Hooktheory
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Hooktheory I

Interactive Music Theory Book

Rated 4.80 out of 5
4.8 (253)

This is the music theory / songwriting book you’ll love. Hooktheory is an intuitive, modern take on music theory that answers the questions you care the most about: Why do certain chords fit together easily, and others not so easily? How can I get from this chord to that chord? How can I create a great sounding melody?

The concepts we teach are applicable to all types of music, but examples are drawn from popular songs you’ve probably heard on the radio. Also, because the explanations are drawn from our TheoryTab format, people that don’t read conventional sheet music will benefit from the concepts we cover just as much as those that do.

Authors:
Dave Carlton, Ryan Miyakawa, Chris Anderson
Features:
88 audiovisual examples, 41 exercises
Release date:
August 6, 2014
Chapters:
6
Compatibility:
iOS, Android, and Kindle
Level:
All levels, beginners

Contents

Learn chord structure, the basics of harmony, and melodies through real pop songs.

Reading the Hooktheory e-book on a tablet

Featuring songs from:

Taylor Swift 1 Lady Gaga Rihanna 1 Bruno Mars Beyonce 1 Maroon 5 Avicii Aerosmith Green Day The Beatles 1 Bob Dylan Celine Dion Eric Clapton Journey John Mayer Bon Jovi Diana Ross Katy Perry OneRepublic James Blunt Bryan Adams Kelly Clarkson 1 Pink Eric Clapton Carrie Underwood Matchbox 20 The Killers Missy Higgins Vitamin C Sherry Magic Tom Petty Grease Daughtry

Take a closer look

Learn chord structure, the basics of harmony, and melodies through real pop songs.

Read a Sample

Why Hooktheory?

Learn how to craft melodies and chord progressions like professional musicians, and discover an intuitive, deep understanding of how music works.

Hooktheory interactive keyboard and chord view

No sheet music knowledge required.

Hooktheory’s books are written in an easy-to-understand music format that emphasizes chord and melody function. If you don’t read sheet music, you’re not out of luck.

Audiovisual examples in the book

Interactive and audiovisual.

Dozens of audiovisual examples of real songs so you can apply concepts in real time, plus exercises to test your understanding throughout the book.

Popular music focus

Pop-Focused

Discover techniques used by popular artists from the past century through today. Together, we’ll dissect hundreds of pop songs to learn how the pros do it.

Hookpad sketchpad app

Put theory into practice.

Learn and immediately practice concepts with our accompanying musical sketchpad, Hookpad .

What people are saying:

Customer Reviews

Rated 4.76 out of 5
4.76 out of 5 stars
Based on 253 ratings · 60 reviews

Review data

5 star reviews
85%
4 star reviews
8%
3 star reviews
6%
2 star reviews
<1%
1 star reviews
<1%

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Customers Say

Customers find this music-theory book is clear, engaging, and highly effective for beginners and songwriters, with many praising the interactive audio examples, real-song references, and Hookpad integration that make concepts easy to apply. Readers appreciate the concise lessons, relative-notation approach, and quizzes that create frequent “aha” moments and faster progress than traditional texts. However, depth receives mixed feedback—some intermediate/advanced musicians find it too basic and wish it covered more complex harmony (e.g., sus/7th/9th chords) or offered more length for the price. Overall, customers consider it an excellent, fun foundation—especially when paired with Hookpad—while advanced learners may want additional resources or the sequel.
Generated from the text of customer reviews using AI

Top Reviews from Goodreads

Reid Yamamoto
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
October 30, 2020

As a songwriter, I am always interested in learning as much as I can about music theory to improve my songs and evoke the emotions of listeners in an effective and intelligent way. I have taken four semesters of traditional harmony at a junior college and one year of private music theory lessons. But that was a long time ago, and I still never attained the level of knowledge that I was seeking to have a rock-solid understanding of how everything works and why. The authors did a great job of breaking it all down for readers by taking complex concepts and making them easier to understand, including great musical examples which really helps me to learn the sounds and effects of the concepts being discussed. I started using Hookpad to start new songs and love it! It is so much easier to explore different chord progressions, melodies, inversions, basslines, etc. Great job on Hooktheory I! Now on to Hooktheory II.

