Teach on Udemy

Turn what you know into an opportunity and reach millions around the world.

Learn More

Your cart is empty.

Keep shopping

The Complete Introduction To Music Theory Course

Name: The Complete Introduction To Music Theory Course
Rating: 4.7 (436 reviews)

Intervals, Scales, And Chords From The Ground Up

Created byMatthew Carano, Joe Parys, Joe Parys Support

Last updated 10/2016

English

What you'll learn

Identify and create major and minor scales.
Identify and create major, minor, augmented, and diminished chords.
Understand the Circle Of Fifths, and it's relationship with keys and scales.
Identify and create intervals and their inversions.
Identify and create diatonic chords.
Create chord inversions.
Identify scale degrees.
And more!

Course content

2 sections • 25 lectures • 1h 32m total length

Welcome to The Complete Introduction To Music Theory Course!2:26
Welcome to The Complete Introduction To Music Theory Course!
Course Introduction3:25
Welcome to Intro To Music Theory! This course is split into two modules.

In Module 1, you’ll learn all about keys, intervals, and scales, and how they relate to each other. Together we’ll build major and minor scales, and learn how to differentiate between the two. At the end of this section, you’ll understand intervals and keys, and how to build both major and minor scales off any note on the keyboard.

In Module 2, you’ll learn how to build major, minor, augmented, and diminished chords, and how music is organized in a vertical way. Chords are great way of introducing the concept of harmony – how notes can be used to support a melody.

To get started, simply move on to the next lesson. Remember, this course moves pretty fast! There's a ton of content packed into each lesson, so make sure to go back and re-watch any video to help you solidify concepts that give you trouble. Use the downloadable lessons and online quizzes to practice, and send a message if you get stuck.
Want to learn music theory? You're already on your way!
Module 1 Intro2:29
In case you missed it, download this staff paper to doodle on!
Major Scales4:52
Major Scales
Major Scales Quiz
Minor Scales3:52
Students will learn how to construct and identify the three distinct types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, and melodic. They'll discover the unique interval patterns that give each scale its characteristic 'sad' or 'dramatic' sound, a fundamental concept for understanding harmony and melody in music.
Minor Scales Quiz
Practice Major And Minor Scales0:45
Scales are the foundation of music composition, and we just went over two types; major scales and minor scales. There are tons of other scales types out there, but pretty much all of them are based on major and minor, so it’s important to understand them. Now, I don’t expect you to memorize all of them right away. The important thing to do is commit their formulas to memory. That way you can always figure them out when you need to.

Use the downloadable PDF below to practice your scales.

Also, if you get a chance, practice your major and minor scales on your instrument of choice. Scales help you understand your instrument better – where all the buttons, frets, or keys are. The better you can get around your instrument, the better player you’ll become.
And in case you haven't committed it to memory yet:

The major scale formula is: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

The minor scale formula is: whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole.

Practice your major and minor scales so you can play in happy and sad!
Key Signatures7:02
Students will learn how to read and understand key signatures, which are the sets of sharps or flats placed at the beginning of a musical staff. They'll discover how key signatures establish the tonal center or "key" of a piece of music, which dictates the primary scale and chords that will be used. Understanding key signatures is a fundamental skill for sight-reading and composing music.
Key Signature Quiz
Circle Of Fifths8:19
If the Circle Of Fifths is handy, and downloads are handy, then a Circle Of Fifths Download is twice as handy!
Scale Degrees3:24
Students will learn how to identify and name the seven scale degrees, which are the individual notes of a scale numbered according to their position. They'll discover the specific names for each degree, like the Tonic (the first degree) and the Dominant (the fifth degree), and understand how these degrees define a note's function and relationship within a key.
Scale Degrees Quiz
Intervals3:32
Students will learn how to identify and measure musical intervals, which represent the distance in pitch between any two notes. They'll discover how to classify intervals by their number (e.g., a 3rd) and quality (e.g., major or minor), a fundamental skill for understanding how both melodies and chords are constructed.
Specific Intervals10:45
Here’s an Interval Distance Chart to help you get from point A to Point B. Or point Ab to point B# if the mood strikes ya!
Practice Intervals0:48
Interval Inversions1:54
This lesson marks the end of Module 1. If you're fuzzy on any aspects of building and identifying intervals and scales, please go back and re-watch the lessons that gave you trouble.

