Music Theory Basics: A Simple Guide for Beginners

Music theory basics form the foundation of understanding and creating music. From the simplest melodies to complex symphonies, these fundamental principles shape how we perceive and interact with sound.

The Fundamentals of Pitch

Image credit: CrowN on Unsplash

Notes and Octaves

Notes are the building blocks of music. They come in various durations, from whole notes to eighth notes and beyond. There are only seven main notes on the scale:

  • A, B, C, D, E, F, G

And after the G note, we go back to the A note. These main notes are also considered to be one octave - which means the same note but in a different pitch.

For visualization purposes, here's an illustration of a piano. Seven notes up from the original C note is another C note. Except, it's another octave higher of the same note.

Intervals and Harmonies

But music theory doesn't end with notes and octaves. There are also intervals and harmonies which can help improve a piece of music greatly.

Intervals

Intervals are the building blocks of scales, chords, and melodies.

But what exactly are intervals? Imagine jumping between stepping stones over a river. The space between 2 stones is called an interval. Bringing it back to music, an interval is the distance between 2 notes on the staff. When played, the notes can sound harmonic or melodic.

For example, between the F chord and C chord on the staff has 5 semitones, creating a fifth interval.

If we have a B chord and D chord on the staff, it would be 3 semitones, creating a third interval.

With this example, the chords C to D take a small step, creating a second interval.

Harmony

A harmony is when two or more notes are played together at the same time that sounds good together. It can help make the music fuller and richer, adding to the melody to make it sound even more beautiful.

These harmonies usually come from intervals. And when intervals are stacked on top of each other, chords are created.

For instance, if you play a C chord and an E chord together, it's a harmony.

The Circle of Fifths

The circle of fifths is a powerful tool in music theory. It's like a tool that helps illustrate how different notes and keys work together in music. It helps with creating harmony, transposition, chord structure, and intervals.

Think of the circle of fifths like a clock with the numbers replaced by the 12 notes of the musical alphabet in a circle. It's called "fifths" because each note is five steps apart in music; it can also be seen as 5 steps up the major scale or 7 semitones.

For example, the perfect fifth of C is G:

  • C, D, E, F, G

The perfect fifth of G is D:

  • G, A, B, C, D

And the perfect fifth of D is A:

  • D, E, F, G, A

The circle will continue moving through all 12 notes of the alphabet until it goes back to C.

Major and Minor Key Signatures

Moving right on the circle of fifths

If you know a little about music theory, you would know that the key of C major has no flats or sharps. But if you move clockwise by a fifth from C major to G major, you'll realize that G major has an accidental F sharp.

On D major, the note has an F sharp and a C sharp. As you move down the scale, the number of sharps accumulates with each note, stopping at C# with 7 sharps.

Here's a mnemonic to help you remember: Fast Cards Go Dangerously Around Every Bend.

Moving left on the circle of fifths

The minor keys are similar to the major keys but the difference would be to go counter-clockwise on the circle of fifths. Going backwards on the scale from C major, you'll land on F major that has an accidental flat of B.

This number of flat accumulates with each note, stopping at C flat with 7 flats.

In fact, it's the mnemonic used above but read in the opposite order. B - E - A - D - G - C - F.

This a small breakdown of the circle of fifths. But if you want to go more in depth, read our article The Circle of Fifths: A Comphrehensive Look.

Decoding Musical Structure

Melody and Harmony

Melody and harmony are the core of musical structures that comes together to elevate a piece of music.

The melody is the tune that the singer sings or hum. If you are singing the song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", you're singing the melody.

On the other hand, the harmony is notes that support the main melody. It fills in the background, making the music sound richer and fuller.

When a melody like C-D-E plays, it can fit into a chord or harmony that's made of C, E, and G.

However, there are some songs that don't have any harmony or other instruments to back it up. This is called "monophonic music". This applies to singing the melody alone or solely playing to melody on the piano or guitar.

Contrary to monophonic music, polyphonic music is wen there are multiple melodies happening at the same time, working together in harmony.

The relationship between tones in a melody can suggest chords, creating an implied harmony even when notes aren't heard simultaneously.

Song Forms and Sections

Songs have a special way of organizing themselves. Some common structures include:

  • Strophic (AAA): The melody for these kinds of songs are usually repeated for each of the verses. the only exception would be the lyrics changing with each verse. One popular song that uses this structure is Scarborough Fair by Simon & Garfunkel.

  • Verse-Chorus (AB): The verse often tells the story while the chorus acts as a hook. This is one of the more commonly used formats these days. One example of a song would be Let It Go from Frozen.

  • AABA: Along with strophic form, songs that uses the AABA format were common in older pop music. The song repeats itself two times, followed by a contrasting bridge and finally another repetition of the initial strophe. A good example would be Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Judy Garland.

Analyzing Simple Compositions

To analyze a composition, one should first identify its key, meter, tempo, and instrumentation.

  • Key: The note where the song is the most comfortable

  • Meter: The beats of the song. Is it in 4/4 time or 3/4 time?

  • Tempo: The speed of the song

  • Instrumentation: The tools used to tell the story

Examining the melody's characteristics, such as its range and movement (steps or leaps), provides insight into the piece's structure. Harmonic analysis involves identifying key changes, chromatic chords, and cadence points. Rhythmic elements, including meter changes and patterns, contribute to the overall feel.

Practical Applications for Beginners

Ear Training Exercises

Beginners can enhance their musical skills through ear training exercises. These include interval recognition, chord identification, and melodic dictation.

  • Interval Recognition: Recognizing the space between two separate notes. The ability to recognize a second interval from the chords C and D and a fifth interval from the chords C and G.

  • Chord Identification: Being able to know which chord is playing just by listening.

  • Melodic Dictation: The skill of recognizing melodies and notes with just one listen. For example, being able to sing or play the exact notes that was just played on the piano.

Regular practice helps develop the ability to recognize musical elements by ear, improving overall musicianship.

If you'd like to practice ear training, read our comprehensive guide here.

Basic Sight-Reading Skills

Sight-reading can be tough even for the best musicians.

Instead of words, music sheets use staff and music notations to convey the instrumental, harmony, or melody. It's like a whole nother language that you'll have to master. Regardless, everyone can multitask if they try hard enough.

  1. Start with rhythm

All songs come with a beat. Try clapping your hands, tapping with your feet or even counting the rhythms out loud.

  1. Focus on pitch

Get used to recognizing common chords such as C, D, and E on the music staff.

  1. Combine

Put the two together, and you will be able to sing the vocals or play the instrument of the song.

This sounds easier than actually doing it, but with regular practice like 10 minutes a day, your sight-reading skill can significantly improve.

Conclusion

Music theory serves as the backbone of musical understanding and creativity. It influences how we perceive and create music, from simple melodies to complex compositions. By grasping these fundamentals, you'll be able to unlock a new world of musical appreciation and expression. The concepts covered, from pitch and harmony to song structure and analysis, provide a solid foundation to build upon. Music theory is great but you know what’s even better? Chord progressions. Here’s a guide to the fundamentals of chord progression that every musician needs to know.

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The Fundamentals of Chord Progression