{"id":13493,"date":"2023-05-04T12:06:09","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T19:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=13493"},"modified":"2024-06-06T11:48:43","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T18:48:43","slug":"piano-music-theory-basics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-music-theory-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"Music Theory Basics: What to Learn First"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Music theory. It\u2019s a phrase that strikes fear in the hearts of many music students! But theory <em>is <\/em>important and understanding it will help you play the music you love. So, what are the music theory basics beginners should learn first?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this lesson, we\u2019ll explain why music theory is so important. And we&#8217;ll help you get started on learning fundamental concepts like rhythm, keys, scales, and chords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><p><strong>Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p><nav><ol><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-is-music-theory-and-why-learn-it\">What Is Music Theory (And Why Learn It)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#music-theory-basics-what-to-prioritize-in-your-learning\">What to Prioritize in Your Learning<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#rhythm\">Rhythm<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#musical-alphabet\">Musical Alphabet<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#scales-and-keys\">Scales and Keys<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#intervals\">Intervals<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#chords\">Chords<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#chord-progressions\">Chord Progressions<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#important-you-dont-need-to-know-everything\">Important: You Don\u2019t Need to Know EVERYTHING<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Learn Piano For Free<\/b><\/h2><p>Inspiring tutorials. Fascinating articles. Exclusive interviews. We create piano content anyone, anywhere can enjoy for free. Don&#8217;t miss out, sign up for more free lessons.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-music-theory-and-why-learn-it\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>What Is Music Theory (And Why Learn It)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So what is music theory, anyway? You can think of music theory as a language or a tool to help us understand, analyze, and appreciate music. Just like understanding grammar helps people learn a new language, understanding the \u201crules\u201d of music theory can help you\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read sheet music faster<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improvise&#8230;and sound good doing it!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compose original songs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communicate with other musicians<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appreciate what goes into the music you love<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Many music students find theory overwhelming or confusing. This is valid! Music theory is a big discipline with a long history. And traditional methods of teaching music theory sometimes force students to learn a concept they have no interest in or have use for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The theory topics you learn should align with your goals. That being said, there are some theory basics <em>all <\/em>musicians should familiarize themselves with. We\u2019ll run through those after the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-music-theory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Piano music theory you DON&#8217;T want to miss!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"music-theory-basics-what-to-prioritize-in-your-learning\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Music Theory Basics: What to Prioritize in Your Learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/03084801\/playing-with-chords-and-scales-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Music theory basics. Man with headphones playing keyboard with book of chords on music stand.\" class=\"wp-image-13499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/03084801\/playing-with-chords-and-scales-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/03084801\/playing-with-chords-and-scales-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/03084801\/playing-with-chords-and-scales-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/03084801\/playing-with-chords-and-scales.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chords are a fundamental theory concept piano players of all genres should spend time studying.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pop\" style=\"font-size:28px\">Pop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The music theory in pop music is, in general, pretty basic. Pop music tends to re-use similar elements and concepts, such as the I-V-vi-IV progression. Simple doesn\u2019t mean bad, though! Pop musicians use theory knowledge to make smart tweaks (see how Lewis Capaldi does this in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wish-you-the-best-reaction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cWish You the Best\u201d<\/a>). If you want to play pop, consider learning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chord theory including inversions, chord alterations, and how to read chord charts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Circle of Fifths, keys, and scales<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enough comfort with sheet music to read lead sheets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Common chord progressions like the I-V-vi-IV and 50s (Doo-Wop) progressions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/pop-piano-chord-progressions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Most Important Pop Progression<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size:22px;\"><b>Master the Piano YOUR Way \ud83d\udd25<\/b><\/h3><p>As a Pianote+ Member, you\u2019ll get access to our 10-step Method, song library, and growing community of piano players just like you. Plus: get coached by world-class pianists and learn whenever you  want, wherever you want, and whatever you want.