Music Theory Overview
This is an Overview of all my music theory lessons, In order with links and descriptions of what each lesson teaches. This should help A LOT when you’re looking for a particular subject.
Lesson #1
Subjects covered: Intro to the series, staff, bar lines, double bar lines, basic clefs, the grand staff.
Lesson #2
Subjects covered: Notes on the grand staff, (treble clef lines and spaces, bass clef lines and spaces, plus 3 ledger lines) This helps you learn to read sheet music.
Lesson #3
Subjects covered: Different types of note names and values, stem direction.
Lesson #4
Subjects covered: Time Signatures, counting, beats, metronome explained, and rhythm.
Lesson #5
Subjects covered: Rests explained.
Lesson #6
Subjects covered: Dotted notes, triplets, duple time vs compound time, strong and weak beats
Lesson #7
Subjects covered: Rest grouping, more on strong, medium and weak beats in duple, triple and quadruple times.
Lesson #8
Subjects covered: Semi-tones and whole tones explained, how to draw a keyboard on paper to help to visualize notes, sharps, flats and naturals.
Lesson #9
Subjects covered: Different types of semi-tones; chromatic and diatonic.
Lesson #10
Subjects covered: Major scale, formula for major scales using semi-tones and whole tones.
Lesson #11
Subjects covered: Natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales explained. Relationship between “relative” majors and minors.
Lesson #12
Subjects covered: Key Signatures explained. Order of sharps and flats.
Lesson #13
Subjects covered: Circle of fifths. Sometimes called “circle of keys”.
Lesson #14
Subjects covered: Finding the key of a piece.
Lesson #15
Subjects covered: Upbeats/pick-up beats
Lesson #16
Subjects covered: Basic Intervals
Lesson #17
Subjects covered: Intermediate intervals (major/minor/perfect intervals), double sharps and double flats.
Lesson #18
Subjects covered: Advanced intervals (diminished/augmented intervals)
Lesson #19
Subjects covered: Major and minor Triads/3-Note-Chords, how to build chords with theory, inversions
Lesson #20
Subjects covered: Scale degrees
Lesson #21
Subjects covered: Basic melody writing tips. Q & A.
Lesson #22 (terms list)
Subjects covered: Level one terms list. Italian musical terms.
Lesson #23 ( Level 1 Theory Exam)
Subjects covered: A recap of all we’ve learned so far in exam format. (Don’t worry, it’s not too scary!)
Lesson #24
Subjects covered: Fixing errors, a check list to look for.
Lesson #25
Subjects covered: Transposition from Major to Major.
Lesson #26
Subjects covered: Cadences, Perfect, Plagal, Imperfect and Deceptive. How to write a perfect and plagal cadence.
Lesson #27
Subjects covered: 32nd, 64th, 128th notes and rests, dots, triplet, duplet, quadruplet and more! Rhythmic lesson!
Lesson #28
Subjects covered: Modal scales. “Church modes”
Lesson #29 ( level 2 terms list)
Subjects covered: Italian terms list Level 2
Lesson #30 ( level 2 Theory Exam)
Subjects covered: Exam for Level 2
Lesson #31
Subjects covered: C clefs
Lesson #32
Subjects covered: Tetra effect, pentatonic scale, and whole tone scale.
Lesson #33
Subjects covered: Blues scale, 12 tone technique (not great detail), poly-chords, tone clusters, and quartal chords.
Lesson #34
Subjects covered: More on intervals. Enharmonic changes and inverting.
Lesson #35
Subjects covered: Compound intervals and the process of inverting them also.
Lesson #36
Subjects covered: The Roman numerals for each chord in a major, and minor scale. Plus how we number inversions in harmonic analysis.
Lesson #37
Subjects covered: Open and close chords, as well as doubling.
Lesson #38
Subjects covered: Dominate & Diminished 7th chords.
Lesson #39
Subjects covered: Transposition from minor to minor, explanation why minor to major isn’t really practical.
Lesson #40
Subjects covered: S A T B and different score types.
Lesson #41
Subjects covered: The Imperfect Cadence.
Lesson #42
Subjects covered: Melody writing techniques using perfect and imperfect cadences.
Lesson #43
Subjects covered: Hybrid time signatures.
Lesson #44
Subjects covered: Time signature changes, and also syncopations.
Lesson #45
Subjects covered: Ornaments.
Lesson #46
Subjects covered: Orchestral instruments, including how to transpose instruments like Bb Trumpet, F English Horn, and more into concert pitch!
Lesson #47
Subjects covered: Structure in music, including Binary form and Ternary form.
Lesson #48
Subjects covered: Non chord (non harmonic) tones.
Lesson #49 (Level 3 terms list)
Subjects covered: Terms list for level 3.
Lesson #50 (Level 3 exam)
Subjects covered: Final Exam for music Rudiments.
Your videos are a great supplement for Advanced Placement Music Theory. It thoroughly explains what my teacher can’t. How long until lvl 3 exam for video?
