Mastering Music Theory - The Language Of Music

A complete course from zero to advanced

What you'll learn

Get started with learning the basics of music theory

Discover how music works

Become a better performer, better listener and better composer!

All theory topics are covered - rhythm, pitch, harmony, keys and much more

Requirements

No prerequisites for this course

You might find it useful to have some manuscript paper (music paper) but it's not essential

Description

Learn music theory with Victoria Williams BA(Mus), AmusTCL LmusTCL. All music theory topics are broken down for you into easy-to-understand short lessons designed in a logical order to ensure that you learn as quickly and efficiently as possible. The course covers all aspects of music theory from the basics of rhythm and pitch notation (including all clefs), through to harmony and chords (including cadences and inversions), intervals, transposition, keys and scales and tips on writing music. We also look at useful facts about musical instruments such as the clefs they use, their transposition keys, and how they work within an orchestra or band.This course is ideal for anyone wanting to discover how music works. No previous knowledge is required.Learning music theory is invaluable for musicians of any level. It deepens understanding, allowing musicians to see patterns, structures, and relationships between notes and chords. This knowledge fosters creativity by offering new ways to experiment with sound, helping overcome creative blocks. It also speeds up learning, enabling quicker memorisation and interpretation of songs/pieces. Theory enhances collaboration, as musicians can communicate using a shared language. It’s beneficial across all genres, from classical to jazz to pop, and supports skills like improvisation and arrangement. Ultimately, music theory empowers musicians to be more versatile, confident, and expressive in our craft.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction to the Course

Section 2: Pitch 1

Lecture 2 Pitch - Low and High

Lecture 3 The Treble Clef

Lecture 4 The Bass Clef

Lecture 5 Ledger Lines and Middle C

Lecture 6 Accidentals - Sharps, Flats and Naturals

Section 3: Rhythm 1

Lecture 7 What is Rhythm?

Lecture 8 Time names of Notes

Lecture 9 Time Names of Rests

Lecture 10 Dotted Notes

Lecture 11 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4

Lecture 12 Beaming

Lecture 13 Ties

Section 4: Scales, Keys and Intervals 1

Lecture 14 Tones and Semitones

Lecture 15 Major Scales and C Major

Lecture 16 G Major Scale

Lecture 17 F Major Scale

Lecture 18 Tonic Sol-Fa

Lecture 19 Degrees of the Scale

Lecture 20 Interval Numbers

Section 5: Harmony 1

Lecture 21 Tonic Triads

Lecture 22 Arpeggios

Section 6: Level 1 Quiz

Section 7: Pitch 2

Lecture 23 Ledger Lines - Extending the Stave

Lecture 24 Transposing Between Clefs

Lecture 25 Transposing at the Octave

Section 8: Rhythm 2

Lecture 26 Minim (Half Note) Beat Time Signatures

Lecture 27 The Breve (Double Whole Note)

Lecture 28 Simple Time

Lecture 29 Triplets

Lecture 30 Syncopation

Section 9: Scales and Keys 2

Lecture 31 D Major Scale

Lecture 32 Bb Major Scale

Lecture 33 Minor Scales (and A Minor)

Lecture 34 E Minor Scale

Lecture 35 D Minor Scale

Lecture 36 Identifying the Key

Section 10: Harmony 2

Lecture 37 Minor Tonic Triads

Lecture 38 Chord Symbols

Lecture 39 Root Position and First Inversion Triads

Lecture 40 Arpeggios and Broken Chords

Section 11: Level 2 Quiz

Section 12: Pitch 3

Lecture 41 Enharmonic Equivalents

Lecture 42 Transposition at the Octave and Between Clefs

Section 13: Rhythm 3

Lecture 43 Demisemiquavers (32nd Notes)

Lecture 44 Compound Time - 6/8

Lecture 45 Compound Time - 9/8 and 12/8

Lecture 46 Compound Time Summary

Lecture 47 Beaming in Compound Time

Lecture 48 Anacrusis (Up-beat)

Lecture 49 Rests in Compound Time

Lecture 50 Anacrusis

Section 14: Scales and Key 3

Lecture 51 A Major Scale

Lecture 52 Eb Major Scale

Lecture 53 Melodic Minor Scales

Lecture 54 B Minor Scales

Lecture 55 G Minor Scales

Lecture 56 F# Minor Scales

Lecture 57 C Minor Scales

Section 15: Intervals 3

Lecture 58 Major and Minor 2nds

Lecture 59 Major and Minor 3rds

Lecture 60 Perfect 4ths, 5ths and Octaves

Lecture 61 Major and Minor 6ths and 7ths

Section 16: Harmony 3

Lecture 62 The Tonic Chord (I)

Lecture 63 The Dominant Chord (V)

Lecture 64 The Subdominant Chord (IV)