As a songwriter, I am always interested in learning as much as I can about music theory to improve my songs and evoke the emotions of listeners in an effective and intelligent way. I have taken four semesters of traditional harmony at a junior college and one year of private music theory lessons. But that was a long time ago, and I still never attained the level of knowledge that I was seeking to have a rock-solid understanding of how everything works and why. The authors did a great job of breaking it all down for readers by taking complex concepts and making them easier to understand, including great musical examples which really helps me to learn the sounds and effects of the concepts being discussed. I started using Hookpad to start new songs and love it! It is so much easier to explore different chord progressions, melodies, inversions, basslines, etc. Great job on Hooktheory I! Now on to Hooktheory II.

Justin
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
October 13, 2014

This book was phenomenal. My time with HookTheory was one of the most lucid and enjoyable educational experiences I've ever had. As an amateur piano player who has always just read and played the sheet music, the number of "aha!" moments I had while reading was enough to keep me going back to the HookTheory website to try their daily dictations as I wait eagerly for the sequel. HookTheory is the quintessential example of technology being used in a modest and focused way to make learning so much more intuitive. The music widget perfectly illustrated the points in the text while letting me progress and repeat sections at my own pace. I also appreciate the authors' decision to divorce their explanations from any particular musical key. It was a wise choice that allows readers to really understand the underlying principles without getting caught up in note names. Bravo. I loved it!

This book was phenomenal. My time with HookTheory was one of the most lucid and enjoyable educational experiences I've ever had. As an amateur piano player who has always just read and played the sheet music, the number of "aha!" moments I had while reading was enough to keep me going back to the HookTheory website to try their daily dictations as I wait eagerly for the sequel. HookTheory is the quintessential example of technology being used in a modest and focused way to make learning so much more intuitive. The music widget perfectly illustrated the points in the text while letting me progress and repeat sections at my own pace. I also appreciate the authors' decision to divorce their explanations from any particular musical key. It was a wise choice that allows readers to really understand the underlying principles without getting caught up in note names. Bravo. I loved it!

Matt
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
March 31, 2021

I've been trying to study music theory for many months now, probably around 8-10, and after watching dozens of YouTube videos and testing out how solid the foundations I had built were in Ableton Live, I realized that I still hardly knew anything. But I feel like this book fantastically synthesized everything I need to know into one, relatively concise book. I got a good idea of the basics of everything- major, minor, building chords, building chord progressions, building melodies, stable and unstable degrees, chord inversions. I feel like I have a very solid foundational understanding now of how I can construct contemporary music, or I can at least see now how popular songs are built and how they appease to the constraints of music theory. I was just going to type that the book seems a bit short for the price, but after second thought, I got such immense value from the book that I could see myself paying $50 for it. Definitely worth the buy.

I've been trying to study music theory for many months now, probably around 8-10, and after watching dozens of YouTube videos and testing out how solid the foundations I had built were in Ableton Live, I realized that I still hardly knew anything. But I feel like this book fantastically synthesized everything I need to know into one, relatively concise book. I got a good idea of the basics of everything- major, minor, building chords, building chord progressions, building melodies, stable and unstable degrees, chord inversions. I feel like I have a very solid foundational understanding now of how I can construct contemporary music, or I can at least see now how popular songs are built and how they appease to the constraints of music theory. I was just going to type that the book seems a bit short for the price, but after second thought, I got such immense value from the book that I could see myself paying $50 for it. Definitely worth the buy.

Sandra
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
August 30, 2022

I've studied a lot of music theory in my 10 years as an amateur bass player and this is my favorite book thus far. The authors use a method of analysis called Relative Notation which revolutionizes the learner's ability to visualize a song's structure (melody and chords). This approach made it so easy for me so more clearly see musical concepts from song to song. It was like getting my first pair of glasses when I was a kid...the world just came into focus! In addition, there are plenty of musical examples and review questions peppered throughout the book to assure that the reader is comprehending concepts. It was just a really fun way to learn!

