💻 Music Software

Books exploring the digital tools that have democratized music creation, from DAWs to plugins, and how software has reshaped the sound of modern music.

Music Production For Beginners 2020 Edition

by Tommy Swindali • 2020

Home studio on a budget: the path from silence to a finished first track.

2.79

🏠 Home Recording 🎛️ Mixing And Mastering 🔧 Diy Music

Music Production For Beginners 2020 Edition Summary

Music Production For Beginners 2020 Edition 90%

Home studio on a budget: the path from silence to a finished first track.

by Tommy Swindali 2020

2.79

14 ratings

🏠 Home Recording 🎛️ Mixing And Mastering 🔧 Diy Music

Music Theory for Computer Musicians

by Michael Hewitt • 2008

The producer's missing manual: music theory from notes to exotic scales, built for the DAW workflow.

4.22

391

🎧 Music Production 🎹 Electronic Music 📚 Music Theory Basics

Music Theory for Computer Musicians Summary

Music Theory for Computer Musicians 90%

The producer's missing manual: music theory from notes to exotic scales, built for the DAW workflow.

by Michael Hewitt 2008

4.22

391 ratings

🎧 Music Production 🎹 Electronic Music 📚 Music Theory Basics

Efficient Music Production

by Ashley Hewitt • 2020

Why your home studio sabotages your output, and the optimization playbook for finishing more music.

2.90

🎧 Music Production ⚙️ Creative Workflow 🌊 Flow State

Efficient Music Production 89%

Why your home studio sabotages your output, and the optimization playbook for finishing more music.

by Ashley Hewitt 2020

2.90

10 ratings

🎧 Music Production ⚙️ Creative Workflow 🌊 Flow State

Audio Engineering 101

by Tim Dittmar • 2011

Your first session, run right: the physics, gear, and people skills every beginner ignores.

4.06

139

🎛️ Music Production 🎚️ Mixing Basics 📊 Equalization

Audio Engineering 101 88%

Your first session, run right: the physics, gear, and people skills every beginner ignores.

by Tim Dittmar 2011

4.06

139 ratings

🎛️ Music Production 🎚️ Mixing Basics 📊 Equalization

A Composer's Guide to Game Music

by Winifred Phillips • 2014

Game music bends to the player. The craft, technology, and business behind interactive scores.

4.21

175

🎮 Game Music Composition 🎧 Interactive Audio 🔄 Adaptive Music

A Composer's Guide to Game Music Summary

A Composer's Guide to Game Music 88%

Game music bends to the player. The craft, technology, and business behind interactive scores.

by Winifred Phillips 2014

4.21

175 ratings

🎮 Game Music Composition 🎧 Interactive Audio 🔄 Adaptive Music

How to DJ Right

by Frank Broughton • 2002

The mix is the easy part. The art is building a set that tells a story.

4.06

454

🎛️ Music Production 💿 Vinyl Collecting 🎚️ Mixing Techniques

How to DJ Right 88%

The mix is the easy part. The art is building a set that tells a story.

by Frank Broughton 2002

4.06

454 ratings

🎛️ Music Production 💿 Vinyl Collecting 🎚️ Mixing Techniques

How Music Got Free

by Stephen Richard Witt • 2015

A CD plant worker leaked 2,000 albums from the factory floor. The mp3 did the rest.

4.24

7k+

🎧 Digital Music 🏴‍☠️ Digital Piracy 📡 Digital Disruption

How Music Got Free 87%

A CD plant worker leaked 2,000 albums from the factory floor. The mp3 did the rest.

by Stephen Richard Witt 2015

4.24

7k+ ratings

🎧 Digital Music 🏴‍☠️ Digital Piracy 📡 Digital Disruption

Mood Machine

by Liz Pelly • 2025

Your favorite playlist runs on anonymous musicians and ad-tech logic; it was never a music company.

3.83

5k+

🎧 Music Streaming 🏢 Platform Capitalism 🤖 Algorithmic Culture

Mood Machine 87%

Your favorite playlist runs on anonymous musicians and ad-tech logic; it was never a music company.

by Liz Pelly 2025

3.83

5k+ ratings

🎧 Music Streaming 🏢 Platform Capitalism 🤖 Algorithmic Culture

Perfecting Sound Forever

by Greg Milner • 2009

A century of recording breakthroughs produced one thing: new illusions our ears accepted as real.

