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XLR / Learn · new section

LEARN

How music is made: writing it, reading it, where it came from, the styles of the world and the instruments behind them. Short lessons, in order, from the first chord up.

Lessons in writing · titles are drafts

Start
here

01 Writing music · lesson 1 · ready to readWhat a chord is, and why three notes are enough to start

Course 01 · 5 lessons · 1 written

Writing music

Open the course →
  1. 01.1What a chord isRead
  2. 01.2Melody over a chordComing
  3. 01.3Verse, chorus, bridgeComing
  4. 01.4Arranging for a small bandComing
  5. 01.5Finishing a songComing

Course 02 · 5 lessons · coming

Theory & solfège

  1. 02.1Notes, the staff and clefsComing
  2. 02.2Do re mi: solfègeComing
  3. 02.3Scales and keysComing
  4. 02.4Intervals by earComing
  5. 02.5Rhythm and time signaturesComing

Course 03 · 5 lessons · coming

A history of music

  1. 03.1Before notationComing
  2. 03.2Church, court and concert hallComing
  3. 03.3Recording changes everythingComing
  4. 03.4Electric, electronic, digitalComing
  5. 03.5Music in the streaming ageComing

Course 04 · 5 lessons · coming

Styles of the world

  1. 04.1The blues and its childrenComing
  2. 04.2West African rhythmComing
  3. 04.3Gamelan and the gongComing
  4. 04.4Bossa nova and sambaComing
  5. 04.5Japanese scales and city popComing

Course 05 · 5 lessons · 1 card ready

Instruments

  1. 05.1How a string makes soundComing
  2. 05.2Winds and brassComing
  3. 05.3Drums and percussionComing
  4. 05.4The synthesizer, explainedCard
  5. 05.5Microphones and the roomComing

The words, A to Z

Glossary · every term used in the lessons