• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Online DegreeExplore Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees
  • MasterTrack™Earn credit towards a Master’s degree
  • University CertificatesAdvance your career with graduate-level learning
Careers
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    Chevron Left
    Back to Getting Started With Music Theory

    Learner Reviews & Feedback for Getting Started With Music Theory by Michigan State University

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarHalf Faded Star
    4.5
    stars
    754 ratings

    About the Course

    This course is a brief introduction to the elements of music theory for those with little or no music theory experience. We will explore pitch,
    rhythm, meter, notation, scales, keys, key signatures, meter signatures, triads, seventh chords, and basic harmony. If you listen to music or play
    music by ear, and you want to know more about how music is organized and notated, this course is for you. By the end of the course, you
    should know all major and minor keys, how to read and write in treble and bass clef using standard meters and rhythmic values, and how to
    notate and harmonize a simple melody. This course can serve as a stand-alone basic music theory course, or it can be a spri...
    ...

    Top reviews

    DR

    Oct 12, 2020

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    Scales up quickly; difficulty peaking at the last lecture. Very demanding, but, in the end, very rewarding. (NOTE: Course material (ie terminology, etc) is culture bound to the US vice UK.)

    CM

    Jul 22, 2020

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    Fantastic lectures and very easy-to-understand, hard to master lessons. This course will leave you with a much deeper understanding of music if you are a beginner to music theory like I am.

    Filter by:

    26 - 50 of 277 Reviews for Getting Started With Music Theory

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Dell L

    •

    Nov 1, 2019

    A very nice introduction to music theory. I think the course could be a little longer, as the study on chords is a bit rushed. However it has given me a great foundation for further study on chords and chord progressions for guitar.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Prabir S

    •

    Dec 29, 2020

    This is one of the most enjoyable course I had undertaken so far. The content and method of imparting knowledge in this course have been chosen with great care and love for the learner.

    Regards to the faculty and the organization.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By milad n

    •

    Jan 24, 2021

    is was great cours for me specially because I learned theory of music in traditional way in traditiolan music of Iran and I saw in this cours there are many things more then traadition in music theory ...

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Ricardo B

    •

    Jun 26, 2017

    I'm a software developer who can't play any instrument, and I enjoyed this course a lot. There are really no pre-requisites, any beginner can take this course, even if they can't tell apart do from re.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Danila G

    •

    Oct 24, 2018

    The course gives much practice and many useful hints to help students easily identify notes, chords and their inversions in sheet music. A very good help to any course in music theory!

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Nikki O

    •

    Apr 19, 2020

    This course was a great way to get into music theory. It does help if you have some background knowledge first but a little more study and you'll be just fine anyway.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Marian K

    •

    May 12, 2023

    I vey much enjoyed this course. It was challenging enough and gave me the basics of music theory which I was looking for.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Jose P (

    •

    Apr 24, 2023

    Great course to take for beginners in music, or for those who want to re-learn music notation and writing altogether.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Francesca F

    •

    Jan 20, 2021

    This course is very well-planned and well-taught. You get a clear start on many basic concepts of music theory.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Dawn G

    •

    Jan 19, 2024

    Outstanding course taught from a slightly different perspective than others. I truly enjoyed it.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Mark D M R

    •

    Sep 2, 2022

    quizzes are really tough, but just have a great listen on the explanation and you will get it.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Japheth M

    •

    Oct 23, 2020

    The course was quite tough but covered most of the categories. Professional way of teaching.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Sudha S

    •

    Jul 22, 2023

    Excellent and great inputs from faculty on topics like counterpoint and chord progressions

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Fred D

    •

    Jan 19, 2019

    Clear concise modules, excellent instructor. Wish there were a sequel. Recommend highly.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Jonatan M

    •

    Mar 1, 2023

    Learned many things from this course. I recommend it for anyone getting started. Thank

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By kurt c

    •

    Aug 25, 2022

    Really great! Helped me learn a lot about the basics of music!

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Juan J A L

    •

    Nov 8, 2020

    Excelent Course, So complete, and the teacher learn so good.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Pablo R

    •

    Jan 18, 2023

    Hard but very interesting course, I recommend it a lot

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Nikita K

    •

    Feb 22, 2020

    May be little bit frustrating for absolute beginners.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Peter A

    •

    Feb 1, 2024

    such a great course for theory beginners in music

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By DEIBY J C Z

    •

    May 2, 2022

    Un curso muy completo.. Aprendí muchísimo!!

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Hossein A F

    •

    Nov 1, 2022

    Thanks for your perfect course.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Jayla w

    •

    Dec 29, 2020

    I AM PLEASE WITH THIS COURSE

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By Sofia F L

    •

    Feb 19, 2023

    Excellent!

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    By tunji a

    •

    Feb 7, 2023

    Excellent!

    • Chevron Left
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
    • 7
    • 8
    • 9
    • 10
    • 11
    • 12
    • Chevron Right

    Coursera Footer

    Coursera

    • About
    • What We Offer
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Catalog
    • Coursera Plus
    • Professional Certificates
    • MasterTrack® Certificates
    • Degrees
    • For Enterprise
    • For Government
    • For Campus
    • Become a Partner
    • Social Impact

    Community

    • Learners
    • Partners
    • Beta Testers
    • Blog
    • The Coursera Podcast
    • Tech Blog
    • Teaching Center

    More

    • Press
    • Investors
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Help
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Articles
    • Directory
    • Affiliates
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Do Not Sell/Share
    Learn Anywhere
    Download on the App Store
    Get it on Google Play
    Logo of Certified B Corporation
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Coursera Facebook
    • Coursera Linkedin
    • Coursera Twitter
    • Coursera YouTube
    • Coursera Instagram
    • Coursera TikTok
    Coursera

    Sign up

    Learn on your own time from top universities and businesses.

    ​
    ​
    Between 8 and 72 characters
    Your password is hidden
    ​

    or

    Already on Coursera?


    Having trouble logging in? Learner help center

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.