Open Music Theory
Free, openly licensed online textbook on music theory
- #1 of 12 in best music theory books
- Free
- Free to use
- Read online
Ranked 1 of 12 in best music theory books
The strongest option here and the only one free to read in full. It covers fundamentals through chromatic harmony in one openly licensed online text, though print textbooks suit classroom use better.
Best for Free online study from fundamentals to chromatic harmony
About Open Music Theory
Open Music Theory is an online textbook that covers music theory from the fundamentals through chromatic harmony. It is hosted on VIVA Pressbooks and written by seven authors, and the text is openly licensed, so it can be read free of charge. The book is organized as a sequence, so each topic builds on the material before it.
It suits students in an introductory or intermediate theory course and readers who want a structured course at no cost. Its trade-off is that a free online text offers less classroom structure than the print textbooks on this list. Readers who need ear training or performance alongside harmony should compare it with The Complete Musician.
Key features
- Fundamentals through chromatic harmony
- Free, openly licensed text
- Online reading on VIVA Pressbooks
Strengths
- Free to read online under an open license
- Covers fundamentals through chromatic harmony
- Hosted on VIVA Pressbooks for online reading
Limits
- Web text only, with no print or ebook edition listed
- Less classroom structure than print textbooks
Where Open Music Theory ranks
How Open Music Theory compares
| Product | Score | Price | Formats | Level | Main focus | Free to read online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Open Music Theory | 91.0 | Free | Read online | Beginner to intermediate | Fundamentals through chromatic harmony | Yes |
#2 The Complete Musician | 89.0 | Paid | Intermediate | Harmony, analysis, ear training and performance | No | |
#3 Tonal Harmony | 88.0 | Paid | Intermediate | Common-practice tonal harmony | No | |
#4 The Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis | 87.5 | Paid | Intermediate | Tonal theory and analysis with online exercises | No | |
#5 Music Theory* | 72.0 | Paid | Not stated on the listing | Intervals, keys, harmony, form and orchestration | No |
The full comparison table for best music theory books has all 12 products.
Alternatives to Open Music Theory
All 11 alternatives- The Complete MusicianUndergraduate theory text combining harmony, analysis and performance
- Tonal HarmonyStandard undergraduate text on common-practice tonal harmony
- The Musician's Guide to Theory and AnalysisTextbook on tonal theory and analysis, with online exercises
Harmony and Voice LeadingAnalysis-oriented textbook on tonal harmony and voice leading
The Jazz Theory BookBook on jazz harmony, scales and chord-scale theory
Music in Theory and PracticeTextbook surveying musical styles from the Renaissance to today
Compare Open Music Theory
- Open Music TheoryversusThe Complete Musician
- Open Music TheoryversusTonal Harmony
- Open Music TheoryversusThe Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis
- Open Music TheoryversusMusic Theory (made by the publisher of this site)
- Open Music TheoryversusHarmony and Voice Leading
- Open Music TheoryversusThe Jazz Theory Book
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Questions about Open Music Theory
- Is Open Music Theory free?
- Open Music Theory can be used without paying: Free to read online; openly licensed text. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Which formats is Open Music Theory available in?
- Open Music Theory is offered as Read online.
- What is Open Music Theory best for?
- Free online study from fundamentals to chromatic harmony. In our ranking of music theory books it is number 1 of 12 with a score of 91.0.
- What are the best alternatives to Open Music Theory?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are The Complete Musician, Tonal Harmony, The Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis, Harmony and Voice Leading.
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