Music Theory for Engineers/Scientists

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around finding learning resources that bridge music theory with mathematical and physics perspectives, particularly for individuals with a background in these fields. Participants seek intermediate to advanced materials that diverge from traditional music theory texts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire for books that teach music theory from a mathematical or physics standpoint, influenced by their coursework in Fourier transforms.
  • Another participant shares links to resources that, while not traditional music theory books, may still be of interest.
  • A participant acknowledges the resources shared but indicates they do not fully meet their needs.
  • Several specific book titles are proposed, including "On the Sensations of Tone" by Hermann Helmholtz and "The Science of Musical Sound" by Pierce, among others.
  • A suggestion is made to explore MIT's open courseware for additional resources related to music theory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on specific resources that meet the initial request, indicating that multiple competing views and suggestions remain in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of satisfaction with the resources shared, highlighting the challenge of finding materials that align with the specific intersection of music theory and mathematical/physical analysis.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the intersection of music theory, mathematics, and physics, particularly those with a background in engineering or science seeking to deepen their understanding of music through a technical lens.

thegreenlaser
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Basically, I'm looking for learning resources (preferably books) that are kind of like the title of the thread. I'd like to find a book that teaches intermediate-advanced musical theory from a more mathematical and/or physics perspective than normal music theory books. I've played various instruments since grade 4, so I know some basic theory, but I'd like to learn more, and my course on Fourier transforms has got me wondering if this could be accomplished through a more mathematical approach. Does anyone know of any good resources like this?
 
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Those are great resources, thanks, I'll definitely check them out. Unfortunately, as you said, they're not quite what I'm looking for.
 
On the Sensations of Tone - Hermann Helmholtz
Genesis of a Music - Harry Partch
 
You might want to look at HST725 from MIT open courseware. Check the recommended books in the library. Hope this helps.
 

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