Music Theory for Beginners: The complete guide

Music theory involves learning about rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics, etc. While there are musicians who are able to play music by ear, there are good reasons why you must learn music theory. These online music theory lessons will give you a good start in music theory. Also, find useful resources to improve your knowledge of Music Theory.

What is Music Theory?

Unlike physics, where we would stress more on frequencies and waveforms of sound, here the aim is to study the way music is read and written. The way music is interpreted forms a major part of this study.

• It involves knowing the various elements that go in the creation of music, be it rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics, musical forms, etc.
• It means knowing what notes work together and sounds pleasing together, as well as knowing the notes that create tension and dissonance when played together.
• You also learn how to go about giving a structure or form to a song.

Learning more about these elements of music will contribute greatly to your growth as a musician!

Here’s what Wikipedia says: Music theory seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers’ techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods. In a grand sense, it analyzes the fundamental parameters or elements of music—rhythm, harmony (harmonic function), melody, structure, form, texture, etc. Broadly, music theory may include any statement, belief, or conception of or about music.

Learning music theory involves knowing about rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics and other aspects involved in creating music, which should help you improve your understanding of music, doesn’t matter what instrument you play (piano/keyboard, guitar, flute, or anything else).

Advantages Of Learning Music Theory

The most important benefit is that you can easily get a very good idea of the subject without having to spend a single penny.

You can easily understand most of the concepts by going through the sites that have been listed below. Once you have an idea of what needs to be learned, you can ask the right questions before approaching a teacher or you can buy books that concentrate on topics you would like to explore further.

In either case, you would be able to take the next steps with confidence!

1. Become a better performer.
2. Good understanding of harmony.
3. Become a better arranger
4. Have more options as a musician.

Get More Creative

Music theory can help you get more creative.

There are some musicians who feel music theory stifles creativity and freedom of expression, as one has to follow a set of strict rules. However, I feel, on the contrary it makes you more creative, as it provides you with more tools and topics to play with. It also helps you break away from monotony, and prevents you from sounding the same.

The Beatles, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley (just a few names starting with ‘B’) are all super creative musicians who had a good grip over music theory.

Play and Understand Music Better

Music theory helps you play and understand music better.

Music intervals, chords — inversions, progressions, harmonization, counter-point, modulation, riffs are just some of the things that you will have at your disposal once you understand music theory better. And this is only going to help you play music better, and also understand (decipher) music of other great composers.

By learn various chord progressions, by harmonizing things, not only will you play music better, you will also be able to develop variety in your playing.

Develop Professional Vocabulary and communicate better

Music theory will help you develop a professional vocabulary that will help you communicate better with other musicians.

There are times when professional musicians have to collaborate with other people from the industry, and being familiar with the right music vocabulary will definitely help you communicate and collaborate better with other musicians.

Time-Saver in Most Situations

While having a great ear is definitely an asset, music theory will help save you time in most situations.

What if someone comes to you and asks “What a lovely piece of music: what chords were you playing in the beginning?” or “Did you try playing that using a C7 instead of just C”?

What if a child who is learning to play a musical instrument hands you the notes of a popular tune (that you aren’t aware of) and asks you to play that song?

These are just a few examples but I hope you get the point.

Helps Overcome Writer’s Block

There are times when experienced musicians also hit a writer’s block; they are unable to think of anything new to write. If you find yourself in that situation and are stuck for ideas, music theory can definitely help provide you a new direction.

So what people do is play some chord progressions, finger exercises, riffs over and over again, and that often provides them with more ideas on what to create.

Quickly Learn a New Musical Instrument

Yes, music theory can definitely help you learn a new musical instrument faster!

Once you know the basics of music theory, its a lot easier to pick up any other instrument. Its won’t take time to understand how the notes are placed, how to play chords, etc. on the new instrument.

So if you already play the piano/keyboards or the guitar, you can easily pick up the mouth organ or the Ukulele.

