Chromatic School
Hear music
in color.
Learn music theory by ear. You hear and play every idea, and every pitch has its own color, long before you read a single note.
Lesson path I
The Foundations
Notes, scales, and your first chords.
Unit 1
Chromatic Notes
All twelve notes, one loop.
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1.1
All the letters
A through G. Each letter is a frequency.
ABC
start →
1.2
Sharps & flats
Two names, one key. And Big Cats Eat Fish.
C♯E♭
start →
1.3
Higher or lower
Two notes. Which way did the pitch move?
CG
start →
1.4
Octaves
Double the frequency, same letter.
A3A4
start →
1.5
The chromatic scale
Twelve equal steps, one semitone each.
CC♯D
start →
Unit 2
Major Scale
Seven from twelve: W–W–H.
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2.1
Whole & half steps
Two step sizes build every scale.
EFG
start →
2.2
The major scale recipe
W–W–H–W–W–W–H. Do re mi, spelled out.
CDE
start →
2.3
Every note has a number
Scale degrees 1–7. And do is home.
CEB
start →
2.4
Distances have names
Seconds, thirds, fifths. The gaps between notes.
CG
start →
2.5
The circle of fifths
Twelve hops of a fifth loop through every key.
GDF♯
start →
2.6
Melodies in the scale
Steps, skips, and three tunes you know.
CG
start →
Unit 3
Building Chords
Root, third, fifth. Stacked.
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Unit 4
Chords of the Key
Seven chords live in every key.
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4.1
A chord on every step
Build a triad on each rung of the scale.
I
ii
IV
V
vi
start →
4.2
Chords from the scale
Root, skip, skip on any rung. Only scale notes.
ii
vi
start →
4.3
Why majors are major
The scale's shape sets each chord's quality.
I
ii
vii°
start →
4.4
Every chord has a job
Rest, motion, tension. V points home to I.
I
V
start →
Unit 5
Progressions
From two-chord loops to four-chord songs.
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The road continues