Music Theory
(or How Songs Are Put Together)

The art of making music may seem really hard to understand, but the reality is that it's not. Like most other things, there are basic components of music theory that are put together to create more complex songs.

The major components of any bit of music are rhythm, melody, and harmony.

• Notes

The individual note (or for drums, beat) is the most basic building block of music. It's just a sound, but we have categorized them into 12 different notes. Want to Learn More about Notes? Click Here!

• Rhythm

Arguably the second most basic component of any song is its rhythm. Rhythm is technically the regular interval and transition of notes or percussion within a song, but what you're probably more familiar with is the driving bass lines and drum beats from music. Music with a strong rhythmic component naturally leads you to tap your foot or snap your fingers and makes the transitions within the song feel rather natural.

• Melody

Melody is a string of notes played one at a time at any rhythm. Think of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" played over and over again as an example of basic melody. A lot of really cool solos on guitar are just melodies...granted, very hard to play melodies, but melodies nonetheless.

• Harmony

Harmony is one or notes played at the same time that sound pleasing to the ear. There are very natural combinations of notes which sound pleasing, and there are other combinations of notes that we have been trained to hear a certain way.

This basic understanding of rhythm, harmony, and melody enables us to discuss keys, chords, and scales. Not what you're looking for? Then return from Music Theory back to the BAM homepage.