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Learn free music theory

This course can be taken by absolute beginners with zero experience and covers all of music theory rudiments, which normally takes around a year of classes to complete. There is homework at the end of each lesson, and you’ll learn much better if you complete it before moving onto the next video. Music theory is useful for any instrument and composition. I hope you find this helpful! ^_^

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Lesson 1

Intro to the series, staff, bar lines, double bar lines, basic clefs, the grand staff.

Lesson 2

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

Different types of note names and values, stem direction.

Lesson 4

Time Signatures, counting, beats, metronome explained, and rhythm.

Lesson 5

Rests explained.

Lesson 6

Dotted notes, triplets, duple time vs compound time, strong and weak beats.

Lesson 7

Rest grouping, more on strong, medium and weak beats in duple, triple and quadruple times.

Lesson 8

Semi-tones and whole tones explained, how to draw a keyboard on paper to help to visualize notes, sharps, flats and naturals.

Lesson 9

Different types of semi-tones; chromatic and diatonic.

Lesson 10

Major scale, formula for major scales using semi-tones and whole tones.

Lesson 11

Natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales explained. Relationship between "relative" majors and minors.

Lesson 12

Key Signatures explained. Order of sharps and flats.

Lesson 13

Circle of fifths. Sometimes called "circle of keys".

Lesson 14

Finding the key of a piece.

Lesson 15

Upbeats/pick-up beats.

Lesson 16

Basic Intervals.

Lesson 17

Intermediate intervals (major/minor/perfect intervals), double sharps and double flats.

Lesson 18

Advanced intervals (diminished/augmented intervals).

Lesson 19

Major and minor Triads/3-Note-Chords, how to build chords with theory, inversions.

Lesson 20

Scale degrees

Lesson 21

Basic melody writing tips. Q & A.

Lesson 22

Level one terms list. Italian musical terms.

Lesson 23

A recap of all we’ve learned so far in exam format. (Don’t worry, it’s not too scary!)

Lesson 24

Fixing errors, a check list to look for.

Lesson 25

Transposition from Major to Major.

Lesson 26

Cadences, Perfect, Plagal, Imperfect and Deceptive. How to write a perfect and plagal cadence.

Lesson 27

32nd, 64th, 128th notes and rests, dots, triplet, duplet, quadruplet and more! Rhythmic lesson!

Lesson 28

Modal scales. "Church modes"

Lesson 29

Italian terms list Level 2.

Lesson 30

Exam for Level 2

Lesson 31

C clefs

Lesson 32

Tetra effect, pentatonic scale, and whole tone scale.

Lesson 33

Blues scale, 12 tone technique (not great detail), poly-chords, tone clusters, and quartal chords.

Lesson 34

More on intervals. Enharmonic changes and inverting.

Lesson 35

Compound intervals and the process of inverting them also.

Lesson 36

The Roman numerals for each chord in a major, and minor scale. Plus how we number inversions in harmonic analysis.

Lesson 37

Open and close chords, as well as doubling.

Lesson 38

Dominate & Diminished 7th chords.

Lesson 39

Transposition from minor to minor, explanation why minor to major isn’t really practical.

Lesson 40

S A T B and different score types.

Lesson 41

The Imperfect Cadence.

Lesson 42

Melody writing techniques using perfect and imperfect cadences.

Lesson 43

Hybrid time signatures.

Lesson 44

Time signature changes, and also syncopations.

Lesson 45

Ornaments.

Lesson 46

Orchestral instruments, including how to transpose instruments like Bb Trumpet, F English Horn, and more into concert pitch!

Lesson 47

Structure in music, including Binary form and Ternary form.

Lesson 48

Non chord (non harmonic) tones.

Lesson 49

Terms list for level 3.

Lesson 50

Final Exam for music Rudiments.