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Learn Music Theory at Home

Can I be completely honest here?

For me to say I’m musically talented would be a slap in the face to musicians everywhere. When it comes to music theory, I’m a novice. But the desire is there.

And as you know, what parents wish they coulda/woulda/shoulda learned as a child tends to get pushed off onto their child.
Miss Manners has been taking piano class for the last 9 months. She’s learned so much and I couldn’t be more proud of her. Her love of piano has sparked an interest in other instruments. She had been strumming along on her guitar for a few weeks before she finally broke down and told me she wanted to learn to play. By ear.

Because “nobody carries sheets of music with them all the time” and she’s “going to keep her guitar in the trunk of her car.” (To remind you, she’s 9. The girl has goals, though.)

I don’t know about you but there are some things that I think are just downright crazy. Me trying to teach her how to learn to play an instrument is one of those things. Trying to teach her to actually listen to music and differentiate the sounds is downright insanity!


I received a free copy of Garage Band Theory and was compensated for my time. My review does not guarantee a positive review. All opinions are 100% my own.

A book that teaches music theory and allows you to play ANY instrument by ear? Even with no musical knowledge. I NEED this!

Enter Duke Sharp’s Garage Band Theory book. This book is the biggest, most detailed musical book I have ever laid eyes on. In the months that I’ve had it, I have barely scratched the surface of the information provided. I’ve spent hours skimming the contents and am beyond impressed.

The book, written by famed musician Duke Sharp, is a goldmine of information for anyone who wishes to learn to play an instrument by ear. It covers the basics to help you do more than just read music. It helps you understand and even “predict” what sound will come next. This allows you to analyze the songs your favorite artists are playing.  It helps you get the sounds that are inside of your head to appear at the ends of your fingers.

Garage Band Theory is written in a conversational way, that makes it interesting and keeps the musician engaged. Each chapter is built upon previous information, helping to make sure there’s a solid foundation. The best part? You don’t have to have any previous musical knowledge to learn with Garage Band Theory. The first chapter teaches you to read notes, then goes on to cover counting and intervals.  All 14 chapters are JAM-PACKED with quality information that will have you listening to music completely different. At the end of each chapter, there are fill-in-the-blank questions, to make sure you really have it down. You want to make sure you know each section well before moving on.

Learning Music Theory

Learn music theory in your homeschool and play ANY instrument by ear!I will admit, the book is a bit difficult for my kids. Although it’s one-of-a-kind and you’ll never find anything else like it, the fact is, my kids were intimidated when they saw the size of the book. The sheer amount of information overwhelmed them. If you or your teenager are looking to learn music, I would HIGHLY recommend this book. But for the 12 and under crowd, the hundreds of black and white pages can seem daunting.

What’s super amazing about this book is that it works for ANY instrument. After 15 years of work, Duke Sharp finally had it ready to market and the reviews it has received so far are a toast to his knowledge. You can learn the exact same way famous musicians have.  Whether you are playing the mandolin, guitar, keyboard, banjo or violin, this book will teach you what you need to know, without all the extra fluff. Can I just say how excited I am that I won’t have to sit through hours of piano lessons, guitar lessons, violin lessons and whatever else the kids “fall in love” with this week. No more monthly fees, packed schedules or crying after they decide they are no longer interested in one particular instrument.

Who Garage Band Theory is for:

Learn music theory in your homeschool and play ANY instrument by ear!

Someone who is highly motivated to learn to play an instrument:

If a kid wants to learn music theory, this is perfect. If they are being forced to learn to play by ear, it probably won’t happen. The will to learn needs to be there.

Teens or adults who are willing to put in the hours:

This isn’t a fast track to becoming a rock star. You will spend hours upon hours diving into the information in this book. I have had it for over a month and have just scratched the surface. There is seriously years of work in this book.

Kids who have some musical knowledge and want to learn more:

The key here is that you have to want to learn to benefit from this book. It won’t work if you aren’t willing to put in the time practicing. The book will help you master the 2 aspects of playing an instrument and teaches you to play any song in any key but you must have a natural desire to dig deeper to get the very most out of this book.

Who Garage Band Theory is NOT for:

The unmotivated:

Kids or adults. Age doesn’t matter if there is no motivation. The writer says you need to practice for 6  months before you’ll notice growth. That’s a LONG time to stick with something if you aren’t motivated.

People who want quick results:

No doubt you’ll learn but, as with anything, it will take time. If you aren’t willing to give it time, you won’t be successful.

Learn music theory in your homeschool and play ANY instrument by ear!


If you’re looking for a fool-proof way to learn music theory, Garage Band Theory by Duke Sharp is the way to go. Whether you just want to sit around the campfire and play the guitar or play the violin in your local orchestra, being able to pick up an instrument and make beautiful music is a skill that you will enjoy for years to come!

Want to win your own copy of Garage Band Theory? (Yes, yes you do! Every home needs this book!)
Garage Band Theory

A book that teaches music theory and allows you to play ANY instrument by ear? Even with no musical knowledge. I NEED this!