How to learn beginning theory

Filed in Free Lessons on June 12, 2009



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 understand it.  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.

Happy learning...



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Daniel Blomdahl
6/12/2009 10:21:23 AM

That's really interesting. I'm amazed at how many musicians I've met that are amazing and have no clue what chords are. I'm so thankful for my piano teacher who taught me more music theory on top of the theory I already knew. She's prepared me well for my first year of college. :-)

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Danny Gardner
6/12/2009 12:56:48 PM

Great post. I'll definitely be recommending this to some of my friends that are just starting to learn theory. Could you perhaps do something similar with more advanced theory/functional harmony? In one of your free lessons you mentioned a complex formula for knowing when to add particular color notes. That's the kind of thing I'd love to learn, but I can't find anyone else that could teach it to me. Thanks!

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