# Music Theory Basics
Confidence: high
Last verified: 2026-05-22
Generation: ai_assisted


## TL;DR

Music theory describes how music works. Fundamentals: pitch (frequency), rhythm (time), melody (pitch sequence), harmony (simultaneous pitches), timbre (tone quality). Western 12-tone equal temperament divides octave into 12 semitones. Scales: major (happy), minor (sad), pentatonic, chromatic. Chords: triads (3 notes), seventh chords (4 notes).

## Core Explanation

Circle of fifths: visualizes key relationships. Time signatures: 4/4 (most common), 3/4 (waltz), 6/8 (compound). Dynamics: ppp (very soft) to fff (very loud). Tempo: Largo (slow) → Presto (fast). Chord progressions: I-IV-V-I (most common in Western music). Notation: 5-line staff, clefs (treble, bass), notes and rests. Intervals: distance between pitches (unison, octave, perfect fifth = power chord).

## Further Reading

- [Tonal Harmony (Kostka, Payne, Almén, 8th Ed)](https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/tonal-harmony-kostka-payne-almen/M9781259447099.html)