Here is a short list of links for learning music theory and other related skills.
Online textbooks and learning resources
- Devore, Richard O; Kulma, David; Naxer, Meghan; Clark, Jason; Kuhns, Krystal. How Music Works: A First-Year Theory Textbook (2nd ed.)
- musictheory.net, lessons and exercises for theory and ear training.
- Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, an open-access textbook by Robert Hutchinson.
- Music Theory for Musicians and Normal People, convenient one-page summaries written by Toby Rush, covering freshman and sophomore theory.
- Open Music Theory, an open-access online textbook
- teoria.com, lessons and exercises for theory and ear training.
- Hex Music Theory, YouTube videos, analyses, and supplemental materials for a wide variety of theoretical applications. From popular music to classical, guitar stuff, schema theory, Taneyev-style counterpoint, and more.
- Dave Conservatoire, a Khan Academy style website.
Books
- Christensen, Lars. The Cambridge History of Western Music Theory
Notation software
Other programs
- Audio Timeliner, analysis graphing software by Brent Yorgason.
Online Tools
-
Juicio Brennan’s Lyric Hyphenator - Automatically hyphenates lyrics. Saves time when copy-pasting into notation programs.
-
PC Set-Class Calculator - By David Walters at Mount Alison University.
-
TrainedEar PC Set-Class Calculator - Another set calculator. Has links to more such tools.
-
ToneSavvy - Exercises for many normal music theory things, but notable for its first species counterpoint trainer.
-
Artusi: Counterpoint - A demo of the Artusi software, but it has some exercises in counterpoint up to fourth species with decent error detection.
-
WesterParse - Westergaardian Species Counterpoint Online - Software based on the counterpoint rules of Peter Westergaard. Not as straightforward as the other counterpoint tools on this list, but certainly more flexible and robust.
YouTube channels
-
Alan Belkin - classical composition and orchestration
-
Bill Carmody - Music Theory chapter reviews of “Music in Theory and Practice” by Benward and Saker.
-
David Newman - ear training and musicianship
-
Dr. B / Christopher Brellochs - undergraduate theory and ear training
-
Early Music Sources - counterpoint, Renaissance and Baroque music
-
En blanc et noir - Partimento, classical improvisation
-
GUIM - Schenkerian analysis of video game music (VGM)
-
Jacob Gran - species counterpoint, Schenkerian analysis
-
Jay Beard Music - atonal, set theory, Scriabin
-
Jens Larsen - jazz guitar
-
Kent Hewitt - jazz piano
-
Metal Music Theory - self-explanatory
-
Music Matters - ABRSM and undergaduate music theory, as well as various other topics
-
NAETE - various pop and classical music topics
-
Orchestration Online - orchestration
-
The Prog School - progressive rock and metal composition
-
Ryan Leach - composition, film and video game music (VGM), classical form
-
Samuel Andreyev - 20th century composition and analysis
-
Seth Monahan - undergraduate theory
-
Signals Music Studio - pop and rock music, production
-
Sideways - various topics, film music
-
Things I Learned from Barry Harris - jazz guitar
-
Walk That Bass - jazz piano
-
8-bit Music Theory - video game music (VGM)