Lessons

These lessons are aimed at the musician who would like to learn music theory, basic notation skills, and principles of harmony in a concise manner. Most of all, they are designed for anybody who dislikes long written explanations. The lessons are very graphical and an easy read (you get the most out of the lessons when playing some of the examples on your instrument of choice as you read along). Below are brief descriptions of what the different sections have to offer.

The Basics section is for those who have no prior experience with note names and music notation. Here is the content for basic skills necessary for understanding the rest of the lessons. If you don’t recognize a topic listed, then it should be read before moving on.

3. Staff Information

5. Inversions

This section not only goes into scales and what goes into making them, but it is a large step towards understanding the musical language that the theory is communicated in.

How to construct triads, seventh chords, and list/read tensions (everything else). If you don’t know what those things are, you should check it out.

Musical concepts which string the above topics together into actual ideas. Movement of voices within a chord, how they relate to functions, and harmonic study of actual music.

7. Chord Progressions

3. Tuplets

4. Sequencing

6. Guide Tone Lines

(available on kindle and the iBookstore)

Basic skills for writing (notating) music. Specifics on rhythm, accidentals, use of articulation, ornament and dynamics symbols. All the concepts of a basic score or lead sheet.

1. Note Heads and Stem Direction

2. Barring

3. Applying Accidentals

5. Rhythm Slashes and the Drum Set

6. More on Time Signatures

8. Articulation

9. Dynamics

10. Ornaments

7. Other Staff Symbols

11. Writing Styles

4. Enharmonics

Advanced Musical Concepts