Music theory

What is music theory?

What is music theory?

Music theory is the foundation of great music, and the all-important set of rules that most music follows – from harmony and melody, to rhythm.

Find all our latest music theory features and analyses here.

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Music theory features

‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ as music theory

A genius professor rewrote ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ as a lesson on music theory

QUIZ: Could you pass Grade 5 music theory?

QUIZ: Could you pass Grade 5 music theory?

Lifestyle

muses greek mythology

Modes: What are they and how do I use them?

Tone Deaf Comics theory sheet

This genius music theory cheat sheet is all you’ll ever need

Music theory analysis

david cameron humming musical analysis

We’ve done a musical analysis of the tune David Cameron was humming outside Downing Street

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Lady Gaga sings at Joe Biden's Inauguration

We asked a professional soprano to appraise Lady Gaga’s national anthem at the Biden inauguration

How good is Billie Eilish’s singing voice, from a classical music perspective?

How good is Billie Eilish’s singing voice, from a classical music perspective?

All I Want For Christmas Is You

A music theory analysis of Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’

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Most shared music theory features

Liam Gallagher sings in front of Pachelbel's Canon in D

10 pop songs you didn’t know were inspired by Pachelbel’s Canon

David Bowie Life on Mars

David Bowie’s isolated vocal from ‘Life On Mars’ reveals the true power of his tenor range

Barber's Adagio for Strings is sampled in Mobb Deep’s Down For You

What’s the piece of classical music in Mobb Deep’s Down For You?

‘Auld Lang Syne’ was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns, and is usually sung to fireworks on New Year’s Eve

What are the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne, and what does Auld Lang Syne actually mean?

Uncovered 9th-century manuscript could contain earliest Western music notation

Uncovered 9th-century manuscript could contain earliest Western music notation

What is solfège and what does Julie Andrews have to do with it?

What is solfège and why is it useful?

Key differences between a classical and an acoustic guitar - pictured: Ed Sheeran and Miloš Karadaglić

What are the key differences between a classical and an acoustic guitar?

Why do pianos have 88 keys?

Why does a piano have 88 keys?

Why the Severance theme music is so terrifyingly catchy

Why the Severance theme music is so terrifyingly catchy

Pachelbel’s Canon in D is one of the most famous canons

What is a canon?

What are microtones in music?

What are microtones in music?

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sing 'Defying Gravity' at the 97th Oscars

We break down Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Oscars duet from a classical music perspective

A ‘sonata’ often refers to a piece of music performed by a solo instrument with piano accompaniment.

What does ‘sonata’ mean in classical music?

Why does classical music make us cry? Pictured: Yukiko Ogura (Philharmonia Principal Viola)

Why does classical music make us cry?

German bass Ivan Rebroff had a vocal range of over four octaves

Hear the record-breaking range of German bass Ivan Rebroff, down to his earth-shuddering low F

What is an earworm?

What is an earworm and how do you get rid of one?

Latest on Classic FM

The English National Opera has expanded its ENO Breathe programme to include patients with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Opera training could help relieve asthma, in new ENO scheme

Pianist and composer Alexis Ffrench joins Classic FM to present new series on classical music in everyday life.

Pianist and composer Alexis Ffrench joins Classic FM to present new series ‘Music to Live By’
Dan Walker presents Sir Karl Jenkins with a gold disc to celebrate his No.1 entry in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026.

Sir Karl Jenkins voted No.1 in the Classic FM Hall of Fame for the first time ever

Classic FM Hall of Fame

Comedian Tom Allen to present new series ‘Totally Outrageous’ on Classic FM.

Comedian Tom Allen joins Classic FM to present new ‘Totally Outrageous’ series

Baroque Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi features on RAYE’s new album.

RAYE used a 300-year-old Baroque music sample on her new album

Vivaldi

David López Ibáñez

Man charged with theft of £150,000 violin from north London pub

Rainelle Krause has died aged 37

Viral ‘Queen of the Night’ soprano who just made her Met Opera debut dies aged 37

Win the ultimate Einaudi experience for two

Win the ultimate Einaudi experience for two

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Josh Groban sings to the tune of ‘Zadok the Priest’ for operatic Oscars opening sketch

Josh Groban sings to the tune of ‘Zadok the Priest’ for operatic Oscars opening sketch

Handel

Ludwig Göransson wins third ‘Best Original Score’ Oscar for Sinners

Ludwig Göransson dedicates third Oscar win to his dad after scooping Best OriginalLudwig Göransson dedicates third Oscar win to his dad after scooping Best Original Score for ‘Sinners’

Latest music theory features

Pachelbel canon

Pachelbel’s Canon might not actually be a canon

Ages ago

Sorry, but only a true musician can score 11/13 in this music notation quiz

Sorry, but only a true musician can score 11/13 in this music notation quiz

Ages ago

Lifestyle

Antonio Vivaldi

There are 7 musical modes and I’ll be impressed if you can identify them all

Ages ago

Lifestyle

Star Wars in a major key

The Star Wars Imperial March in a major key sounds bizarre and awful

Ages ago

Williams

Are you a true musician?

Answer yes or no to these questions and we’ll reveal if you’re actually a musician

Ages ago

Lifestyle

Latest quizzes

See more Latest quizzes

Are you smarter than a musical 18-year-old? Find out below...

Can you answer these A-Level music questions? Find out if you would pass first time...

Ages ago

Lifestyle

Who are Sideshow Bob and Bugs Bunny playing in these operatic parodies...

Can you guess the opera these cartoon characters are singing?

Ages ago

Lifestyle

What song did Olivia Olson sing in Love Actually? Take our quiz if you know the answer...

The Ultimate Christmas Movie Music Quiz

Ages ago

Lifestyle

We can accurately guess your birth month from your classical music preferences

We can accurately guess your birth month from your classical music preferences

Ages ago

Lifestyle

How far can you get in this classical music ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ quiz?

How far can you get in this classical music ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ quiz?

Ages ago

Lifestyle

Latest features

See more Latest features

Hildur Guðnadóttir wins Oscar for Joker

All the Oscar-winning film scores from the last 60 years

Oscars

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Who is Josh Groban? Oscars performance, songs, girlfriend and everything you need to know

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Josh Groban

Shani Willis, original Nancy from 1968 Oliver! sings on Britain’s Got Talent

92-year-old Nancy, original star of 1968 Oliver! film, sings phenomenal ‘As Long as He Needs Me’

1 month ago

Videos

Opera and ballet hit the headlines thanks to Timothée Chalamet interview

Sorry, Timothée Chalamet, it seems like the world does love opera and ballet...

1 month ago

Who are the new musical mentors for Season 4 of Channel 4’s The Piano?

Who are the new musical mentors for Season 4 of The Piano?

1 month ago