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A Comprehensive Guide to From Scratch Writings in Music Theory

Hank Mitchell

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Music theory is a vast and complex subject, but it doesn't have to be intimidating. With the right approach, anyone can learn the basics of music theory and start writing their own music.

One of the best ways to learn music theory is to start from scratch. This means starting with the very basics and gradually building your knowledge over time. This approach can be especially helpful for beginners who are overwhelmed by the thought of learning everything at once.

From Scratch: Writings in Music Theory

by Robert Wannamaker

4.5 out of 5

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This guide will provide you with a step-by-step guide to writing music theory from scratch. We'll start with the basics, such as notes, intervals, and chords, and gradually progress to more advanced topics, such as scales, harmony, and counterpoint.

By the end of this guide, you'll have a solid understanding of music theory and be able to write your own music with confidence. So let's get started!

Step 1: Notes

The first step to learning music theory is to learn the notes. There are 12 notes in the Western musical system, and they are:

Notes are represented on a musical staff. The staff is made up of five horizontal lines and four spaces. The lines and spaces are named after the notes, starting with , which is called the "E" line.

To write a note on the staff, you need to know two things: the pitch of the note and the duration of the note. The pitch of the note is determined by the line or space on which you write the note. The duration of the note is determined by the shape of the note head.

The four most common note heads are:

Whole note
Half note
Quarter note
Eighth note

A whole note is the longest note, and it lasts for four beats. A half note lasts for two beats, a quarter note lasts for one beat, and an eighth note lasts for half a beat.

Step 2: Intervals

An interval is the distance between two notes. Intervals are measured in half steps. A half step is the smallest interval in the Western musical system. It is the distance between two adjacent notes on a piano keyboard.

There are 12 different intervals, and they are:

Unison
Minor second
Major second
Minor third
Major third
Perfect fourth
Tritone
Perfect fifth
Minor sixth
Major sixth
Minor seventh
Major seventh

Intervals are used to create melodies, harmonies, and chords.

Step 3: Chords

A chord is a group of three or more notes played together. Chords are used to create harmony in music.

The most common type of chord is the triad. A triad is a chord that consists of three notes: a root, a third, and a fifth.

The root of a chord is the lowest note in the chord. The third is the note that is three half steps above the root. The fifth is the note that is five half steps above the root.

There are three main types of triads:

Major triads
Minor triads
Diminished triads

Major triads have a major third and a perfect fifth. Minor triads have a minor third and a perfect fifth. Diminished triads have a minor third and a diminished fifth.

Step 4: Scales

A scale is a series of notes that are arranged in order of pitch. Scales are used to create melodies and harmonies.

The most common type of scale is the major scale. A major scale consists of seven notes: a root, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, and a seventh.

The notes in a major scale are spaced according to the following pattern:

Root
Whole step
Whole step
Half step
Whole step
Whole step
Half step

There are many other types of scales, including the minor scale, the pentatonic scale, and the blues scale.

Step 5: Harmony

Harmony is the combination of two or more notes played together. Harmony can be used to create a variety of effects, such as tension, release, and movement.

The most basic

From Scratch: Writings in Music Theory

by Robert Wannamaker

4.5 out of 5