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

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’

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Most shared music theory features

Can you answer these quiz questions using just the musical notes?

Can you answer these quiz questions using just music notes?

Lifestyle

Are you smarter than a 16-year-old? Find out below...

Can you answer these GCSE Music questions? Find out if you would pass first time...

Lifestyle

Amadeus Café, Mahon

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

Ivan Fischer improves 'Happy Birthday'

Conductor completely tears apart ‘Happy Birthday’ and makes it a million times better

Iván Fischer

Why do pianos have 88 keys?

How many keys does a standard piano have? It’s 88 – here’s why...

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

David Bowie Life on Mars

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

Auld Lang Syne

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

Latest on Classic FM

John Williams scored the first three Harry Potter movies

Harry Potter soundtrack: what are the famous themes and did John Williams score all the movies?

Williams

The Neanderthal Flute is carved from the bone of a Cave Bear

Hear the world’s oldest instrument, the 50,000 year old neanderthal flute

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

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

Malakai Bayoh sings ‘Caruso’ in Britain’s Got Talent final

Malakai Bayoh sings operatic song ‘Caruso’ with shining high notes in Britain’s Got Talent final
Malakai Bayoh on Britain’s Got Talent

Treble Malakai Bayoh reduces judges to tears with ‘divine’ Puccini aria on Britain’s Got Talent
Malakai Bayoh

Who is Malakai Bayoh? Get to know classical music’s new star treble

Some of history's greatest composers were part of the LGBTQ+ community.

15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know

Mira Nadon is the first woman of Asian descent to be appointed principal dancer at the New York City Ballet.

First female principal dancer of Asian descent at New York City Ballet is ‘important milestone’
Season 4 of HBO’s Succession returned in Spring 2023 for the final time.

Succession soundtrack: Here’s why the HBO show’s theme tune is stuck in your head

Latest music theory features

What does this song teach us about music theory...?

Why ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ is the perfect song to teach music theory

5 months ago

Bats have a wider vocal range than Mariah Carey, at an astonishing seven octaves

Bats have a wider vocal range than Mariah Carey, at an astonishing seven octaves

6 months ago

Music literacy matters T-shirt

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

8 months ago

JS Bach Happy Birthday

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

9 months ago

Bach

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

10 months 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...

12 days ago

Lifestyle

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

Can you guess the opera these cartoon characters are singing?

1 month 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

6 months 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

7 months 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?

7 months ago

Lifestyle

Latest features

See more Latest features

Violinist Brandon Elliott plays solo through intercom on Texas flight, to the delight of passengers

Violinist plays solo through intercom on Texas flight, to the delight of passengers

7 days ago

Amazing high school students sing ‘Down to the River to Pray’ from hotel balconies

Amazing high school choir sings spiritual ‘Down to the River to Pray’ from hotel balconies

8 days ago

Videos

Prehistoric Planet 2 composers built other-worldly instruments using real dinosaur bones

Prehistoric Planet 2 composers built other-worldly instruments using real dinosaur bones

11 days ago

Zimmer

Classical dogs

21 pawfect dog names for classical music lovers

11 days ago

Alan Menken: ‘I knew about Lin-Manuel Miranda as a little boy, who was obsessed with The Little Mermaid!’

Alan Menken: ‘I knew about Lin-Manuel Miranda as a little boy, who was obsessed with The Little Mermaid!’

12 days ago

Alan Menken