I’m an “ear player” with very little theoretical background. How can I get myself up-to-speed in music theory?
This question often comes from musicians who have developed strong ears through listening, imitation, and playing, but who feel underprepared when confronted with formal theory requirements. The good news is that aural strength is not a liability—it is an asset. The task is not to replace intuitive musicianship with theory, but to give names, symbols, and structure to sounds you already understand.
For developing foundational theoretical literacy in a clear, sequential way, I continue to recommend the Celebrate Theory series published by the Royal Conservatory of Music. These books are thoughtfully organized, incremental, and practical. They provide a reliable pathway for filling in gaps without overwhelming the learner. The series is available through the Royal Conservatory of Music and major retailers such as Amazon.
I suggest starting with Book 1 and progressing sequentially, completing all written exercises before moving on. This material is especially important for students considering collegiate music study. Most university music programs include a theory placement or entrance exam, and every year I encounter talented musicians whose admission or placement is limited simply because they lack basic theoretical fluency.
If possible, working with a teacher—either privately or informally—to review completed exercises can be extremely helpful. The goal is not speed, but accuracy and understanding.
In my own teaching, I relate nearly all harmonic concepts back to major scales. This approach allows students to organize complex ideas around a familiar framework. Even when discussing minor harmony, altered tones, or extensions, thinking in terms of scale degrees (for example, a “flat three” as a lowered third scale degree) keeps the system coherent and transferable.
To engage with the instructional material elsewhere on this site, a solid grasp of major scales is largely sufficient at the outset. From there, minor scales and other theoretical concepts can be layered in naturally, guided by musical need rather than abstraction.
Developing theoretical fluency takes time, but it pays lasting dividends—especially when paired with strong listening habits and active music-making.