Tagged Questions
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Are there any consecutive 5th/octave/unison in my harmony? [closed]
I'm doing harmony exercises with a book and I was wondering if anyone could double check if I have any consecutive 5th, octave or unison in there. Also any other pointers to improve the harmony would ...
1
vote
2answers
64 views
Harmonizing melody exercise question with specific parameters
I'm reading the book Harmony for the computer musician and there's an exercise where you need to harmonize 3 notes of a melody in D major, parameters are:
you must use the same note length as the ...
6
votes
4answers
208 views
Does the bass note in a “slash” chord really have an associated interval?
I have a question about "slash" chords.
Look at the chord E/G:
E G♯ B G
1 3 5 ?
G is the minor 3rd interval (♭3) in the key of E.
However, I would have thought by definition chords cannot ...
6
votes
2answers
176 views
Why do we use thirds to construct chords?
I am (slowly) learning music theory on the guitar. I've begun learning about scales and chords, and it seems that all chords are built using some combination of thirds.
For example, a minor triad is ...
10
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5answers
335 views
When playing in a minor key, will the chords be minor as well?
I've been jumping into music theory myself and I've been stumbling on creating certain melodies and such. I've played guitar all my teenage life and not once have I ever sat down and said I'm going to ...
5
votes
2answers
159 views
The relationship between music theory and physical phenomena
The first unique overtones of a simple vibrating string form a major chord. Are there other simple physical structures that would generate other chord types?
14
votes
3answers
1k views
How to identify the root note of a chord
I struggle with chords on the staff because I'm not sure which note is the root note. Is it the top note with the rest of the notes falling below it? E.g., The top note is C, and bundled below it are ...
3
votes
3answers
212 views
Musical Harmony: When to use more than three chords
I understand that I, IV, and V chords in both major and minor keys are common chords that make up a good progression. I understand that those 3 chords cover all the notes diatonic to the key that we ...
10
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5answers
834 views
4
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1answer
106 views
Sixth and Minor Seventh inversions conflicts
For example consider C6 [C-E-G-A] and Am7 [A-C-E-G] which share the same notes in different order.
When we play [E-G-A-C] how is it called?(is this a inversion of C6 or Am7)
Generally, how are these ...
4
votes
1answer
414 views
Franz Liszt Liebestraum No. 3 Bar 17 Roman Numeral Analysis
I'm going through Liszt's Liebestraum No. 3 in Ab M.... in bar 17, I don't know how to mark the A natural chord. It's either a #1 or the song has modulated to the natural minor, in which case it would ...
2
votes
4answers
495 views
Finding chords that sound like a single note
I cannot seem to find an algorithm to do this.
Say I play an E (not a chord)... it sounds a certain way. If I make it into a chord an play an E Major chord it sounds completely different. What would ...
16
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5answers
4k views
What does it mean to write a song in a certain key?
I have been searching for a while to try to correctly understand this.
What exactly does it mean if for example a song is written in C Major? Does it mean the song's notes cannot contain any sharps ...
9
votes
3answers
386 views
Why do these progressions sound good?
I have always wondered why these progressions sound so exiting. I don't really know how the I-IV-things work, so I'll just write the chords. An explanation of what's really going on would be much ...
1
vote
2answers
231 views
Notating Augmented Chords
When writing an Augmented chord, which inversion of the chord should I use?
The problem came up while I was composing (piano). I came to an augmented chord and couldn't think of which version to use ...
5
votes
3answers
294 views
“slash” chords, e.g. B/F♯ - are these only for inversions, or can any note be the bass note?
I'm trying to work out whether it is technically correct to have a "slash" chord where the bass note is not one of the notes in the chord.
I thought the main reason for slash chords is to show which ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it possible to find the correct chords from melody notes alone?
I'm caught up in this thought. My friend gave me just the melody notes of a song. Here it is,
So, Here is the problem: "without having the chords supplied, there is no way of knowing what the chords ...
4
votes
4answers
330 views
Chord books and theory
I have some basic knowledge on chords but I was wondering what books on chords and theory were the best for expanding my musical knowledge? As in, intermediate to advanced level books ?
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What are the most common ways to “decorate” a melody?
Yes, I know, there are way too many possibilities and it depends on the style of the music... I would be happy with an incomplete list for beginners (like me). Here is what I have so far:
...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Why are the white and black keys on the piano placed the way they are?
I am pretty convinced it is not just for historical reasons.
I have found a mathematically-sound explanation of the twelve-tone musical scale, thanks to this question. Does anyone know a similar, ...
17
votes
7answers
828 views
Is there a way to measure the consonance or dissonance of a chord?
I know that if I played C and B together they would be very dissonant compared to if I played a G or C one octave up. Is there a quantitative way to describe that sort dissonance?
