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PaperclipPerfector  17hr ago (text post)   758 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for August 14, 2026

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Related: any introductions to the basics of music theory that people can recommend that are understandable by regards?

I'll second the link to http://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/ - there's some reading at https://www.hooktheory.com/books/one that I thought was a good complement, oriented more toward popular than classical music, but their books cost some money (despite them having other free resources) while the former link is free.

If you prefer video (which I normally don't for education, but music is naturally an exception to that rule), the best beginner music theory videos I've seen on several topics come from https://youtube.com/@SignalsMusicStudio, and my favorite videos using music theory to analyze popular songs are from https://youtube.com/@DavidBennettPiano and https://youtube.com/@8bitMusicTheory

Not sure if it applies because I played several instruments before discovering it, but https://www.musictheory.net/lessons pretty much taught me music theory 20 years ago

Not an intro, but I really like Alex Yard's Sonic 3 Music Theory series on YouTube.

It does a lot of going over why things sound the way they do. Also plays the track with alternate choices and you can hear how it sounds different. It assumes some music theory knowledge, but I only have a little formal education, and I still find them enjoyable.

How highly regarded are you?

On a scale from "can read sheet music" to "can't always tell two notes apart", what's your current ability level?

I've taken a few drum lessons so I have some prior sheet music experience. Does that count?

I think I can tell two notes apart, but to be honest I don't think I have a good grasp of what a "note" even is.

Check out musictheory.pugetsound.edu

Thanks, this guy is literally from the University of Sound so I think this is promising.

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