Music Theory

Music theory is the study of how humans have been patterning sound (in music). This revolves around patterning pitch and rhythm — NoSheet focuses on pitch, i.e. melody and harmony.

Music theory is not a set of rules you must learn and follow to partake in music. Music is not so rigid and boring — music is playful, and exploratory. Music theory is primarily descriptive, not prescriptive, which is to say that it documents what people's play has produced. It expresses patterns that you certainly could discover by just playing, but it will be harder, take longer, and be more frustrating. Music theory is the product of many, many people liking what they hear, and asking 'how did you make that sound, I would like to make it too!', and that process evolving.

Music theory teaches that some simple patterns underlie much of the music we all listen to, that can help you immediately sound more musical and can help you better understand how the music you hear and play fits in — what specifically sets a song apart and what doesn't.

Learning music theory supports your ear training, because it teaches you what you're likely to hear, making prediction much easier. It supports your improvisation by giving you some constraints within which you can play around comfortably and without unintended dissonance.