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

‘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’

Watch

Most shared music theory features

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?

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

Latest on Classic FM

Pope Leo XIV is a pianist

The new Pope, Leo XIV, is a pianist who can play fiendish Bartók piano solos

Andre Rieu plays violin at UEFA Champions League in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Netherlands national anthem: what are the Dutch lyrics and English translation?

'O mio babbino caro' - a Puccini aria often performed by soprano Renée Fleming

What are the lyrics and translation of ‘O mio babbino caro’?

Puccini

Largest string orchestra world record, Recklinghausen, Germany

1,350 musicians break world record for largest string orchestra with immense ‘Ode to Joy’

Beethoven

La Scala bans flip-flops and shorts in beachwear crackdown at top opera house

La Scala bans flip-flops and shorts in beachwear crackdown at top opera house

Laufey sings ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in memory of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota.

Laufey sings ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ at Liverpool church in memory of footballer Diogo Jota
5-year-old pianist to make history as youngest ever performer at Carnegie Hall

5-year-old prodigy to make history as youngest ever pianist to perform at Carnegie Hall

Classic FM Live at 25 with Viking at the Royal Albert Hall

Classic FM Live at 25 with Viking: join us for a spectacular concert at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2025!

Events

Erik Satie

27 lost works by Erik Satie heard for the first time, 100 years after the composer’s death

Aled Jones and Stuart Burrows

Child star Aled Jones sings with late tenor in poignant ‘Panis Angelicus’ duet

Aled Jones

Latest music theory features

Are you a true musician?

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

Ages ago

Lifestyle

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

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

'Mission: Impossible' composer Lalo Schifrin has died aged 93.

Iconic 'Mission: Impossible' composer Lalo Schifrin has died, aged 93

13 days ago

Glastonbury festival gates open to a brass band playing John Williams’ Superman

Glastonbury festival gates open to a brass band playing John Williams’ Superman!

14 days ago

Williams

Jonathan Bailey reveals he played clarinet on the ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ soundtrack

Jonathan Bailey played clarinet solo on the ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ soundtrack – here’s proof

15 days ago

Yunchan Lim plays Rachmaninov in the competition final

Who is Yunchan Lim? Piano sensation’s debut Chopin album, competitions and best performances

17 days ago

Timothy Richards performing ‘Nessun dorma’

Welsh tenor stuns stag-do party with extraordinary performance of ‘Nessun dorma’

17 days ago

Puccini