I've studied a lot of music theory in my 10 years as an amateur bass player and this is my favorite book thus far. The authors use a method of analysis called Relative Notation which revolutionizes the learner's ability to visualize a song's structure (melody and chords). This approach made it so easy for me so more clearly see musical concepts from song to song. It was like getting my first pair of glasses when I was a kid...the world just came into focus! In addition, there are plenty of musical examples and review questions peppered throughout the book to assure that the reader is comprehending concepts. It was just a really fun way to learn!

Chuck Sprague
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
June 4, 2020

I have played jazz for about 15 years but always have struggled with improvisation. I have a book shelf of books on music theory, but understanding chord progressions and how to make sense of them has always eluded me. This ingenious book offers to solve all that for me. Without using any written music notation the authors have developed a visual analog system that appears very simple. They begin very simply and take you through intervals, consonance, dissonance, and diatonic chords painlessly. They do a great job of explaining each chords function in a progression's context. Using copious popular music examples they explain each step. There are questions and problems that test your understanding well. I could have used a few more. I am looking forward to working in book II.

I have played jazz for about 15 years but always have struggled with improvisation. I have a book shelf of books on music theory, but understanding chord progressions and how to make sense of them has always eluded me. This ingenious book offers to solve all that for me. Without using any written music notation the authors have developed a visual analog system that appears very simple. They begin very simply and take you through intervals, consonance, dissonance, and diatonic chords painlessly. They do a great job of explaining each chords function in a progression's context. Using copious popular music examples they explain each step. There are questions and problems that test your understanding well. I could have used a few more. I am looking forward to working in book II.

Stephen Souza
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
November 11, 2015

Hello good readers, I find this book to be invaluable and a refreshing approach to standard notation. The focus on colors, scale degrees and roman numerals is what I like best. Hookpad software is used for these lessons which I downloaded and really find helpful. The five chapters contain practical information that you can apply right away. There are plenty of examples enhancing the learning experience. The book starts with an introduction called building blocks. This sets the stage for the information in the rest of the book. The other four chapters provide a solid foundation for understanding melody, harmony and inversions. This book, and Hookpad software, is up there in my list of educational resources. IMHO the price for this book was well worth the investment. I am looking forward to the release of Hooktheory II. I hope this review helps :) Musically yours, Stephen J. Souza

Hello good readers, I find this book to be invaluable and a refreshing approach to standard notation. The focus on colors, scale degrees and roman numerals is what I like best. Hookpad software is used for these lessons which I downloaded and really find helpful. The five chapters contain practical information that you can apply right away. There are plenty of examples enhancing the learning experience. The book starts with an introduction called building blocks. This sets the stage for the information in the rest of the book. The other four chapters provide a solid foundation for understanding melody, harmony and inversions. This book, and Hookpad software, is up there in my list of educational resources. IMHO the price for this book was well worth the investment. I am looking forward to the release of Hooktheory II. I hope this review helps :) Musically yours, Stephen J. Souza

Benjamin Bond
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
December 18, 2016

I am just going to copy and paste my review for hook theory II, is applicable to both books: This book is wonderful! I have reread it 3 times already. By far the best book on songwriting I have ever read. It has a huge amount of information in it, and it's all explained really well. There are also many examples using pop music, And they are right there in the text. All the other songwriting books I've read use music classical music examples, which is useless to me. Hook theory I and II are way more valuable to me than the $200 music theory textbook I read, and they are so much less expensive. after reading the music theory textbook (twice) I was still very confused, but then I read hook theory and now I understand everything much better.

I am just going to copy and paste my review for hook theory II, is applicable to both books: This book is wonderful! I have reread it 3 times already. By far the best book on songwriting I have ever read. It has a huge amount of information in it, and it's all explained really well. There are also many examples using pop music, And they are right there in the text. All the other songwriting books I've read use music classical music examples, which is useless to me. Hook theory I and II are way more valuable to me than the $200 music theory textbook I read, and they are so much less expensive. after reading the music theory textbook (twice) I was still very confused, but then I read hook theory and now I understand everything much better.

