Sign-In
Cart
The Science of Music: A Practical Look at Music Theory
Hardcover
Publisher Price: $34.99
Publisher: Allen Van Wert
Published: Jun 1 2024
Pages: 238
Weight: 1.08
Height: 0.69 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
#1 Amazon Best Seller in Music Theory and Music Reference. Over 35,000 copies sold worldwide with nearly 100% five-star reviews.
Music theory books have been teaching the same way for centuries. Rename a long list of effects, recycle the decisions and trends of composers from before they even had toilet paper, and take the same basic ideas and rename them fifteen different ways. They are essentially history books pretending to be theory. That's why people hate them.
This book is different.
The Science of Music teaches the underlying causes and science behind what all of those many effects come from. Once you peek behind the curtain, everything becomes much easier than it has been presented to appear.
Allen Van Wert's original research into modes uncovered fundamental misunderstandings that have been baked into traditional music theory for centuries, including the revelation that the minor scale itself was the biggest mistake in music theory history. These findings allowed him to correct those issues and strip away the complexity and redundancy that have made theory way harder to learn than it needs to be.
The result is a complete rebuild of music theory from the ground up.
No more outliers. No more exceptions patched over ill-conceived opinions based on trends from a long time ago. The theory presented in this book will always be true and will always work in any context.
What makes this book different:
Allen couldn't afford to go to college even with his skill-based scholarship. He studied their books in a tiny room at home and started noticing the flaws in their logic. A part of being autistic is noticing where systems can be built better and also having a strong sense of justice about it. He couldn't just leave it broken. Part computer programmer, part musician who experiences goosebumps and chases that magic. That outside perspective is exactly what allowed him to step outside the matrix and see things for what they really are. You benefit from his life's work and study.
This is for people interested in actually making music.
Composing, improvising, songwriting, and learning songs much faster. Many readers say they have a strong understanding of how music works by page 45. This is the new music theory.
Updated January 2026 with 100% new hand-made art, text upgrades, and formatting.
1 different editions
Also available
Also from
Van Wert, Allen
Also in
Music Theory
How to Read Music in 30 Days: Music Theory for Beginners - with exercises & online audio
Ellul, Matthew
Paperback
Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing
Gebrian, Molly
Paperback
Musicality: How you too can learn music like a gifted prodigy, unlock your musical instinct, and unleash your inner natural.
Sutton, Christopher
Hardcover
The Everything Music Theory Book, 3rd Edition: Take Your Understanding of Music to the Next Level
Schonbrun, Marc
Paperback
Scales Bootcamp: The fastest, clearest way to get to know your scales, and then master them.
Johnston, Philip A.
Paperback
AP Music Theory Premium, Fifth Edition: Prep Book with 2 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Audio
Scoggin, Nancy Fuller
Paperback
Doctor Mozart Music Theory Workbook Level 2B: In-Depth Piano Theory Fun for Children's Music Lessons and HomeSchooling - For Beginners Learning a Musi
Musgrave, Paul Christopher
Musgrave, Machiko Yamane
Paperback
Doctor Mozart Music Theory Workbook for Older Beginners: In-Depth Piano Theory Fun for Children's Music Lessons and HomeSchooling - For Learning a Mus
Musgrave, Paul Christopher
Musgrave, Machiko Yamane
Paperback
Aural Skills in Context: A Comprehensive Approach to Sight Singing, Ear Training, Keyboard Harmony, and Improvisation
Shaftel, Matthew
Jones, Evan
Paperback
Music Theory 101: From Keys and Scales to Rhythm and Melody, an Essential Primer on the Basics of Music Theory
Boone, Brian
Schonbrun, Marc
Hardcover
Music Theory Note by Note: Your Guide to How Music Works-From Notes and Rhythms to Complete Compositions
Miller, Michael
Paperback
Doctor Mozart Music Theory Workbook Level 1C: In-Depth Piano Theory Fun for Children's Music Lessons and HomeSchooling - For Beginners Learning a Musi
Musgrave, Paul Christopher
Musgrave, Machiko Yamane
Paperback
No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists: Master the Essential Knowledge all Guitarists Need to Know
Shipway, James
Paperback
The Technique of Choral Writing: A Comprehensive Guide to Composing and Arranging for Vocal Ensembles
Nielsen, Matthew D.
Hardcover
Curso completo de guitarra acústica: Método moderno de técnica y teoría aplicada
Martinez Cuellar, Miguel Antonio
Paperback
Workbook 1: Writing and Analysis: Workbook to Accompany the Complete Musician
Laitz, Steven G.
Callahan, Michael R.