4.17

1k+

🎛️ Recording Technology 🎚️ Music Production 📢 History Of Sound

Perfecting Sound Forever 87%

A century of recording breakthroughs produced one thing: new illusions our ears accepted as real.

by Greg Milner 2009

4.17

1k+ ratings

🎛️ Recording Technology 🎚️ Music Production 📢 History Of Sound

How Music Works

by David Byrne • 2014

Cathedrals demanded chant. Car stereos demanded bass. The spaces we build write the music we hear.

4.00

29k+

🎶 Music History 💿 Music Industry 🎛️ Music Technology

How Music Works 87%

Cathedrals demanded chant. Car stereos demanded bass. The spaces we build write the music we hear.

by David Byrne 2014

4.00

29k+ ratings

🎶 Music History 💿 Music Industry 🎛️ Music Technology

Music Theory Secrets

by Brent Coppenbarger • 2014

94 strategies to turn music theory into something anyone can read, write, and hear.

3.71

🎼 Music Theory 🎤 Sight Singing 👂 Ear Training

Music Theory Secrets 87%

94 strategies to turn music theory into something anyone can read, write, and hear.

by Brent Coppenbarger 2014

3.71

7 ratings

🎼 Music Theory 🎤 Sight Singing 👂 Ear Training

Classical Recording

by Caroline Haigh • 2020

The Decca method: why the room matters more than the microphones, and spill is the glue.

4.59

🎛️ Audio Engineering 🎻 Classical Recording 🎤 Microphone Techniques

Classical Recording 87%

The Decca method: why the room matters more than the microphones, and spill is the glue.

by Caroline Haigh 2020

4.59

17 ratings

🎛️ Audio Engineering 🎻 Classical Recording 🎤 Microphone Techniques

Rick Rubin

by Jake Brown • 2009

A dorm-room label, Slayer, Johnny Cash: one producer's philosophy of removal over addition.

3.53

282

🎛️ Music Production 🎤 Hip Hop History 🎵 Music Industry

Rick Rubin 87%

A dorm-room label, Slayer, Johnny Cash: one producer's philosophy of removal over addition.

by Jake Brown 2009

3.53

282 ratings

🎛️ Music Production 🎤 Hip Hop History 🎵 Music Industry

How To Make It in the New Music Business

by Ari Herstand • 2016

The business half of music: booking, licensing, touring, and building the fans who actually pay.

4.39

941

🎸 Diy Music Career 🎨 Independent Artists 💌 Fan Engagement

How To Make It in the New Music Business Summary

How To Make It in the New Music Business 87%

The business half of music: booking, licensing, touring, and building the fans who actually pay.

by Ari Herstand 2016

4.39

941 ratings

🎸 Diy Music Career 🎨 Independent Artists 💌 Fan Engagement

The Spotify Play

by Sven Carlsson • 2019

How Spotify used a free music catalog to outmaneuver Apple, Google, and Amazon.

3.53

2k+

🎵 Music Industry 🚀 Startup Playbooks 💻 Digital Media

The Spotify Play 87%

How Spotify used a free music catalog to outmaneuver Apple, Google, and Amazon.

by Sven Carlsson 2019

3.53

2k+ ratings

🎵 Music Industry 🚀 Startup Playbooks 💻 Digital Media

Beautiful Architecture

by Diomidis Spinellis • 2008

Software guards its internals. Emacs shipped a Lisp interpreter and let users rewrite everything.

3.42

171

🏗️ Software Architecture 🖥️ Emacs 📐 Software Design

Beautiful Architecture 86%

Software guards its internals. Emacs shipped a Lisp interpreter and let users rewrite everything.

by Diomidis Spinellis 2008

3.42

171 ratings

🏗️ Software Architecture 🖥️ Emacs 📐 Software Design

How to Read Music in 30 Days

by Matthew Ellul • 2020

Thirty days to reading sheet music: a rhythm-first method with daily drills and online audio.

