Wondering what to do with a melody you've written? How could you go about turning it into a piece? In this music composition lesson we start with a melody in a minor key, then work out how best to harmonise it, considering various...

The one where we shine a laser at a speaker and see what happens. I was not prepared for all the weird stuff that happened! This experiment is based on a video by Steve Mould. Check out his video hereref='https://youtu.be/C-V1uXeyGmg'...

Learn all about the alto and tenor clef, how to draw them and how to read the notes. Instruments such as the viola read music in the alto clef. Other instruments, such as the trombone, also use the alto clef some of the time. The tenor...

What exactly are double sharps and flats, and why are they needed? Find out today on Two Minute Music Theory as we look at sharps, flats, and naturals...also known as accidentals.

The musicians of the world have got a bone to pick about Bach Puns. A Public Service Announcement.

Hey there! Looking for fun, awesome piano lessons for kids ages 6-10? Check out this video!

The next step from triads is looking at sevenths chords and how to identify them in music.

Hey there! Looking for fun, awesome piano lessons for kids ages 6-10? Check out this video!

We continue our "Building Music" series, looking at how composers construct music. Today we look at how motifs, phrases, and periods, and themes are used to create full musical forms. Music Examples: Bach - French Suite in E major, BWV...

Hey there! Looking for fun, awesome piano lessons for kids ages 6-10? Check out this video!

This music composition lesson explains the issues involved in resolving a Diminished 7th chord. After explanation about constructing a Diminished 7th, about key referencing it, and about inversions of the chord, the video explores the...

Hey there! Looking for fun, awesome piano lessons for kids ages 6-10? Check out this video!

Just by looking at a melody can you work out which key it is in? How can you tell just by looking at the notes which key a melody is in, especially when there is no key signature? Even if you can work it out how do you know if it’s in a...

I've gotten a lot of questions over the last 5 years. Some of them more than others, so today I'm starting an FAQ series. Today, we'll look at how to listen for the intervals and hear them better.

How to build a whole tone scale and exploring some of its uses. Most musicians are familiar with major and minor scales but what about other scales? The whole tone scale was much used by Debussy and other composers, and it generates a...

Learn how to modulate by semitone shift, sometimes known as the truck driver's gear change modulation, this technique is often used in pop music and musicals where the piece shifts up by a semitone towards the end of the song. By...

Today we take a look at how accidentals work and what they look like on sheet music. There are three main types of accidentals in music; the flat, the natural, and the sharp sign. But did you know there are other kinds of accidentals?

Today we look at the three chords (I, iii, vi) that have the specific function of being Tonic Chords. <br/>

Vaccines don't cause autism. But what even is autism? What causes it? And what's the difference between an autistic brain and a "neurotypical" brain? We've recruited our friend Cory from 12Tone to hear about his own experience as an...

There are two conventions used across the world for naming the rhythmic values of notes. This music theory lesson explains the two systems used either side of the pond. In both systems there is an element of logic that helps to grasp how...

Learn about the Musical Alphabet and Lines and Spaces on the music staff in this animated video about music theory.

What is swing rhythm? Some people find playing swing rhythm a little tricky. In this music theory lesson, we explain what swing rhythm sounds like, how to play swing rhythm and how to count swing rhythm. Swing rhythms appear in jazz and...

How to bring musical refinement to your playing and composing by balancing textures. When we are performing, balancing textures well can add an extra dimension to our playing or singing. Performers who fail to consider the balancing of...

Learn all about skips in music notation to make it easier to read music.