27 Best Music Theory Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

Listen closer to pop music, and hear how it moves us. Hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan & songwriter Charlie Harding. From Vulture and the Vox Media Podcast Network. more

Music: it's good. On each episode of Strong Songs, host Kirk Hamilton takes listeners inside a piece of music, breaking it down and figuring out what makes it work. more

This podcast features free audio guitar lessons taught by Desi Serna, author of Fretboard Theory and Guitar Theory For Dummies. Learn how scales, chords, progressions, modes, and more get applied to the fretboard and familiar songs. Hear how to best get your playing skills in order. Begin to improvise and compose. Understand why your favorite songs sound so good. ➝ What do you specifically need to do in order to play guitar better? Visit the GuitarMusicTheory.com website to get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level. Discover how to progressively play and sound better—today, in as little as 33 minutes! more

Sticky Notes is a classical music podcast for everyone, whether you are just getting interested in classical music for the first time, or if you've been listening to it and loving it all your life. Interviews with great artists, in depth looks at pieces in the repertoire, and both basic and deep dives into every era of music. Classical music is absolutely for everyone, so let's start listening! Note - Seasons 1-5 will be returning over the next year. They have been taken down in order to be re-recorded in improved sound quality! more

The best hang in music. Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down the greatest albums of all time, track-by-track. Like Thriller, Kid A, Songs In the Key of Life, Aja, and Voodoo. They use their deep knowledge of music theory to uncover the hidden qualities that make music work - harmony, groove, composition and production - while demonstrating at the keys and playing isolated stems. Then, watch them perform their favorite track with our in-house band: One shot, one take. You'll never hear music the same way again. A video podcast from Open Studio, the #1 online jazz education platform. more

We are musicians, composers, engineers, teachers and students alike. The path of a musician can be challenging and uncertain but it can also be enriching and great fun! This is the path we chose and we are here as your resource. Explore theory, history, ear training, technique, special topics and overall musicianship. more

A show for singer-songwriters who are tired of 'almost great.' Each week I'll equip you with practical, proven methods to turn promising ideas into complete, timeless songs you're proud to release. 🎵Take The Finish A Song Challenge https://www.songwritertheory.com/song-challenge 🎓 Want my highest-level help? Apply to work with me here: https://www.songwritertheory.com/apply more

Weekly jazz lessons and advice packaged into a short, informative session. Lessons are designed for everyone from beginner to advanced musicians. more

The show is a tour through the labyrinth of composition, music theory, computer music, ethnomusicology, acoustics, synthesis and many related subjects of interest to music lovers, from experienced musicians to anyone interested in making music who wants to learn how. It includes both a fresh look at theoretical ideas, from a global, first-principles perspective, and practical advice about composition and music-making, with or without computers. Forum at: http://lomt.freeforums.org/ more

The unorthodoX ideas of multi award-winning music lecturer Ray Harmony. Older episodes were co-hosted by his wife and protégé Kate Harmony. As a songwriter and producer, Ray has made music with Grammy winners and multiplatinum artists, including Serj Tankian (System Of A Down) and Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine). Join over 255,000 YouTube subscribers learning the fast, easy, and fun way to make music without using AI, cos it ain't no fun getting a robot to write 'your' songs! Download Ray's free book at HackMusicTheory.com more

Your own personal Singing Lessons in the privacy of your own space. Vocal qualities and techniques; gentle and encouraging; music theory offered in a vocally explorative fashion. Find fun and freedom through improvising. From the North Coast of Australia, Come sing with me. Jump on my Mailing List! https://www.shelly.com.au/mailing-list/ www.shelly.com.au https://www.patreon.com/Shelly_Brown https://www.facebook.com/singinglessonsfornoonepodcast https://www.instagram.com/shellybrownmusic Recorded by: Shelly Brown Theme Music by: Dan Brown Cover Art by: Jay Kingdom With Thanks To: Dirk Terrill & James Boundy for Mixing & Mastering tips more

Note Doctors is a podcast all about music theory and music theory pedagogy. Each episode features an interview with an innovative music theory instructor. The podcast is hosted by three university theory instructors: Paul Thomas, Jenn Weaver, and Ben Graf. more

Join music theorist Stephen Rodgers as he explores how composers transform words into songs. Each episode discusses one poem and one musical setting of it. The music is diverse—covering a variety of styles and time periods, and focusing on composers from underrepresented groups—and the tone is accessible and personal. If you love poetry and song, no matter your background and expertise, this show is for you. Episodes are 20-40 minutes long and air every couple of months.  more

What does it mean to be a music researcher? How does a musician use music as a medium to foster community? Featuring interviews with other musicians, scholars and artists, host Lydia Bangura seeks to ask interesting questions about music and execute important and relevant music research. Join Lydia as she reads, writes and chats her way through a music PhD program.Got questions or feedback? Interested in being a guest on the pod? Send inquiries to: ****@gmail.com more