4.18

165

🎼 Music Theory 👁️ Sight Reading 📝 Music Notation

How to Read Music in 30 Days 86%

Thirty days to reading sheet music: a rhythm-first method with daily drills and online audio.

by Matthew Ellul 2020

4.18

165 ratings

🎼 Music Theory 👁️ Sight Reading 📝 Music Notation

Guitar Mastery Simplified

by Erich Andreas • 2012

From zero to making real music: a complete blueprint for mastering guitar on your own terms.

3.54

200

🎸 Guitar Instruction 🎼 Music Theory 👂 Ear Training

Guitar Mastery Simplified 86%

From zero to making real music: a complete blueprint for mastering guitar on your own terms.

by Erich Andreas 2012

3.54

200 ratings

🎸 Guitar Instruction 🎼 Music Theory 👂 Ear Training

Piano & Keyboard Made Easy

by Christopher Lavery • 2018

Three chords, a few patterns, and five minutes a day unlock the piano at any age.

4.00

🎹 Piano Instruction 🌱 Adult Beginners 🎼 Music Theory

Piano & Keyboard Made Easy 86%

Three chords, a few patterns, and five minutes a day unlock the piano at any age.

by Christopher Lavery 2018

4.00

1 ratings

🎹 Piano Instruction 🌱 Adult Beginners 🎼 Music Theory

Punk Rock Etiquette

by Travis Nichols • 2008

Start a band with nothing, record for pennies, survive the road without a label.

3.75

123

🎸 Indie Music 🔧 Diy Ethos 🤘 Punk Subculture

Punk Rock Etiquette 86%

Start a band with nothing, record for pennies, survive the road without a label.

by Travis Nichols 2008

3.75

123 ratings

🎸 Indie Music 🔧 Diy Ethos 🤘 Punk Subculture

Working in Public

by Nadia Eghbal • 2020

Open source runs on solo maintainers, not communities. The scarcest resource: attention, not code.

3.92

951

💻 Open Source Software 💰 Creator Economy 👁️ Attention Economics

Working in Public 86%

Open source runs on solo maintainers, not communities. The scarcest resource: attention, not code.

by Nadia Eghbal 2020

3.92

951 ratings

💻 Open Source Software 💰 Creator Economy 👁️ Attention Economics

Music Theory

by Nicolas Carter • 2016

The creative toolkit your instrument never came with: music theory that builds fluency, not rules.

4.08

675

🎵 Music Theory 🏛️ Western Music Theory 🎹 Scales And Chords

Music Theory 86%

The creative toolkit your instrument never came with: music theory that builds fluency, not rules.

by Nicolas Carter 2016

4.08

675 ratings

🎵 Music Theory 🏛️ Western Music Theory 🎹 Scales And Chords

This Is What It Sounds Like

by Susan Rogers • 2022

A former Prince engineer turned neuroscientist decodes your music taste.

3.82

4k+

🧠 Music Psychology 🎭 Musical Identity 💖 Music And Emotion

This Is What It Sounds Like 86%

A former Prince engineer turned neuroscientist decodes your music taste.

by Susan Rogers 2022

3.82

4k+ ratings

🧠 Music Psychology 🎭 Musical Identity 💖 Music And Emotion

Pro Git

by Scott Chacon • 2009

Learn Git from the inside out: snapshots, branching, and the reflog that saves lost work.

4.18

3k+

🗂️ Version Control 💻 Command Line Tools 🤝 Code Collaboration

Pro Git 86%

Learn Git from the inside out: snapshots, branching, and the reflog that saves lost work.

by Scott Chacon 2009

4.18

3k+ ratings

🗂️ Version Control 💻 Command Line Tools 🤝 Code Collaboration

All You Need To Know About the Music Business

by Donald S. Passman • 2013

How a record deal really works: the fine print that decides whether you get rich.

4.28

2k+

⚖️ Entertainment Law 🏷️ Record Label Business 📄 Music Publishing

All You Need To Know About the Music Business Summary

All You Need To Know About the Music Business 86%

How a record deal really works: the fine print that decides whether you get rich.

by Donald S. Passman 2013

4.28

2k+ ratings

⚖️ Entertainment Law 🏷️ Record Label Business 📄 Music Publishing

How to Rap

by Paul Edwards • 2009

Craft sharp lyrics, command any beat, and own the stage: the MC's complete toolkit.