Get Access to More Jobs

Knowing music theory will definitely increase your suitability to a variety of jobs in the music industry.

It may not pay you more, many are likely to hire you if you are well-versed in music theory. For example, working for a good music college or a music book/magazine publishing company.

Music Theory Topics

Here, you will find a lot of information on music theory, which will take you from the beginning to the more advanced concepts.

The Basics

Notes & Pitches
Learn the names of the various music notes

Keyboard
Layout of a keyboard / notes on piano

The Staff, Clefs, and Ledger Lines
Learn about the staff, treble and bass clefs, and ledger lines.

Note Duration
Learn about types of notes, note duration

Measures and Time Signatures
Learn about measures and how many notes they can accommodate

Rest Duration
Learn about the different types of rests

Dots and Ties
Learn how dots and ties modify the duration of the notes

Steps and Accidentals
Learn about half steps, whole steps, and the different types of accidentals

Related: What is melody in music?

Rhythm and Meter

Simple and Compound Meter
Learn how basic time signature are classified.

Odd meter
Learn about more complex time signatures.

Scales and Key Signatures

The Major Scale
Learn how to construct and play the major scale

The Minor Scales
Learn how to construct the various types of minor scales

Scale Degrees
Learn the special names for each note of a scale

Key Signatures
Learn about key signatures and the special ordering of accidentals

Key Signature Calculation
How to easily calculate key signatures (its Math)

Intervals

Generic Intervals
Learn how two notes are measured on the staff

Specific Intervals
Learn how two notes are specifically measured.

Writing Intervals
Learn how to correctly spell intervals with a three-step process.

Interval Inversion
Learn how to invert intervals

Chords

Introduction to Chords
Learn about the various types of triads.

Triad Inversion
Learn how to invert triads

Seventh Chords
Learn about the various types of Seventh Chords, including those that are used in popular music and jazz.

Seventh Chord Inversion
Learn how to invert seventh chords.

Diatonic Chords

Diatonic Triads
Learn how a scale’s notes form special triads.

Roman Numerical Analysis: Triads
Learn how diatonic triads are identified.

Diatonic Seventh Chords
Learn about the diatonic seventh chords of major and minor scales.

Roman Numeral Analysis: Seventh Chords
Learn how seventh chords are identified in Roman Numeral Analysis

Composing with Minor scales
Learn how the natural and harmonic minor scales combine.

Voicing Chords
Learn how composers arrange the notes of chords.

Chord Progressions

Nonharmonic Tones
Learn about the different types of Nonharmonic Tones.

Phrases and Cadences
Learn about musical phrases and the different types of cadences.

Circle Progressions
Learn about circular chord progressions.

Common Chord Progressions
Learn how chord progressions tend to follow a common pattern.

Triads in First Inversion
Learn how first inversion triads are commonly used in chord progressions

Triads in Second Inversion
Learn how second inversion triads are commonly used in chord progressions

Neapolitan Chords

Building Neapolitan Chords
Learn how to build a Neapolitan Chord

Using Neapolitan Chords
Learn how a Neapolitan Chord in first inversion is commonly used.

Ready to move on to Advanced Music theory?

Assuming you’ve been playing the piano, guitar (or any other instrument) for some time and have reached a stage where, if you listen to a new song or come across any piece of music, you can play it on your own… then it’s time for you to move ahead.

At this stage, you probably are well versed with notations, scales, chords, time and key signatures – these are the key topics that one needs to know to be able to play most of the songs.

Advanced Music Theory – What Do You Learn Here?

To learn about the advanced music theory concepts would mean understanding more about:

• The various musical styles
• Harmonising, Chord progressions & improvisations
• Music/composers of the different eras
• Writing the songs that are in your head and putting them on paper
• Arranging concepts

This is where things start becoming clearer as you start learning how all the elements of music gel together.

Importance of Keys

For instance, if you have been thinking why do you have so many keys or why modulation is used…here is an example.

