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One of the most popular questions I get concerns theory. People often ask where they can learn the basics of theory. GregHowlett.com is not a good place for that because I write from the assumption that you already know some things. So, I took a little time to research some free theory websites so I could direct people to a good one when they ask.
First of all, there are numerous music theory sites and I have not looked at all of them. There are also courses you can buy and classes you can attend. People learn in different ways and you pretty much have your choice on how you choose to learn theory.
When I looked at the online sites, I was looking for one that covered the basics clearly. By basics, I mean notation, scales, simple chords, and that kind of thing. My goal was to find a site that will help pianists get to the level where they can start Inspirational Improvisation and not be lost.
One free site that I think accomplishes that is http://www.musictheory.net. It seems well organized and complete. I like their format because they use flashcards and show you a bullet at a time rather than overwhelming you with words. They also have great examples.
As strange as this may sound, I also would recommend Wikipedia for more details on any topic that you need additional help on. While Wikipedia has flaws, there are not likely any inaccuracies on pages dealing with basic theory because those topics are really past debate.
There is a big trap that people fall into when learning music and I need to warn you about this if you start learning theory. We tend to set the bar too low in that we consider something learned when we understandit. However, you really do not know theory unless you know it well enough to apply it.
There is a big difference between these two levels of learning and a huge difference in the commitment of time. But, learn from the perspective that you are going to be using what you learn rather than just memorizing facts in order to pass a test. It does you no good to understand how to build a F#min triad if it takes you ten seconds because you will never have ten seconds within a song.
