Coursera
  • All DegreesExplore Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees
  • Computer Science & EngineeringExplore Computer Science & Engineering degrees
  • BusinessExplore MBA & Business degrees
  • Bachelor’s DegreesExplore master’s degrees from leading universities
  • MasterTrack™Earn credit towards a Master’s degree
  • University CertificatesAdvance your career with graduate-level learning
Find your New CareerFor EnterpriseFor Universities
  • Browse
  • Top Courses
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Music Theory

    Filter by

    136 results for "music theory"

    • Free

      Placeholder
      The University of Edinburgh

      Fundamentals of Music Theory

      4.5

      (1.6k reviews)

      Beginner · Course · 1-3 Months

    • Placeholder
      Michigan State University

      Getting Started With Music Theory

      4.5

      (708 reviews)

      Beginner · Course · 1-4 Weeks

    • Free

      Placeholder
      California Institute of the Arts

      Approaching Music Theory: Melodic Forms and Simple Harmony

      Skills you'll gain: Business Analysis, Critical Thinking, Research and Design, Strategy and Operations

      4.7

      (142 reviews)

      Intermediate · Course · 1-3 Months

    • Placeholder
      Berklee

      Developing Your Musicianship

      4.8

      (1.6k reviews)

      Beginner · Specialization · 3-6 Months

    • Free

      Placeholder
      Yale University

      Introduction to Classical Music

      4.9

      (3.7k reviews)

      Mixed · Course · 1-3 Months

    • Free

      Placeholder
      Duke University

      Music as Biology: What We Like to Hear and Why

      Skills you'll gain: BlockChain, Business Psychology, Combinatorics, Computer Graphics, Culture, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Graph Theory, Graphic Design, Human Computer Interaction, Interactive Design, Leadership and Management, Marketing, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Mathematics, Sales, Strategy, Strategy and Operations, Virtual Reality

      4.3

      (660 reviews)

      Mixed · Course · 1-3 Months

    • Placeholder
      Placeholder
      Berklee

      Musicianship: Tensions, Harmonic Function, and Modal Interchange

      4.9

      (389 reviews)

      Intermediate · Course · 1-3 Months

    • Placeholder
      Placeholder
      Berklee

      Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys

      4.9

      (537 reviews)

      Intermediate · Course · 1-3 Months

    • Placeholder
      Placeholder
      Berklee

      Songwriting: Writing, Arranging, and Producing Music

      Skills you'll gain: Writing, Communication, Research and Design, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Business Analysis, Business Psychology, Critical Thinking, Culture, Leadership and Management, Strategy and Operations, Storytelling

      4.8

      (1.9k reviews)

      Beginner · Specialization · 3-6 Months

    • Placeholder
      Placeholder
      Berklee

      How to Play Guitar

      Skills you'll gain: Applied Mathematics, Business Analysis, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Research and Design, Strategy and Operations

      4.8

      (2.5k reviews)

      Beginner · Specialization · 3-6 Months

    • Placeholder
      Placeholder
      Berklee

      Piano Techniques for Modern Music

      Beginner · Course · 1-3 Months

    • Placeholder

      Free

      Placeholder
      Universitat Pompeu Fabra of Barcelona

      Audio Signal Processing for Music Applications

      Skills you'll gain: Algorithms, Theoretical Computer Science, General Statistics, Probability & Statistics, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Programming, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Python Programming, Statistical Programming, Computer Graphic Techniques, Computer Graphics, Computer Vision, Human Computer Interaction, Interactive Design, Machine Learning

      4.8

      (281 reviews)

      Intermediate · Course · 1-3 Months

    Searches related to music theory

    approaching music theory: melodic forms and simple harmony
    fundamentals of music theory
    getting started with music theory
    1234…12

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular music theory courses


      Frequently Asked Questions about Music Theory

      • Coursera has some great free music theory courses, such as Edinburgh Music Theory, Audio Signal Processing and The Music and Life of Beethoven. These online classes can help you deepen your understanding of music theory, audio technology and Beethoven's rich musical legacy.‎

      • If you are new to music theory, Berklee's Musicianship Specialization is the perfect place to start. It offers courses such as Music Theory, Play Guitar, Piano Techniques for Modern Music, and Guitar Theory that can help you get a great foundation in music theory and unlock your musical potential.‎

