Ways to use one's instrument or voice precisely to produce a desired musical effect.
3
votes
2answers
217 views
Voice - Trouble with high notes
I'm finding I'm having a lot of difficulty singing notes that are in the upper range. I have a voice teacher, and she's giving me warmups and tips about keeping my throat open. I've made some progress ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
How to correctly position your larynx when singing?
I'm a beginner singer who wants to get it correctly. I've seen quite a lot of videos explaining how keeping the larynx neutral while singing is crucial, but not a lot of the techniques they teach ...
10
votes
3answers
568 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 ...
3
votes
5answers
426 views
Technique for octaves on piano without pain?
So I'm a decently experienced pianist, but I never had formal training. And now I've got this absolutely amazing arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody, and it's killing me.
The first two parts were so ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
Should I retrain myself to be a right handed drummer?
I'm in a slightly strange situation. I have been playing the piano ever since I was a kid, and have in recent years taken an interest in drumming. Not having consistent access to a real drum kit, I ...
2
votes
5answers
238 views
Will changing my grip help avoid wrist pain?
I've been playing drums for about ten years and have recently started playing more long gigs (3+ hours, with breaks). Sometimes, as the night wears on, I'll get intense pain in one wrist; it's ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Proper way to finger Flugelhorn
Today, I was playing Holst's Second Suite in F (Movement 1) on my Flugelhorn. It sounded great, but I feel that some particular sequences are a bit muddy in the fingering. I usually play with the ...
0
votes
3answers
1k views
Belt (singing) exercises and techniques?
So, I have worked hard to develop a middle voice and head voice but it doesn't have the really powerful tone of a belt voice. Can anyone give me audio exercises or refer some source for belting ...
1
vote
1answer
94 views
How to avoid accents when singing?
Sometimes, on certain songs, I start to sing in an accent that kind of mimics the original vocals. One song in which I have this problem is Three Days Grace's Let It Die. How can avoid the accent ...
1
vote
2answers
79 views
How to re-develop double tonguing?
Two years ago, I had no issue double- and triple-tonguing. After a while, however, I seem to have issues playing quickly enough. I suspect that I have gone back to single-tonguing. How can I go back ...
5
votes
5answers
407 views
How do I get pinch harmonics during solos?
Could someone tell me how to get the pinch harmonics sound during solos? Specifically on the "Wanted Dead or Alive" solo by Bon Jovi?
Is it an amp setting? Is it something I do with my left or right ...
2
votes
2answers
232 views
Switching from a short-scale bass to a 'normal' one - Tips please?
I've been playing bass in my bedroom for a while now. I have a pretty but pretty crappy 1970s Yamaha semi-acoustic (SA70, I think). I've been thinking of branching out into some new styles and ...
3
votes
2answers
239 views
Steve Gaines and Ed King… Love their playing, have a hard time emulating it…
Another question that's been puzzling me for a while.
I love Steve Gaines playing but I find it impossible to improvise in his style, especially the style he plays in I Know A Little.
I also love ...
4
votes
5answers
185 views
The intro to “Soul Man” - the verses in “It's Your Thing” (Isley Brothers) - What is that technique called?
Jeff Beck plays variations of this blues lick - 1:28 into "You Know What I Mean" - It's a basic blues riff (the beginning to Dust My Broom (Elmore James) played with variations up/down the fretboard ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
How to stop distortion from making minor chords muddy?
I have a Roland/Boss GT3, which I use to get various distortion sounds. I like the sound for the most part, but I find that distorted sounds seem very ... "muddy" I guess would be the best way to ...
6
votes
1answer
379 views
How to improve/train pinky dexterity for guitar playing (after long absence)
I played guitar from 12 to 23, but haven't really played for the last 5 years and would like to start again.
However, when I used to play I rarely used the pinky finger because I have big hands (not ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
Rhythm guitar techniques for a great Blues/Blues Rock player
Firstly, let me say that I've been playing guitar for a couple of years now. I know a few scales (Major, Minor, Blues, Harmonic Minor) and the basic chords with it's different shapes. I've also ...
2
votes
2answers
101 views
Is the following non-standard fingering for an A shaped barre chord still technically sound?
Having slowly come to grips with E shape barre chords I'm now grappling with A shaped ones. The two popular fingerings I have seen involve one finger each on the 2, 3, 4 strings or alternatively ...
3
votes
2answers
100 views
Slurs that span two staves
I saw some slurs that span two staves (both the bass and the treble clefs) on a piece of sheet music. Are they any different from the regular slurs? How should I play them?
1
vote
3answers
267 views
On a guitar how do you play two notes simultaneously on non-adjacent strings?
For example here is a snippet from moonlight sonata.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12337149/gap.png
There are two open strings here with a pretty big gap in between them. How should this be played?
4
votes
1answer
80 views
Is there a name or common usage of this piano damper pedal effect?
I've noticed an effect that I use when playing acoustic piano. Play a note or chord staccato, and quite quickly after playing it, press the damper pedal. The effect is rather like an echo which ...
