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Topics Music Alphabet
Scales
Pentatonics
Intervals
Basic Chords
Diatonics
Transpose
Arpeggios
Modes
Number System
Reading Music
Circle of Fifths
Practice Tips
Chords

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"Shouldn't Music Theory be
Easy and Fun?"

"Play a D minor seven flat five, then modulate to the 4."

Huh??? Yeah, that's what I thought. Until I started teaching music and learned how to learn this stuff they call music theory.

I've been playing music for years. But when I started playing professionally, I ran into situations where I needed to know more about what it was I was playing.

Do you want to learn music? Like anything else, music theory should make sense. Let's face it. This is fun music, not higher level mathematics. Learning this stuff CAN be simple and enjoyable.

It all starts with what most teachers and textbooks leave out, and that's a solid, intuitive foundation. For that foundation, complex chord diagrams or tricky scale patterns written out in music notation are not necessary yet (but can be useful later on).

In these lessons, I'll show you how to look at music in a way that makes sense to you. We'll work through systems you already know, such as the alphabet, and the number system, and certain musical instruments.

We will cover areas such as basic to advanced scales, intricate rhythm patterns, and complex chord building. We'll learn this all in a way that is intuitive for Musicians, not Theorists.

Ready? Let's Go!!

John Boulware


Where Should Music Theory Beginners Start?
Music theory can be confusing, especially for beginners. Here are some tips for music theory beginners.

Music Theory Blog
The Music Theory for Musicians Blog keeps you 'up with the Joneses' on the new content for this site. Subscribe here.

Musicians, not Theorists
Our monthly music newsletter, Musicians, Not Theorists is a great way to keep up to date with our site and sharpen your music theory knowledge.

Search Music Theory for Musicians
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Contact Me
Contact me about Music Theory for Musicians.

Basic Music Theory Lessons
Learning music is easy and fun when you start at the beginning. Start here with these basic music theory lessons.

Learning Intermediate Music Theory
So you already know some basic music theory? Check out some intermediate music theory to expand your music knowledge.

Advanced Music Theory
Advanced music theory for the experienced musicians. Articles for refining your knowledge and filling in the gaps. Challenge yourself and expand your limits.

Practice Tips: Warming Up
Warming up before practicing music will make you play better: gauranteed.

Music Theory Worksheets
Free Music Theory Worksheets Available for Download

The Nashville Number System by John Boulware
The Nashville Number System explained in full! AND MORE!

Learning the Music Alphabet
Music is just like any other language. Learn the A-B-C'c of music with this music alphabet lesson.

Music Scales - Climbing the Alphabet
Music scales are the basis for melodies. They are sets of notes that we choose from to decide on what a song should sound like.

Music Scales Lesson
Learning about music scales can make you a better musician instantly. Scales are the foundation of all melodies. Learn more about what they are and why you need to know about them now!

Minor Scales Lesson
Minor scales exist in several forms. Each one has its own unique sound and uses. Learn about what they are and how to use them.

Pentatonic Scale Lesson
Here's a pentatonic scale lesson for every musician out there. Pentatonics are the easiest way to get started improvising. Read more to learn how they work.

All About Music Intervals
Music intervals are the distance between two notes. Learning these distances helps you relate notes more intuitively.

Learn Music Theory Intervals
Learn more about music theory intervals and how knowing how to use them makes you a better musician.

Intermediate Music Intervals Lesson
A slightly more advance lesson on what music intervals are and how they relate to scales and songs.

Learn Music Theory Chords
Learn about music theory chords and understand music better. See what chords are all about and why they matter, and become a better musician today.

Learning Diatonic Chords
A diatonic chords lesson explaining what they are and how to use them. Learn about the chords you hear in everyday music.

How to Transpose Chords
Learn how to transpose chords for any song to play in any key. Become a more versatile musician when you broaden your musical vocabulary.

Playing Arpeggios
A quick lesson on playing arpeggios along with what they are and how to build them. Applies to both major arpeggios and minor.

Music Modes and How to Use Them
Music modes are basically just scales in a different position. Learn what these positions are and how then can help you play better.

Introduction to Music Modes
An introduction into the world of music modes. Working off of scales, we'll go through the process of switching to different modes of one scale.

Advanced Music Modes
A sequel to the intermediate article, this one is on advanced music modes and how to use them without a headache.

The Nashville Number System
The Nashville Number System is the system that professional musicians use to compose, arrange, and transcribe songs. This system applies all songs to all keys.

Learning to Read Music: How to Read the Written Language of Musicians
Learning to read music is essential to learning music, but it also greatly improves your playing by a greater unerstanding of how music works.

Reading: The Music Staff
The music staff is the lines that we read music on.

Reading: Clefs
How to read clefs in music and understand them.

Reading: Note Values
Note values tell us how long a note is held out and how it pertains to the timing of the melody.

Reading: Time Signatures
Time signatures give us information about the meter of a song. They determine the number of beats in a measure, and how long each beat will last.

Key Signatures in Music Theory
Key signatures tell us the tonality or "key" of a song. It also tells us which notes the song will be using.

Learn the Circle of FIfths
Crack the secret to the circle of fifths. Learn what it is and how you can use it.

New Features on Music Theory for Musicians!
New Website features added!

Practice Tips!
Practice Tips on how to improve your instrumental playing on ANY instrument.

Music Theory Practice
How you can work on music theory practice and get better at it. Learn more, learn faster.

Music Theory Chords
In music theory chords make up the color of a song. A chord is multiple notes put together as a "tone cluster". Different arrangements make different sounds and feelings.