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

Why do pianos have 88 keys?

Why does a piano have 88 keys?

Why the Severance theme music is so terrifyingly catchy

Why the Severance theme music is so terrifyingly catchy

Pachelbel’s Canon in D is one of the most famous canons

What is a canon?

What are microtones in music?

What are microtones in music?

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sing 'Defying Gravity' at the 97th Oscars

We break down Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Oscars duet from a classical music perspective

A ‘sonata’ often refers to a piece of music performed by a solo instrument with piano accompaniment.

What does ‘sonata’ mean in classical music?

Why does classical music make us cry? Pictured: Yukiko Ogura (Philharmonia Principal Viola)

Why does classical music make us cry?

German bass Ivan Rebroff had a vocal range of over four octaves

Hear the record-breaking range of German bass Ivan Rebroff, down to his earth-shuddering low F

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?

Latest on Classic FM

Choristers sing Allegri’s haunting ‘Miserere’ in empty St Paul’s cathedral

Choristers sing Allegri’s haunting ‘Miserere’ in empty St Paul’s cathedral

Allegri

Portrait Of Erik Satie and cover of score for Parade

The best (and strangest) pieces of music by Erik Satie

Historical figures you didn’t know were musicians: Albert Einstein, Jane Austen, Queen Elizabeth I

10 historical figures you didn’t know were classically trained musicians

12-year-old Anisa plays in The Piano

‘She’s a star’: virtuosic 12-year-old pianist stuns The Piano judges in Liverpool Street station
Soprano Lesley Garrett sings Bizet’s ‘Habanera’ in dramatic shopping centre flashmob

Soprano Lesley Garrett sings Bizet’s ‘Habanera’ in dramatic shopping centre flashmob

Lesley Garrett

Flight attendant plays ‘Over the Rainbow’ on violin to passengers on US flight

United Airlines flight attendant plays ‘Over the Rainbow’ violin solo on busy flight

This extraordinary glass violin is so accurate that you can actually play it

Japanese glassblowers create the world’s first playable glass violin

Classic FM Live returns to the Royal Albert Hall for a movie music special

Classic FM Live returns to the Royal Albert Hall for a movie music special in April 2025

Events

Violin played in heartbreaking ‘Titanic’ scene to be sold for £60,000 at auction

Violin played in heartbreaking ‘Titanic’ film scene to be sold for £60,000 at auction

Orchestras call on government to reform streaming laws

Orchestral musicians unite to demand UK government reforms streaming royalties

Latest music theory features

Teach children music theory

16 wonderfully creative ways to teach children music theory

Ages ago

Music geek transcribes the sound of closing doors on the London Underground

Music geek transcribes the sound of London Underground tube doors closing

Ages ago

Videos

Snowmen chords by ClassicJenny

Chords, cadences and inversions, described by snowmen

Ages ago

Music theory ‘True or False’ quiz

Can you score 12/15 in this music theory ‘True or False’ quiz?

Ages ago

Lifestyle

'Bad Guy' in a major key

‘Bad Guy’ by Billie Eilish, but this very good guy plays it in a major key

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

Violinist sings soulful ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ duet with himself in epic encore

Violinist sings soulful ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ duet with himself in epic encore

11 days ago

What are the lyrics to the hymn ‘Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer’?

What are the lyrics to the hymn ‘Guide me, O thou great Redeemer’?

13 days ago

Ralph Fiennes to direct his first opera in Paris' magnificent Palais Garnier

Ralph Fiennes to direct his first opera in Paris’ magnificent Palais Garnier

14 days ago

Tchaikovsky

King Charles plays ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ on a carrot at Windsor Castle

King Charles plays ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ on a carrot at Windsor Castle

14 days ago

High blood pressure can lessen your response to classical music

High blood pressure can lessen your response to classical music, new study finds

14 days ago