3.99

791

🎤 Rap Technique ✍️ Lyric Writing 🎙️ Vocal Performance

How to Rap 86%

Craft sharp lyrics, command any beat, and own the stage: the MC's complete toolkit.

by Paul Edwards 2009

3.99

791 ratings

🎤 Rap Technique ✍️ Lyric Writing 🎙️ Vocal Performance

Your Music and People

by Derek Sivers • 2020

Be helpful, specific, and too weird to ignore. The considerate way to market your music.

4.40

612

🎵 Music Business 🎨 Creative Careers 🎯 Niche Marketing

Your Music and People 86%

Be helpful, specific, and too weird to ignore. The considerate way to market your music.

by Derek Sivers 2020

4.40

612 ratings

🎵 Music Business 🎨 Creative Careers 🎯 Niche Marketing

Smashing WordPress

by Thord Daniel Hedengren • 2010

Take WordPress beyond blogging with themes, custom post types, and the loop for any site.

3.76

247

🛠️ Wordpress Development 🎨 Theme Building 🔌 Plugin Development

Smashing WordPress 86%

Take WordPress beyond blogging with themes, custom post types, and the loop for any site.

by Thord Daniel Hedengren 2010

3.76

247 ratings

🛠️ Wordpress Development 🎨 Theme Building 🔌 Plugin Development

Rockonomics

by Alan B. Krueger • 2019

Why do the top 1 percent of musicians earn almost everything? The answer reaches far beyond music.

3.91

875

🎬 Entertainment Economics 🏆 Winner-Take-All Markets 📊 Economic Inequality

Rockonomics 86%

Why do the top 1 percent of musicians earn almost everything? The answer reaches far beyond music.

by Alan B. Krueger 2019

3.91

875 ratings

🎬 Entertainment Economics 🏆 Winner-Take-All Markets 📊 Economic Inequality

Creativity Code

by Marcus du Sautoy • 2019

AI paints, composes, writes. But can a machine truly be creative? A mathematician investigates.

3.94

2k+

🤖 Machine Creativity 🎨 Ai Generated Art 🖌️ Generative Art

Creativity Code 86%

AI paints, composes, writes. But can a machine truly be creative? A mathematician investigates.

by Marcus du Sautoy 2019

3.94

2k+ ratings

🤖 Machine Creativity 🎨 Ai Generated Art 🖌️ Generative Art

The Sound of the Machine

by Karl Bartos • 2022

From inside Kraftwerk: the drummer who programmed the beats, then walked away to find his own.

4.28

178

🎵 Music Memoirs ⚡ Krautrock 🎛️ Electronic Music

The Sound of the Machine 86%

From inside Kraftwerk: the drummer who programmed the beats, then walked away to find his own.

by Karl Bartos 2022

4.28

178 ratings

🎵 Music Memoirs ⚡ Krautrock 🎛️ Electronic Music

Play Great Guitar

by Rikky Rooksby • 2008

Most guitar methods teach you to copy. This one teaches you to have something to say.

🎸 Guitar Instruction 🎓 Music Education 🌱 Beginner Guitarists

Play Great Guitar 86%

Most guitar methods teach you to copy. This one teaches you to have something to say.

by Rikky Rooksby 2008

🎸 Guitar Instruction 🎓 Music Education 🌱 Beginner Guitarists

Design Thinking Research

by Larry Leifer • 2013

What if your programming environment saved every change, so you could explore ideas without risk?

4.00

💻 Software Design 🗂️ Version Control 🔄 Iterative Development

Design Thinking Research 86%

What if your programming environment saved every change, so you could explore ideas without risk?

by Larry Leifer 2013

4.00

1 ratings

💻 Software Design 🗂️ Version Control 🔄 Iterative Development

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Classroom in a Book

by Adobe Creative Team • 2012

Slideshows, zoomable images, and navigation menus: all built inside Photoshop, no code required.