<\/p><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><br><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"classical\" style=\"font-size:28px\">Classical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Classical music can involve complex theory. But if you just want to play (rather than compose), a general understanding of what\u2019s going on in sheet music is enough to learn, understand, and appreciate the music. Knowing how to read sheet music will likely be your first priority because classical music is very sheet music based. Other things to explore include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Music symbols and sheet music mark-up<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Italian music terms (eg. allegro, andante, largo)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For more advanced musicians: era-specific concepts like Baroque counterpoint and Classical sonata-allegro form<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-read-piano-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Read Notes: The Ultimate Beginner&#8217;s Guide<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"jazz\" style=\"font-size:28px\">Jazz<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Jazz is notorious for being theory-heavy. Because the essence of jazz is to improvise over chord changes in real time, jazz musicians rely on a solid understanding of theory (and technique!) to reharmonize melodies on the spot. Concepts jazz musicians should explore include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chord extensions and chord types<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The ii<sup>7<\/sup>-V<sup>7<\/sup>-I<sup>7<\/sup> chord progression<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modes and altered scales<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejazzpianosite.com\/jazz-piano-lessons\/jazz-reharmonization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reharmonization techniques<\/a> such as tritone substitutions and secondary dominants<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/251-chord-progression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Most Important Jazz Progression<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rhythm\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Rhythm<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How To Play Complicated Rhythms (Piano Lesson)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LTgjbv5OvL4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Rhythm isn&#8217;t just for drummers! Understanding rhythm can make a <em>huge <\/em>difference. Think about it: take a melody and play it with all the same note values\u2014it doesn&#8217;t sound quite right, does it? Or take improvising with the blues scale: playing the scale up and down can get old fast, but add some varying rhythm and you&#8217;ll instantly sound more sophisticated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To master rhythm, here are some concepts to start with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Note values. <\/strong>Know the values of whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes etc. Learn how to count note values in a measure. After you\u2019re familiar with notes, learn to recognize <strong>rests<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Time signature.<\/strong> The number on top indicates how many beats are in a measure. The number on the bottom indicates what type of note counts as one beat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have the fundamentals down, you can explore more complex concepts like <strong>odd time signatures<\/strong> and <strong>syncopation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/understanding-rhythm-piano-theory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Understanding Rhythm<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"musical-alphabet\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Musical Alphabet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, get to know the names of the notes. This is called the musical alphabet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a piano keyboard, eight white keys make up an octave. These white keys are named after letters in the alphabet.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/How%20to%20Read%20Piano%20Notes\/1%20-%20HowToReadNotes_Keyboard%20%28White%20Keys%29.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:683px;height:265px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Between the white keys are black keys. These black keys are the flats and sharps between the letters of the musical alphabet.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/How%20to%20Read%20Piano%20Notes\/2%20-%20HowToReadNotes_Keyboard%20%28Black%20Keys%29.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:683px;height:265px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>At this point, it helps to understand the difference between <strong>whole-steps<\/strong> (aka \u201cwhole tones\u201d) and <strong>half-steps<\/strong> (aka \u201csemitones\u201d). Half-steps are piano keys that are right next to each other. Whole-steps are made up of two half-steps.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/30131346\/whole-step-half-step-BIGGER-1024x491.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:512px;height:246px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"scales-and-keys\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Scales and Keys<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Why do some notes sound good together and some don\u2019t? <strong>Scales<\/strong> help us understand how this happens. A scale is a series of notes ordered according to some rule. We can make melodies by picking notes from a scale and shuffling them around. Think of a scale as a \u201cbank\u201d of notes that sound good together, that you can make music out of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Circle%20of%20Fifths\/Circle%20of%20Fifths%20-%20Bigger.png\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Going around the Circle of Fifths clockwise adds sharps to a key.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Circle%20of%20Fifths\/Circle%20of%20Fifths%20-%20Flats%20-%20Vertical.png\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Going around the Circle of Fifths counter-clockwise adds flats to a key.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-use-the-circle-of-fifths\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Use the Circle of Fifths<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember how I said scales are notes ordered according to a rule? Oftentimes, that rule is the <strong>key<\/strong>. Beginners should start by learning the <strong>major scales <\/strong>(scales in major keys) and the three <strong>minor scales<\/strong> (scales in minor keys). Different keys have different rules for what notes go into the scale and which notes are altered by sharps and flats. The number of sharps and flats in a song is indicated by the <strong>key signature<\/strong> at the beginning of a piece of sheet music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scales and keys are important concepts that can get a little tricky for beginners. But they\u2019re worth the time and effort to learn, we promise!