Paperback
Curso completo de guitarra eléctrica: Método moderno de técnica y teoría aplicada
Martinez Cuellar, Miguel Antonio
Paperback
Visual Guitar Theory: An Easy Guide to Recognizing and Understanding Essential Fretboard Patterns
Johnson, Chad
Paperback
The Music of the Ring: A Comprehensive Study of The Leitmotives and How They Are Used in Der Ring des Nibelungen
Swann, Jeffrey
Paperback
The Inner Nature of Music and the Experience of Tone: Selected Lectures from the Work of Rudolf Steiner (Cw 283)
Steiner, Rudolf
Paperback
100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know: Play the Same Song 100 Different Ways
Simon, Jerald
Paperback
Every Brain Needs Music: The Neuroscience of Making and Listening to Music
Plies, Dennis
Sherman, Lawrence
Paperback
How to Read Music: For Beginners - A Simple and Effective Guide to Understanding and Reading Music with Ease
Carter, Nicolas
Paperback
How to Read Music: For Beginners - A Simple and Effective Guide to Understanding and Reading Music with Ease
Carter, Nicolas
Paperback
Lecciones de Teclado: Guía Completa para Principiantes para Aprender a la Perfección los Acordes y Escalas de Teclado
Studios, Green Light
Paperback
Music Theory Staff Paper: Manuscript Paper with Keyboard Layout and Space for Note-Taking
Roberson, Malia Jade
Paperback
Music Theory Essentials: A Step-by-Step Introduction to Music Theory for All Musicians
Press, Barton
Paperback
Becoming Talented: A Systematic Method for the Development of Ear Training and Music Reading Skills
Miller, Isador
Paperback
Melodic Jazz Guitar Chord Phrasing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Advanced Jazz Guitar Chord Phrases from Melodic Lines
Whitfield, Mark
Paperback
The World Is Sound: NADA Brahma: Music and the Landscape of Consciousness
Berendt, Joachim-Ernst
Paperback
Beginner's Guide to Reading Music: Easy to Use, Easy to Learn; A Simple Introduction for All Ages
Jackson, Jake
Paperback
The Ultimate Melody Guide: How to Make Awesome Melodies without Knowing Music Theory (Notes, Scales, Chords, Melodies)
House, Screech
Paperback
Music Theory Made Simple: Essential Concepts for Budding Composers, Musicians and Music Lovers
Valia, Adrian
Paperback
Divine Arabesque: The Influence of Poe, Wagner, and Baudelaire on Debussy's Modernist Aesthetics
Brown, Matthew
Paperback
The Fundamentals of Music Composition: Learn Music Composition Step by Step
De Viaje, Aventuras
Paperback
Music, the Brain, and Ecstasy: How Music Captures Our Imagination
Jourdain, R.
Jourdain, Robert
Paperback
The Everything Essential Music Theory Book: A Guide to the Fundamentals of Reading, Writing, and Understanding Music
Schonbrun, Marc
Paperback
Genesis of a Music: An Account of a Creative Work, Its Roots, and Its Fulfillments, Second Edition
Partch, Harry
Paperback
Playing the Piano for Pleasure: The Classic Guide to Improving Skills Through Practice and Discipline
Cooke, Charles
Paperback
The CAGED Rhythm Guitar Method: Learn to Play Any Chord Anywhere on the Neck Using The CAGED System
Garland, Rob
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
The Complete Musician: An Integrated Approach to Theory, Analysis, and Listening
Laitz, Steven G.
Callahan, Michael R.
Paperback
Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell
Frederick, Robin
Paperback
Advanced Blues Guitar Soloing: Move Beyond Pentatonics to Solo with Advanced Scales, Arpeggios & Substitutions
Alexander, Joseph
Baxter, Shaun
Paperback
Music for Analysis: Examples from the Common Practice Period and the Twentieth Century
Benjamin, Thomas
Horvit, Michael
Koozin, Timothy
Paperback
No Bull Barre Chords for Guitar: Learn and Master the Essential Barre Chords that all Guitar Players Need
Shipway, James
Hardcover
Rhythmic Theories and Practices in Arabic and Persian Sources from the Tenth to the Fifteenth Century: Annotated Translation and Commentary
Sawa, George Dimitri
Hardcover
Guitar TABs Mastery for Beginners: No-Guesswork Guide to Reading Guitar TABs in Under a Day
Sterling, Paul
Paperback
No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists: Master the Essential Knowledge all Guitarists Need to Know
Shipway, James
Hardcover
Public and Private Modes of Musical Discourse: Haydn's London Symphonies and Late String Quartets
Suurpää, Lauri
Paperback
How To Play The Harmonica Blues: Which harmonica do I need for which blues key?
Cockle, Alex
Paperback
The Music of American Folk Song: And Selected Other Writings on American Folk Music
Seeger, Ruth Crawford
Paperback
Guitar Fretboard Mastery for Beginners: No-Guesswork Guide to Memorizing Every Note on the Neck in a Day
Davies, Ian
Sterling, Paul
Paperback
Escalas, Arpegios, Acordes, Ejercicios por Piano Notion: Guía completa para tocar el piano
Cyr, Bobby
Paperback
Guía práctica de teoría de música moderna para guitarristas
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
FL Studio Beginner's Guide: How to Start Making Music in FL Studio - The Ultimate Shortcut
House, Screech
Paperback
Guided Practice Routines For Guitar - Foundation Level: Practice with 125 Guided Exercises in this Comprehensive 10-Week Guitar Course
Clay, Levi
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback