Music theory, step by step

Short lessons you click through, from the staff to chord progressions. Every example plays; tap any note to hear it.

Lessons

The basics
  1. 1The staff, clefs and ledger lines
  2. 2Note lengths
  3. 3Measures and time signatures
  4. 4Rests
  5. 5Dots and ties
  6. 6Steps and accidentals
Rhythm and meter
  1. 7Simple and compound meter
  2. 8Odd meters
Scales and key signatures
  1. 9The major scale
  2. 10The minor scales
  3. 11Scale degrees
  4. 12Key signatures
  5. 13Finding the key
Intervals
  1. 14Interval numbers
  2. 15Interval qualities
  3. 16Writing intervals
  4. 17Turning intervals over
Chords
Diatonic chords
Chord progressions
  1. 30Notes outside the chord
  2. 31Phrases and cadences
  3. 32Circle progressions
  4. 33Common progressions
  5. 34Triads in first inversion
  6. 35Triads in second inversion
  7. 36Analysis: Old Hundredth, lines 3 and 4
Note names
Lesson 18

Triads

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A chord is three or more notes sounding together. The most common chord is the triad: three notes stacked in thirds, here C, E and G.

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