Plain-English music theory & how to use these tools
Short, practical articles on BPM, scales, chords, tuning, and the topics behind every MusoKit tool. Written by working musicians, not bots.
How to find the best key for a singer
Picking the right key for a singer transforms a song. Here's how to find a singer's range, calculate the right transposition, and avoid the most common mistakes.
How to transpose a song step by step
Transposing a song to a new key is one of the most useful skills for any musician. Here's how to do it for chord progressions, single notes, and instrument transposition.
Standard guitar tuning, explained (and why it's E A D G B E)
Why is standard guitar tuning E A D G B E? The history, the logic, and how it shapes the way the guitar plays. Plus alternate tunings and when to use them.
The seven modes of the major scale, explained
Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian. A clear breakdown of what modes are, how they work, and when to use each.
How to read a guitar chord diagram
A clear, plain-English guide to reading guitar chord diagrams: strings, frets, finger numbers, mutes, open strings, barre indicators, and more.
432 Hz vs 440 Hz: the truth and the myths
Some musicians swear by 432 Hz tuning. Others say it makes no difference. Here's what's actually true, what's myth, and how to decide for yourself.
Major vs minor scales: what's the real difference?
Major vs minor isn't just "happy vs sad" — there are concrete intervallic differences. Plain-English breakdown of major, minor, and how to use both.
The circle of fifths, explained simply
The circle of fifths is the most useful diagram in Western music theory. A clear explainer covering keys, key signatures, relative minors, and how to read it.
How to find the BPM of a song (3 ways)
Three reliable ways to find the BPM of any song: tap tempo, manual counting, and automatic detection. With practical tips for tricky cases.
What is BPM, and why does it matter?
BPM stands for beats per minute — the standard way of measuring the speed of music. Plain-English explainer with examples and how to find any song's BPM.