      • For those looking to learn more advanced music theory, Melodic Forms and Simple Harmony, Piano Scales for Modern Music, Beethoven's Piano Sonatas, The Blues and Jazz Improvisation courses are excellent resources to expand your musical knowledge!‎

      • Music theory is the set of rules that govern how to create and communicate music. You can think of music theory as the equivalent of grammar when it comes to language. The fundamentals of melody, rhythm, and harmony are the main elements of music theory. Many of the skills you need to play an instrument or sing are part of music theory as well—elements like notes, chords, scales, keys, and tempo. Music theory also explains the qualities that make a song or piece of music good, such as pitch, tone, dynamics, and timbre.‎

      • A knowledge of music theory can help you become a better singer, musician, songwriter, or performer. It’s true that you can write a quality song or compose a compelling piece of music with no understanding of music theory whatsoever, but knowing the logic behind good music helps you to create works listeners will enjoy. Music theory isn’t a set of hard and fast rules you must obey every time, but it helps you communicate and connect better with the music that you create. Understanding music theory also makes it easier to conquer more complex musical forms and styles.‎

      • If you’re a professional musician or aspire to be one, having a knowledge of music theory can help you play pieces and sing songs better. You’ll also compose better songs or works when you understand how music theory works. Music theory also comes in handy if you’re teaching music because you can impart your knowledge to your students and help them succeed. Even if you don’t play music professionally, you can benefit from knowing music theory because it helps you think strategically, and making music for fun spurs your creativity as well, both of which can enhance any career you have.‎

      • Music theory is a broad discipline, but online courses on Coursera can help you learn it with the flexibility that fits your lifestyle. You’ll have access to information that can help you gain a foothold in the concepts and rules that govern music theory, and you’ll also have the opportunity to discover practical applications that can help you compose and perform music more effectively. As a professional musician looking to take your career to the next level or a living room performer who wants to hone your skills, online courses on Coursera provide resources that can help you attain the knowledge you need to make music with greater confidence.‎

      This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
      Other topics to explore
      Placeholder
      Arts and Humanities
      338 courses
      Placeholder
      Business
      1095 courses
      Placeholder
      Computer Science
      668 courses
      Placeholder
      Data Science
      425 courses
      Placeholder
      Information Technology
      145 courses
      Placeholder
      Health
      471 courses
      Placeholder
      Math and Logic
      70 courses
      Placeholder
      Personal Development
      137 courses
      Placeholder
      Physical Science and Engineering
      413 courses
      Placeholder
      Social Sciences
      401 courses
      Placeholder
      Language Learning
      150 courses

      Coursera Footer

      Learn Something New

      • Learn a Language
      • Learn Accounting
      • Learn Coding
      • Learn Copywriting
      • Learn HR
      • Learn Public Relations
      • Boulder MS Data Science
      • Illinois iMBA
      • Illinois MS Computer Science
      • UMich MS in Applied Data Science

      Popular Data Science Topics

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Engineering
      • Data Science
      • Excel
      • Machine Learning
      • Python
      • Power BI
      • R Programming
      • SQL

      Popular Computer Science & IT Topics

      • Blockchain
      • Coding
      • Computer Science
      • Cybersecurity
      • Full Stack Web Development
      • IT
      • Java
      • Software Engineering
      • Web Design
      • Web Development

      Popular Business Topics

      • Accounting
      • Business Finance
      • Communication Skills
      • Leadership & Management
      • Marketing
      • Product Management
      • Project Management
      • UX Design
      • UX Research
      • Writing

      Coursera

      • About
      • What We Offer
      • Leadership
      • Careers
      • Catalog
      • Coursera Plus
      • Professional Certificates
      • MasterTrack® Certificates
      • Degrees
      • For Enterprise
      • For Government
      • For Campus
      • Become a Partner
      • Coronavirus Response
      • Free Courses
      • All Courses

      Community

      • Learners
      • Partners
      • Beta Testers
      • Translators
      • Blog
      • Tech Blog
      • Teaching Center

      More

      • Press
      • Investors
      • Terms
      • Privacy
      • Help
      • Accessibility
      • Contact
      • Articles
      • Directory
      • Affiliates
      • Modern Slavery Statement
      Learn Anywhere
      Placeholder
      Placeholder
      Placeholder
      © 2023 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
      • Placeholder
      • Placeholder
      • Placeholder
      • Placeholder
      • Placeholder
      • Placeholder