Learn music theory online for free

Simple online theory lessons and exercises to help you discover how music works.

Part 1 - What is Music Theory?

Part 2 - Pitch and Octaves

Part 3 - The 12 Pitches

Part 4 - Tones and Semitones

Part 5 - Scales: The Major Scale

Part 6 - The Natural Minor Scale

Part 7 - The Harmonic Minor Scale

Part 8 - The Melodic Minor Scale

Part 9 - Whole Tone Scales

Part 1 - David and Katy ask "What is music for?"

Part 2 - How has technology shaped the development of music? (Part 1)

Part 3 - How has technology shaped the development of music? (Part 2)

Part 4 - Dave and Katy analyse the Simpsons Theme

Part 1 - Getting Started

Part 2 - Staff and Clefs

Part 3 - Exercise: Reading the Treble Clef

Part 4 - The Bass Clef

Part 5 - Exercise: Reading the Bass Clef

Part 6 - The Grand Staff

Part 7 - Exercise: Reading the Grand Staff

Part 8 - Ledger Lines

Part 9 - Ledger Lines Continued

Part 10 - Introducing Rhythm Notation

Part 11 - Exercise: Rhythm Maths

Part 12 - Exercise: Rhythm Reading

Part 14 - Eighth and Sixteenth Notes

Part 15 - European Note Names

Part 16 - Exercise: European Note Names Quiz

Part 17 - The Rhythm Tree

Part 18 - The Story So Far!

Part 19 - Introducing Measures and Bars

Part 20 - Time Signatures

Part 21 - Dynamics

Part 22 - Exercise: Dynamics Quiz

Part 23 - Introduction to Tempo Markings

Part 24 - Exercise: Tempo Markings Quiz

Part 25 - Dotted Notes

Part 26 - Introducing Rests

Part 27 - Reading Rests

Part 28 - Sharps and Flats

Part 29 - Accidental Rules

Part 30 - Introducing Key Signatures

Part 31 - Key Signatures with Sharps

Part 32 - Key Signatures with Flats

Part 33 - The Natural Sign

Part 34 - Introducing Guitar Tablature

Part 1 - What is Music?

Part 2 - What is Music? Playlist

Part 3 - Beat and Pulse

Part 4 - Beat Playlist

Part 5 - Rhythm

Part 6 - Rhythm Playlist

Part 8 - Pitch Playlist

Part 9 - Melody

Part 10 - Harmony

Part 11 - Harmony Playlist

Part 12 - Percussion

Part 13 - Percussion Playlist

Part 14 - String Instruments

Part 15 - Strings Playlist

Part 16 - Wind Instruments

Part 17 - Wind Playlist

Part 18 - Keyboard Instruments

Part 19 - Keyboard Playlist

Part 20 - Traditional Notation

Part 21 - Modern Notation

Part 22 - Chamber Ensembles

Part 23 - Chamber Ensembles Playlist

Part 24 - The Orchestra

Part 25 - The Orchestra Playlist

Part 26 - Modern Ensembles

Part 27 - Modern Ensembles Playlist

Part 28 - Form in European Music

Part 29 - European Forms Playlist

Part 30 - European Music History

Part 31 - European Music History Playlist

Part 32 - American Music History

Part 33 - American Music History Playlist

Part 34 - Form in American Music

Part 35 - American Music Forms Playlist

Part 36 - Conclusion

Part 37 - "What Next?" Playlist