Essential Music Theory Guides (With Free Printables!)

Whether you’re just beginning to learn music theory or whether you’ve known it for years, it’s always helpful to have a few handy guides laying around. Our music theory guides range from key signatures to cadences, and we’re always adding to the list, so make sure to keep checking back for more music theory tips and tricks.

Now for the best part. You can print off each guide totally free! Whether you want to hang these in your classroom, practice room, office, or home, simply click the link below the image to download it. Once you’ve found the perfect guide for you, all you have to do is print and enjoy!

Lines and Spaces on Treble and Bass Clef

One of the first things you’ll learn in music theory is the lines and spaces on the Treble and Bass clefs. This guide will help you keep them straight. And if you’re just learning how to read sheet music, check out our step-by-step instructions here.

Key Signatures

Key signatures can be tricky to learn. We’ve put together a chart to help you remember which major and minor keys go with which key signature. This guide is perfect for the classroom or practice room.

The Circle of Fifths

Another great tool for keeping track of your key signatures, the circle of fifths is an excellent guide to have nearby. To learn more about the circle of fifths and how to use it, check out our complete guide here.

Distance Between Notes in Major and Minor Scales

Why do major and minor scales sound the way they do? It’s all in the intervals, and this chart shows you how.

Types of Triads

Dive into the anatomy of major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads with this guide.

Triad Inversions

Inversions can seem tricky at first, but this guide will help you commit them to memory in no time.

Seventh Chord Inversions

One more interval than thirds, and one more inversion! Use this guide to help you remember first, second, and third inversions.

Roman Numerals in Music

Roman numerals are often used in music, particularly when analyzing a piece of sheet music. This guide will be especially helpful to you if you’re a music major!

Double Sharps and Flats

Double sharps and flats: why do they exist? Well, it depends on the key signature! You’re going to run into these symbols in keys with more accidentals, and it’s important to know what they mean when you come across them.

Major Key Signature Memorization Tricks

There’s a lot of key signatures, and this chart is perfect for aiding you in remembering your major keys!

Minor Key Signature Memorization Tricks

You didn’t think we were going to leave you hanging with only the major key signatures, did you?

Scale Degrees

Some use numbers, some use roman numerals, and some use scale degrees. Use this chart to help you keep all your tonics, sub-mediants, and leading tones in line.

Solfège Syllables

If the word “solfège” isn’t ringing any bells for you, check out our complete guide to solfège here. Use this guide to remember the syllables that coordinate with moveable do.

Solfège Hand Signals

Some people take solfège memorization very seriously–so seriously that they’re willing to assign each syllable to a hand signal.

Counting 8th, 16th, and 32nd Rhythms

Sometimes counting fast rhythms can be a bit of a mouthful, so if you’re having trouble, slow down the tempo and work out your rhythms at your own speed.

Identifying Intervals with Popular Songs

Ear training can often be a huge mountain to climb. Use this guide to help you determine your intervals with some popular tunes. Click here for an in-depth article about how to train your ear with these easy songs.

Phrases and Cadences

Phrases and cadences tend to be a more confusing subject for beginning music theory students. This guide will aid in providing some definitions and instruction.

Types of Cadences

And speaking of cadences, there are quite a few! To dive in deeper, check out our article explaining the four types of cadences here.

Suspensions

Suspensions are a kind of non-chord tone, and you will likely encounter them in your music theory courses!

Articulation Marks

No, the dot above that note head is not a smudge or an error!

Parallel vs. Relative Keys

This will surely be a question on your next music theory test.

Weekly Practice Log

Whether you’re a teacher looking to help your student with time management, or a musician yourself looking to stay organized, this practice log is great for setting goals and tracking your progress!

Lines and Spaces on the Musical Clefs

Once you’ve mastered one clef, it’s time to tackle them all! To learn all about each clef and which instruments use it, check out our complete guide to musical clefs here.

Modes Starting on C

A mode is a type of musical scale coupled with a set of characteristic melodic behaviors. Click here to learn all about them and how you can commit them to memory!

Chord Progression Formulas

Chord progression formulas aren’t rules, but they come from the analyzation of countless pieces of music. This is how music typically behaves, and if you’re writing compositions of your own, it’s a great place to start. Feeling lost on the Roman numerals? Check out our article on Roman numeral analysis here.