Music Theory

Choose the topic you need, or follow the groups below from reading notes and rhythm to scales and chords. Use a guitar example alongside the explanation when you want to hear or play the idea.

Read notes and rhythm

• The staff, clefs and ledger lines explains where written pitches sit.
• Note duration introduces note and rest values.
• Bar lines, measures and time signatures explains how beats are grouped.
• Augmentation dots and ties explains two ways to extend written duration.
• Steps, tones and accidentals connects pitch distances with note names and symbols.

Try counting rests and ties on guitar to turn those duration rules into three one-string exercises, including a tie across a bar line.

If you need string and fret numbers, start with how to read guitar tabs. Tab and standard notation describe different aspects of an example; check where its rhythm is supplied.

Understand scales and keys

Start with the major scale and minor scale forms. Scale degrees describes notes by their place in a scale, while key signatures explains the sharps or flats written at the start of a staff.

For a pattern you can play, browse the guitar scale library. Its pages include tablature, note/fret sequences and original recordings, plus an optional interactive player. The theory lessons explain the relationships behind those patterns.

Name intervals and build chords

Read generic intervals for the number name, then specific intervals for qualities such as major, minor or perfect. Inverting intervals explains what changes when the lower note moves above the upper note.

The triads lesson uses roots, thirds and fifths to explain common three-note chord types. Compare those notes with a shape in the guitar chord charts or the first-chords lesson. A guitar voicing can repeat a chord tone across several strings.

Then build the chords in a major key and read Roman numerals. Work out the C and G major chord families, then play counted I–IV–V–I and I–V–vi–IV progressions using open guitar shapes.