Music Theory Lessons Online

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Last Updated on 2 June 2026 by Victoria Williams

Pass ABRSM & Trinity Music Theory (Grades 1–8)

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Take a short test to find out what Music Theory Grade you are.

Try not to guess - if you are not sure of an answer, just skip to the next question.

1 / 24

What is the name of this note?

note name

2 / 24

What key is this the tonic triad of?

triad

C major

G major

F major

D major

3 / 24

Which note would need an accidental in the key of F major?

4 / 24

Which of the following bars is grouped correctly?

5 / 24

Complete the sentence by typing a number.
This time signature means there are _______ minim (half note) beats per bar.

error

6 / 24

What is the key of this melody?
key

D minor

C major

D major

A minor

7 / 24

Which two notes are missing from this scale of C# minor melodic?
scale

D and B#

D# and B

D and B

D# and B#

8 / 24

Which of the below notes is a perfect 5th higher than this note?
note

9 / 24

What does sostenuto mean?

sleepily

sustained

quickly

in time

10 / 24

Look at these notes then choose the correct sentence.

2 is higher than 1

1 and 2 are the same pitch

11 / 24

Which of the below notes is the correct enharmonic equivalent of this note?
note

12 / 24

What type of interval is this?

note note

Major

Minor

Perfect

Augmented

Diminished

13 / 24

Transpose this key signature up a minor 3rd.

key sig

14 / 24

What type of cadence is this?
cadence

Perfect

Plagal

Imperfect

15 / 24

What is the name of this note? note

16 / 24

The key is B minor. What is this chord?

chord

iv7d

ii°a

vii°b

V7c

17 / 24

What is another word for pauken?

Gong

Cymbals

Xylophone

Kettle drums

18 / 24

Look at this excerpt from a Bach chorale. What key does it start in, and what key does it modulate to?

modulation

Starts in F# minor, modulates to B major.

Starts in A major, modulates to D major

Starts in E major, modulates to B minor.

Starts in A major, modulates to B minor

19 / 24

What is the correct figure for this chord?
chord

4/2

6/5

4/3

20 / 24

What feature can not be seen in this music?
music

Appoggiatura

Alberti bass

Arpeggio 6/4

Ornament

21 / 24

What analytical term applies to the circled note?
note

Resolution

Preparation

Pre-cadence

Dissonance

22 / 24

What type of chord is this?

chord

German 6th

French 6th

Picardy 6th

Italian 6th

23 / 24

What is the chord sounding on the 4th beat of bar 1?

music

French 6th in the key of D minor

Dominant 7th in the key of A major

Diminished triad in the key of A minor

Neapolitan 6th in the key of F major

24 / 24

Which statement is normally associated with using a dominant pedal point?

There is an increase in tension

A stringendo is applied

The tessitura is low

Vibrato is used in the string section

Your score is

Take this short test for a rough and ready assessment of your music theory knowledge according to the British Grades system!

Grade 1 = beginner and Grade 8 = ready to study at university!

Grade 5 is the average/intermediate level of most musicians who are playing at grade 6 and above.

Find lots more quizzes here!

Lessons for:

ABRSM Grades 1-8
Trinity Grades 1-8
Trinity AMusTCL Diploma
GCSE & A Level
AMEB and AP

Victoria Williams:

BA (Hons) Music, Leeds UK 1995
AMusTCL (Distinction) & LMusTCL
LCM Grade 8 Composition (Distinction)
ARSM
MISM

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Grade 3 is a step up and I'm finding it a lot more challenging, but the videos are very good and easy to navigate and repeat to look again at the more difficult areas to learn. You have an excellent set up and it's good value. Ian

6. May, 2026.

I have just been looking over your modern song composition guide. This is really excellent. I like how it is so comprehensive yet succinct and giving so much useful detail. It demystifies modern song writing for me as I am currently only familiar with classical music theory. I look forward to getting this knowledge under my belt and using it in my compositions. Bernice

6. May, 2026.

I’ve bought the books at Grades 6, 7 and 8. Although I’m not taking the exams, I’m finding the books very useful, with their clarity, worked examples, etc. I have recommended them on the Tonebase website of which I am a member.

24. April, 2026.

Thank you so much. I am so grateful to have discovered your program! So much more informative than the other book series. I am learning the material much better and faster now, thanks to your program.

24. April, 2026.

Just a short email to say that I passed grade 8 theory. This has been a long road, but a very satisfying one – I started learning music theory almost exclusively with your website way back in 2011. There is no way I could have passed these exams without your help and teachings. Thank you so very much. Once I passed grade 5 theory, I decided to change careers to being a media composer (and I still am one to this day). You’re changing lives. Thank you so much.

24. April, 2026.