Music Theory Books

[Joe Fey <73744.1152@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

One of the best (most helpful) books on music theory I have seen is called "What
Makes Music Work" by Philip Seyer, Allan Novick and Paul Harmon, published by
Seyer Associates in 1982.  I found my copy in a used bookstore.  It starts with
the very basic and takes you through the subject matter at your own pace, with
question-and-answer exercises at the end of each section to help you assess what
you've learned and what you're unclear on.  Lots of helpful graphics to
illustrate concepts (e.g., shoe tapping out rhythms.  

I don't know how available it is for purchase, but you might try college
bookstores.  It looks like something that might be used for a beginning adult
education course.

Another good source of basic music theory for harmonica players is Mel Bay's
Complete Chromatic Harmonica Method by Phil Duncan.  This book combines the
fundamentals of the instrument with theory.  Phil is a professional educator
(teaches high school band and chorus) and has (IMHO) a good feeling for how to
present music theory as part of the experience of learning the instrument.  He
takes the student note by note through the chromatic scale, one lesson at a
time, and includes small doses of theory (rhythm, time value of notes,
enharmonics, etc.) in each exercise as you go along.  He uses conventional
number and arrow tablature along with the notation.  A companion play-along
cassette is also available.  Phil has authored lots of harmonica books for Mel
Bay, but this is the one to get if learning to read music is the objective.