We all play music, but not everyone understands the science behind it. With music theory, musicians have a shared language to discuss and articulate ideas with other musicians. Unfortunately, not everyone learned this in school growing up (it'd be nice). Even if you do seek it out later in life, it can be hard to find a qualified music theory teacher willing to dispense all this knowledge on you (especially for free).

Lucky for anyone learning online at ArtistWorks, we've already done the work for you. We found a verifiable expert, Mr. Jonathan Coopersmith, and got him to record a whole series of music theory lessons for everyone here.

He boiled it all down to the main ingredients and has it broken up into 2 main categories: Basic Music Theory and Advanced Music Theory. Did we mention you already have access to all this in the Learn area? Read on to take the tour! 

As you can see, it all starts in the Learn area. Just click on where it says Music Theory and you'll be taken there. 

You’ll find 4 Sections in Basic Music Theory. Here’s what you get:

Basic Music Theory - Section 1:

• Introduction to Music Theory 
• Musical Alphabet 
• Staff Notation 
• Clefs 
• Key Signatures 
• Common Staff Markings 
• Time Signatures and Meter 
• Rhythm 
• Sight Reading Pointers 
• Practice Tips 
• Basics of Tablature Notation 
• Guitar Chord Charts 

Basic Music Theory - Section 2:

• Intervals 
• Chords: Triads 
• Chords: Sevenths 
• Chords with Added Notes 
• Chord Symbol Notation 
• Inversions 

Basic Music Theory - Section 3:

• Names of Scale Degrees 
• Scales - Part 1 
• Modes 
• Other Scales 
• Circle of 5ths 
• Major Scale Chords 
• Major Scale 7th Chords 
• Minor Scale Chords 
• Minor Scale 7th Chords 
• Modal Chords 

Basic Music Theory - Section 4:

• Basic Progressions 
• Chord Substitutions 
• Tritone Substitutions 
• Why Some Chords Don’t Work 
• Why Some Basic Progressions Don’t Work 
• Why My Solo Doesn’t Work 
• Tuning Issues 
• Understanding Improvisation 

Advanced Music Theory:

• Introduction to Counterpoint 
• Counterpoint: Cantus Firmus 
• Counterpoint: The 5 Species 
• Harmony 
• Cadences 
• Passing & Neighbor Chords 
• Cadential 6-4 
• Sequences 
• Chromaticism 
• Applied Dominants 
• Modulation 
• Mixure 
• Neapolitan Chords 
• Augmented 6ths 

There’s also a quiz at the end of each section. Pass the quiz, get the badge! 

If you go through all of these you will definitely be a more educated (and well rounded) musician. 

Whatever your background is, everyone can benefit from a little more music theory. It won't make a bad player good, but it will make a good musician better. 

Think of it this way: it can only help. So get in there!