Music theory

What is music theory?

What is music theory?

Music theory is the foundation of great music, and the all-important set of rules that most music follows – from harmony and melody, to rhythm.

Find all our latest music theory features and analyses here.

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Music theory features

‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ as music theory

A genius professor rewrote ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ as a lesson on music theory

QUIZ: Could you pass Grade 5 music theory?

QUIZ: Could you pass Grade 5 music theory?

Lifestyle

muses greek mythology

Modes: What are they and how do I use them?

Tone Deaf Comics theory sheet

This genius music theory cheat sheet is all you’ll ever need

Music theory analysis

david cameron humming musical analysis

We’ve done a musical analysis of the tune David Cameron was humming outside Downing Street

Exclusive
Lady Gaga sings at Joe Biden's Inauguration

We asked a professional soprano to appraise Lady Gaga’s national anthem at the Biden inauguration

How good is Billie Eilish’s singing voice, from a classical music perspective?

How good is Billie Eilish’s singing voice, from a classical music perspective?

All I Want For Christmas Is You

A music theory analysis of Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’

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Most shared music theory features

What is an earworm?

What is an earworm and how do you get rid of one?

Maxim Vengerov – here’s why musicians use vibrato

Why do musicians always use vibrato?

How did music notation begin?

How did music notation begin?

What is a scale?

What is a scale?

Violinist name Ava Bahari plays with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

What’s the difference between a symphony, a concerto, and a sonata?

Why were piano keys once white and black – and why did they reverse?

Why are piano keys black and white? And when did they change?

A 150-year-old Beethoven symphony helped to invent the CD.

A CD can hold exactly 74 minutes of music, thanks to Beethoven

Beethoven

Why are orchestras arranged the way they are? Photographed: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Why are orchestras arranged the way they are?

Exploring the meaning and history of the concept of ‘music’

What does ‘music’ mean, and what is the origin of music?

Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto inspired the songwriter of hit pop power ballad ‘All By Myself’.

Why ‘All By Myself’ sounds uncannily like Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2

Rachmaninov

Why do orchestras tune to an oboe’s ‘A’?

Why do orchestras tune to an ‘A’?

Bach and the Circle of Fifths

What is the circle of fifths?

What are the keys in music?

What are the keys in music?

This bizarre one-octave ‘microtone’ piano will change your perception of pitch and harmony forever

This one-octave ‘microtone’ piano will change your perception of pitch and harmony forever

Videos

What are the clefs in music?

What are the clefs in music?

Explaining flat, sharp and natural notes in music

What’s the difference between a sharp and a flat note?

Latest on Classic FM

Sancta Staatsoper Stuttgart.

Eighteen opera-goers treated for severe nausea after opera of live sex, nuns and blood

Opera North and concerts for babies

10 classical concerts perfect for babies and toddlers

Michael Giacchino.

10 best film scores by Michael Giacchino

Árstíðir sing in Wuppertal train station

An 800-year-old Icelandic hymn sung in a train station is utterly haunting

Wallen, Marsalis, Joplin.

10 brilliant pieces of music by Black composers

Cissy and Whitney Houston singing

Remembering Cissy Houston’s unbelievable vocal talent, in soul duet with daughter Whitney

Videos

Maria Anna and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Was Mozart’s sister actually the most talented musician in the family?

Mozart

Young Persons guide trilogy

Introducing ‘The Very Young Person’s guide to Classical Music Collection’ book trilogy!

Dan Walker completes his 200-mile Coast to Coast charity bike challenge across North of England!

Dan Walker completes his 200-mile Coast to Coast charity bike challenge across North of England!
Britney Spears ‘Toxic’ without autotune

Leaked audio shows Britney Spears’ hugely impressive raw vocals in ‘Toxic’

Latest music theory features

A musical analysis of 'No Time to Die'

A detailed musical analysis of Billie Eilish’s new Bond theme, ‘No Time to Die’

Ages ago

Bach memes

10 Bach memes that will accurately teach you music theory

Ages ago

Bach

Matt Marzano sustains a note for five minutes using circular breathing

‘Mind-blowing’ tuba player holds a five-minute note using circular breathing

Ages ago

Videos

Fenn Rosenthal’s ‘Dinosaurs in Love’ has been viewed over 2 million times

Toddler’s viral ‘Dinosaurs in Love’ song is actually very good. Here’s why.

Ages ago

Classical theory cartoons

6 irresistibly clever cartoons to explain classical music theory

Ages ago

Latest quizzes

See more Latest quizzes

Are you smarter than a musical 18-year-old? Find out below...

Can you answer these A-Level music questions? Find out if you would pass first time...

Ages ago

Lifestyle

Who are Sideshow Bob and Bugs Bunny playing in these operatic parodies...

Can you guess the opera these cartoon characters are singing?

Ages ago

Lifestyle

What song did Olivia Olson sing in Love Actually? Take our quiz if you know the answer...

The Ultimate Christmas Movie Music Quiz

Ages ago

Lifestyle

We can accurately guess your birth month from your classical music preferences

We can accurately guess your birth month from your classical music preferences

Ages ago

Lifestyle

How far can you get in this classical music ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ quiz?

How far can you get in this classical music ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ quiz?

Ages ago

Lifestyle

Latest features

See more Latest features

Music by John Williams trailer

First trailer drops for major new John Williams documentary on Disney+

11 days ago

Williams

Andrea Bocelli sings with YuMi, the conducting robot

When Andrea Bocelli joined the world of science by singing Verdi with a robot conductor

12 days ago

Andrea Bocelli

Ophélie Gaillard’s 300-year-old cello has been stolen for a second time

French cellist issues plea after rare €1.3 million cello is stolen in home burglary

13 days ago

Remembering Dame Maggie Smith in 2012 film 'Quartet'

Remembering Dame Maggie Smith with her film about Verdi and the joy of singing with friends

16 days ago

The Choir of King's College Cambridge

10 of the greatest choirs in the world

16 days ago