Danny Little
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
August 2, 2014

THIS! This book has completely reinforced and changed my life as a producer and song writer! There was an understand that I THOUGHT I had as a music producer. I've never been classically trained nor trained at all, but I've dug into thousands of Music Theory tutorials that have given me a solid understanding. But! What the guys here at Hooktheory have done for me is give me a solid understanding of the FUNCTION of EVERY CHORD! They've answered the question "WHY does that 'FEEL' the way it does?" Man I could go on for hours about this book, but to make it short, it has given me the understanding to write my songs ON PURPOSE! To correctly express a FEELING through the use of harmony and melody. THANK YOU GUYS!! I LOVE THIS BOOK.

THIS! This book has completely reinforced and changed my life as a producer and song writer! There was an understand that I THOUGHT I had as a music producer. I've never been classically trained nor trained at all, but I've dug into thousands of Music Theory tutorials that have given me a solid understanding. But! What the guys here at Hooktheory have done for me is give me a solid understanding of the FUNCTION of EVERY CHORD! They've answered the question "WHY does that 'FEEL' the way it does?" Man I could go on for hours about this book, but to make it short, it has given me the understanding to write my songs ON PURPOSE! To correctly express a FEELING through the use of harmony and melody. THANK YOU GUYS!! I LOVE THIS BOOK.

Geir Breimo
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
February 11, 2023

So starting to learn music theory a couple of years ago I saw this but avoided buying theese books because it looked too much like an easy way out and I thought it coulden't possibly deliver what it promised. So I took other online classes and read other books. Getting to a level of collage music theory second semester I was frustrated that I still couldent analyze a pop song and understand what was going on and why the composer has choosed to do what he/she had done. Someone then advised this book and the Music Theory II book and I have to say it delivered bigtime. Maybe prior knowledge made it easier for me but I read both books in a couple of weeks and two years of knowledge suddenly fell into place in a logical manner. Theese books are not a shortcut to writing a hit song that many books seems to be. They are thorogh music theory books but written in an extreamly pedagogic and innovative way so that learning gets very easy. I highly reccomend theese. By the way you do not have to b...

So starting to learn music theory a couple of years ago I saw this but avoided buying theese books because it looked too much like an easy way out and I thought it coulden't possibly deliver what it promised. So I took other online classes and read other books. Getting to a level of collage music theory second semester I was frustrated that I still couldent analyze a pop song and understand what was going on and why the composer has choosed to do what he/she had done. Someone then advised this book and the Music Theory II book and I have to say it delivered bigtime. Maybe prior knowledge made it easier for me but I read both books in a couple of weeks and two years of knowledge suddenly fell into place in a logical manner. Theese books are not a shortcut to writing a hit song that many books seems to be. They are thorogh music theory books but written in an extreamly pedagogic and innovative way so that learning gets very easy. I highly reccomend theese. By the way you do not have to b...

Max McKinnon
Rated 5.00 out of 5
5/5
March 3, 2024

Outstanding. Better than every theory book due to the software that comes with it to play and hear. This has done more for my chord progressions and sense of energy control, deception, and artistic control than any other resource so far and has been like a gateway between connecting previous ear training to applied song understanding and my own song writing. I remember not that long ago being well aware of I IV V and hearing it in a classroom context easily. As well as I practiced enough ear training drills to be able to hear any melody and play it back without guessing (diatonic and modes I'm familiar with at least). However being able to hear I IV V in realtime while playing over it always eluded me for the most part, and I would resort to playing by ear in a not totally effective way that was disconnected from understanding what was going on and more of falling back to hunting for notes until I figured out the chord, then able to unlock my control of the melody again. The chord crus...

Outstanding. Better than every theory book due to the software that comes with it to play and hear. This has done more for my chord progressions and sense of energy control, deception, and artistic control than any other resource so far and has been like a gateway between connecting previous ear training to applied song understanding and my own song writing. I remember not that long ago being well aware of I IV V and hearing it in a classroom context easily. As well as I practiced enough ear training drills to be able to hear any melody and play it back without guessing (diatonic and modes I'm familiar with at least). However being able to hear I IV V in realtime while playing over it always eluded me for the most part, and I would resort to playing by ear in a not totally effective way that was disconnected from understanding what was going on and more of falling back to hunting for notes until I figured out the chord, then able to unlock my control of the melody again. The chord crus...

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