Learning music, where do i start?

[thatoneguy1]

i want to learn the basics of learning music. i know that sounds stupid, so let me explain. i play guitar. I've been playing for a year. the most i can understand are tabs. i want to learn music theory. i ask questions on here (yahoo answers) but they'll answer things and ill read it, and its so complex its in one ear and out the other (even though I'm reading it)so basically this, in the most basic definitions define what these are (i know very little)

time signature (what does 4/4 mean? i tried using a metronome but it doesn't use a slash)
key signature
a measure
quarter/eighth note
a mode
treble cleff

i appreciate it. even if you can list some websites id be grateful. check out my page if you want to see some of the question i asked

 

[Nia]

Time signature is basically the beat. For example, 4/4. The top number(4) shows how many beats in one measure. The bottom number (4) shows what kind of beat it is. In this case it's a quarter note, 4 per measure. 3/4 is 3 quarter notes per measure, 6/8 is 6 8th notes, etc.
Key signature is at the beginning of each line of music. It shows sharps and flats. Sharps are one half step higher than the original note, and flats are one half step lower.
A measure is just something to divide the music into. The lines across the line of music divide it into meausures.

These websites have all the basics. At, least, they can explain things better than me...
http://www.wikihow.com/Read-Music
http://datadragon.com/education/reading/

 

[Brent]

4/4 time is at a slow steady tempo, maybe a bit faster than the hand on a clock that counts seconds, a key signature is weather notes are b flat or sharp, if there is no sign like this # or a b flat symbol that looks like a fancy b, then the notes are regular and do not need to be played sharp or flat, a measure is the rectangular box that holds notes (4 notes in a measure), quarter note has one down beat, like 4 quarter notes in a row is, 1 2 3 4, but an eith note is 4 quarter notes tied together, so say you have an eaith note and 2 quarter notes in a measure, in counting terms it would be 1+ 2+ 3 4, (+ represent "ands, like 1 and 2 and 3 4), a mode and treble cleft you can search on your own, check google, im a freshman in highschool and am in band, i have been playing clarinet for 4 years now, and i also play guitar, if you are in school, and you school has band as a class, go toalk to the band teacher or more info, dont be afraid, they are always more thatn happy to teach you if you the basics if you go in after school, or b4 school, or even during lunch, just ok it with them first, HOPE THIS HELPS!