Piano Practice - Lesson #7 - Music Theory (Part 1)

Music Theory Music theory is the study of how music works. It includes the study of harmony, melody, rhythm, and other elements of music.

One of the most basic elements of music theory is harmony. Harmony refers to the way that different notes and chords are combined in a piece of music. A chord is a group of three or more notes played at the same time.

For example, a C major chord is made up of the notes C, E, and G played at the same time. Another important element of music theory is melody. Melody refers to the sequence of notes that make up a musical line. A melody can be simple or complex, and can move up and down in pitch.

Example:

C D E F G A B

This is the musical alphabet, each letter represents a note.

Here is an example of a simple melody:

C D E D C

This melody goes up and down in pitch, moving from the note C to the note D, then to the note E, and so on.

Rhythm is also an important element of music theory. Rhythm refers to the way that notes and chords are arranged in time. It can include the use of different rhythms and time signatures.

In summary, music theory is the study of how music works, including harmony, melody, and rhythm. It helps us understand how different elements of music fit together to create the music we hear.