r/musictheory

151K archived posts · Jan 2009 – Sep 2026

Music Theory

r/musictheory

/r/musictheory is a community for the discussion of music theory and related topics.

Created Jan 16, 2009

614KMembers (last snapshot)

151KArchived posts

##Check our FAQ!

Please know that AI and chatGPT are especially bad for music theory topics. The resources in our FAQs are far more reliable!

Helpful symbols, for copy-pasting into comments:

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♯ ♮ ♭ 𝄪 𝄫

♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ 𝄐 𝄑 𝄞 𝄢 𝄡 𝆒 𝆓 𝄀 𝄁 𝄂 𝄃 𝄆 𝄇

Go [here] (https://www.reddit.com/r/musictheory/comments/1i2y78x/tip_more_useful_symbols_such_as_%E2%85%B4%E2%81%B7_and_%E2%85%B6%E2%81%B6/) for more

#Subreddit Rules

Please use the "report" button for posts violating the rules! However, please take note of Rule #1 and when reporting be reasonable and fair. Anyone abusing the reporting mechanism may be banned.

1) Be kind to others. Above anything else. Opinions posted are reflective only of the person posting them. You are entitled to your opinions, but remember that they are entitled to theirs. Be respectful, and don’t allow disagreements to devolve into personal attacks. Hate speech, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. will not be tolerated. Breaking this rule may result in a ban.

2) No spam/advertising/self-promotion allowed. What qualifies? Read about it here: https://www.reddit.com/wiki/selfpromotion. We moderate by these rules. Spammers may be subject to a ban. If you are posting a Resource that is free make sure it is stated in your post. Links to products or sites that require pay, as well as resources behind paywalls or that require registration are frowned upon unless there is free access of some sort as well. If in doubt, please contact the Mod Team before posting.

3) No homework help on specific assignments. It is against the Academic Honesty Policy of most schools and courses. Our subscribers generally dislike this kind of behavior. Please ask your IRL teacher/tutor for homework help instead. It's important that we get such posts taken down ASAP, so in addition to reporting, please message the Mod Team if you see someone breaking Rule #3.

4) No off topic posts. Posts not about Music Theory or Music Theory adjacent topics do not belong here. Questions about Composing, Orchestration, Songwriting, Music Production, Audio Engineering, as well as specific questions about Instruments (playing technique) are best asked on or at least cross posted to other forums. We’re here to talk about the Music Theory! How relevant a topic may be is up to the discretion of the Mod Team. Check below for a list of other Music subs where your question may be more appropriate.

5) Image/Video comment violation. This is a discussion board, not Instagram! For image/video posts it is required that you write your question or engage in discussion in the image's frame or as a comment post or both (i.e. not just the title of your post!). Posts without this additional comment included will be removed.

6) Image/Video clarity violation. For image/video posts we must be able to clearly see the details as well as the larger context! For videos/audio you must include a time stamp. Please make sure your image has some means of identifying what you're talking about in image (a highlight, red circle, etc.) or text (clearly stated in your comment) as well as giving readers the larger context (including the key signature, time signature, links to other images or audio, etc.). Posts without enough detail, fuzzy images, lack of important content etc. may be removed at the Mod Team's discretion.

7) No controversial posts. Posts or comments that only serve to create drama, bait trolls, cause controversy or other negative reactions, whether intended or otherwise, will be removed at the Mod Team's discretion. Please note that there are some topics that will - while completely on topic or otherwise meritorious of discussion - create an unproductive atmosphere we do not want to promote on r/musictheory. Political, religious, or otherwise controversial topics are best posted elsewhere. Even links to those discussions should be posted in a manner that avoids including controversial terms here.

8) No lazy, low effort, etc. posts. "What's your favorite..." type posts are better suited for other forums. Our members prefer to see serious questions and discussions and for you do your own work first and then ask for help when you hit a wall: if asking a question about a chord progression, make sure you include what you've figured out so far rather than just asking someone to do it for you. Anything like this, including posts that can easily be answered by internet search, our FAQs, or have been sufficiently answered by members may be removed, locked, or the poster directed elsewhere at the Mod Team's discretion.

If you see a post/comment that breaks the rules, please use the report button so we can take care of it.

Feel free to message the Mod Team if you need any clarification or have a question.

#Beginner's resources

##Textbooks

Open Music Theory, an open-access online textbook
Recommended music theory textbooks

##Music theory apps and websites

musictheory.net, lessons and exercises
teoria.com, lessons and exercises
Recommended theory apps for Apple devices
Dave Conservatoire, a Khan Academy style website
"Music Theory for Musicians and Normal People" by Toby Rush, convenient, one-page summaries written by u/keepingthecommontone of just about every music theory topic you might come across in freshman or sophomore theory!
Audiciones y ejemplos, wiki with schemata examples and theory (Español)

##Ear training apps and websites here!

#Related subreddits

Other communities

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