Hey Andy. I think your website is fantastic and what you are doing for the piano is wonderful. Are you thinking about posting some more advanced theory exercises? Harmony and counterpoint, no one seems to offer anything remotely structured or useful for Internet learning in these areas. I am a pianist myself, aged 27 trying to turn my life around and get into music college. My performance standard is well above what is required, though my advanced theoretical knowledge is lacking, and I am finding it really hard pounding away at the associated board’s grade six to eight theory and most institutions in the uk require grade 8 performance and theory. Just wish I’d knuckled down while I was doing my a-levels at school, then I wouldn’t have to jump through all these hoops now!
I don’t expect you are going to cover anything like that in your site because so few people reach this stage in their musical education. But if you can offer any advice beyond ‘perseverance’ I would really appreciate I would really appreciate it.
Tom Eveson
Bristol, UK.
Hi,
This is Arun. yours Virtual student. Urs lessons are great. I felt really great about your work. Amazing stuff. I wonder yours knowledge on music. Though i am 27+, i was not sure whether i can take music as my path. But after I saw your videos it gave me great confident to move forward. I dont have word to express your work. Still dad is not trusting if I say all these videos and lessons are for free.
Thanks a lot sir.
Yours obedient
student
Arun
YOU ARE SO AMASING!I AM A MOM OF 3 CHILDREN AND I AM 29.I LOVE MUSIC AND YOUR FREE LESSONS GIVE ME NEW HOPE TO LEARN MUSIC.THENK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.
Hey Andrew!
I just wanna say thank you for all the free lessons you are giving. I play the guitar and want to learn piano, so I’m enjoying all your videos, you have an awesome teaching ability.
Your student =)
Leandro.
Greetings from Egypt.
I really love your videos, its a great favor you’re doing, hope you keep it up. I play guitar but I will use these videos in order to properly learn theory as I can barely find any resources on theory here. Can I just request a favor. The rest of ur videos 31+ arent linked to this page, can u please add to it so I can find them with ease.
Many thanks
YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!
I couldn’t have been more confused about rest replacment until I found you!
After I watched your lessons, I never had any problems!
Thankyou SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for your help!
Have a Merry Christmas!
I learned a lot.
Thank you.
With no money to really spare, I have been looking for someone to teach me theory for a long time, I used to use my musical friends to teach me bits, but with your lessons I feel like I’m finally expanding into the musician I know I can be. I have such a passion for piano, and I can’t wait to learn everything you have to offer. By the way, Minute Waltz Op 64 No 1 is my favourite too! I’m currently learning to play it myself
Hi Andrew,
Thanks a lot for such great lessons.you are an excellent teacher and an even better musician.teaching music to illiterates in music,like me is not easy task,but you are doing it very well.Thank you for sparing so much time
.may your all wishes come true.
Hi,
In your Lesson 41, explaining imperfect cadence, chord dim. 2nd 1st inversion going to chord V, for your Alto voicing, you moved from F to G, and again in the Bass voicing, you moved from F to G. Wouldn’t that create a parallel 8 which is forbidden?
My husband and I are retired,in our early 60’s, living in Nanaimo. I am learning piano, about to do the harmony exam for G9. My husband plays violin at the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra, and is still taking lessons to improve on his skills. We hosted a violin soloist from the Youth Orchestra when they performed here. We would very much wish to have the honour to host you. We have a grand piano at home (70″ Daewoo Royale). If you need to perform in Nanaimo, or simply come to have a holiday, do check on us. We live close to Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and can pick you up. We know what you look like. We can take you to catch crabs, pick oysters and clams. As we have plenty of room, you can even bring a friend, maybe a violinist? We can have a nice evening of music after the crabbing and clamming.
I read from your website how you got sick and how you struggled to regain health and stamina. You are a great role model and you are most inspiring, even to “oldies” like myself, and I wish you every success in your endeavour.
Cheers,
Irene
I am 45 years old and from china. I love music very much, thanks for sharing your knowledge with anyone who likes myself. You are a true musician.
Tried to hire a music teacher but could not afford it when gas prices went up
MY SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LEARN THE PIANO
Excellent Teacher, Great information, and Free.
Usually with on-line courses you can only pick two, but not have all three. That isn’t the case with your course. Your method of teaching keeps a perfect balance between being simple enough for a beginner but fast enough so that fast learners and people that have previous knowledge don’t get bored.
May he who sees everything reward your kindness.
Thank you Andrew!
Absolutely fantastic ! Thanks so much for spending time and creating this website + videos. It’s a gr8 encouragement fr lots of ppl like me who hv been musically illiterate so far !
Thanks, these lessons are exactly what i had been looking for
Andrew
Thanks for your lessons.. they are really helpful …. at 26, i never thought i can learn, but i think my passion for music and your website keeps me going…
And not to forget that i like the light sense in which you teach us..
Keep up the good work. god bless you
Aparna, India
Like people like you, freely uplifting humanity.
Thank you Andrew for all these lessons. That was a real pleasure to watch it. Though I knew the most of it before, but even so it was very very interesting to hear about all this once again, especially in English (not my mother tongue). I’ve learnt the terms in English and enjoyed your sense of humour
Andrew,
Thank you very much for the great and important job you are doing! I tried to learn theory from books but then I found your interesting lessons, so, the largest part of my knowledge is based on your videos!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. and…you arealso a very funny person:)
Good luck in all your future plans.
Katya