Music BaseMusic Theory from First Principles

Start from essence, not terminology — Music = a set of sound events on a timeline

Learning Path

This tutorial doesn't follow the traditional textbook route — it follows the first-principles route. Understand the essence first, then learn the terminology.

① What Is Music, Really?

Foundations

Time skeleton · Repetition

Start here

② Rhythm

Rhythm

Strong & weak beats · Rhythmic variation

③ Pitch

Pitch

Notes · Intervals · Scales · Keys

④ Horizontal & Vertical

Melody & Harmony

Melody · Chords · Harmony

⑤ Expression

Expression

Dynamics · Timbre · Articulation

⑥ The MIDI Perspective

MIDI

Structured expression · Data model

What Problem Does This Tutorial Solve?

If you're a complete beginner, the most common traps are:

Drowning in terminology from day one
Trying to read full sheet music right away
Getting stuck on "what is this symbol called?"
Wanting to discuss musical structure but getting buried in details

Music Base doesn't work that way. We start with the most fundamental question: What is music, really?

Music = a set of sound events on a timeline

Once you internalize this framework, everything else — terminology, MIDI, sheet music, structured expression — falls into place naturally.

Recommended Pace

First time? Reading through ② Rhythm is enough
Interested in MIDI / music data? Read at least through ⑥ The MIDI Perspective
Want to go deeper? Enter from Intervals, Chords, or Scales

Try It

Pick a song and let the piano play itself, or click the keys directly — every note has its own color.