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

    Results for "music theory"

    • University of California San Diego

      Algorithms on Graphs

      Skills you'll gain: Graph Theory, Algorithms, Network Routing, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Network Analysis, Pseudocode, Network Model

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.3K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: New
      New

      Duke University

      Art of the MOOC: Art, Culture, and Society

      Skills you'll gain: Color Theory, World Music, Disabilities, Art History, Diversity Awareness, Culture, Music History, Social Justice, Performing Arts, Music, Community Organizing, Liberal Arts, Peer Review, Musical Composition, Cultural Diversity, Music Theory, Pedagogy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Advocacy

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      322 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • University of Virginia

      New Models of Business in Society

      Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Corporate Sustainability, Stakeholder Engagement, Business Ethics, Stakeholder Management, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Environmental Issue, Business Modeling, Business Analysis, Business Strategy, Business, Business Transformation, Storytelling, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Financial Systems, Company, Product, and Service Knowledge, Organizational Leadership

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free

      Deep Teaching Solutions

      Aprendiendo a aprender: Poderosas herramientas mentales con las que podrás dominar temas difíciles (Learning How to Learn)

      Skills you'll gain: Learning Strategies, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Learning Theory, Time Management, Prioritization, Cognitive flexibility, Productivity, Growth Mindedness, Stress Management, Planning, Self-Awareness, Persistence

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      11K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • California Institute of the Arts

      Introduction to Typography

      Skills you'll gain: Typography, Graphic Design, Creative Design, Adobe InDesign, Design, Visual Design, Art History, Design Elements And Principles, Peer Review

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.7K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free

      Georgia Institute of Technology

      Machine Design Part I

      Skills you'll gain: Failure Analysis, Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Analysis, Engineering Analysis, Engineering Design Process, Engineering Practices, Engineering Calculations, Verification And Validation

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.2K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Berklee

      Electronic Music Performance Techniques

      Skills you'll gain: Music Performance, Musical Composition, Music Theory, Instrumental Music, Performing Arts, Music, Electronic Media

      4.2
      Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
      ·
      29 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free

      Tel Aviv University

      Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows

      Skills you'll gain: Scientific Methods, General Science and Research, Biology, Research, Life Sciences, Psychology, Environmental Science, Molecular Biology, Chemistry

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.9K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • University of California San Diego

      Bioinformatics

      Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, Dimensionality Reduction, Unsupervised Learning, Applied Machine Learning, Data Analysis, Computational Thinking, Graph Theory, Markov Model, Biochemistry, Life Sciences, Microbiology, Statistical Analysis, Medical Science and Research, Precision Medicine, Biology, Pharmacology, Algorithms, Infectious Diseases, Data Mining

      4.3
      Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.2K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • The Museum of Modern Art

      Fashion as Design

      Skills you'll gain: Culture, Cultural Diversity, Aesthetics, Innovation, Design, Art History, Environmental Issue, Research, Sociology, Design Thinking, Creativity, World History

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.9K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free

      University of Rochester

      History of Rock, Part One

      Skills you'll gain: Music History, Music, Culture, World History, Instrumental Music, Music Theory, Electronic Media

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.2K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: New
      New

      University of California, Davis

      Web Development for Beginners

      Skills you'll gain: Responsive Web Design, Color Theory, Version Control, Typography, HTML and CSS, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), GitHub, Git (Version Control System), Web Design, Web Design and Development, Web Development, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Front-End Web Development, Application Deployment, Web Applications, Design Elements And Principles, Animations, Web Content, Mobile Development

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.7K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    Searches related to music theory

    fundamentals of music theory
    getting started with music theory
    approaching music theory: melodic forms and simple harmony
    1…151617…144

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

    • Algorithms on Graphs: University of California San Diego
    • Art of the MOOC: Art, Culture, and Society: Duke University
    • New Models of Business in Society: University of Virginia
    • Aprendiendo a aprender: Poderosas herramientas mentales con las que podrás dominar temas difíciles (Learning How to Learn): Deep Teaching Solutions
    • Introduction to Typography: California Institute of the Arts
    • Machine Design Part I: Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Electronic Music Performance Techniques: Berklee
    • Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows: Tel Aviv University
    • Bioinformatics: University of California San Diego
    • Fashion as Design: The Museum of Modern Art

    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

    Arts and Humanities
    338 courses
    Business
    1095 courses
    Computer Science
    668 courses
    Data Science
    425 courses
    Information Technology
    145 courses
    Health
    471 courses
    Math and Logic
    70 courses
    Personal Development
    137 courses
    Physical Science and Engineering
    413 courses
    Social Sciences
    401 courses
    Language Learning
    150 courses

    Coursera Footer

    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

    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
    • Do Not Sell/Share
    Learn Anywhere
    Download on the App Store
    Get it on Google Play
    Logo of Certified B Corporation
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Coursera Facebook
    • Coursera Linkedin
    • Coursera Twitter
    • Coursera YouTube
    • Coursera Instagram
    • Coursera TikTok