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New Released in April 2026
Learn Music Theory by Yourself: A Clear Order
Music theory is easier to learn by yourself when you follow an order and test each step on an instrument. Here is a path that starts with what you hear and ends with chord progressions.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
The order
- 1. Notes and octaves: the seven letters and where they repeat.
- 2. Intervals: the distance between two notes, counted in keys.
- 3. Chords: major (4 + 3) and minor (3 + 4).
- 4. Keys: the seven chords that belong together, like C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am in C major.
- 5. Progressions: common chord orders and why they feel like going home.
Test each step
Do not move on until you can do the test: find all the Cs; count 4 keys from any note; build Dm without thinking; name the chords of C major; play C, Am, F, G in time. If a test is slow, stay there one more week.
Practise it in a game
ChordRunner shows a chord name, you play it on a MIDI keyboard, a piano or a guitar through the microphone, and the game checks every note. Levels start with the chords on this page.
Play the demoTheory with your hands
Reading theory without playing it fades in days. Every new idea gets five minutes on the keys or the strings. Games help with the repetition: they ask for a chord, you play it, they check it.
What you can skip at first
Modes, counterpoint and complex jazz chords can wait. The five steps above cover what most songs use, and they make the advanced topics much easier later.
Common questions
Can you learn music theory on your own?
Yes. Follow a clear order (notes, intervals, chords, keys, progressions), test each step on an instrument and practise a little every day.
What music theory should I learn first?
Note names and octaves, then intervals, then major and minor chords. Keys and progressions come after.
Can I check my chords with a MIDI keyboard or a microphone?
Yes. In ChordRunner a USB MIDI keyboard is detected automatically, and a piano or guitar works through the microphone. The game shows a chord name and checks the notes you play.
Is everything in the demo?
The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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