10 Free Websites to Learn Music Theory

August 04, 2025

By RocketPages

Musician learning music theory online with interactive visual guides, representing top free websites for learning music theory.

Music theory might sound like a complicated jargon-filled subject, but in reality, it’s just the language that explains how music works. From understanding chords and scales to reading sheet music and composing your own tunes, music theory is the foundation of everything you hear and play.


The good news? You don’t need to spend a fortune on lessons or buy expensive textbooks. There are plenty of free, high-quality websites offering structured lessons perfect for self-learners, hobbyists, and aspiring musicians.


In this guide, we’ll explore 10 of the best free websites to help you dive deep into music theory. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to polish your skills, these resources will take you through each level at your own pace.




1. musictheory.net


Why it’s great: Interactive lessons that make learning theory accessible and fun.


  • What it covers: Everything from notes and scales to rhythm and ear training.
  • Ideal for: Absolute beginners and those looking to reinforce their skills with targeted practice.
  • Bonus: Customizable exercises, quizzes, and a “Note Trainer” to help you identify musical notes by ear.


Pro Tip: Musictheory.net’s "Exercise Builder" allows you to create your own practice sessions. You can design drills that focus specifically on areas where you want to improve, like intervals or chord recognition.

Visit musictheory.net →




2. Teoria


Why it’s great: Offers comprehensive tutorials with audio and visual support.


  • What it covers: Detailed lessons on topics like music notation, harmony, scales, and analysis.
  • Ideal for: Learners who need interactive content to reinforce their understanding of theory.
  • Bonus: Includes ear training tools, and you can also practice with keyboard exercises for hands-on learning.

Pro Tip: Teoria offers interactive drills for ear training. Practice recognizing intervals, chords, and scales through audio exercises that help you internalize theory and develop musical ear.

Visit Teoria →




3. Toned Ear


Why it’s great: It focuses on ear training to sharpen your musical skills.


  • What it covers: Exercises in interval recognition, chord identification, and melody dictation.
  • Ideal for: Musicians who want to improve their ability to recognize musical elements by ear.
  • Bonus: Great for developing aural skills, which is essential for all musicians — especially composers and improvisers.


Pro Tip: Take advantage of the "Interval Trainer" and "Chord Trainer" to master hearing subtle differences between chords and intervals, improving both your theory and musicality.

Visit Toned Ear →




4. Dave Conservatoire


Why it’s great: The “Khan Academy of Music” — great for visual learners who love structured video lessons.


  • What it covers: Free, structured video lessons on music theory, sight-reading, and much more.
  • Ideal for: Beginners who appreciate step-by-step lessons and visual explanations.
  • Bonus: Fun and engaging content makes learning feel like a series of “mini-courses.”


Pro Tip: Dave Conservatoire’s videos are perfect if you’re a visual learner — watch how the concepts are broken down on screen, and follow along to practice on your own.

Visit Dave Conservatoire →




5. Simplifying Theory


Why it’s great: Breaks down complex concepts into bite-sized, easy-to-understand lessons.


  • What it covers: Chords, harmony, scales, rhythm, and songwriting.
  • Ideal for: Beginners looking for clear explanations and visual aids that don’t overwhelm them.
  • Bonus: Includes practical application tips, so you can start using what you learn immediately in your music-making.


Pro Tip: Use the chord progressions and rhythm exercises to create your own compositions and experiment with songwriting techniques.

Visit Simplifying Theory →




6. Khan Academy (Arts & Humanities: Music)


Why it’s great: This trusted educational platform offers high-quality video lessons, often used in schools.


  • What it covers: Basic theory, rhythm, notation, and historical context.
  • Ideal for: Visual and auditory learners who need a structured, easy-to-follow format.
  • Bonus: Bite-sized lessons make it easy to learn theory in digestible chunks.


Pro Tip: Khan Academy’s lessons don’t just teach the “what” of music theory, but also the “why” behind musical history and how different styles evolved over time.

Visit Khan Academy Music →




7. Dolmetsch Online Music Theory Resources


Why it’s great: A treasure trove of in-depth written theory material, with over 20 years of content.


  • What it covers: Everything from beginner topics to advanced harmony and counterpoint.
  • Ideal for: Serious learners who are willing to read and study in-depth material.
  • Bonus: Comprehensive guides make it a great reference resource for theory enthusiasts.


Pro Tip: If you're tackling more advanced theory topics like counterpoint or extended harmony, this site has well-detailed sections dedicated to those concepts.

Visit Dolmetsch Online →




8. Michael New’s YouTube Channel


Why it’s great: Clear, concise video lessons that make complex theory concepts easy to grasp.


  • What it covers: Intervals, scales, modes, chords, harmonic analysis, and more.
  • Ideal for: Quick, visual learners who want to get straight to the point.
  • Bonus: Simple visuals and explanations help you retain core ideas quickly.


Pro Tip: Michael New’s videos break theory into bite-sized chunks, making it easier to fit learning into your day-to-day routine. Perfect for 10–15 minute sessions!

Visit Michael New on YouTube →




9. MusicTheoryForGuitar.com (Free Resources Section)


Why it’s great: Perfect for guitarists wanting to dive into theory that directly applies to their instrument.


  • What it covers: Guitar-specific theory lessons on scales, modes, chords, and more.
  • Ideal for: Self-taught guitarists who want to understand how theory applies to their instrument.
  • Bonus: Interactive fretboard exercises make learning theory practical and fun.


Pro Tip: Use the fretboard diagrams and scale exercises to visualize how theory fits on the guitar neck and improve your playing skills.

Visit MusicTheoryForGuitar Free Resources →




10. Coursera (Free Audit Mode)


Why it’s great: Offers university-level courses from top institutions like Berklee College of Music and The University of Edinburgh.


  • What it covers: Comprehensive courses on music theory, composition, and analysis.
  • Ideal for: Learners who want a structured, academic approach to theory.
  • Bonus: The audit mode allows you to access all course materials and video lectures without paying a cent.


Pro Tip: Coursera’s “Fundamentals of Music Theory” course is a great way to immerse yourself in a structured learning environment with an academic framework.

Explore Coursera Music Theory Courses →




Final Thoughts


You don’t need expensive lessons to get a solid foundation in music theory. These free websites offer interactive, beginner-friendly, and professional resources that will guide you through each step of your musical journey. Whether you’re a hobbyist, an aspiring songwriter, or just looking to enhance your musical skills, these platforms provide the tools you need to learn at your own pace.


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