Edit: I understand ...
9
votes
6answers
326 views
Can a chord contain both the C and C♯ notes? (as opposed to containing C and D♭ notes)
Can a chord contain both the C and C♯ notes? Or do you always have to use D♭ rather than C♯ in a chord that already contains the note C?
I'm guessing the answer is no, both C and C♯ should not be ...
7
votes
6answers
1k views
What is the full list of possible chord names? Are there chords that don't have a name in chord theory?
My chord book covers 35 different chord types. When I look on the web or in other tools, all the same types of chords come up.
But I don't think this is the "full" set of possible chords. I'm not ...
15
votes
5answers
595 views
What notes are optional in jazz chords?
I have a question on jazz chords, and what notes can be removed from the chord. My understanding is fairly superficial - mostly from what I've read in books. This is what I understand:
In some ...
4
votes
1answer
246 views
What's so special about III ?
Take a C major scale, and pick each other note, starting from each note
C-D-EF-G-A-BC-D-EF
I: C E G = C
ii: D F A = Dm
iii: E G B ...
3
votes
2answers
225 views
What technique is it called in the song “Better Man” by Robbie William?
I just recently recall about this song and started to play it. There is a change of base chord in the song during the bridge.
I am playing on C (C, G, Am, F, Em) and during the bridge, it changed to ...
3
votes
1answer
274 views
Why do the Canadian and American ways of writing chords symbols differ?
I've been studying music harmony (for the RCM program), and my teacher explained to me that the American way of writing chord symbols slightly differs from the Canadian way. For example, the chord ...
3
votes
1answer
307 views
I need help to understand chord intervals (not single note intervals)
I understand intervals between notes. Each number of steps between two notes has a particular name. Like this:
But some times I see people refering to intervals between chords, not single notes. ...
15
votes
6answers
2k views
Fast Chord Identification
How would someone go about identifying chords quickly and efficiently? While sight reading, I would often come up to some strange chord and try to decipher it. It normally takes me (what feels like) ...
16
votes
6answers
921 views
How to formulate a chord on the piano?
I play guitar, and am attempting to teach myself the piano. Which notes from a scale form the chord on the keyboard? Is there a common rule for this?
Thank you for your time.
12
votes
2answers
2k views
How to play chords like G/B
I heard that if there is a chord written like x/y then that means an x chord with y in the bass. This can be played by playing x normally, but then playing the y note on the 6th string, correct?
Then ...
5
votes
4answers
291 views
I need help understanding the concept of chord inversions.
This article from wikipedia, states:
In the first inversion of a C major triad the bass is E—the 3rd of the
triad—with the 5th and the root
stacked above it (the root now shifted
an octave ...
8
votes
9answers
4k views
What chord is formed by the open strings of a guitar in standard (EADGBe) tuning?
Here is something that I have been wondering about for a while:
If you strum all six strings of a guitar in standard (EADGBe) tuning what chord would you play?
I think it would be some variety of a ...
3
votes
1answer
243 views
Chord lick, looking for others similar and maybe a bit of the theory behind how it works…
Here's a nice little chord lick that I picked up from Little Charlie of Little Charlie and the Nightcats. Charlie uses it as a turnaround in a few Swing Blues tunes he does.
$4.9.$3.8.$2.9.$1.7 / ...
10
votes
3answers
572 views
What is the (Practical) theory behind applying chords for a Song?
I love playing Guitar. I can play the lead for any song by listening to it. But often in our prayer meeting people sing different songs in different keys. I can track the major they sing, but I am ...
7
votes
2answers
5k views
What chords are used often in “Funk” - Why?
"Pass The Peas";"Le Freak"; "Get up and Jump";"Shake your Pants""The Crunge"....They all use very similar chords in a Funk setting - what are some Standard Funk Chords and why (from a Music Theory ...
5
votes
3answers
767 views
What are alternative “voicings” for Major/Minor/Dominant Chords if I can't play “Barre Chords”?
I would like some alternative Chord Voicings if I don't want to play the standard barre chords for major/minor/dominant voicings: Thanks!!
3
votes
3answers
3k views
What is the 1-6-2-5 Chord Progression?
Are there any scales that work well over this progression? My Mistake!! I was thinking of the song Breezin' by George Benson!!
25
votes
4answers
3k views
What are some chord substitutions for a I-IV-V blues progression?
I was watching a video of SRV and one of the things that really stood out was the fact that he seemed to have a different iteration of the I-IV-V turnaround - and made it look/sound effortless. Any ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
What is a “Circle of Fourths” chord progression?
Are there any examples of songs that employ a Circle of Fourths that I might be able to practice along to? How does the progression tie in with different scales?