4.16

316

🖥️ Web Design 📷 Digital Imaging 🎨 Web Graphics

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Classroom in a Book Summary

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Classroom in a Book 86%

Slideshows, zoomable images, and navigation menus: all built inside Photoshop, no code required.

by Adobe Creative Team 2012

4.16

316 ratings

🖥️ Web Design 📷 Digital Imaging 🎨 Web Graphics

Piano Playing

by Josef Hofmann • 1976

A virtuoso's manual: how slow practice, legato, and a trained ear build the complete pianist.

3.71

141

🎹 Piano Pedagogy 🎼 Classical Performance 🐢 Deliberate Practice

Piano Playing 86%

A virtuoso's manual: how slow practice, legato, and a trained ear build the complete pianist.

by Josef Hofmann 1976

3.71

141 ratings

🎹 Piano Pedagogy 🎼 Classical Performance 🐢 Deliberate Practice

Understanding Software

by Max Kanat-Alexander • 2017

Code that's easy to write is hard to maintain. Here's how to flip that equation.

3.58

179

🛠️ Software Craftsmanship 🧹 Code Quality 🔍 Debugging Methods

Understanding Software 86%

Code that's easy to write is hard to maintain. Here's how to flip that equation.

by Max Kanat-Alexander 2017

3.58

179 ratings

🛠️ Software Craftsmanship 🧹 Code Quality 🔍 Debugging Methods

Classical Music for Dummies

by David Pogue • 1997

From plainchant to Stravinsky: how classical music works, what to listen for, and when to clap.

3.95

650

🎻 Classical Music 🎧 Listening Guides 🏛️ Music History

Classical Music for Dummies 86%

From plainchant to Stravinsky: how classical music works, what to listen for, and when to clap.

by David Pogue 1997

3.95

650 ratings

🎻 Classical Music 🎧 Listening Guides 🏛️ Music History

Game Development Patterns and Best Practices

by John P. Doran • 2017

Design patterns that ship games: when to use each and how they prevent late-stage collapse.

3.90

🎮 Game Development 🧩 Design Patterns 🧹 Clean Code

Game Development Patterns and Best Practices Summary

Game Development Patterns and Best Practices 86%

Design patterns that ship games: when to use each and how they prevent late-stage collapse.

by John P. Doran 2017

3.90

20 ratings

🎮 Game Development 🧩 Design Patterns 🧹 Clean Code

More Joel on Software

by Joel Spolsky • 2008

Ship on schedule, hire developers who skip the job boards, and know when fixing beats rewriting.

4.05

549

🖥️ Software Development 👔 Engineering Management 🤝 Developer Culture

More Joel on Software 86%

Ship on schedule, hire developers who skip the job boards, and know when fixing beats rewriting.

by Joel Spolsky 2008

4.05

549 ratings

🖥️ Software Development 👔 Engineering Management 🤝 Developer Culture

Playing the Piano for Pleasure

by Charles Cooke • 1941

Amateur piano method: one daily hour, turn weak spots into strengths, keep every piece.

4.19

363

🎹 Piano Practice 🎯 Deliberate Practice 👀 Sight Reading

Playing the Piano for Pleasure 86%

Amateur piano method: one daily hour, turn weak spots into strengths, keep every piece.

by Charles Cooke 1941

4.19

363 ratings

🎹 Piano Practice 🎯 Deliberate Practice 👀 Sight Reading

The Complete Software Developer's Career Guide

by John Sonmez • 2017

One language, one portfolio, one interview strategy: the sequence that turns learners into hires.

4.02

1k+

💼 Software Careers 🚪 Breaking Into Tech 🎯 Technical Interviews

The Complete Software Developer's Career Guide Summary

The Complete Software Developer's Career Guide 86%

One language, one portfolio, one interview strategy: the sequence that turns learners into hires.

by John Sonmez 2017

4.02

1k+ ratings

💼 Software Careers 🚪 Breaking Into Tech 🎯 Technical Interviews

Effortless Mastery

by Kenny Werner • 1996

Your brain blocks what your fingers already know. A method for playing music without thinking.

