FAQ's		Artist Interviews / Tips / Q and A's / Podcasts / Book Reviews

Guitar Lessons - Music Theory Basics

MUSIC THEORY IS NOT PHYSICS!!!! It is important to know that before you start learning about it. It is simple math - addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

You don't need to know anything about music theory to write songs or play music. Learning music theory does, however, speed up the process and make it a lot easier.

Music theory has a very specific and logical set of rules. Learn these rules step by step and theory will be as easy as learning how to Add 2+2!!

Here are some important music theory definitions:

Interval - The distance between one note and another note

Sharp symbol (#) - changes a note to one half step higher

Flat symbol(b) - changes a note to one half step lower

Natural symbol - takes away a sharp or flat symbol that was on a note written previously (see the symbol in note names)

Music Alphabet- Letter A through G. When you get to G, you start over at A again(assuming you are not playing any Sharps or Flats).

Key - There are 12 of these in Western music. One for each of the 12 notes. Memorize this music theory concept!

Half step- the interval between one note and the note next to it. On the guitar- the interval between one fret and the fret next to it(either up the neck or down the neck)

Whole step- the interval between 2 notes with one note separating them. On the guitar- the interval between 2 frets having 1 fret separating them

Western Music-music which originated in the Western hemisphere. Western Europe and North America mainly.

1. In Western music theory, there are 12 notes: B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A# - these notes are all a 1/2 step apart.
2. I Started at the B note because I wanted you to see that there is no # note between B and C or between E and F. B to C and E to F are called natural 1/2 steps.
3. C is looked at as the "home" key because of the important location of middle C on the piano and because it is the key with no flats and sharps. This fact will help music theory make sense.
4. Listen to the audio then try to play these notes slowly on your guitar.
5. Forgot how to read TAB notation? click here
6. Remember to keep the right hand pinky finger down, curl your left fingers, and press the string with the fingertip.

(Hear it!)

Eastern Music-music which originated in Eastern Europe, India, China, Japan