How to learn Music Theory as an Adult
Learning music theory will help you become a better musician. It gives you insight into how music works, helps you to broaden your skills, explore creative possibilities, and interpret the music you play with greater understanding.
This article explores some of the different ways that you can study theory to help develop your knowledge and understanding of music. The approach that will work best for you will depend on your learning style and also whether you’ve just started learning theory or are at a more advanced level.
At the beginning, learning theory is a bit like learning to read a new language — you’re decoding symbols and discovering what they mean. You become familiar with the fundamentals of music theory and then reinforce what you have learnt by completing short exercises or online quizzes.
As beginners, many students find it helpful to learn music theory at the piano because the layout of the piano keyboard can be a great reference to visualise scales, chords, and intervals. Getting some basic piano lessons or working through a beginner piano book which integrates the fundamentals of music theory as part of the learning progression are ways that you can try this approach.The Faber Adult Piano Adventures books are a great place to start, combining simple pieces with basic theory learning.
The ABRSM theory workbooks are another popular starting point for students wanting to learn the fundamentals of music theory. These workbooks guide you through eight progressive levels and include exercises to check your understanding. Many students work through these with an individual tutor, but if you’re studying on your own, Sharon Bill’s YouTube tutorials may be helpful, offering step-by-step explanations of each workbook and how to answer questions. You can also explore channels like Music Theory Academy by Ben Dunnett, which offers clear, engaging videos on reading music and basic concepts.
At the beginning phase of theory learning, interactive websites and apps can be useful to help reinforce the things you’ve learnt. Musicca provides free lessons, quizzes, and practice tools, musictheory.net offers customisable drills on notes, intervals, scales, and chords, and the ABRSM Music Theory Trainer app gives you realistic exam-style practice.
At a more advanced level, the study of theory becomes less about learning isolated rules and more about seeing the underlying structures that connect what you play or hear.
One effective way to learn at this level is to pick a specific topic that interests you — such as modulation, chord voicings or progressions, — and explore it in depth. Research the concept, watch tutorial videos, and look at musical scores to see how it’s used in real pieces. Then, apply what you’ve learned by composing a short passage using the new concept you’ve learnt or experimenting at your instrument with examples that feature that idea.
Another approach as a more advanced learner, is to study the repertoire you’re currently playing.Identify interesting moments in the piece. Work out the relationships between chords that form interesting harmonic changes, or shifts in key, and analyse what’s happening beneath the surface.
Seeing how others analyse and talk about music can reinforce and broaden your own learning, so finding a YouTube channel that appeals to you is another way of advancing your theory skills. Popular channels include Rick Beato’s Everything Music, Gareth Green’s Music Matters, and Adam Neely
Wherever you are in your theory journey, the key is to stay curious and keep applying what you learn to real music. Over time, you’ll find that theory isn’t just an academic subject — it’s a way of understanding and engaging more deeply with the music you love. If you’d like structured support and the motivation of learning alongside others, you might enjoy joining one of my small-group online theory courses. These relaxed, supportive classes follow the ABRSM theory syllabus and guide you through each level with clear explanations, practical examples, and opportunities to ask questions and discuss ideas with others.