I'd recommend a college music theory book that comes with a workbook. This way you can actually apply and test your understanding of the content. Some people love music theory (like me) while others hated it.

Here are some possible examples:

http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Theory-Complete-Self-Instruction-Course/dp/0882842250

http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Materials-Music-Theory-Programed/dp/0205295843

http://www.amazon.com/Workbook-Tonal-Harmony-Introduction-Twentieth-Century/dp/0077269969/ref=pd_sim_b_3

Also getting an anthology of music scores to study while listening to a piece is highly effective. The Norton Anthologies of Music (Volumes 1 and 2) are two of the more popular resources for this.

http://www.amazon.com/Norton-Anthology-Western-Music-Sixth/dp/0393931277

Check them out.

Nate

Music Theory is the grammar that makes up musical language. Just like English has nouns and verbs, music has things, like antecedents and consequents, that make up musical ideas.

It's really no different than learning how a particular code (like c++) works - there are rules that can be followed or manipulated to achieve a certain result.

For now though, and considering that you're just getting your feet wet right now, I would take the time to learn and understand all of (or at least the majority of) the rules that make up most of conventional music.

You should check out "Music in Theory and Practice" Volume I and II by Bruce Benward and Marilyn Saker. ISBN 978-0-07-310187-3

They are specifically designed for students in mind, and begin from a perspective that the student knows nothing. There are tons of figures to look at that illustrate concepts, exercises to do at the end of every section, and a listening cd so that you can hear what it is that you're learning about.

I bought those books for theory in college, and I'm keeping them to use in the classroom.

nsmadsen hit the nail on the head two ways: 1.)Listen listen listen listen and listen! Listening helps you conceptualize the sound that you want to create, and music theory gives you the tools necessary to be able to articulate that concept.

2.)Use what you learn! Don't ever be afraid to experiment with sound, or write something that you think might be "bad." How else are you going to decide what sounds good unless you figure out what sounds bad?

Write as much as you can, all the time, always.

^^That's my motto. :P

Hey,

One note I'd like to make now that a lot of useful resources have been mentioned, and the term 'music theory' introduced-- do not think of the material music theory covers as hard rules. They are observations on what techniques make music sound the way it does, and guidelines built to obtain certain effects. Throughout history, almost every composer who took the music world by storm did so by not following rules that up until his time were pretty much set in stone. Beethoven in abandoning strict matters of form, Wagner's approach to opera with his idea of gesamtkunstwerk, and Schoenberg and others in developing atonality, to name a few. So, basically, learn and appreciate music theory, but don't get mired in it if you find that you have ideas not strictly explained in the theory you yourself know (although it is, in all likelihood, covered in some vein of music theory). =p

Anyway, if you don't already listen to a lot of music-- do so. It helps incredibly to have at least given yourself exposure to a wide range of musical ideas, even if you don't necessarily use them in your own compositions. Check out all eras of 'classical' music (medieval/early music, baroque, classical, romantic, modern; as a rough guideline), jazz, rock/prog rock (awesome resource here), folk and ethnic music, metal, and of course, video game music. As you interact with music, you'll find yourself noticing little elements that cross over between genres, and getting a feel for the overall structure and vocabulary of different styles. Needless to say, this is something that can serve you very well.

If you aren't familiar with some of these video game soundtracks, I highly recommend you check them out. They're among my favorites, and I've gotten a treasure trove of useful ideas out of them: Chrono Trigger (Yasunori Mitsuda), Chrono Cross (same), Final Fantasy IX/others (Nobuo Uematsu), Legend of Zelda series (Koji Kondo), Baldur's Gate 2 (Michael Hoenig), Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (Stuart Chatwood), Diablo II (Matt Uelmen), World of Warcraft (Matt Uelmen + others). There are of course many more wonderful soundtracks out there, but this is list of standing favorites, take that how you like.

Hope that helps a bit! Happy composing.

I'd also ad that if you want to develop your musical skills further you should learn an instrument, likely the keyboard/piano, since you're already using it with the loops & stuff. Then get yourself the beginning book of your choice (rock, beginner, there are countless methods) and start building the skills.

Working with loops is only one part of it--and a slightly more technical one at that, IMO. If you want to learn composition at any level (there's no "mastering" it--you always grow) you need to work with an instrument.

Until the exceptions prove me wrong. :)