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Music Theory

Grade 1 Music Theory

Notes, rhythm, first keys and terms, step by step.

Free

Start the courseLong and short notes

9 units, 41 lessons

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Practise

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    How this works

    Picked from your answers on this device and your account: topics you are still learning, and secure ones you have not practised for a while. The bars show how sure you are on each one. It is not a grade.

    Mistakes

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    Lesson cards

    All decks

    Due today:

    Mixed practice

    10 questions across the course.

    Start mixed practice

    What you’ll be able to do

    • Add up tied and dotted notes
    • Say which note you mean by counting from middle C
    • Find a degree of the scale by number
    • Tell melodic from harmonic intervals
    • Name the key of a broken chord
    • Put the dynamics in order

    Units and lessons

    9 units, 41 lessons

    A look inside

    Long and short notes

    Counting in beats

    Four crotchets: one beat each

    Some notes last a long time. Some are short. We count in beats, using the crotchet as one beat. A beat is steady, like the tick of a clock. A crotchet is a filled-in note head with a stem.

    Open this lesson

    Alongside the lessons

    Music terms and the metronome

    About this grade

    Notes, rhythm, the first major keys and the words on the music: Grade 1 theory taught step by step, then practised.

    Covers the ABRSM Music Theory syllabus. ABRSM is a trade mark of its owner; Brainlag is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ABRSM. Every example and question is original. Results are Brainlag estimates, not exam results.

    Questions
    Which syllabus does it follow?

    It follows the ABRSM Music Theory syllabus for Grade 1 (the syllabus from 2020, checked against ABRSM on 9 October 2026). Brainlag is independent and not affiliated with ABRSM.

    What is free?

    Every lesson and its practice, and each unit's topic test. Brainlag Plus adds new questions on every topic test and the mock paper.

    Do I need an account?

    No. Progress saves in this browser; sign in to keep it on every device.

    How long does it take?

    About 2 hr 35 min of lessons in 9 units. Lessons take 3 to 5 minutes each.