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Beginner guide

Music theory made simple

Music theory is simply understanding how music works. Learn five basics that help you hear, play, and understand songs.

LESSON 01

Musical notes

The seven letters music is built from.

Music uses seven basic note names. After G, the pattern begins again at A.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G

The same note can sound higher or lower, but it keeps the same letter name.

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Complete course

Let's really learn music theory

A complete 50-lesson course. Go through the lessons in order — don't worry about memorizing everything immediately. Tap a part to open it.

Daily practice routine

Use this routine to improve quickly.

  1. 10 minutes — Notes

    Practice naming notes on your instrument.

  2. 10 minutes — Scales

    Practice major and minor scales.

  3. 10 minutes — Chords

    Build major, minor, diminished and seventh chords.

  4. 10 minutes — Ear training

    Identify higher/lower, intervals, major/minor and chord roots.

  5. 10 minutes — Play by ear

    Pick a simple song and figure it out without looking up the chords.

  6. 10 minutes — Improvisation

    Play over a simple chord progression.

Try the ear training game

The most important formulas

  • Major scale2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1
  • Major chord1 - 3 - 5
  • Minor chord1 - b3 - 5
  • Diminished1 - b3 - b5
  • Augmented1 - 3 - #5
  • Major 71 - 3 - 5 - 7
  • Dominant 71 - 3 - 5 - b7
  • Minor 71 - b3 - 5 - b7
  • Sus21 - 2 - 5
  • Sus41 - 4 - 5

The final goal

Hear it → Understand it → Find it → Play it → Create it

Music theory is not about memorizing a bunch of rules. It is about understanding the language of music — so you can hear, play, create, and communicate it.

The most important things to master

If you only remember a few things, remember these.

  1. 1.Learn all 12 notes.
  2. 2.Learn the major scale.
  3. 3.Learn scale numbers.
  4. 4.Learn major and minor chords.
  5. 5.Learn the 1, 4 and 5 chords.
  6. 6.Learn the 1-5-6-4 progression.
  7. 7.Learn intervals.
  8. 8.Train your ears every day.
  9. 9.Listen to the bass.
  10. 10.Learn to recognize the key.
  11. 11.Think in numbers.
  12. 12.Practice songs by ear.
  13. 13.Learn inversions.
  14. 14.Learn seventh chords.
  15. 15.Learn rhythm.
  16. 16.Learn to transpose.
  17. 17.Learn to improvise.
  18. 18.Don't rely entirely on chord charts.
  19. 19.Understand WHY a chord works.
  20. 20.Practice consistently.