Lesson series

Music Theory Made Easy

All the skills you develop in Music Theory Made Easy will make you a more well-rounded guitar player and give you the chops to play any style.

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Online guitar course · Music theory

Music Theory Made Easy

Learn music theory on the guitar, step by step

Music Theory Made Easy is an online guitar theory course taught by Steve Stine. It starts with the chromatic scale on the fretboard and moves through intervals, major and minor scales, key signatures and the chords built from the major scale. By the end you can work out relative keys, use the circle of 5ths, build 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th chords and understand the basics of modes. The course has 29 video lessons in five modules, with a 54-page PDF book, and is included in GuitarZoom Premium.

29video lessons

2+ hoursof step-by-step teaching

5 modulesin a clear order

Beginner to intermediatelevel

54-page PDF bookincluded

In Premiumwith 15 more core courses

Excellent · 4.8 out of 5 on TrustpilotRead our reviews

START FREE 14-DAY TRIAL BUY THIS COURSE · $87

Included in GuitarZoom Premium · course 9 of 16 in the path (Stage 3: Know the Fretboard and the Music)

Free preview

What Music Theory Made Easy is about

Steve breaks every skill into simple steps you can follow. In these videos, he introduces the course and explains the chromatic scale and the chords of the major scale.

Course intro: Introduction · 1:22

Free preview lesson: The Chromatic Scale · 8:28

Free preview lesson: Chords on the Major Scale · 6:15

Who it's for

Is Music Theory Made Easy right for you?

Players who know some chords and scales. You'll learn why the shapes you already play work the way they do.
Guitarists who feel lost when theory comes up. Each idea is shown on the guitar neck, not only on paper.
Players getting ready for modes and soloing. Scales, keys and chord building give you the base for later courses.

What you'll be able to do

Skills you'll walk away with

Find any note using the chromatic scale across all six strings
Name and hear intervals
Build the major and minor diatonic scales
Read key signatures and find relative major and minor keys
Build triads and the chords of the major scale
Use the circle of 5ths
Add 7ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13ths to build extended chords
Understand the basics of modes and how they fit chord progressions

What's inside

The course, module by module

Every module and every lesson, in the order you learn them.

Module 1

The chromatic scale on the guitar

What music is, the chromatic scale, enharmonic notes, and how to map the chromatic scale across all the strings.

7 lessons · 31 min

See all 7 lessons

Introduction 1:22
What is Music 1:42
The Chromatic Scale 8:28
Enharmonics 2:14
The Chromatic Scale on the Guitar 11:28
Extending the Chromatic Scale to All Strings 3:42
Understanding the chromatic scale 2:12

Module 2

Intervals, scales and key signatures

Intervals, the diatonic major and minor scales, major and minor pentatonic scales, an introduction to modes and minor modes, and key signatures.

9 lessons · 48 min

See all 9 lessons

Intervals 7:13
The Diatonic Major Scale 11:41
The Diatonic Minor Scale 2:34
The Major Pentatonic Scale 2:34
The Minor Pentatonic Scale 2:15
Modes 6:06
Minor Modes 2:24
Understanding the major scale 8:45
Understanding key signatures 4:42

Module 3

Chords, relative keys and the circle of 5ths

Chords on the major scale, triad theory, relative major and minor keys, the triad conversion chord trick and the circle of 5ths.

6 lessons · 39 min

See all 6 lessons

Chords on the Major Scale 6:15
Relative Major and Minor Keys and Scales 4:08
Understanding triad chord theory 12:27
Understanding relative major and minor 8:05
The triad conversion chord trick 5:18
Circle of 5ths 3:04

Module 4

Extended chords

Adding the 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th to chords, and the basics of extended chords.

4 lessons · 26 min

See all 4 lessons

Module 4 Adding the 7th And 9th 8:07
Adding the 11th 3:15
Adding the 13th 2:06
The Basics of Extended Chords 12:49

Module 5

Modes and chord progressions

How modes relate to chord progressions, the basics of modes, and a course conclusion.

3 lessons · 28 min

See all 3 lessons

Modes and Chord Progressions 16:02
Understanding the Basics of Modes 8:48
Conclusion 3:15

START FREE 14-DAY TRIAL BUY THIS COURSE · $87

How it works

Learn at your own pace

Clear video lessons

Every move is shown up close. Pause, rewind and repeat each lesson as often as you need.

Practice materials

Includes 54-page PDF book. Use them to practice what you learn in each lesson.

Part of a clear path

This is course 9 of 16 in the Premium path, so you always know what to learn next.

Your instructor

Steve Stine

GuitarZoom Master Instructor

Steve has taught guitar for more than 30 years and has helped millions of players in over 100 countries. He has a Music Education degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and taught guitar at North Dakota State University. He's known for breaking hard things into simple steps you can follow. Read Steve's full story

Student reviews

What students say about Steve's teaching

Excellent · 4.8 out of 5 on TrustpilotRead our reviews

"Steve does it in a nice, concise way, not too fast, not too slow."
David T.United States

"The content and the video quality are both extremely awesome."
Daryll O.India

"I find that I'm playing faster and with great confidence."
Paul C.Canada

"I love the way that Steve explained things and shows how to become better."
Hans-Joachim G.Germany

"It made a difference, it was worth the money. Thank you."
Kevin W.United States

"This is absolutely one of the best classes I've ever taken."
Steve D.United States

Read 100+ more student reviews

FAQ

Music Theory Made Easy questions

Do I need to read music for this course?

No. The theory is taught on the guitar fretboard, starting with the chromatic scale and where each note sits on the neck.

Is this course good for beginners?

It suits players who already know a few chords and want to understand them. It starts from the basics, like what music is and the chromatic scale, so you won't be lost.

Which topics does it cover?

The chromatic scale, enharmonics, intervals, major and minor scales, pentatonic scales, key signatures, triads, relative keys, the circle of 5ths, extended chords and the basics of modes.

Will I learn chord theory?

Yes. You learn how chords are built from the major scale, how triads work, and how to add 7ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13ths.

How long is the course?

There are 29 video lessons, about 2 hours and 53 minutes in total, split into five modules.

How do I get Music Theory Made Easy?

Music Theory Made Easy is one of the 16 core courses in GuitarZoom Premium. Premium costs $39 a month or $299 a year and starts with a 14-day free trial. You can also buy Music Theory Made Easy on its own for a one-time $87.

What else is included in GuitarZoom Premium?

Premium gives you Steve Stine's 16 core courses in a clear, step-by-step path, from your first chords to improvising your own solos, plus a Jam Tracks library. You get every course from day one.

Can I cancel GuitarZoom Premium?

Yes. You can cancel any time. If you cancel before your 14-day trial ends, you won't be charged.

Can I watch on my phone or tablet?

Yes. You can watch on any computer, tablet or phone with an internet connection, as often as you like.

Next in the Premium path