AP Music Theory Units

Key Takeaways

• AP Music Theory has 8 units that build on each other step by step.

• You’ll learn the basics of music, harmony, and how to write and analyze songs.

• Each unit helps you get ready for both multiple-choice and free-response exam sections.

• You’ll move from learning notes and rhythms to understanding complex chords and full compositions.

• To do well, you need steady practice with both written music and ear training.

Introduction: What Is AP Music Theory?

AP Music Theory (opens in a new tab) helps you understand how music actually works. Think of it like learning the grammar and rules of music. It’s how notes, chords, and rhythms all fit together to make songs sound good.

The course focuses on four main skills:

1. Reading and writing music notation.

2. Analyzing how songs and pieces are structured.

3. Training your ear to recognize what you hear.

4. Creating your own music.

The course is divided into 8 units, each one building on the last. You’ll start with simple ideas and end up analyzing advanced music by famous composers. Let’s break it down!

Overview of the 8 AP Music Theory Units

The College Board organizes AP Music Theory into eight parts. Each unit adds new topics while reviewing what you’ve already learned.

Unit 1: Music Fundamentals I

This is your foundation and covers the “basics” of music.

• Pitch.  This is how high or low a note sounds

• Rhythm. How music moves through time. 

• Simple time signatures. Learn simple key time signatures like 2/4 and 4/4. You’ll also start reading both treble and bass clefs.

• Major scales.

• Simple intervals. The distance between two notes.

The goal of this unit is to make sure you can read music and understand the basics of how notes and timing work. These skills will help you in every other unit.

Unit 2: Music Fundamentals II

Now you’ll add more detail to what you already know and have learned in Unit 1.

• Minor scales. Learn how they compare to major scales. You’ll also study key signatures, which tell you what key a song is in by using sharps and flats.

• Compound time. Learn more complicated timing like 6/8. You’ll also practice larger intervals. This is also where you’ll meet the circle of fifths, a chart that shows how all the musical keys are related.

This unit prepares you for harmony, the way notes work together. Everything here prepares you for the next big topic.

Unit 3: Harmony and Voice Leading I

Here’s where music starts getting more colorful! Here are some topics covered in Unit 3.

• Harmony: Harmony happens when notes are played together to make chords. The most common chords are called triads, which have three notes.

• Roman numeral analysis: This is a way to label chords and show how they fit in a key. You’ll learn inversions (different ways to arrange the same chord) and how to write smooth chord progressions.

• Voice leading. These are rules that help each musical line move smoothly from one chord to the next.

• Writing four-part harmony. This will be tested on both multiple-choice and free-response parts of the AP exam.

Unit 4: Harmony and Voice Leading II

This unit goes deeper into harmony. You’ll explore the long history of voice leading. Some of the other concepts covered in this unit include:

• Dominant 7th chords. How they create tension and make music sound like it wants to move forward. It also explores secondary dominants, which hint at other keys within a piece.

• Cadences. These are special chord progressions that make music feel finished or unfinished.

• Aural skills. Develop skills by listening to chord progressions and identifying them by ear. This helps you connect what you hear with what you see on paper.

Unit 5: Harmony and Voice Leading III

Now you’re ready for more advanced ideas.

• Modulation.  This is when a musician changes keys in the middle of a song. You’ll learn mode mixture, which uses chords borrowed from other keys to add new sounds.

• Non-chord tones. These are notes that don’t belong to a chord but make melodies smoother and more interesting.

• Chromatic harmony. This topic explores using sharps and flats outside the main key. It also covers secondary functions, both of which help you analyze complex music.

This section can be tricky, so make sure you really understand the earlier units before diving in.

Unit 6: Extended Tonal Techniques and Musical Analysis

This is where everything starts to come together. In Unit 6, you’ll cover things like:

• Advanced chords. Neapolitan and augmented 6th chords add special sounds and drama to music.

• Musical form. Learn how pieces are structured, like binary (AB), ternary (ABA), and sonata form.

This unit helps you connect all the theory you’ve learned to real music by famous composers. You’ll analyze how theory works in the music you actually listen to or perform.

 Unit 7: Harmony and Voice Leading IV: Secondary Function

In AP Music Theory unit 7, you’ll continue to build on what you’ve learned about harmonic relationships and procedures. The goal is to take your understanding of how keys, scale degrees, and chords work together to build a musical piece. 

Topics will include things like:

• Tonicization: How to achieve it.

• Part Writing: You’ll learn about secondary dominant chord structures.

• Part Writing: You’ll learn about secondary leading tone chord structures.

Unit 8: Modes and Form

Did you know that a musical piece has character? In Unit 8, you’ll learn about the factors that affect music like modes, forms, and phrase relationships. You’ll see how music all comes together by exploring:

• 7 types of modes

• How musical phrases build a melody

• Sections of music like introduction, interlude, verses, bridge, refrain, coda, codetta, and the chorus

Frequently Asked Questions

How many units are in AP Music Theory?

There are eight units total. Each one builds on the last, so it’s important to understand each step before moving forward.

Which unit is the hardest in AP Music Theory?

Most students find Units 5 and 6 the hardest because they deal with advanced chords and key changes. But what’s hard for one person might be easy for another. It depends on your background.

If you’re great at hearing music, written work might be tough. If you’re strong at reading notes, listening might be harder. Everyone’s different! Having a regular study strategy, using study tools, and learning each part before progressing will help you tackle each section and nail the test.

Do I need to be able to play an instrument to take AP Music Theory?

No, but it helps! Students who sing or play an instrument often understand the ideas faster because they can hear what they’re learning.

You don’t have to be a pro. Just be willing to listen closely and practice connecting sounds to written notes.

What’s the best way to improve aural skills?

The best way to improve your aural skills is to practice every day, even for a few minutes.

Start by learning to recognize intervals (like the distance between “do” and “mi”) and chord types (major, minor, etc.). Then move to full chord progressions.

You can use free tools like Teoria (opens in a new tab) or musictheory.net (opens in a new tab), or play examples on your instrument. Singing what you hear can also help you remember it better.

How does AP Music Theory help with college music programs?

AP Music Theory is great preparation for college-level music classes. Many schools let students who pass AP Music Theory skip beginner theory courses.

Even if you don’t plan to major in music, this course sharpens your listening, memory, and problem-solving skills. This is helpful in other subjects too!

Final Thoughts

AP Music Theory’s 8-unit setup makes learning music feel like climbing stairs — each step brings you higher.

Take your time with each topic, especially when training your ear and writing chords. Don’t rush.

Remember: music theory isn’t just about tests. It helps you understand and appreciate the songs you love — and maybe even create some of your own!

Get ready for your exams with AP study resources at Save My Exams. You’ll find a wide variety of study guides, past questions, and more to help you succeed.

Resources

College Board AP Music Theory Course (opens in a new tab)

Teoria Music Theory Practice (opens in a new tab)

Music Theory Site (opens in a new tab)