Learn How to Write Music
Let's put things into action and focus on applied Interval Theory. Below, we offer a lot of guides that show you easy steps you should put into your musical toolbox. We hope you'll love our free lessons on Interval Theory, Diatonic theory, and composition.
The Circle of Fifths - Recommended Articles
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
From simple Diatonic starting points to advanced Interval Theory, you will learn how to compose original music using the Circle of Fifths as our point of reference. You will discover clear and easy-to-use concepts that lead to quick results, lots of inspiration, and destroy writer's block once and for all!
Cadences are essential in music. In this article, you'll learn how to turn a basic authentic cadence into a beautiful orchestral piece.
Tonal centers work similarly to the chapters in a book. They can help you change the setting and emotion. Learn how to use them most effectively.
Mediants are very versatile and can be used to either reinforce a current tonal center or modulate into new ones. Learn more about that right here!
Learn more about the dominant intervals and how they work most efficiently in composition, not only as Secondary Dominants.
You know the Circle of Fifths but do you know how it relates to all the other intervals? Find out more about those secrets in this article!
Learn how the Harmonic Series and the Circle of Fifths work together in music! Essential guidelines that'll help you write better music.
The tritone substitution provides great musical secrets that become apparent when we use Interval Theory as our base of thinking!
Modes and Scales - Recommended Articles
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Scales create a grid that we can follow horizontally and vertically - that is, melody and chords. You will learn how Interval Theory embraces this concept but also pushes and twists the limitations of musical keys so that you discover how to move fluently and effortlessly through various tonal centers, keys, and scales in your compositions.
Learn how to use the Church Modes emotionally in composition and unlock their power for musical storytelling!
Learn how the Lydian scale connects to so many musical places, such as the Harmonic series, the Circle of Fifths, and many more!
For most composers, it's very hard to use the Locrian mode. After you've gone through this article, you'll love the Locrian mode!
Faux Scales are not discussed in the Diatonic System. In this article, we explain what they are and how you can use them effortlessly!
Learn more about the reflection of the major pentatonic scale and why it embraces the circle of major thirds (the RC4)!
Everybody loves the world of Pentatonic, but not many understand how to use them most creatively. Read this article to learn more!
Learn the best practices for harmonization - from the Diatonic approach to Interval Theory! Harmonizing the line can be fun and straightforward!
Learn How to Write Music that Matters! Join the Academy!
If music creation is a deep passion of yours, then the Music Interval Theory Academy (MITA) is something you should explore. With MITA, you’ll discover that there’s only so much theory you need to know to create new chord progressions, memorable phrases, and fantastic arrangements for orchestras, bands, or any ensemble.
At MITA, you’ll learn:
- A clear, transparent methodology to guide your compositions
- Pro tips to shape your musical voice and build confidence
- How to combine proven composition techniques with your unique taste
And for instrumentalists, we’ve got you covered, too! MITA offers guitar courses, ukulele courses, and piano exercises—all built on the foundation of Interval Theory. These applications ensure you’re not just learning theory but actively applying it to your playing.
A Personal Message
Why do I care about this journey with you?
Hi, my name is Frank, and I’m the co-founder of the Music Interval Theory Academy. Let me confess something—it was never my original plan to create an online academy for composition based on Interval Theory. My background is as a professional composer, and I’ve spent most of my career composing music to picture, writing songs, creating background music, and scoring storylines. In short, music has always been at the heart of everything I do.
Over the years, I’ve encountered some significant challenges that shaped my approach to music and composition. Today, I’d like to share my top three takeaways from these experiences with you.
1) There's a smart way of composing music
For many years, I immersed myself in analyzing classical works and scores. Everyone around me said it was the best way to learn and improve as a composer. So, I put in the hard work and spent countless hours dissecting music.
Years later, I realized something important: you don’t become a great race car driver by watching hundreds of races on TV. Similarly, you don’t become a great chef by watching cooking shows endlessly. It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? To develop any skill, you need to practice that specific skill repeatedly. If you focus on analysis, you’ll become good at analysis—not at composition!
Technique vs. Artistry: The 80/20 Rule
Here’s another realization I’ve had over the years: composition has an artistic component, but 80% of what gets the job done is pure technique. That might sound shocking at first, but it’s true!
You don’t need to be a born prodigy to make a solid living as a composer. The biggest portion of composition is rooted in technique, and anyone can learn it. The remaining 20%? That’s the artistic quality—the magic or, as I like to call it, the “fairy dust on top of the raw material.”
