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Music Theory Unlocked: From Notes to Chords in Plain English
Demystify the language of music without the jargon. This practical course guides you through the essentials of reading, writing, and understanding music theory, using clear everyday English and real musical examples. Perfect for beginners or anyone who wants to build a solid foundation for playing,
150 min4 modulesBeginner friendly
Start this free courseFree to take. This course does not use any Learning Credits.
What you’ll be able to do
By the end of this course, you will be able to read basic musical notation, identify key signatures and scales, construct major and minor chords, and apply these concepts to analyse simple songs or improve your own playing.
Course outline
A clear route from first principles to practical confidence
- 01
Module 1: The Building Blocks – Notes, Rhythm, and the Stave
- What Is Music Theory? – Why It Matters and How We'll Learn
- The Stave, Clefs, and Note Names – Finding Your Way Around
- Rhythm Basics – Note Lengths, Rests, and Simple Time Signatures
- 02
Module 2: Scales and Keys – The Musical Alphabet in Order
- The Major Scale – Pattern, Steps, and Why It Sounds Happy
- The Minor Scale – Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic Variations
- Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths – How Keys Work Together
- 03
Module 3: Chords and Harmony – Building Blocks of Songs
- Intervals – The Distance Between Notes and How They Sound
- Major and Minor Triads – The Foundation of Chords
- Chord Progressions – How Chords Move and Create Emotion
- 04
Module 4: Putting It All Together – Reading and Writing Simple Music
- Melody and Phrasing – How Notes Form Musical Sentences
- Dynamics, Articulation, and Expression Marks – Adding Feeling
- Your First Analysis – Breaking Down a Simple Song
