Some lucky people are born with the ability to play by ear, and so never need to worry themselves much with learning how to read music, key signatures, rhythm, melody, and harmony. For the rest of us, though, a solid grounding in at least the basics of music theory is an essential part of learning to play an instrument. Furthermore, as you progress through the music examination system, you will reach a point where you have to take a music theory test. So it is well worth your while getting to grips with the basics of music theory early on. In any case, it will help you play better and progress further.
Music Theory Resources – Quick Links To Content
Music Theory Software for Mac and PC
I’m a strong believer in the power of technology to help you get to grips with music theory. It can be a tricky subject so anything that can help you improve quickly is a plus. The great thing about software is you can teach yourself as you go along, and get instant feedback. And being able to interact with a music theory app is like having a teacher on hand 24/7.
Additionally, the best music theory software will take a structured step-by-step approach. It will give you a complete music theory curriculum which will guide you through basic music theory for beginners all the way up to intermediate and advanced music theory. Music Theory Apps also offer a variety of exercises and interactive music theory lessons, and will chart your progress as you gain confidence and ability.
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eMedia Music Theory Tutor Interactive Music Theory Software
For Mac and PC. Available to download or on CD-Rom direct from eMedia.
You can purchase or download the eMedia Music Theory Tutor software complete course for the price of a couple of lessons. Perfect for beginners and intermediates it will progress your music theory right up to advanced level. The music theory lessons in this software will teach you all the building blocks of music. You will learn to hear musical keys, scales, intervals, chords, and rhythms to help you compose music (with or without an instrument), improvise solos, and learn songs by ear faster. So not only will you acquire your music theory skills, you will be getting plenty of ear training in the process.
The really key point is the interactive nature of this software, so you get to learn by doing, not just by reading. Your virtual music theory teacher on hand when you are ready to learn.
Here are just a few of the things you will cover from a one-off purchase.
- Learn music theory with a step-by-step
- 9 grades (beginner to advanced) and over 430 music theory lessons, exercises, and tests with graphics, interactivity, and sound
- Learn music theory and ear training at the same time
- Measure your progress as you learn music theory with graphs and charts
- “Intelligent Practice” automatically selects questions to improve your weak spots
- A whole range of different exercises that teach you rhythmic fundamentals including tempo, counting beats, measures, values for notes and rests, and syncopation
- Learn recognition of simple and compound time signatures (including 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, 3/8, 9/8, etc.), and cut time.
- Interactive music theory lessons on how to read music, with explanations and exercises for learning clefs, key signatures, note pitches, names, and rhythmic values
- Explanation of major, minor (harmonic and natural), and chromatic scale construction plus modes and the all-important circle of fifths
- Ear training and theory exercises teach you to identify and understand note direction and motion, intervals (fourths, fifths, tritones, melodic/harmonic, etc.), scales, chords, and progressions
- Chord theory lessons outline chord construction (major and minor triads, diminished, augmented and 7ths), inversions, and arpeggios
- Lessons on chord progression theory covering chord function and cadence within progressions (tonic, dominant, subdominant, etc.), Roman numeral (I, IV, V, etc.) and figured bass notation, plus chord substitutions, phrasing, passing and pedal tones
- Lessons and exercises in musical form and analysis (binary, ternary, rondo, phrasing, etc.) help you better understand composition
- A harmonic flowchart plus major and minor harmony studies
- Solfege studies, with arpeggio and sight singing
Below is a video overview of the eMedia Music Theory Tutor.
You can buy eMedia Music Theory Tutor direct from the eMedia website.
Musition Music Theory Software
Complete with 43 topics, Musition is another very complete music theory tuition tool. it has breadth and depth of music theory content, and this software is great for beginners through to advanced students. Designed for students of all ages and abilities, Musition’s clean and simple interface means you can use it with young people through to university students and adults.
There are 43 topics in Musition, divided into seven groups: Pitch, Rhythm, Terms & Symbols, Harmony & Instruments, General Knowledge and Composition. Each topic has a series of graded levels which allows students of all abilities to comfortably use the software. Teachers can create custom levels to make sure their students are covering the appropriate topics for exams and assessments.
You just need to be careful which version of Musition you buy. Student cloud licences should only be purchased after directions from your instructor. If you are working on your own rather than through a school or teacher, then you can buy the student edition for personal use.
The cloud version is very versatile because it works in a browser, so you can easily access it on Mac, PC, iPad or Android. However, if you are not working through a teacher or institution then you will have to purchase Musition Student (scroll down to Student & Home) which is not browser-based.
