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

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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

David Bowie Life on Mars

David Bowie’s isolated vocal from ‘Life On Mars’ reveals the true power of his tenor range

Barber's Adagio for Strings is sampled in Mobb Deep’s Down For You

What’s the piece of classical music in Mobb Deep’s Down For You?

‘Auld Lang Syne’ was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns, and is usually sung to fireworks on New Year’s Eve

What are the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne, and what does Auld Lang Syne actually mean?

Uncovered 9th-century manuscript could contain earliest Western music notation

Uncovered 9th-century manuscript could contain earliest Western music notation

What is solfège and what does Julie Andrews have to do with it?

What is solfège and why is it useful?

Key differences between a classical and an acoustic guitar - pictured: Ed Sheeran and Miloš Karadaglić

What are the key differences between a classical and an acoustic guitar?

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?

Latest on Classic FM

Hans Zimmer to compose score for HBO’s new Harry Potter series

Hans Zimmer to compose original score for HBO’s new Harry Potter series

Zimmer

Is Jessie Buckley classically trained?

Did you know ‘Hamnet’ star Jessie Buckley studied piano, clarinet, saxophone, harp and singing?
Anna Lapwood plays newly restored Britton organ

Restored 5,000-pipe organ finally sounds again at sell-out Anna Lapwood concert

Ludwig Göransson won the Best Original Score Golden Globe for 'Sinners'

Outrage as ‘Best Original Score’ award cut from Golden Globes televised broadcast

Hamnet (2026) starring Jessie Buckley

Max Richter’s ‘Hamnet’ soundtrack leaves fans in tears after Jessie Buckley scene

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Washington National Opera leaves Kennedy Center

Washington National Opera ends 55‑year residency at the Trump Kennedy Center, citing financial issues
Listen to the Classic FM Hall of Fame countdown live, 9am-9pm across the Easter weekend.

Vote for your favourite classical music in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026

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Footage resurfaces of Paul Mescal singing in school production of ‘Phantom of the Opera’

Paul Mescal stars in school production of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ in unearthed footage

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Rare iron age trumpet unearthed in Norfolk

Rare iron age battle trumpet unearthed in Norfolk

Gustavo Dudamel is one of today’s most celebrated orchestral conductors

Who is Gustavo Dudamel, Grammy-winning Venezuelan conductor?

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Latest music theory features

Sorry, but only a true musician can score 11/13 in this music notation quiz

Sorry, but only a true musician can score 11/13 in this music notation quiz

Ages ago

Lifestyle

Antonio Vivaldi

There are 7 musical modes and I’ll be impressed if you can identify them all

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Star Wars in a major key

The Star Wars Imperial March in a major key sounds bizarre and awful

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Williams

Are you a true musician?

Answer yes or no to these questions and we’ll reveal if you’re actually a musician

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Teach children music theory

16 wonderfully creative ways to teach children music theory

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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

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

The Ultimate Christmas Movie Music Quiz

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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?

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Lifestyle

Latest features

See more Latest features

Stephen Schwartz boycotts Trump’s Kennedy Center gala

Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz boycotts Trump’s Kennedy Center gala

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Sir Bryn Terfel joins Classic FM to host new series on opera villains.

Opera star Sir Bryn Terfel joins Classic FM to host new series

13 days ago

Bryn Terfel

What happened to all Mozart’s children?

What happened to all Mozart’s children?

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Mozart

Fake cannonball falls off stage, hits timpani right on cue in ‘Nutcracker’ accident

Fake cannonball falls off stage, hits timpani right on cue in ‘Nutcracker’ accident

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Tchaikovsky

Does Will Sharpe really play the piano in Amadeus?

Does Will Sharpe really play the piano in Amadeus?

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