Piano Chops Theory Library

Understand What You're Playing

Music theory connects the sounds under your fingers to the ideas behind them. Use this page as your home base for chord construction, intervals, scales, signatures, and deeper harmonic concepts.

You don't have to learn everything at once. Start with something you're already playing, discover why it works, and let that understanding open the door to the next idea.

Chord Library 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths & more
Core Theory Intervals, scales & signatures
Go Deeper Understand why the music works

Chord Theory Library

Go deeper into how chords are built, what the numbers mean, and how different chord qualities create different sounds. Start with the chord type you're curious about and explore from there.

Augmented Chords Major chords with a raised 5th Suspended Chords Sus2, sus4, and suspended sounds Diminished Chords Tension, passing chords, and diminished 7ths 7th Chords Major 7, dominant 7, and minor 7 9th Chords Add depth, color, and extended harmony 11th Chords Upper structures and practical voicings 13th Chords Extended harmony, voicings, and jazz concepts
Looking for more basic chord lessons? Visit the complete Chord Library →

Core Theory Lessons

These lessons help connect the patterns under your fingers with the musical ideas behind them.

Intervals

Intervals measure the distance between notes. Understanding them helps explain chord construction, melodies, harmony, and why certain combinations of notes create different moods.

Intervals Basic Intervals Intermediate Intervals Advanced

Build It

Learn the formulas behind two of the most important building blocks in music: major scales and triads.

Build Triads Build the Major Scale

Time & Key Signatures

Learn how musicians identify rhythm, meter, and keys on the page. These concepts also make it much easier to communicate with other musicians.

Time Signatures Key Signatures Key Signature Trick

Diatonic 7th Chords

The major scale naturally creates a family of chords. Learn which 7th chords belong to a key and how they relate to the scale.

Diatonic 7th Chords

When Should You Learn Theory?

Some teachers begin with theory. I often like students to experience the music first and then learn the theory that explains what they're already hearing and playing.

There's no rule saying theory has to come first or last. But something interesting happens when you already know a sound and then discover why it works.

Playing teaches you what works. Theory helps you understand why.

Imagine having a good golf swing and then learning exactly why that swing works. Now you don't just repeat it — you understand how to adjust it when you want a different result.

Music works the same way. At first you may simply be happy that you can play a major chord. Eventually you start asking: “What makes this chord major?” or “How can I build this in another key?”

The moment you start asking those questions, you're already studying music theory.

The Big Idea

You don't need to know every theoretical concept before you can make great music. Keep playing. Keep listening. And when you become curious about why something works, come back here and dig a little deeper. Theory should help unlock the music — not get in the way of it.