Music Theory Resources

Practical music theory guides for guitar, bass, keyboard, and DAW users. Learn by doing — build chord progressions, explore scales, and discover harmony.

Learn Music Theory

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What Is Music Theory? — Turning Feel into a Recipe

Once you have the recipe, you can recreate, remix, and share

5min›2

What Are Intervals? (Beginner Level)

Understanding the distance between notes makes it easier to recreate and expand musical ideas

5min›3

What Are Chords?

Learn how combinations of notes create mood and movement

5min›4

What Is a Key?

Understand music's gravity to see the flow of progressions

5min›5

What Are Scales?

The map that guides your melodies and improvisation

5min›6

What Is Diatonic?

The chord 'team' born from stacking scale notes

5min›7

The Science of Ear Training

Use theory as a weapon, and ear copying gets much easier

5min›8

Learning Chord Progressions

How to give your chord sequence a sense of drama

5min›9

Expanding Your Chord Palette

7ths, sus, and add chords — same progressions, richer sound

5min›10

Dress Up Your Progressions with Substitute Chords

Same drama, different expression — swapping teammates on the field

5min›11

Non-Diatonic Chords — Calling in Reinforcements from Outside the Team

Just 3 spice chords from "outside" the diatonic world

5min›12

Slash Chords Explained: How One Bass Note Transforms Your Progressions

Pave the path beneath your chords and they instantly sound more professional

5min›

Free Web Tools

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Chord Progression Builder

Build progressions with 15 groove patterns. Hear your ideas instantly.

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Find Chords

Guitar, bass & keyboard fretboards. 8 scales, diatonic tables.

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❓FAQ 💡About 💰Pricing 📖Getting Started

Take theory further on iOS

OtoTheory AI suggestions, 15 groove patterns, MIDI/audio export, section editing, and more — all on your phone.

Download on the App Store

Free to start · Pro with free trial · View plans