Check out our website: www.smt-pod.orgSMT-Pod is a creative venue for timely conversations about music, with episodes chosen through an open, collaborative peer review process. Audio-only podcasts offer a unique—though non-traditional—way of engaging with music, analysis, and contemporary issues in the field. This new publication medium affords our society both the ability to face outwards, by engaging in public scholarship, and inwards, by hosting meaningful conversations about the activity of music analysis. The variety of episode topics will reflect the diversity of the scholars and their scholarship in our field, making SMT-Pod an invaluable publication for music analysts at any stage. Through its goal of promoting a sense of community and inclusivity, SMT-Pod will reach beyond the boundaries of the SMT at this critical moment of calls for the revitalization of our field. more

The podcast about contemporary microtonal and xenharmonic music, launched by Sevish and led by Stephen Weigel.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn takes you on a journey through the great piano repertoire. By showing and commenting on what's really going on in the music, this podcast helps unlock the world of classical music for every listener and music lover. more

Ethan teaches you music ethanhein.substack.com

Today's greatest cutting edge musicians discussing their improvisation, harmony, composition, practice methods, career advice, and more. Hosted by Noah Kellman. more

The main goal is to produce content that helps you in your creative journey of making your own music! You will either find case study episodes and listen to how each song grows as I go through my music composition process; or episodes about music theory tips for songwriters, tools and other creative strategies to keep your music flowing. more

Conversations about all things organ playing. Dr. Vidas Pinkevicius and Dr. Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene talk about organ practice, technique, registration, performance, improvisation, harmony, music theory and other aspects which make up Total Organist. more

Join the Hike as we talk about musical concepts, including audiation, ear training, composition, theory, and much more! more

Many composers feel stuck writing the same old ideas, wondering why their music doesn't sound as original as they want. Inside the Music Interval Theory Academy (MITA) and our community (The Circle of Interval Magicians), we reveal the deeper architecture behind music, the interval magic that helps you break free from the generic sound and step into your own creative power. The truth is, the composers you admire weren't born with secret gifts. They learned 'spells.' They trained their ears, sharpened their instincts, and discovered the hidden structures that shape emotional storytelling. And you can learn them, too. If you're the kind of composer who wants to tell powerful musical stories, confidently, clearly, and with your own unmistakable voice, then you already belong here. You just need the right tools, the right guidance, and a way to finally see how music truly works beneath the surface. Conventional theory often leaves composers confused or boxed in, and that's why so many feel overwhelmed or stuck. But inside our world, we approach music differently. We teach you the language of intervals: a transparent, proven methodology that gives you control, clarity, and creative freedom. You're not just learning theory. You're stepping into a circle — a circle of composers who believe music is both craft and magic, structure and intuition. And this knowledge belongs to you just as much as it belongs to anyone else. Welcome to the Music Interval Theory Podcast. Welcome to the Circle. more

Explore jazz guitar harmony, chord changes, and improvisation with Jim Ellis of Fretprints. Each episode breaks down a classic jazz standard — covering the form, chord progressions, scale choices, and solo approaches — so you can play and improvise with confidence. Whether you're working through bebop heads, blues forms, or modal tunes, this podcast gives you practical tools to deepen your musicianship and develop your own voice on the guitar. Visit https://fretprints.com for interactive exercises, courses, and live coaching. more

A discussion about music and musicianship by Trist Curless (jazz singer, educator, sound engineer, and recording engineer, formerly of m-pact and The Manhattan Transfer) and Elaine Chao, M.Ed (multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, beatboxer, singer-songwriter, author, and former educator). Each week, we listen to a song together and discuss the music we love through the lens of decades in the music industry. Topics include analysis of songwriting, chord progression, instrumentation, recording technology, and arrangement. more

A podcast party where we gossip about music theory's deepest, darkest secrets… and you're invited!

The Harmonious Blacksmith: A Music Theory Exploration is a podcast dedicated to unraveling the complexities of music theory, designed for music theorists, musicians, educators, and students alike. Whether you're a seasoned composer, an aspiring music student, or a music historian, this podcast provides insightful discussions, expert interviews, and deep dives into the principles that shape Western classical and contemporary music. Each episode explores key topics such as scales, chords, chord progressions, melody, harmony, triads, the circle of fifths, chord inversions, I, IV, V progressions, musical improvisation, bass lines, greek modes, keys, key changes, modality, and the evolution of musical structures throughout history. With an emphasis on both theoretical concepts and practical applications, The Harmonious Blacksmith bridges the gap between academic rigor and real-world music practice, making it an invaluable resource for those looking to deepen their understanding of how music works. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, The Harmonious Blacksmith provides a rich, engaging exploration of the art and science of music theory, all while fostering a deeper appreciation for the beauty of sound and structure. #music #podcast #musictheory #musiccommentary #musichistory more