Lecture 65 Second Inversion Chords

Lecture 66 SATB 4-Part Chords

Lecture 67 Chord Progressions

Lecture 68 The Perfect Cadence

Section 17: Level 3 Quiz

Section 18: Pitch 4

Lecture 69 Double Flats and Double Sharps

Lecture 70 Alto Clef

Lecture 71 Alto Clef Transposition Between Clefs

Section 19: Rhythm 4

Lecture 72 Doubled Dotted Notes

Lecture 73 3/8 Time Signature

Lecture 74 Time Signatures 5/8, 7/8, 5/4 and 7/4

Lecture 75 Regular and Irregular Time

Lecture 76 Duplets

Lecture 77 Swung Quavers (8th Notes)

Section 20: Scales and Keys 4

Lecture 78 Key Signatures in Alto Clef

Lecture 79 E Major Scale

Lecture 80 A♭ Major Scale

Lecture 81 C# Minor Scale

Lecture 82 F Minor Scale

Lecture 83 Chromatic Scales

Lecture 84 Technical Names of Notes

Section 21: Intervals and Transposition 4

Lecture 85 Augmented and Diminished Intervals

Lecture 86 Compound Intervals

Lecture 87 The Tritone

Section 22: Harmony 4

Lecture 88 The Supertonic Chord (II)

Lecture 89 The Dominant 7th Chord (V7)

Lecture 90 Chord Symbols and Inversions

Lecture 91 Plagal Cadence

Lecture 92 Harmonic Rhythm

Lecture 93 Introduction to Voice Leading

Lecture 94 Conjunct and Disjunct Motion

Lecture 95 Voice Leading - Augmented and Diminished Melodic Intervals

Lecture 96 Voice Leading - Augmented and Diminished Harmonic Intervals

Lecture 97 Consecutives (Parallel) 5ths and Octaves

Section 23: Ornaments

Lecture 98 Introduction to Ornaments

Lecture 99 Ornaments - Trill

Lecture 100 Ornaments - Mordent

Lecture 101 Ornaments - Turn

Lecture 102 Ornaments - Acciaccatura

Lecture 103 Ornaments - Appoggiatura

Lecture 104 Ornaments - Grace Notes

Section 24: Level 4 Quiz

Section 25: Pitch 5

Lecture 105 Tenor Clef

Lecture 106 Tenor Clef Transposition

Section 26: Rhythm 5

Lecture 107 Compound /4 Time Signatures

Lecture 108 Irregular Tuplets

Section 27: Scales and Keys 5

Lecture 109 Pentatonic Major Scales

Lecture 110 B Major Scale

Lecture 111 G# Minor Scale

Lecture 112 Db Major Scale

Lecture 113 Bb Minor Scale

Lecture 114 Circle of 5ths

Lecture 115 Relative Keys

Section 28: Intervals and Transposition 5

Lecture 116 Transposing Instruments

Lecture 117 Transposing by a Perfect 4th or 5th

Lecture 118 Working Out Any Interval

Lecture 119 Transposition by Any Interval

Section 29: Harmony 5

Lecture 120 SATB Consecutives

Lecture 121 SATB Doubling and Omissions

Lecture 122 Voice Leading - Leading Notes

Lecture 123 Voice-Leading - 7ths in Added 7th Chords

Lecture 124 Chord VI

Lecture 125 Chord iii

Lecture 126 Chord vii°

Lecture 127 Working Out Chord Inversions

Lecture 128 Modulation

Lecture 129 Pivot Chords

Lecture 130 Imperfect Cadence

Lecture 131 Pre-Cadence

Section 30: Decoration 5

Lecture 132 Introduction to Decoration

Lecture 133 Unaccented Passing Notes

Lecture 134 Accented Passing Notes

Lecture 135 Auxiliary Notes

Section 31: Level 5 Quiz

Section 32: Pitch 6

Lecture 136 Note Names in Other Languages

Section 33: Rhythm 6

Lecture 137 Compound /16 Time Signatures

Lecture 138 Hemiola

Section 34: Scales and Keys 6

Lecture 139 F# Major Scale

Lecture 140 D# Minor Scale

Lecture 141 Gb Major Scale

Lecture 142 Eb Minor Scale

Lecture 143 C# Major Scale

Lecture 144 A# Minor Scale

Lecture 145 Cb Major Scale

Lecture 146 Ab Minor Scale

Lecture 147 Close Keys

Lecture 148 Prevailing Key

Lecture 149 Prevailing Key Identification

Section 35: Intervals 6

Lecture 150 Working Out Any Interval 2

Lecture 151 Identifying Intervals in a Score

Section 36: Harmony 6

Lecture 152 Chord v Minor (from Melodic Minor)

Lecture 153 Chord IV Major (from Melodic Minor)

Lecture 154 Chord ii Minor (from Melodic Minor)

Lecture 155 Chord III+ Augmented (from Harmonic Minor)

