I’m a singer, composer and band leader. I need a book like this to understand things I’m missing. I wish I could get a copy to my drummer who is currently taking drum lessons. This book is something that would help her too.”

Bill Keis’ The Complete Guide to Learning Music is perhaps the most comprehensive and easily assimilated book on music theory that I have come across in my 30 years as a musician and vocalist. I especially like the way he incorporates visual images into the book, making understanding of concepts so much easier. I would recommend this to any musician—young or old—as a guide, a manual or just as a refreshing way to sharpen up one’s basics in the area of music.”

Raven Kane is a Composer and vocalist who has sung and/or performed with Cher, Dolly Parton, Eric Burdon, Leonard Cohen, Kenny Loggins, Aaron Neville, Ringo Starr, Diana Ross, Willie Nelson and Paul McCartney; was Neil Diamond’s duet partner on his “Live Across America” tour; film credits as a vocalist include Disney’s Tigger and Aladdin, Mermaids, Days of Thunder, Land Before Time, Joe Versus the Volcano, Mindgames, Made in America, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, and Grace of My Heart.

As the musical director for Mad Hatter Studios in Los Angeles, I was looking for educational materials to use for helping to teach musicians. Since I’m a classical trained pianist and composer, I’ve studied many music books. I found out about The Complete Guide to Learning Music in 2008, and I have been using it ever since. I think it is great! It is used as a reference by other people here also, when specific music concepts or data need to be learned. I can definitely recommend it!”

Emanuele Ruffinengo is Musical Director-Mad Hatter Studios, 3-Time Grammy winner; co-producer of Chick Corea’s album “To The Stars”.

I want to communicate something wonderful regarding Bill Keis’ new book ‘The Complete Guide to Learning Music’. I have a very popular casuals band that plays mainly private events in the Pacific Northwest, and I also play solo nylon string guitar for private events. In addition, I teach guitar. Last summer, I needed the get my hands on the TRUE data of music, especially as it relates to composition, and Bill’s book has completely filled the void. I feel forever indebted to him for writing it. As a result, my composing stats have gone into affluence and I will soon be recording my first solo guitar CD. Music theory is plagued with mountains of false and confusing data. Bill’s book clears those up completely. As far as I am concerned, it is the Bible of music theory, including the REAL theory behind composition. There’s data in this book that you can’t find anywhere else. I can’t rave to you enough about it!”

I was failing my College music class until I read a few pages from your book which totally cleared up my confusions. I got an A on my test!”

 I have looked around for a complete book of music which provides basics and does not assume that the student knows about the subject already. I learned to play the piano starting from scratch using the “Piano for Dummies” book which isn’t too bad. At least it assumes the student is ignorant to begin with. Still I have been unable to locate certain words and symbols I find in sheet music or just hear in general. After reviewing the book I could tell that it was complete yet basic enough to appeal to the newer student. The definitions are very clean and straightforward. I have yet to find a musical word or symbol not in Bill’s book. It starts out on simply and gives the student a pathway toward proficiency. It gives drills with easily understood directions. I have wanted to learn/play music since I can remember. I have mastered more than one technical subject in my life. Now I have a reference guide to get me there with music.”

This is a must for the library of anyone studying music. It is a luminous reference, a thorough text and a great study guide. It is clear, concise, instructive and interesting. One could not ask for more from a text.”

 I love your book, man! I’ve always wanted to learn how to play walking bass and after studying your book I got pretty good at it, which led to several gigs where I have to play left hand bass.”

 I got the book. It’s awesome! It’s just what I need to get back to the basics after 2 years of not playing. I’m going to pretend I’m a beginner and just go through everything. I love the rhythm part. You did an incredible job.”

I got your book and I read up through the table of contents. I was stunned is all I can say; I told my friend Danny he needs to look at this book by this guy who is the buddha of music. He is interested now in obtaining it also. I have never seen such accomplishment in music. I had about four years music in public school and some guitar teachers. Other than that I am self-taught on the guitar and at recording. Thank you for this book! I will make use of it and study it as my music bible.”

With the help of his excellent book, Bill helped me develop a practice plan that allowed me to build fundamental piano skills, as well as continue to get my hands around funk, jazz, and dance music chord progressions that had always eluded me. His vast experience as a session player is an invaluable resource for gaining insight into the breadth of musical styles.”

I taught myself how to play (bass) and needed something like this to study basic music theory. For example, I could use this book to learn how to read music. I want to learn how to play piano and this is a book I could totally understand.”

Your book is awesome and I already sold 3 to my adult students in the first week. I was frustrated with the usual textbooks, as they were not giving all the data or sometimes even false or confusing data. Yours is very easy to understand and has all the definitions needed during its study.”

I had the pleasure to clear up decades worth of misunderstood words and in doing so I had a realization on how to help a student to understand music better. “I cleared some more elementary words such as ‘tone’, ‘frequency’ ‘pitch versus amplitude’. It was embarrassing how I had these terms misunderstood and as a result had fixed ideas about the keys, chords and their use. In fact I couldn’t think with it at all. “Believe me, I’ve practiced keys but I never understood why beyond that it trained my fingers. But now having learned the ‘steps’ that make a major key and a minor key for the first time I understood WHY there are 3 sharps in A Major, 4 sharps in E-Major and so forth. After decades of robotically learning these scales, I’ve now cleared up the confusions. It’s wonderful!”

B. Bradley

Bill Keis somehow managed to take his incredible, vast knowledge of music theory, technique and practical playing ability and synthesize it into this publication. It is labeled as being for “beginners, intermediate and advanced” musicians. Remarkably, it really is!

He teaches that rhythm, harmony and melody are each important to learn. They are broken down in so many useful lessons and exercises. It is the book I start my daily practicing with, skipping around depending upon what I want to concentrate on that day. This could be blues scales, jazz, rhythm exercises, left-hand independence, solo piano playing versus harmony style, just to name a few.

The amount of information in this book is staggering. The musical theory lessons are scattered throughout, keeping it enjoyable and in context with the exercise portions of the book. As soon as I think I’ve got something down, there is always something more that Bill Keis adds to any exercise to keep it challenging and exciting. Sure, it has the basics, but it also takes me so far beyond that.

 I can’t recommend it enough. It is the best, and most inexpensive, complete music guide you will ever purchase.

What a great book. It has the basics to the very advanced. It is easy to understand. This is a book that is much needed out there. This book has something for everyone!”