On the Basis of Music: Containing an Elementary Account of the Nature Musical and Chords, the Generation of Scales and Modulations, and the Origin and . the Usual Tempered Scales (Classic Reprint)

Discover the essentials of music theory through clear, hands‑on explanations.

This elementary account surveys the nature of musical notes, chords, scales, and temperaments, grounded in accessible experiments and practical demonstrations.

Originally a lecture designed to illuminate how sound becomes music, the work uses simple tools and common instruments to show how scales are formed, how tones relate, and why tuning matters. It emphasizes approachable ideas over jargon, and it explains how different scales and chords create mood and movement in music.

• Understand what music is beyond the piano keyboard and everyday listening.
• See how sustained tones and partials shape harmony and pitch relationships.
• Learn how scales and chords are built and how modulations work.
• Explore practical demonstrations with inexpensive instruments to hear the concepts in action.

Ideal for readers new to music theory, curious learners, and those who want a grounded, experiment‑based view of how music is structured.