Lecture 156 Chord III Major (from Melodic Minor)

Lecture 157 Chord ♭VII Major (from Melodic Minor)

Lecture 158 Tierce de Picardie (Picardy Third)

Lecture 159 Using Chord Inversions

Lecture 160 SATB Voice Leading by Part

Section 37: Progression 6

Lecture 161 Interrupted Cadence

Lecture 162 Chord Progression "Rules"

Lecture 163 The Progression of 5ths

Lecture 164 Progressions and Inversions

Lecture 165 Cadential 6/4

Lecture 166 Passing Chords

Lecture 167 Passing 6/4

Section 38: Decoration 6

Lecture 168 Chromatic Passing Notes

Lecture 169 Chromatic Auxiliary Notes

Lecture 170 Auxiliary Harmony Notes

Lecture 171 Appoggiaturas

Lecture 172 Anticipations

Lecture 173 Changing Notes

Lecture 174 Pedals

Lecture 175 Simultaneous Decoration

Lecture 176 Decoration Mistakes to Avoid

Section 39: Figured Bass 6

Lecture 177 Figured Bass Introduction

Lecture 178 5/3 Root Position Chords

Lecture 179 6/3 First Inversion Chords

Lecture 180 6/4 Second Inversion Chords

Lecture 181 Figured Bass Accidentals

Lecture 182 Figured Bass Continuation Line

Section 40: Level 6 Quiz

Section 41: Scales and Keys 7

Lecture 183 Identifying the Home Key (with Chromatic Notes)

Lecture 184 Direct Modulation

Lecture 185 Minor Pentatonic Scales

Lecture 186 Aeolian Mode

Lecture 187 Dorian Mode

Lecture 188 Mixolydian Mode

Lecture 189 Phrygian Mode

Section 42: Rhythm 7

Lecture 190 Simple /8 Time Signatures

Section 43: Harmony 7

Lecture 191 Chord ii7 (Supertonic 7th)

Lecture 192 Chord vii°7 (Diminished 7th)

Lecture 193 Secondary 7th Chords

Lecture 194 The Neapolitan 6th Chord

Lecture 195 Voice Leading Secondary 7ths

Lecture 196 Voice Leading Exceptions

Section 44: Progressions 7

Lecture 197 Inverted Cadence

Lecture 198 Phrygian Cadence

Lecture 199 Auxiliary Chords

Lecture 200 Auxiliary 6/4

Lecture 201 Arpeggio 6/4

Lecture 202 Harmonic Sequence

Lecture 203 Single Part Implied Harmony

Section 45: Decoration 7

Lecture 204 Passing Notes 2

Lecture 205 Auxiliary Notes 2

Lecture 206 Auxiliary Harmony Notes 2

Lecture 207 Appoggiaturas 2

Lecture 208 Chromatic Appoggiaturas

Lecture 209 Suspensions

Lecture 210 Retardations

Lecture 211 Analysing Harmony with Decoration Part 1

Lecture 212 Analysing Harmony with Decoration Part 2

Section 46: Figured Bass 7

Lecture 213 Added 7th Chords

Lecture 214 4-3 Suspensions

Lecture 215 Figure 4

Lecture 216 9-8 Suspension

Lecture 217 7-6 Suspension

Lecture 218 Figure 9

Section 47: Level 7 Quiz

Section 48: Rhythm 8

Lecture 219 Compound and Simple /32 Time Signatures

Section 49: Scales and Keys 8

Lecture 220 Parallel Keys

Lecture 221 The Blues Scale

Lecture 222 The Whole Tone Scale

Lecture 223 Serialism

Lecture 224 Serialism - Sounding Atonal

Lecture 225 Serialism - How to Compose

Lecture 226 Distant Modulation

Lecture 227 Prevailing Key Identification

Section 50: Transposition 8

Lecture 228 Transposing an Orchestral Score

Section 51: Harmony 8

Lecture 229 Extended Dominant Chords

Lecture 230 Chromatic Chords

Lecture 231 Augmented 6th Chords

Lecture 232 Secondary Dominant Chords

Lecture 233 Borrowed Chords

Lecture 234 Chord iv Minor (Borrowed)

Lecture 235 Chord ♭VI (Borrowed)

Lecture 236 Chord ii° (Borrowed)

Lecture 237 Other Chromatic Chords

Lecture 238 False Relations

Lecture 239 Analysing Harmony with Decoration 3

Lecture 240 3-Part Harmony Voice Leading

Section 52: Progressions 8

Lecture 241 Pedal 6/4

Lecture 242 Harmonic Sequence with Suspensions

Section 53: Figured Bass 8

Lecture 243 Figure 5

Lecture 244 Figure 5/4

Lecture 245 Figured Decoration

Section 54: Level 8 Quiz

Anyone keen to learn how much works and increase their understanding and enjoyment of music