If played on any musical instrument, a song in one particular scale may sound similar to what it may sound on another scale… but when you here the complete arrangement with all the tracks of the song, you will find that the song sounds better in certain scales.

This is where the various keys help the composers. Though changing a key may bring in additional challenges.

The performers may find it technically challenging to play in a particular key on their instrument. The singer may not have the vocal range to sing in a particular key.

So it is up to the composer to decide on which key he should base his composition, considering all these factors in mind.

The composer may even decide to use a key change, also known as modulation, within the piece to add more variety and prevent monotony within the piece.

So here you go, you already know so much about composing!

Modulation

Modulation basically means moving from one key (tonic, or tonal center) to another, and is usually done to add interest (allows a composition to break away from the relative monotony of a single tonal center). Modulation may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature.

Most modulation happens to closely related keys (usually with no more than one sharp or flat difference in the Key Signature).

 

Watch: How to Modulate to Closely-related Keys
 

Parallel Harmony

Parallel Harmony is the parallel movement (up or down) of two or more melodic lines (group of notes) that preserve a consitent interval (distances apart).

Music Theory – Resources

Here are some popular Resources (reference sites, books, games) to Learn Music Theory, most of these are online and free.

Books on Music Theory

There are plenty of music books that teach music theory and goes into the depth of this topic.

But you also go through the basic (yet important) concepts listed on this page, which are the building blocks for more advanced things.

Good Reference Sites

To take the first steps in Beginner Music Theory, spend some time online, its the best place to look initially. You will find a lot of online resources for beginner music theory lessons. Some of the better ones are listed here.

Here are more resources that will help you learn advanced music theory.

• Ricci Adams’ MusicTheory.net – A terrific, interactive online theory course. You can even download the course onto your computer!
• Free Music Theory Workbook – G Major Music Theory, by Dilbert DeBenedetti. Downloadable in PDF format!
• Music Theory and History Online – Another free theory resource, by Dr. Brian Blood.
• Music Theory and History Online – by Dr. Brian Blood.
• The Norton Anthology of Western Music – Two volume series of classical music scores, contains music history with commentaries.
• Learn With a Teacher – As mentioned earlier, a teacher’s experience will help you go through the advanced theory in a more structured manner and in a quicker way.
• College music theory class – Many local colleges should have a music program on this.

Learning Using Music Theory Games

You may refer to Music theory games for the extra fun & motivation needed in your homework (works for kids). Learning theory doesn’t have to be boring or a chore.

Thanks to the various fun music games that are available on the internet, learning theory is not just restricted to reading and writing; it is far more interactive and fun!

Note – Looking for some lessons before you explore this section? Have a look at the music theory page.

Most of these games contain interactive sections to teach you the various aspects of piano learning. Make sure your computer’s audio is on for these games. The games should help you to:

• Identify notes, intervals
• Recognize time and key signatures
• Practice chords
• Do ear training exercises
• quizzes to help you learn

Music Theory Games that Teach Music Theory

• MusicTheory.net – Games for kids and adults alike
• eMusicTheory – Practice games are free but it charges a subscription to access theory lessons

Most parents are concerned that their kids are spending more time in front of television or computer screens. Most music learning also now happens on computer. Two Australian musicians have created Oom-Pah, a card-game that teaches music theory. The aim of this card game is to get children off screen and learn music theory with their hands, while socially interacting with their families at the same time. The makers of the card game say it has the potential to be the Sudoku or crossword for music theory. When played solo, this card game is similar to Patience, and when played with multiple players is similar to the classic card game Speed as players build music sequences with cards.

 

Here’s how to play the card-game.
 

Most of these resources and games are not timed, so you can learn at your own pace.  The time and effort you spend here will definitely help you, in terms of opportunities, if at all you decide to choose a career associated with music in the future.

To sum it up, The various elements involved in the making of music like rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics etc. are the key ingredients that make a complete piece of music. You can also go through the various music theory resources that will help you make a start on your own. Just start learning without any hesitation!