What is Learning Music?
Learning Music is a free interactive website from Ableton, the company behind the music software Live. It teaches the basics of how music works, and you need no instruments, software or prior experience to follow it.
Each lesson gives you a grid of boxes that you click to switch notes and drum hits on and off, so you learn by listening and experimenting instead of reading theory. You start by combining ready made loops, then build your own beats, scales, chords, basslines and melodies, and finish by arranging a song. A playground lets you make music freely.
Main Features
- Nine chapters from beats to song structure
- Click based grids you can hear instantly
- Examples from real songs
- Playground for free music making
- Advanced topics like modes and seventh chords
- Available in around 19 languages
How to Get Started with Learning Music
- Open learningmusic.ableton.com.
- Start with the Get started chapter and click boxes to play loops.
- Move on to Beats, Notes and scales, Chords and Basslines.
- Use the Playground to put everything together.
Learning Music Pricing
Learning Music is completely free with no ads and no account. Ableton also offers a free sister site, Learning Synths.
Who Should Use It?
- Total beginners who want to understand music
- Aspiring producers before they open a DAW
- Teachers looking for a hands on music lesson
- Kids and teens curious about making beats
- Musicians who want a refresher on theory
Learning Music Alternatives
- Chrome Music Lab: playful music experiments
- BeepBox: make chiptune songs in the browser
- The Infinite Drum Machine: beats from everyday sounds
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Learning Music free?
Yes. Ableton's Learning Music is completely free and needs no account.
Do I need Ableton Live to use Learning Music?
No. Everything runs in your web browser, and no software or instruments are needed.
What does Learning Music teach?
Beats, notes and scales, chords, basslines, melodies, song structure and some advanced theory.