• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Online Degrees
  • Careers
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Music Theory

    Music Theory Courses Online

    Learn music theory for a deeper understanding of music. Study scales, chords, rhythm, and harmony.

    Skip to search results

    Filter by

    Subject
    Required
     *

    Language
    Required
     *

    The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

    Learning Product
    Required
     *

    Build job-relevant skills in under 2 hours with hands-on tutorials.
    Learn from top instructors with graded assignments, videos, and discussion forums.
    Learn a new tool or skill in an interactive, hands-on environment.
    Get in-depth knowledge of a subject by completing a series of courses and projects.
    Earn career credentials from industry leaders that demonstrate your expertise.
    Earn career credentials while taking courses that count towards your Master’s degree.
    Earn your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree online for a fraction of the cost of in-person learning.
    Earn a university-issued career credential in a flexible, interactive format.

    Level
    Required
     *

    Duration
    Required
     *

    Skills
    Required
     *

    Subtitles
    Required
     *

    Educator
    Required
     *

    Explore the Music Theory Course Catalog

    • Placeholder
      Status: Free
      Free
      T

      The University of Edinburgh

      Fundamentals of Music Theory

      Skills you'll gain:

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.8K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • M

      Michigan State University

      Getting Started With Music Theory

      Skills you'll gain:

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      754 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • B

      Berklee

      Developing Your Musicianship

      Skills you'll gain: Peer Review, Creativity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.6K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • B

      Berklee

      Music Production

      Skills you'll gain: Post-Production, Media Production, Peer Review, Active Listening, Constructive Feedback, Editing, Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, Aesthetics, Timelines, Personal Development, Creativity, Data Import/Export, File Management, Multimedia, Self-Awareness, Visionary, Automation, Adaptability

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Approaching Music Theory: Melodic Forms and Simple Harmony

      Skills you'll gain: Aesthetics, Storytelling, Creativity

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      164 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • B

      Berklee

      Piano Techniques for Modern Music

      Skills you'll gain:

      5
      Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      22 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Placeholder
      Status: Free
      Free
      Y

      Yale University

      Introduction to Classical Music

      Skills you'll gain: Aesthetics, Liberal Arts, Multimedia, Timelines, Storytelling

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Placeholder
      B

      Berklee

      How to Play Guitar

      Skills you'll gain: Cooperation, Collaboration, Teamwork, Social Skills, Composure, Active Listening, Adaptability, Planning, Mental Concentration

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.6K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Placeholder
      B

      Berklee

      Musicianship: Tensions, Harmonic Function, and Modal Interchange

      Skills you'll gain:

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      402 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Placeholder
      B

      Berklee

      Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys

      Skills you'll gain:

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      552 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Placeholder
      B

      Berklee

      Guitar for Beginners

      Skills you'll gain:

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.3K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Placeholder
      B

      Berklee

      Electronic Music Production

      Skills you'll gain: File Management, Media Production, Creativity, Live Streaming, Peer Review, Electronic Media, Creative Design, Multimedia, Automation, Performance Testing, Patch Management, Software Installation, Computer Programming, Editing

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.3K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    Music Theory learners also search

    Music
    Music Business
    Music Technology
    Music History
    Classical Music
    Music Production
    Piano Theory
    Media
    1234…142

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

    • Fundamentals of Music Theory: The University of Edinburgh
    • Getting Started With Music Theory: Michigan State University
    • Developing Your Musicianship: Berklee
    • Music Production: Berklee
    • Approaching Music Theory: Melodic Forms and Simple Harmony: California Institute of the Arts
    • Piano Techniques for Modern Music: Berklee
    • Introduction to Classical Music: Yale University
    • How to Play Guitar: Berklee
    • Musicianship: Tensions, Harmonic Function, and Modal Interchange: Berklee
    • Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys: Berklee

    Frequently Asked Questions about Music Theory

    Understanding why you want to learn music theory, whether to improve your musical skills, compose music, or understand music better, will keep you motivated. Regular practice, including listening and analyzing music, can help solidify concepts. Join online communities like music forums or local groups for support and insight. Work on real projects such as composing or analyzing pieces of music. A great starting point is Fundamentals of Music Theory by The University of Edinburgh on Coursera.‎

    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.‎

    Online Music Theory courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Music Theory skills. Choose from a wide range of Music Theory courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Music Theory, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    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

    Technical Skills

    • ChatGPT
    • Coding
    • Computer Science
    • Cybersecurity
    • DevOps
    • Ethical Hacking
    • Generative AI
    • Java Programming
    • Python
    • Web Development

    Analytical Skills

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Big Data
    • Business Analysis
    • Data Analytics
    • Data Science
    • Financial Modeling
    • Machine Learning
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft Power BI
    • SQL

    Business Skills

    • Accounting
    • Digital Marketing
    • E-commerce
    • Finance
    • Google
    • Graphic Design
    • IBM
    • Marketing
    • Project Management
    • Social Media Marketing

    Career Resources

    • Essential IT Certifications
    • High-Income Skills to Learn
    • How to Get a PMP Certification
    • How to Learn Artificial Intelligence
    • Popular Cybersecurity Certifications
    • Popular Data Analytics Certifications
    • What Does a Data Analyst Do?
    • Career Development Resources
    • Career Aptitude Test
    • Share your Coursera Learning Story

    Coursera

    • About
    • What We Offer
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Catalog
    • Coursera Plus
    • Professional Certificates
    • MasterTrack® Certificates
    • Degrees
    • For Enterprise
    • For Government
    • For Campus
    • Become a Partner
    • Social Impact
    • Free Courses
    • ECTS Credit Recommendations

    Community

    • Learners
    • Partners
    • Beta Testers
    • Blog
    • The Coursera Podcast
    • Tech Blog
    • Teaching Center

    More

    • Press
    • Investors
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Help
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Articles
    • Directory
    • Affiliates
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Manage Cookie Preferences
    Learn Anywhere
    Placeholder
    Placeholder
    Placeholder
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder