Garage Band Theory

Garage Band Theory was conceived, written, proofed, edited and designed by living, breathing musicians, teachers, artists and writers.

For less than the price of a single lesson, Garage Band Theory offers a lifetime of learning.

It's a gift that keeps giving.

GBT covers everything you need to understand, play and make your own music!

• lets you listen to hundreds of examples for every instrument.

• combines the freedom of playing by ear and the strength of traditional music theory.

• assumes you know nothing about basic theory and is written in a conversational, easy to follow style.

GBT provides vocabulary that will let you ask your teacher questions you want answers to – and lets the teacher focus on dynamics, technique and applying these concepts to music you want to play

It's all in there, everything you ever wanted to know, but didn't know how to ask.

GBT is practical, useful theory for musicians who want to be able to think coherently about music in order to ask questions and understand answers about the music they want to play.

GBT is about understanding The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and The Grateful Dead.

It's NOT about analyzing Bach Fugues - but you'll be able to if you want to.

Whether you're a beginner, a professional, studying on your own or with a teacher, GBT has loads of useful stuff for you.

Here is a very brief recap of what you get when you order GBT
•Multi-genre approach – dozens of musical examples provide lots of variety, which makes you more well rounded musically.
•Chapter quizzes and an answer key allow students to measure progress.
•Learn to read music — with GBT examples + free software you develop reading skills without having to actually play an instrument.
•GBT has hundreds of tabs for banjo, bass, guitar, mandolin, ukulele and standard notation for keyboards and transposing instruments.

There are hundreds of exercises and examples using familiar songs and with the free downloads on the book's website you can watch and hear the notes play at any speed you choose.

The YouTube channel has over 250 videos so you can listen to every song used as an example.

"A full course of study under one cover, Garage Band Theory is impressively informed and informative. It's practical and insightful and should be considered an essential resource for any aspiring musician."James A Cox - Midwest Book Review - Publisher's Weekly

"Garage Band Theory is a must for any musician." Rodney Crowell - 2 time Grammy winner

"Don't be put off by this giant book - Duke's got the secrets of the universe in here. Quite simply, this is the most comprehensive book on music theory I've ever seen." - Bill Payne (Little Feat)

"Something for every musician at any level. Especially helpful is the tablature for a variety of instruments. This book inspires me to learn and practice more." Sam Bush - International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame

“A great resource for musicians young and old no matter what your training.

GBT is a veritable encyclopedia of useful tools and tips that lifts the lid off the “black box” of music theory and lets the light shine in and in a fun, practical way.

For less than the price of a single lesson, GBT offers a lifetime of learning.” Alasdair Fraser - Scotland's Premier Fiddle Ambassador

This is non Academic, practical, useful theory for living-room pickers and working musicians who want to be able to think coherently about music in order to ask questions and understand answers about the music they want to play.

The stuff in GBT is about understanding The Beatles and The Rolling Stones,  Cole Porter and Duke Ellington, The Grateful Dead and Vampire Weekend.

It's NOT about analyzing Bach Fugues.

It was written for the 99% of musicians who are NOT music majors by a incorrigible honky-tonk guitar player who plays by ear ... but understands the relevant vocabulary and what's sensible and useful for MOST players.

"Garage Band Theory is a must for any musician." Rodney Crowell

"Don't be put off by this giant book - Duke's got the secrets of the universe in here. Quite simply, this is the most comprehensive book on music theory I've ever seen." 
Bill Payne (Little Feat)

"Something for every musician at any level. Especially helpful is the musical notation and tablature for a variety of instruments. This book inspires me to learn and practice more."
Sam Bush

  "Garage Band Theory is a veritable encyclopedia of useful tools and tips.This book lifts the lid off the "black box" of music theory and let's the light shine in - and in a fun, practical way.
   This is a book which should be left handily lying around the living room, bedside, studio, classroom, (restroom?) - ready to be dipped into at any time for reference purposes or just to improve or refresh one's fluency in the language of music.
   A great resource for musicians young and old no matter what your training. For the price of a one-hour lesson, GBT offers a lifetime of learning."
Alasdair Fraser

"Garage Band Theory let me know how little I know... but in a good way.  It's a great book!" Sterling C Ball CEO, Ernie Ball Inc.

"This book is written in the people's key." Kostas

"Garage Band Theory offers you everything you need to know to understand, play and make your own music. Because he is both an accomplished musician and teacher, Sharp's Garage Band Theory is an excellent guide for beginners and more advanced players alike."
Sam Barry, author, musician