4.22

3k+

🎵 Music Performance 😰 Performance Anxiety 🌊 Flow State

Effortless Mastery 86%

Your brain blocks what your fingers already know. A method for playing music without thinking.

by Kenny Werner 1996

4.22

3k+ ratings

🎵 Music Performance 😰 Performance Anxiety 🌊 Flow State

NPR's Podcast Start Up Guide

by Glen Weldon • 2021

Start a podcast with what you own. The rest is storytelling craft, and NPR wrote the manual.

4.28

213

🎙️ Podcasting 🎧 Audio Storytelling 🏠 Home Recording

NPR's Podcast Start Up Guide 86%

Start a podcast with what you own. The rest is storytelling craft, and NPR wrote the manual.

by Glen Weldon 2021

4.28

213 ratings

🎙️ Podcasting 🎧 Audio Storytelling 🏠 Home Recording

Effective Programming

by Jeff Atwood • 2012

Syntax lands the job. Everything else—teams, users, security—is what actually keeps it.

3.91

931

🧱 Software Craftsmanship 🖥️ User Experience Design 🔒 Security-First Design

Effective Programming 86%

Syntax lands the job. Everything else—teams, users, security—is what actually keeps it.

by Jeff Atwood 2012

3.91

931 ratings

🧱 Software Craftsmanship 🖥️ User Experience Design 🔒 Security-First Design

14 Habits of Highly Productive Developers

by Zeno Rocha • 2020

Fourteen habits for developers who want to stop sprinting and start compounding.

4.00

723

🖥️ Software Engineering 💼 Software Careers 🧱 Code Craftsmanship

14 Habits of Highly Productive Developers Summary

14 Habits of Highly Productive Developers 86%

Fourteen habits for developers who want to stop sprinting and start compounding.

by Zeno Rocha 2020

4.00

723 ratings

🖥️ Software Engineering 💼 Software Careers 🧱 Code Craftsmanship

Software Engineering

by Ian Sommerville • 1982

From requirements to deployment: the systematic approach to building software that lasts.

3.77

945

🖥️ Software Engineering 🔄 Software Processes 🏃 Agile Methods

Software Engineering 86%

From requirements to deployment: the systematic approach to building software that lasts.

by Ian Sommerville 1982

3.77

945 ratings

🖥️ Software Engineering 🔄 Software Processes 🏃 Agile Methods

The Song Machine

by John Seabrook • 2015

Pop hits aren't moments of genius; they're manufactured on an assembly line that began in Stockholm.

3.93

5k+

🎯 Hit Making ✍️ Pop Songwriting 💻 Digital Disruption

The Song Machine 86%

Pop hits aren't moments of genius; they're manufactured on an assembly line that began in Stockholm.

by John Seabrook 2015

3.93

5k+ ratings

🎯 Hit Making ✍️ Pop Songwriting 💻 Digital Disruption

OneNote

by Ace McCloud • 2015

Master OneNote's tabs, tags, and sync and never lose another idea to a sticky note again.

2.38

🖥️ Digital Note-Taking 📘 Software Tutorials 📋 Note Organization

OneNote 86%

Master OneNote's tabs, tags, and sync and never lose another idea to a sticky note again.

by Ace McCloud 2015

2.38

8 ratings

🖥️ Digital Note-Taking 📘 Software Tutorials 📋 Note Organization

Evernote for your Life

by Tyler Collins • 2012

Tags, not folders. Search, not filing. Turn one app into your documents, tasks, and contacts hub.

3.40

580

📱 Productivity Software 🧠 Personal Knowledge Management 🗂️ Digital Organization

Evernote for your Life 86%

Tags, not folders. Search, not filing. Turn one app into your documents, tasks, and contacts hub.

by Tyler Collins 2012

3.40

580 ratings

📱 Productivity Software 🧠 Personal Knowledge Management 🗂️ Digital Organization

Why You Love Music

by John Powell • 2016

Every time music gives you goosebumps, your brain is following a rule you never learned.

3.76

590

🎵 Music Psychology 🔊 Psychoacoustics 🧠 Music Cognition

Why You Love Music 86%

Every time music gives you goosebumps, your brain is following a rule you never learned.

by John Powell 2016

3.76

590 ratings

🎵 Music Psychology 🔊 Psychoacoustics 🧠 Music Cognition

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