Music theory, explained plainly
Free lessons and tools for reading notes, counting rhythm, and understanding scales, keys and chords. Every example is real notation you can hear, with piano and guitar diagrams.
Read music
Notes, clefs and the staff, one step at a time.
- Music notes: names, symbols and values
- Treble clef notes and how to read them
- Bass clef notes and how to read them
- How to read sheet music, step by step
- Piano keys labeled: every note on the keyboard
- The grand staff: treble and bass clef together
- Ledger lines: notes above and below the staff
- Sharps, flats and naturals in music
Rhythm
How long notes last and how to count them.
- Note values: how long each note lasts
- Quarter note: symbol, beats and counting
- Half note: symbol, beats and how to count it
- Eighth note: symbol, beams and how to count it
- Rests in music: every rest symbol and its length
- Time signatures explained
- 6/8 time signature
- Syncopation in music
Scales and keys
Every major and minor scale, modes and key signatures.
- Major scales: how they work in all 12 keys
- Minor scales: natural, harmonic and melodic
- Circle of fifths: how it works and its uses
- Key signatures: how to read every key
- The pentatonic scale: major and minor explained
- Blues scale: notes, formula and sound
- Chromatic scale: all 12 notes explained
- Music modes: the seven modes explained
Chords
Build, play and name chords on piano and guitar.
- Piano chords: how to build and play them
- Chord progressions: common patterns in every key
- Chord inversions: root position, first and second
- Diminished chord: what it is and how to build it
- 12-bar blues: chord pattern and how to play it
- Minor chord: how to build one in any key
Popular scales
- A major scale
- C major scale
- G major scale
- D major scale
- F major scale
- E major scale
- D minor scale
- E minor scale
- C minor scale
- A minor scale
- B major scale
- G minor scale
Popular chords
Practice and reference
- Note reading trainerFlashcards for treble, bass and alto clef notes, with a score.
- Music theory quizzesNotes, key signatures, intervals, chords and symbols.
- Circle of fifthsPick a key to see and hear its scale and chords.
- Free staff paperPrintable blank sheet music in PDF.
- Music symbolsEvery common sign in printed music and what it means.
- Music termsItalian tempo and dynamics words and more, in plain English.