Questions about an instrument itself, rather than how to play it.
19
votes
3answers
12k views
What is the Difference between Maple and Rosewood Fretboards
Is there a difference that's based on feel or sound - why are they the two most widely used choices?
18
votes
15answers
5k views
What instruments are inexpensive, portable and not too loud?
I'm a college student, and I'd really like to start playing an instrument. But I want to find something that is:
Inexpensive
Small / portable in a backpack
Quiet enough to practice in my dorm room
...
12
votes
4answers
917 views
Is there any difference between a soprano trombone and a slide trumpet?
Occasionally, I will see people arguing about whether an instrument should be called a "soprano trombone" or a "slide trumpet" yet I have never seen any instrument designated as one as being any ...
11
votes
4answers
687 views
Trumpet low C# and D
Most trumpets' low C# and D are too low, and need correcting by pulling the 1st of 3rd valve.
My first understanding was that the distance between tones in the lower register is larger than between ...
11
votes
3answers
770 views
Why do standard modern pianos have 88 keys?
I know that the piano contains 7 octaves plus a 4th. I also know that it accommodates the full circle of fifths (from C and back to C). But since a fifth contains 7 semitones, it only
"needs" 7X12 = ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
How do Pre War Martin Guitars Differ From Modern Ones?
Pre-war Martin guitars are revered because of their sound. What differences are there between the construction of pre-war Martin guitars, and Martin guitars made now.
And are there any companies ...
10
votes
3answers
661 views
What's the difference between the “smooth” strings and the “rough” strings?
On my acoustic, the first 4 strings are "rough" - that is they are covered in a type of metal corkscrew. The last 2 strings though are completely smooth, and don't have a corkscrew finish.
Why are ...
10
votes
3answers
314 views
Will my wind instrument be damaged if I leave it assembled?
Almost every teacher, expert, and book has informed me that I should disassemble my (clarinet / recorder / saxophone) each time after I practice.
However, it is difficult for me to see how this would ...
9
votes
5answers
2k views
What are the objective differences between the guitar and the piano?
The guitar and the piano are two of the most popular instruments which allow multiple notes to be played simultaneously.
The acoustic quality of the two instruments are, of course, different, but ...
9
votes
6answers
293 views
What kind of effect does practicing on difficult to play instruments have?
To clarify the title, I'm not asking if it helps your mandolin skills to play violin (or vice versa, whichever you feel is "more difficult").
Let's say you are a guitarist: Does it help or hurt to ...
9
votes
1answer
331 views
What are some qualities to consider when purchasing a cello?
My wife is a Suzuki-method violinist but wants to dabble with some cello pieces. I'm a rock guitarist--so I have absolutely no clue what to look for in a cello. It's clearly not a Les Paul so any ...
9
votes
1answer
195 views
Why does closing a recorder bell raise the pitch sometimes and lower the pitch other times?
I have been playing recorder for two years now and have recently been using this chart, http://www.dolmetsch.com/efingeringchart.pdf for third octave soprano fingerings.
Playing the D or the F# ...
8
votes
5answers
831 views
Building an electric guitar from scratch
I want to make an electric guitar by myself from scratch. How can I do this?
8
votes
3answers
324 views
Is a very cheap drum kit an impediment to learning?
A national discount chain is offering an adult drumkit for £50 (about US$80).
I've often fancied getting my hand in as a drummer. I don't ever expect drums to be my main instrument, but I would like ...
7
votes
9answers
390 views
What instrument can an old guy learn if the main goal is to write music
At this old age I began, two years ago learning to write music. I write it using Sibelius and let the computer play it for me.
I have been strongly recommended to learn to play an instrument. I have ...
7
votes
4answers
225 views
Acoustic pianos with weighted keys
I'm currently trying to build up my finger strength, and have found that the exercises I do are more effective if I am practising on a piano with a heavier touch, as the keys require more force to ...
7
votes
3answers
201 views
Is a violin's shape (particularly the f-holes) necessary or is it just for aesthetics?
