Guitar Piano and All Instruments | Visual Guide to Chord Progressions and Key Changes
  • Master Chord Theory in Minutes
  • omprehend key structure like never before
  • Instantly transpose any progression into each and every key
  • No music reading is necessary
  • This tool will help you: Improvise and Solo
  • Fleser, Jim (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 12 Pages - 12/01/2000 (Publication Date) - Hal Leonard (Publisher)

How to choose a good music theory books

Does the idea of finding a fantastic music theory books make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!

Your presence here indicates that you are interested in music theory books. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top music theory books products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?

First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top music theory books on the market right now!

The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:

Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top music theory books brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.

Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top music theory books based on those.

Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.

Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.

Customer ratings:  Would it be accurate to suggest that the music theory books were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.

Customer Reviews: Like ratings,  provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.

Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good music theory books, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.

Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your music theory books.

Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting music theory books for months and years to come.

Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.

Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.

These are the standards by which we selected our music theory books. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.

Why should you believe us?

There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what music theory books should you purchase in 2022?

This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on music theory books.