Music theory definition

Melody

Notes played one after another to make a tune, like the part of a song you sing.

Hear an example

Play the example and listen for the idea described above.

This term is introduced in Unit 1: Sound and pitch. Work through the explanations and exercises to connect the definition with music.

High and low
What a note is, and how the keyboard is laid out from low to high.
The musical alphabet
Seven letter names, and how to find them using the black keys.
Octaves
Why notes with the same name sound alike, and what middle C is.

Instrument & staff
Play notes on your preferred instrument view or through the microphone. See them on the staff and explore intervals and chords.

Keyboard: The row of white and black keys on a piano. Press a key to make a sound; keys farther right sound higher.
Fret: One of the metal strips across a guitar neck. Moving up by one fret raises a note by one half step.
Fretboard: The front of a guitar, bass, or ukulele neck, where you press strings to choose notes.
Piano key: One of the white or black pieces you press on a piano to make a sound. This is different from a musical key, such as C major.
Vibration: A quick back-and-forth movement that makes sound. A piano string vibrates when you press a key.
Note name: A letter used to name a musical sound: A, B, C, D, E, F, or G. The names repeat as you go higher.