Violins have a rather beautiful design.
... is such design necessary? Is a violin's natural sound only achieved when it has this specific shape?
I have a particular interest in the f-holes. Are they ...
7
votes
2answers
136 views
Could B♭ instruments be built in C? Why are they in B♭ in the first place?
Why did the clarinet and trumpet get made to 'be' in B♭? Could they have been made to produce concert pitch C?
This would make a composer's life so much easier when physically writing scores. ...
7
votes
2answers
876 views
How does the piano middle pedal work? Is there a standard symbol for it?
What are the mechanics behind the middle piano pedal? I have been using the middle pedal for a variety of music, it is wonderful, but I can't figure out how it works (I mean the mechanical process). ...
7
votes
4answers
279 views
Do cold/hot drinks have any effect on woodwinds and brass performers?
Hey, I saw this question and I immediately remembered one or two teachers that kept saying that drinking cold/hot drinks before and/or during playing any woodwind or brass instrument was a bad thing, ...
7
votes
1answer
242 views
Naming convention for trumpet mouthpiece size
Different brands of mouthpiece manufacturers have different ways of naming the size of their mouthpieces. Is there some kind of common convention, like letters being the depth, small numbers meaning ...
7
votes
2answers
196 views
What is this guitar?
A few years back, I came across a guitar in the staging area of a pawn shop. I saw it, played it briefly, and bought it immediately after. I know nothing about it, but I'm hoping to gain some more ...
6
votes
2answers
159 views
What factors to consider when inventing a new (lab) instrument?
I have the idea for a new instrument which doesn't work with wind/blowing, hitting, or keystroked, but rather pressure.
What factors should an instrument have? Is there a checklist that I can check ...
6
votes
2answers
121 views
Can I split guitar string gauges?
I want to know if I can split guitar string gauges, ie. using 12s on the bottom and 10s on the top, both for standard and drop tunings.
6
votes
3answers
1k views
What does the distance between a pickup and strings do for the sound?
What does the distance between a pickup and strings do for the sound? Should active and passive pickups be treated differently?
5
votes
4answers
209 views
Why do F#6 and higher notes ring more than F6 and lower notes?
I learned Overworld Theme 2 from Super Mario Bros. 3 a few years ago, which features the nice bright high notes of A6, G6, and F6:
I noticed on my 80 year old upright piano that the A and G rang ...
5
votes
4answers
267 views
What instrument is this?
I thought it was a tuba, and it sounds like one, but looking around for pictures it seems the tuba is a smaller instrument. Is this an unusual type of tuba, or what?
5
votes
2answers
551 views
Is a guitar body made out of mahogany generally lighter than a body made out of alder ?
I know that each piece of wood is different and two similar pieces of a same essence will have different weight.
But in general, for the same body shape and size which wood essence will tend to give ...
5
votes
3answers
120 views
English Horn Etymology
Why is the English Horn called a horn when it is a woodwind instrument, basically a lower oboe?
When compared to other horns, such as the French Horn and the Flugelhorn, it seems to be a misnomer.
5
votes
3answers
218 views
Saxophone sometimes out of tune by nearly a fourth
Our band's saxophonist has a bizzare intermittent fault with his soprano sax (so normally uses his tenor or alto sax).
Sometimes it's fine and sings beautifully, but other times it'll be out of tune ...
5
votes
3answers
131 views
How do I assess the value of a guitar when I'm preparing to sell it?
How do I go about researching the value of my instrument before I put it up for sale? I'd like to feel like I've done a proper amount of due diligence before I put it on the used market so I can both ...
5
votes
2answers
465 views
Adjusting clarinet or saxophone reeds
How do various techniques and equipments for adjusting reeds compare? e.g.
...
5
votes
3answers
455 views
What defines the loudness of an acoustic guitar?
I would like a loud sound without any amplification (purely acoustic sound), which types (or brands) of guitar are like that?
I assume that guitars with heavier strings and bigger body are usually ...
