Learn music, in four strands

The four strands below are meant to be worked in parallel, not in sequence. Theory without ear training produces someone who can analyse a score and not hear it; ear training without practice technique produces someone who can hear the problem and not fix it. Pick a starting point in each.

The four pillars

• Music theory — Scales, intervals, chords, keys, and progressions, explained without jargon.
• Ear training — Intervals, scale degrees, chord quality, and taking music down by ear.
• Practice — How to structure sessions so they produce progress rather than hours.

By instrument

Instrument pages assume the theory pillar and translate it to what is under your hands.

• Piano — Scales, fingering, reading the grand staff, and getting started.
• Guitar — Chords, the fretboard, notation and tab, and theory on a fretted instrument.
• Violin — Hold, bow, first position, reading, and an honest view of the learning curve.

If you are starting from zero

Read these three first, in this order.

• What is music theory? — The framing that makes the rest make sense.
• Music theory basics — The core material in the order that unlocks the most fastest.
• How to read sheet music — Notation from scratch.

Every tool on this site is free, runs in your browser, and requires no account. Start with the interactive circle of fifths if you want to see the theory before you read about it.