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Music Theory Syllabus
A structured study of the language of music: notation, pitch, scales, intervals, chords, rhythm, harmony, counterpoint, form, and analysis.. The complete Music Theory outline — 7 subjects, 32 chapters and 115 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.
Music Theory subjects
Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.
5 chapters · 18 topics
Scales, Keys, and Intervals5 chapters · 21 topics
Rhythm and Meter4 chapters · 14 topics
Chords and Harmony6 chapters · 23 topics
Voice Leading and Counterpoint4 chapters · 15 topics
Form and Analysis4 chapters · 12 topics
Ear Training and Sight-Singing4 chapters · 12 topics
Music Theory flashcard decks
350 question-and-answer cards across 7 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.
How to work through the Music Theory syllabus
The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.
Weight your plan accordingly: Chords and Harmony carries 23 topics while Ear Training and Sight-Singing carries 12. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for Music Theory.
The ~85 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.
Music Theory syllabus FAQ
What subjects are in the Music Theory syllabus?
Music Theory covers 7 subjects: Fundamentals of Music Notation, Scales, Keys, and Intervals, Rhythm and Meter, Chords and Harmony, Voice Leading and Counterpoint, Form and Analysis and Ear Training and Sight-Singing. Together they contain 32 chapters and 115 named topics.
How much do you have to study for Music Theory?
The full Music Theory outline breaks down into 32 chapters, 115 topics and 0 sub-topics. Chords and Harmony is the largest single subject with 23 topics across 6 chapters.
How long does it take to cover the whole Music Theory syllabus?
Roughly 85 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 4 weeks.
Are there Music Theory flashcards?
Yes — 350 question-and-answer flashcards across 7 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.
Is this Music Theory syllabus free to use?
Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the Music Theory syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too. No account is needed to start.
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