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-scales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Types of Scales and How to Apply Them<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"intervals\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Intervals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Ultimate Guide To Ear Training (Beginner Piano Tutorial)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/U8xQfdKPRXs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Intervals<\/strong> are the distance between two notes. Melodies are simply a series of intervals. Each interval has its own unique sound and mood, so if you train your ears to recognize intervals, you can figure out melodies by ear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The theory behind intervals requires some knowledge of scales and keys. For example, C-E is a major third because E is the third note of the C major scale. Meanwhile, C-Eb is a minor third because Eb is the third note of the C minor scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also memorize intervals as numbers of whole and half-steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/interval-ear-training\/\"><strong>Ultimate Guide to Interval Ear Training<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chords\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Chords<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why Are Piano Chords EVERYTHING In Music?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bG99H--7tIE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chords<\/strong> are one of the most important concepts you\u2019ll learn in music. <em>Everything<\/em> in Western music is based on chords, from Mozart to Duke Ellington to Billy Joel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is a chord? A chord is bunch of notes grouped together, that sound good together (harmonize). Types of chords evoke certain sounds; for example, <strong>major triads<\/strong> sound happy while <strong>minor triads<\/strong> sound sad.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chords are built on a note called the <strong>root<\/strong>, which is the note the chord is named after (ie. C Major Triad). From the root, we build chords by stacking intervals. The formula for a major triad is 1-3-5 (root, major third, perfect fifth) while the formula for a minor triad is 1-b3-5 (root, minor third, perfect fifth).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because chords are so important, we have <em>a lot <\/em>of free resources on chording. Check them out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chord Theory 101<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/all-piano-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Formulas\/reference guide to ALL piano chords<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-chord-inversions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Piano Chord Inversions, Explained<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/diatonic-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Diatonic Chords, Explained<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chord-progressions\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Chord Progressions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Write A Chord Progression For Every Mood\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_AeYfXEKSJI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Put some chords together, and you get a <strong>chord progression<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can think of chord progressions as the \u201cscaffolding\u201d of a song. Chord progressions underline the general harmonic movement of a song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some chord progressions that get used over and over again in music. This doesn\u2019t make the music boring\u2014these progressions just work that well!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being able to recognize chord progressions by ear is a very useful skill because it can let you quickly sketch out the fundamentals of a song without having to hunt down notation. So, listen to a lot of music in the genre you like and see if you can recognize the sound of common progressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-chord-progressions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Most Common Chord Progressions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you get to this point in your learning journey, it&#8217;s worth learning the number system too. It\u2019ll help you think about chords in relation to other chords, and frees you from being constrained by key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/the-number-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Nashville Number System<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"important-you-dont-need-to-know-everything\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Important: You Don\u2019t Need to Know EVERYTHING<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get this out of the way: music theory is <em>vast<\/em>. People do doctorate degrees in this topic. At the same time, many musicians with thousands of fans may not have studied music theory formally at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The point is: you don\u2019t need to know<em> everything<\/em> about music theory to play incredible music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, please don\u2019t be overwhelmed! Rather, approach theory from a curiosity perspective. What interests <em>you<\/em>? What makes you go \u201cooooh\u201d? What helps you play the beautiful music that <em>you <\/em>love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy practicing!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Theory is a lot, we get it! Here are the absolute fundamentals you should learn first.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":13854,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[510],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-theory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13493"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17573,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13493\/revisions\/17573"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}