Harmony Explained: Building a Scientific Theory of Music

Harmony Explained: Progress Towards a Scientific Theory of Music (2012)

I argue that most music theory books rely on superstition rather than science. By combining physical sound phenomena with how the human brain processes audio, I derive the Major Scale, the Standard Chord Dictionary, and the emotional difference between Major and Minor Triads. This work challenges Hermann Helmholtz's 19th-century theories, showing that his logic would actually make harmony impossible. My goal is to offer a clear, scientific explanation accessible to both researchers and curious musicians.