Simple Music Theory For Beginners

Learn core music theory and start writing songs.

Duration 47m Rating (4.6) Price Included with subscription on Skillshare
Created by Mike And Matty
Platform: Skillshare Topic: Music Theory Skills: Chord Progressions Music Theory Songwriting

Simple Music Theory For Beginners is a compact, practical online class that introduces core music theory concepts in a way that is directly applicable to songwriting and arrangement for novice musicians.

Taught by Mike and Matty, the course covers notes and pitches, major and minor scales, chord construction and progressions, inversions, melody crafting, and basic rhythm, and includes a hands-on project so beginners can apply these concepts to create original songs.

At a Glance

Simple Music Theory For Beginners is an introductory online class that teaches foundational music concepts and practical song-writing techniques.

Taught by Mike and Matty, it covers notes and pitches, major and minor scales, chord building and progressions, inversions, melodies, and basic rhythm, and includes a hands-on project to apply the skills.

Level Beginner
Rating 4.6 out of 5
Duration 40+ minutes
Languages English
Learners 1K+ students
Certificate No certificate
Access Included with subscription; access while your subscription is active
Course includes
  • Video lessons
  • Hands-on class project
  • Student project gallery and community feedback
Price Subscription-based; included with platform membership (monthly or annual plans)

What This Course Teaches

This course organizes outcomes as measurable competencies so learners can apply theory directly to songwriting and simple analysis tasks.

Students should finish able to construct scales and chords, assemble progressions, compose matching melodies, use inversions, and apply basic rhythmic patterns to original pieces.

Notes & Pitches
Identify and name notes and pitches within common keys and scales.
Major & Minor Scales
Construct major and minor scales in any chosen key.
Chord Construction
Build triads and basic chord voicings from scale tones.
Chord Progressions
Assemble functional chord progressions to support song structure.
Inversions
Apply chord inversions to vary voicings and bass movement.
Melodies
Compose melody lines that complement underlying chord progressions.
Rhythm & Counting
Count and apply simple rhythmic patterns to shape a song’s groove.

How the Course Is Structured

Simple Music Theory For Beginners is organized as a compact, linear sequence of lessons that take a novice from basic concepts to a hands-on songwriting project.

The class is delivered as 11 short lessons totaling about 47 minutes of video instruction.

Curriculum overview

01Introduction2m18s

Sets expectations, course goals, and how to approach the lessons and project.

02Class Project1m29s

Explains the capstone assignment and recommended deliverables for practice.

  • Capstone project: choose a key and scale, create a chord progression, and upload notation or audio
03Notes & Pitch4m39s

Introduces note names, pitch relationships, and how to read basic pitch information.

04Keys & Scales5m53s

Shows how to construct major and minor scales and determine key signatures.

05Relative Minor3m36s

Explains the concept of relative minors and how to find and use them in songs.

06Chords6m41s

Covers chord construction from scale tones, focusing on triads and basic voicings.

07Chord Progressions3m42s

Demonstrates common progressions and how chord functions support song movement.

08Inversions3m42s

Shows how chord inversions change voicings and affect bass lines and transitions.

09Melodies6m50s

Covers techniques for writing melody lines that sit over chord progressions.

10Rhythm7m07s

Introduces basic counting, beat placement, and simple rhythmic patterns for songs.

11Wrap Up1m07s

Final recap of concepts and suggestions for continued practice and next steps.

Audience & Requirements

This class targets complete beginners and casual musicians who want a compact, practical grounding in music theory to start writing and arranging simple songs.

It suits hobbyists, bedroom producers, and intermediate players seeking a concise fundamentals refresher they can apply immediately to a songwriting project.

Who It’s For
  • Creative hobbyists who want to write original songs.
  • Bedroom producers adding basic harmony and melody skills to beats.
  • Self-taught musicians seeking a clear refresher on fundamentals.
  • Music students who need a practical primer before deeper study.
What You’ll Need
  • No prior music theory required.
  • An instrument (piano/keyboard or guitar) or a MIDI/controller to try examples practically (recommended).
  • A way to record or export audio or create a PDF of notation if you plan to submit the class project.

Final Verdict

This class is a practical, efficient introduction to music theory that delivers immediately usable skills for beginners, bedroom producers, and hobbyist songwriters.

Given its strong rating and sizable learner base, it represents good instructional value—especially if you already subscribe to the platform that provides access. However, it does not issue a formal certificate and access requires an active subscription, so it is a weaker choice for learners seeking a credential or a one-off, lifetime-purchase course.

Course Details

Platform Skillshare
Rating (4.6)
Duration 47m
Level Beginner
Language English
Price Included with subscription
View on Skillshare