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.

Watch

Music theory features

Circle of fifths new asset

What is the circle of fifths?

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?

Music theory song

One song that teaches you everything about music theory

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’

Watch

Most shared music theory features

Music literacy matters T-shirt

‘I like to eat puppies’ – viral t-shirt shows why musical literacy is important

JS Bach Happy Birthday

‘Happy Birthday’ – but it’s in the style of a Johann Sebastian Bach fugue

Bach

Amadeus Café, Mahon

This restaurant wanted to put some beautiful music on their menu… and made a really bad choice

Metrolinx’s new train posters have caused havoc among musicians online.

A train company poster features dubious music notation – and musicians are not on board

Why do we call classical music ‘classical music’?

Why do we call classical music ‘classical music’?

Tone Deaf Comics theory sheet

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

Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ musical analysis

The genius harmonic sequence that gives Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ its emotional power

Fibonacci sequence in music

What is the Fibonacci Sequence – and why is it the secret to musical greatness?

Latest on Classic FM

Lizzo performs on a crystal flute, courtesy of the Library of Congress, in Washington D.C.

Lizzo makes history by playing the Library of Congress’ 200-year-old crystal flute

Videos

Elgar’s greatest compositions

10 of Elgar’s greatest pieces of music

Elgar

Christmas music by members of the Durham Cathedral Choir

O Magnum Mysterium: what are the lyrics, and which composers have set it?

Two masked flute players in a Hong Kong propaganda video.

Hong Kong propaganda video showing ‘double-masked’ flute players catches attention

Coronavirus

Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2022: shortlisted artists include Anna Lapwood, Mitsuko Uchida and Kirill Petrenko

Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2022: how to watch, and all the nominated artists

Events

This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

This week’s radio highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

John Williams honoured as Queen Elizabeth II’s final ‘Knight’ before she died

John Williams honoured as Queen Elizabeth II’s final ‘Knight’ before she died

Williams

Duke University’s offensive lineman, Chance Lytle, stunned his team mates with a rousing rendition of a beloved Italian song

Singing American football player wows teammates with Bocelli’s ‘Time to Say Goodbye’

Videos

Alison Balsom is an award-winning trumpet soloist

‘To diminish music in education is a really big mistake’ – star trumpeter Alison Balsom

Alison Balsom

Harry Styles and Florence Pugh star in new psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling.

What’s the soundtrack to ‘Don’t Worry Darling’, and who wrote it?

Latest music theory features

Nirvana, but in a major key

Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ remixed in a major key shows the importance of tonality

4 months ago

Musician vocal ranges

We looked at the vocal ranges of these iconic singers — and they’re really impressive

4 months ago

Period Table from Tone Deaf Comics

This Periodic Table of composers makes music history really, really geeky

4 months ago

Can you pass Grade 1 music theory?

QUIZ: Could you pass Grade 1 music theory?

6 months ago

Lifestyle

Music theory Valentine’s Day cards

16 Valentine’s Day cards perfect for music theory nerds

7 months ago

Latest quizzes

See more Latest quizzes

Put the musical instrument in its correct place in the orchestra

QUIZ: Can you put the musical instrument in its correct place in the orchestra?

21 days ago

Lifestyle

How old is your soul?

How old is your soul, based on your classical music taste?

1 month ago

Lifestyle

Have you ever tested your musical IQ?

Are you a musical prodigy? Take this scientific music IQ test

2 months ago

Lifestyle

QUIZ: Can you unscramble these iconic classical composer names?

QUIZ: Can you unscramble these iconic classical composer names?

4 months ago

Lifestyle

Can you guess the John Williams film score from the cryptic emoji sequence?

Can you guess the John Williams film score from the cryptic emoji sequence?

5 months ago

Lifestyle

Latest features

See more Latest features

Trombone Champ – the world's first interactive trombone rhythm game

Toot your way to musical genius with the world’s first trombone rhythm game

6 days ago

The Very Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra

The Very Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra: With 10 Musical Sounds!

7 days ago

'Phantom of the Opera' to close on Broadway after 35-year run

Broadway’s longest-running show ‘Phantom of the Opera’ to close in February after 35 years

7 days ago

The Massed Pipes and Drums of Scottish and Irish Regiments outside Westminster Abbey during the State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

Where do bagpipes come from, and who invented them?

9 days ago

Her Majesty’s coffin has traveled across the UK, and is now lying in state in London.

The Queen’s funeral: how music moved a nation at Westminster Abbey and beyond

9 days ago