Attached is a handy little inversion chart in case you need it. And remember, if you get stuck, you can always send us a question!
Interval Inversions Quiz

Module 2 Intro2:01
There’s downloadable blank staff paper coming from everywhere!
Chord Creation - Major4:12
Students will learn the fundamental formula for building major chords, which serve as the foundation for a vast amount of music. They'll practice starting with any root note and stacking the specific intervals of a major third and a perfect fifth on top to construct a major triad from scratch.
Practice Major Chords0:36
Practice Major Chords
Chord Creation - Minor3:59
Students will learn the specific formula for constructing minor chords, understanding the key alteration that gives them their characteristically somber sound. They will practice building minor triads by starting with a root note and stacking a minor third and a perfect fifth on top, mastering the essential skill of creating minor harmony.
Practice Minor Chords0:28
Practice Minor Chords
Chord Creation - Augmented and Diminished4:20
Students will learn how to build augmented and diminished chords, expanding their harmonic vocabulary beyond standard major and minor triads. They will practice altering the fifth of a chord—raising it to create a tense augmented chord and lowering it to create an unstable diminished chord—to add unique tension and color to their music.
Augmented And Diminished Chord Quiz
Chord Creation Continued3:32
Students will learn to expand their chord-building skills by moving beyond basic triads to construct more complex and richer harmonies. This lesson will cover how to add a fourth note—the seventh—to create various types of seventh chords, such as the Major 7th and Dominant 7th, which are essential for styles like jazz, blues, and pop music.
Chord Creation Quiz
Chord Inversions2:28
Students will learn how to create chord inversions, which involves rearranging the notes of a chord so that a note other than the root is in the lowest position. They'll practice identifying and creating first inversion and second inversion triads, a crucial skill for creating smoother bass lines and more varied harmonic textures in their music.
Practice Chord Inversions0:25
Practice Chord Inversions
Diatonic Triads9:36
Students will learn how to build the seven diatonic triads of a major scale, which are the chords that naturally occur within any given key.1 They'll discover the consistent pattern of major, minor, and diminished chords that forms the harmonic foundation of a key, enabling them to understand and create their own chord progressions.
Diatonic Triad Quiz
V I5:47
V I
Conclusion1:16
Conclusion

Requirements

Students must know how to read music on the treble clef before taking this course, in particular pitches.
In a perfect world, students should have access to a keyboard, piano, or keyboard app on their computer or phone. It is possible to use another instrument for reference, but a keyboard (even a phone app keyboard) is preferable because all the notes on a keyboard are laid out sequentially.
Students should know that "enharmonic" refers to notes, keys , or scales that sound the same but are written different. For instance, C# and Db notes sound the same. They are referred to by different names based on key.
Students should know that a "half step" is the distance between one note and the very next adjacent note. The distance between an "A" and an "A#" is one half step. A "whole step" is equal to two half steps.

Description

⇉ Watch the promo video to see How You Can Learn Music Theory from the ground up.

⇉ Join Over 950,000+ Students Who Have Enrolled In My Udemy Courses This Year!

⇉ 7,500+ Five Star Reviews on our courses prove Students Who Enrolling Are Getting Real Results!

Then this course is for you! Click "Take This Course Now" For Instant Life-Time Access!

_________________________________________________________________________

Hi, My name is Joe Parys and Together working with Matt Carano of The Music Class, we will take your music theory knowledge and understanding to a whole new level though a series of video tutorial lectures and quizzes. In this course you will learn to:

Identify and create major and minor scales.
Identify and create major, minor, augmented, and diminished chords.
Understand the Circle Of Fifths, and it's relationship with keys and scales.
Identify and create intervals and their inversions.
Identify and create diatonic chords.
Create chord inversions.
Identify scale degrees.
And more!

_________________________________________________________________________

Being a musician is more than just playing an instrument or singing. It's about understanding music fundamentals like theory. Knowing theory gives you the ability to understand the music you hear, and communicate the songs in your head. This makes you a better singer, player, and bandmate.

With the right mindset, understanding, and application of the teachings in this course, you will instantly begin to move towards understanding and learning music theory!

When I learn something new about the topics covered in this course, I add it to the course - at no additional cost to you! This is a course that will continue to add value to you as a musician or music lover.

In addition to the Udemy 30-day money back guarantee, you have my personal guarantee that you will love what you learn in this course.

__________________________________________________________________________

What I can't do in this Course..

I can't guarantee your success – this course does take work on your part. But You Can Do It!

I am also not responsible for your actions. You are responsible for 100% of the decisions and actions you make while using this course.

__________________________________________________________________________

This course will not remain this price forever! It's time to take action!

Click the "take this course" button at the top right now!

...every hour you delay is costing you money...

See you in the course!

Sincerely,

Matt Carano & Joe Parys

Who this course is for:

Any beginning or intermediate musician who wants to learn music theory will benefit from this course. Students must know how to read music before taking this course.
This course will benefit both vocalists and instrumentalists.
Students who have zero music knowledge, in particular how to read music should learn that before taking this course.

The Complete Introduction To Music Theory Course

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Module 1 - Scales And Intervals13 lectures • 54min

Module 2 - Chords12 lectures • 39min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: