Oreo Theory

An oreo graph depicting two particularly dissonant notes and a possible combination of notes to resolve them.

Examples of different flavors for the same two Oreo cookies

Oreo Theory is the idea that any two notes, regardless of the interval between them, may be compatible, and that what really matters are the notes that exist between them. Think of it like an Oreo cookie: you have the two dark-colored (unless you eat vanilla oreos.. ew) biscuits on the top and bottom, and you have the cream in the middle that holds them together. The "biscuits" in this sense are the top and bottom notes, and the "cream" are the notes that justify the two notes and solidify their harmonic profile. If you've ever seen reharmonization exercises where the guy takes two notes and sets one to descend chromatically, harmonizing each note pair, you'll understand what we're talking about.

"for example, bass note D, melody note G# how could we harmonize that? well the interval is a #11. what scales have a #11? lydian, which outlines a DM13#11. or perhaps even arcadian? D13#11" - Convexity, May 27th, 2026

This video by Convexity explains Oreo Theory in detail.

CREAM CHART

Interval between cookies (scale degree)	Interval between cookies (interval notation)	Possible Ionian Creams	Possible Athenian Creams	Possible Appalachian Creams	Possible Laramidian Creams
1	P1	Any	Any	Any	Any
b9	m2	Phrygian Locrian	Cappadocian Palamidian	Herculean Adonian Morphean	Sangarian Plummetian Phobetorian
9	M2	Lydian Ionian Mixolydian Dorian Aeolian	Asgardian Arcadian Olympian Athenian Sisyphean	Thesian Paralydian Appalachian	Morossian Laramidian Dolorian
b3 / #9	m3	Dorian Aeolian Phrygian Locrian	Athenian Cappadocian Sisyphean Palamidian	Calliopean Paralydian Appalachian Adonian Morphean	Empyrean Morossian Dolorian Plummetian Phobetorian
3	M3	Lydian Ionian Mixolydian	Asgardian Arcadian Olympian Palamidian	Calliopean Thesian Herculean Morphean	Empyrean Laramidian Sangarian Plummetian
11	P4	Ionian Mixolydian Dorian Aeolian Phrygian Locrian	Olympian Athenian Cappadocian Sisyphean	Thesian Appalachian Herculean Adonian	Laramidian Sangarian Dolorian Phobetorian
#11 / b5	TT	Lydian Locrian	Asgardian Arcadian Sisyphean Palamidian	Calliopean Paralydian Adonian Morphean	Empyrean Morossian Dolorian Phobetorian
5	P5	Lydian Ionian Mixolydian Dorian Aeolian Phrygian	Arcadian Olympian Athenian Cappadocian	Calliopean Paralydian Appalachian Herculean	Morossian Laramidian Sangarian Plummetian
#5 / b13	m6	Aeolian Phrygian Locrian	Asgardian Olympian Sisyphean Palamidian	Thesian Appalachian Herculean Morphean	Empyrean Laramidian Plummetian Phobetorian
13	M6	Lydian Ionian Mixolydian Dorian	Asgardian Arcadian Athenian Cappadocian	Calliopean Thesian Paralydian Adonian Morphean	Empyrean Morossian Sangarian Dolorian Phobetorian
b7	m7	Mixolydian Dorian Aeolian Phrygian Locrian	Arcadian Olympian Cappadocian Sisyphean Palamidian	Paralydian Herculean Adonian	Sangarian Dolorian Plummetian
7	M7	Lydian Ionian	Asgardian Athenian	Calliopean Thesian Appalachian	Empyrean Morossian Laramidian