5
votes
3answers
5k views
Is the sound of a semi-hollowbody guitar significantly different from that of an equivalent solid body?
I'm wondering if the sound of a semi-hollowbody electric guitar (i.e. one that looks hollow but in fact has a solid central block) really differs that much from an equivalent solid-body guitar with ...
4
votes
5answers
150 views
Is it better to tune an instrument by procedure, or while playing?
I'm an amateur Guitar player. When I want to tune my Guitar, I follow this formula:
Use a diapason to tune the A note on the third string, second fret
Tune the second string by help of the B on the ...
4
votes
1answer
960 views
What is a transposing instrument?
I've read this term many times. However, I'm not quite sure of what it exactly is. What is a transposing instrument? What would be an example of one?
4
votes
1answer
584 views
What are the touch-pad things that the guitarist and bassist of Muse use?
In concert video footage of Muse, I've seen both the guitarist and bassist use touch-pad devices integrated with their instruments.
What are these devices, and what are they designed to do?
4
votes
3answers
110 views
Getting my Daughter Started in Music
My daughter is currently 3, she has a very keen interest in music. She sings a lot and "composes" her own little "songs" to her own tunes. She has apparently has a keen ear for music, she inserts her ...
4
votes
2answers
815 views
Do weighted keys on a keyboard lead to more expressive playing?
I use an acoustic piano to learn/play classical music. I use a midi keyboard to record/produce own music. My piano has weighted keys while my midi keyboard has a very light touch. I find that I am ...
4
votes
1answer
362 views
Where/When did the modern guitar originate?
I keep thinking of Greeks playing Lyres - there had to be a point where someone added strings and the modern shape...
4
votes
5answers
2k views
Realistic Virtual Piano
I recently started playing around with my MIDI keyboard and Garageband. However, I noticed the default "Grand Piano" etc. in Garageband have very poor sound and expression capability.
Is there a free ...
4
votes
1answer
216 views
Spectrum of brass tones of same fingering
On valve brass instruments, a single fingering may be used to play different notes. For example on the trumpet, leaving all valves open (up) allows the player to play the following notes:
C - G - C - ...
4
votes
1answer
71 views
How to remove a rusted mouthpiece?
I have an old WWI US Army-issue bugle with the mouthpiece rusted onto the body. what it the best way to get the mouthpiece off without hurting the rest of the instrument?
4
votes
1answer
162 views
Jazz mouthpiece for flugelhorn?
What are some good options for a jazz flugelhorn mouthpiece? I have the Yamaha Bobby Shew and a nice 3C equivalent (for wind ensemble playing), but I want something that will help my range a bit.
3
votes
3answers
195 views
Difference between Baritone and Euphonium
What is the difference between a baritone and a euphonium, and how can you tell? My band director sometimes uses them interchangeably, but I am pretty sure that is not correct. All I know is that this ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
Whose idea was it to put three pedals on a piano?
Who ever decided to put foot pedals on a piano? Do we know who did it, or do we only know the general period that this happened? I would like to know who did this and when did it happen?
3
votes
1answer
147 views
What kind of bandoneon or concertina is appropriate for playing tango music?
I really love the sound of tango and I'd like to buy a bandoneon.
With the relationship but seeming distinct existence from the Concertina, I don't know how to identify which kind of ...
3
votes
2answers
711 views
What should I look for when buying a used trombone?
I am looking to buy a used trombone, from Craigslist or similar. I'd prefer not to spend much more than $200 on it. I want to learn to play the trombone, but I know absolutely nothing about the ...
2
votes
3answers
92 views
Piano Maintenance
What should be done to maintain an upright piano?
I am not asking about tuning it, but what can be done so it does not have to be tuned as often?
I heard someone once say about a particular piano ...
2
votes
5answers
281 views
Silent, extremely portable instrument to learn music
I am currently off work for more or less a month, so I decided it could be a great time to learn an instrument and how to compose some simple tunes.
I am 29, never played anything meaningful in my ...