The Need for a Clear Methodology
Nowadays, I know that writing music doesn’t have to be overwhelming. There can be a clear, repeatable methodology to the process. Over the years, my composition and orchestration mentors showed me that there’s an infinite number of options and combinations in music. While they were right, this advice wasn’t helpful when I faced tight deadlines.
When you’re under pressure, you don’t have time to record hundreds of variations in Cubase, Logic, or Pro Tools. Instead, you need a focused process that answers critical questions like:
- Should I write another chord progression or rewrite the melody?
- Should I stick with the C major scale or explore something more exotic?
- Should I double this part with another instrument, and if so, why?
If these questions sound familiar, you’re likely missing an easy-to-follow process. You might spend most of your time hunting for ideas, feeling overwhelmed, or struggling to create high-quality musical material.
I’ve been through all of these challenges—and you don’t have to. I’ve worked hard to develop concrete solutions to these problems, which led to the founding of the Music Interval Theory Academy (MITA).
At MITA, you’ll find the biggest tips, best practices, and actionable strategies to help you create fantastic music—even from something as simple as a major chord! (No joke!) With the right tools and techniques, you can move past frustration and into a world of productive, creative composition.
2) Simplify to Amplify
Writing music isn’t hard—it’s fun! Or at least, it should be. To keep it that way, it’s important to simplify your approach and avoid overcomplicating things. That’s where Interval Theory comes in.
Interval Theory focuses on the nature of intervals (yes, intervals have their own characteristics). Instead of rigid rules or restrictions, it offers a guide—a flexible, intuitive way to think about composition.
A Methodology for Unique and Efficient Music Creation
By combining a clear methodology with an understanding of the nature of intervals, you can compose unique music quickly and organically. This approach isn’t just about speeding up your workflow—it’s about creating high-quality results. Here’s how it works:
- Technique first: Use Interval Theory to create multiple musical options based on technique.
- Listen and refine: By listening to the options you generate, you start developing your unique musical taste.
- Build your voice: This process helps shape your artistic voice, making your work stand out and creating a category of one.
Simplicity Leads to Quality
This is also the most efficient way to achieve high-quality compositions. Why? Because complex processes are hard to amplify, while simple, focused strategies are scalable and effective.
Many composers get caught up asking about gear—which sample libraries or tools they should use for their home studios. While those are important, the truth is, your results will improve dramatically if you focus on developing strong composition skills first.
By simplifying your process, focusing on what matters, and embracing the principles of Interval Theory, you’ll not only create better music but also enjoy the process every step of the way.
3) Grow Musical Confidence
Insecurity and a lack of trust in your composition skills can slowly but surely destroy the art you want to create. If you’re unsure whether your music is good, it’s impossible to truly value your work. And without confidence, how can you feel good about what you create?
The short answer is—you can’t. And unfortunately, there’s no universal recipe for making “good” decisions in music.
What you can do, however, is grow your musical confidence while avoiding two dangerous traps that many composers fall into:
- Working on a piece for way too long: Overworking can lead to diminishing returns, self-doubt, and creative burnout.
- Tying your personal well-being to your success: This one goes deep—connecting your self-worth to external validation can be devastating.
Confidence Is a Self-Feeding Mechanism
Building confidence is like strengthening a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Confidence helps you:
- Overcome fears and insecurities
- Make decisions faster
- Attract better opportunities and clients
Confidence vs. Ego
It’s important not to confuse confidence with ego. Confidence is about trust in your abilities and a healthy relationship with your creativity, while ego can lead to arrogance and disconnection.
When you exude confidence, clients will feel it. They’ll see that you’re not a risk factor for their project—in fact, you become the solution to its success! Clients naturally prefer working with someone who is sure of their skills and capable of delivering results.
Personal Development and Artistic Growth
This journey goes beyond just music—it’s about personal development. At MITA, we share valuable concepts like the "Creative Pool" to help you build a healthy relationship with your work, creativity, and even your successes. These tools are designed to support not just your artistic growth but also your overall mindset as a composer.
Confidence isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a game-changer for your art and career.
Advice
If you feel that what I’m talking about resonates with you, I encourage you to take a closer look at the Academy. I’m convinced it can help you move forward and make quicker progress in your musical journey. Our goal is to help you focus on what you love most—creating beautiful music!
Even if you’re not quite ready to start building your musical dream life, I hope the free materials on our website help you grow and become a better composer. If Interval Theory intrigues you, stay connected and join a free Intro Event to interval theory!
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Best always, and take care,