Music Ace Deluxe Music Theory Software For Kids
For the young, and young at heart, Music Ace Deluxe Music Making Software for children contains a range of music theory games which both entertain and educate. Based around a cartoon character called Maestro Max, Music Ace teaches a range of music theory concepts from reading music notation through rhythm, scales and key signatures, ear training, and then tests you with plenty of quizes and games. Music Ace Software also comes with a musical “Doodle Pad” which is a really easy to use composition utility with drag and drop notes, and a choice of instruments. Children are soon creating their own sequences and tunes with this utility.
eMedia Music Software For Kids
Although the eMedia Music Software for Kids range is not specifically music theory software, it is a very cost effective way for young children to learn their music theory basics while also learning their chosen instrument. For example, the award-winning My Piano software was designed as a complete, engaging course of over 100 piano lessons for kids. Pam the Piano, teaches music basics including rhythm, how to read piano sheet music, and play popular, easy piano songs. Your child will get a good grounding in theory while enjoying all the interactive games. Also available are My Violin, My Guitar and My Electric Guitar.
Music Theory Apps for iOS and Android
Musition (iPad and iPhone only)
Musition software has always been considered class leading with good depth of content, a flexible curriculum and excellent learning tools. So their range of Musition Apps for iPad are definitely worth purchasing. Each app covers one aspect of music theory in depth, and they are all very reasonably priced. The topics covered are: Symbols; Note Reading (2 apps, beginners and advanced); Rhythm (3 different apps); Intervals; and Key Signatures. These apps are only available for iOS.
Ultimate Music Theory (iOS)
Ultimate Music Theory is an effective music theory learning tool for iOS. You can learn music theory fast, and whenever you have a few spare moments with your iPhone or iPad, with over 7000 expert-designed Music Theory Flashcards at your fingertips. This app has 6 progressive theory subjects to enhance your learning. This customized flashcard repetition algorithm cuts your memorization time dramatically. It also drills down into what you don’t know through an intelligent algorithm.
Music Theory Pro (iOS and Mac)
Music Theory Pro is both a music theory and ear training app for iOS (and also for Mac) in one package.
This app is designed to make practice fun, so you put enough time in to get a thorough grounding in music theory.
In this app, you will be presented with a note, key signature, interval, chord, scale, or tempo. Your challenge is to identify what you see or hear as quickly as possible to earn high scores and beat other people who are playing around the world. If you prefer, you can simply play on your own and you’ll never be forced to post your scores. The interactive nature of the app itself, and the social aspect of playing with others makes it a very satisfactory way of learning the basics and more.
As you become more advanced you will find there are: Competitive Games in which you can post your score to compete worldwide; Ear Training Chords, including inversions, and open voicings; Ear Training Scales covering different modes including Western Scales, Blues, Whole Tone, Pentatonic, etc; and Jazz Chords and Scales.
Music Theory Pro is also available for apple computers in the mac app store.
Music Theory Helper (Android)
The Music Theory Helper app has been designed to help you easily understand and find info about music theory.
You will learn all about: Chords; Circle of fifths; Exercises; Intervals; Note values; Rests; Scales; Symbols (dynamics, articulation etc.)
And within the app there are a range of different exercises available: Intervals – listening exercises; Chords – listening exercises; Note Reading – reading exercises (treble and bass clef); Intervals – reading exercises
Music Theory For Beginners (Android)
With the Music Theory for Beginners app you can learn basic musical notation with the help of various tutorials, visual aids, and practice tools. It includes comprehensive lessons on:
- Names and pitches of notes
- Duration of different types of notes and rests
- Time signatures and measures
- Notation used to adjust duration or pitch
- Key signatures and scales and more
It also incorporates lesson summaries, quizzes, tests, and a glossary for a nice learning experience.
Treble Clef Kids Deluxe (iOS)
One of the best iPad Music Apps for Kids, in Treble Clef Kids you and your child can learn to read music together.
Treble Clef Kids incorporaties four octaves of the piano keyboard and both staffs of the musical clef. It includes both the C Scale (white keys) and Chromatic Scale (white and black keys).
This app is an interactive and educational way for kids (and adults too) to learn the basics of music theory.
Treble Clef Kids is a new method to learn to read notes on a musical staff in a logical, guided way, progressively building upon the skills learned through multiple lessons. It covers both the C Scale and Chromatic Scale through four octaves of both the treble and bass clefs. The lessons include:
- “Practice” mode, to explore the piano keyboard and see the corresponding note names and location on a musical staff.
- Lessons that use a combination of the note letters presented on the keyboard, the name of the note asked for, and the location of the note on the staff. The student is encouraged to play the piano key matching the note letter
- Additional lessons remove the note names on the piano keyboard, asking the student to identify the right piano key by name
- Advanced lessons challenge the student without the aid of the letter name, and only presents the musical staff. This is the natural culmination on the path to reading music
- “Performance” mode is for the student’s first recital, using the sight reading music skills learned to read the music of a simple song
The interactive playing of the piano encourages students to seek the correct answer through the sound of applause, while providing quirky sounds for wrong answers without penalty. In addition, there are no advertisements for wandering kids’ fingers to stumble upon. A really nicely thought out learning experience for children.
