Music Theory 101: From Keys And Scales To Rhyth... May 2026

When you play three or more notes at once, you create a chord.

This guide covers the essential building blocks of music. Think of these as the "alphabet" and "grammar" of the language of sound. 1. The Foundation: Notes and Intervals

Try to associate intervals with famous songs (e.g., the first two notes of "Star Wars" is a Perfect 5th). Music Theory 101: From Keys and Scales to Rhyth...

A (Semitone) is the smallest distance between two notes (e.g., C to C#).

A (Whole tone) consists of two half steps (e.g., C to D). When you play three or more notes at

Notes are named A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Half Steps & Whole Steps:

A Major triad has a "large" interval (Major 3rd) at the bottom, while a Minor triad has a "small" interval (Minor 3rd). A (Whole tone) consists of two half steps (e

The sequence of chords (like I - IV - V) that creates the "flow" of a song. 5. Practical Ear Training Theory is best learned by hearing.