# Music Theory for Computer Musicians

Source: https://listme.name/books/music-theory-for-computer-musicians
Website: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL597087W

Music theory for people who write music with software and MIDI

Music Theory for Computer Musicians is a book by Michael Hewitt, published by Cengage (Course Technology) in 2008. It teaches music theory to people who write music with software and MIDI. It is sold as a print book.

Music Theory for Computer Musicians is a 2008 book by Michael Hewitt, published by Cengage (Course Technology). It teaches music theory to people who write music with software and MIDI, so its orientation is toward computer-based composition rather than classical study. It is sold as a print book.

It suits readers who compose on a computer and want theory that matches that workflow. It is narrower than the general textbooks on this list, and it is less suited to classical repertoire study, where Tonal Harmony and The Complete Musician are the better choices.

- Paid | Print
- Price: Sold as a print book; price varies by seller
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## Strengths

- Theory aimed at writing music with software and MIDI
- Clear fit for readers who compose on a computer

## Limits

- Narrower than the general textbooks
- Less suited to classical repertoire study

## Rankings

- #12 of 12 in [best Music theory books](https://listme.name/best/music-theory-books), score 80.5: A theory text aimed at people who write music with software and MIDI rather than at classical study. It is narrower than the general textbooks above it, so it ranks lower for most readers.

## Alternatives

- [Open Music Theory](https://listme.name/books/open-music-theory), score 91.0
- [The Complete Musician](https://listme.name/books/the-complete-musician), score 89.0
- [Tonal Harmony](https://listme.name/books/tonal-harmony), score 88.0
- [The Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis](https://listme.name/books/the-musicians-guide-to-theory-and-analysis), score 87.5
- [Harmony and Voice Leading](https://listme.name/books/harmony-and-voice-leading), score 86.5
- [The Jazz Theory Book](https://listme.name/books/the-jazz-theory-book), score 85.0
- [Music in Theory and Practice](https://listme.name/books/music-in-theory-and-practice), score 84.5
- [A Geometry of Music](https://listme.name/books/a-geometry-of-music), score 83.0