4
votes
2answers
307 views
What's the proper right arm position for an electric guitar?
With my classical guitar arm positioning has never been an issue. I just rest my arm naturally on the body at the crook of the elbow:
My wrist stays pretty flat:
I feel like I could sit like ...
8
votes
5answers
486 views
Keeping both hands (and arms) strong for better stick control
Since there aren't many drumming or percussion related questions, I will start this out with one of my own. As a drummer of almost 20 years, I still have a weaker left hand (and arm), despite trying ...
7
votes
5answers
2k views
How do I develop a good vibrato?
A crucial element for phrasing is vibrato, but while you can notate a great number of things, you can't really notate vibrato. I know it's important. I know B.B. King's butterfly vibrato is a big ...
10
votes
5answers
538 views
How do I improve my picking and fretting speed?
I've seen people like John Petrucci playing incredibly fast with their right and left hands, but I can't seem to get any faster than I am now (which is speedy, but not near as fast as John).
Is there ...
10
votes
4answers
348 views
How to embrace the metronome after years of bad habits?
Background
I have been dabbling in guitar for over 20 years. I have decent dexterity, technique, and musical theory. However, I don't count time and never use a metronome. I always sound like a weak ...
14
votes
5answers
2k views
Why does music sound bad when played backwards?
I am not sure where to post this, but I hope it fits here.
If you have ever recorded music, and play the track backwards, you'll notice it sounds quite strange, almost demonic. I have always ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Causes of sharp pain in a fretting finger after playing guitar or bass?
I have been playing guitar and bass for about 20 years now and I have noticed that sometimes, particularly in the last five years, I will do something with my fretting hand that causes a sharp pain in ...
41
votes
7answers
630 views
Ten Minute Practice Techniques?
Unfortunately I can't play everyday.
However, I am trying to grab at least 5-10 minutes here and there. What are some good theory or scale techniques/practice methods I should have ready to pull out ...
0
votes
1answer
232 views
How do I continue improving my saxophone technique?
I've started learning saxophone three weeks ago. I'm having really good fun with it and I play it whenever I can.
I already play drums, bass guitar, and trombone so I know a bit about music, but not ...
7
votes
4answers
881 views
What is “Phrasing” in the context of playing a Solo?
What is meant when a listener says"His phrasing was spot on"- specifically when talking about solo's but sometimes when referring to a pianist "comping". What does it mean when referring to a ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
Andy Timmons Carpe Diem fast vibration
This is a tough one :)
When I listen to this amazing track (track 14 from "That was then, This is now" album) I notice at 0:36 and 0:42 a very fast vibration on the G string (5th fret) which I doubt ...
2
votes
2answers
371 views
How do you play guitar dead notes quickly switching?
I'm trying to play part of a song that looks like this:
0 x x 0 x x 7 x x x
9 x x 5 x x 5 x x x
I find it very difficult to play this. I have trouble playing open strings and letting them ring ...
6
votes
3answers
537 views
How to start bass-guitar plucking?
I am looking for an online beginner tutorial to bass plucking (fingered) technique, something like the image bellow.
Important: I am not looking to learn how to play the notes etc., I would say I ...
4
votes
3answers
247 views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of supporting the classical guitar?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of supporting a classical guitar? I know of three methods, each of which has some variation:
A footrest
A stand or cushion that rests on the left leg and ...
0
votes
3answers
150 views
How can I play this passage on classical guitar?
I'm trying to teach myself classical guitar. I've got a fair bit of experience chording and strumming. But this passage is giving me problems:
My problem concerns the highlighted portion. Even ...
2
votes
1answer
150 views
Is there a formal name for this type of composition?
So, say there's a musical piece that has the following structure:
[A.1] [A.2] [A.3] [A]
Where A is a "harmonic theme", in the sense that it's treated as a theme, but its melodic content is contained ...
6
votes
3answers
594 views
What is the best way to become super-accurate on the piano?
For an example of what I mean, look at Volodos or Marc-Andre Hamelin -- both well-known for their incredibly crisp and accurate technique.
The answer is NOT to play more. There are some pieces I'm ...
5
votes
2answers
341 views
Techniques to improve general ability to play fast runs on a tuba?
I play Tuba, so I dont have very much fast runs in orchestra arrangements, but there are occationally small passages that can be challenging. I want to improve my general ability to handle such ...
2
votes
5answers
983 views
Electric Guitar | Right hand position
I find it difficult to decide on where to position/rest my right hand (picking hand) when playing electric guitar. I started with acoustic and i have a habit of resting my pinky finger on the guitar ...
4
votes
1answer
206 views
Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Piano Solo) - Measure 306
In the picture below, there is a significant stretch where the melody in the upper staff is at a lower pitch than the accompaniment in the lower staff.
Does Liszt intend for me to cross my ...
8
votes
5answers
333 views
Keeping rhythm when performing live without a drummer
I'm a member of a small band, and a common problem that arises when playing faster-paced music is keeping everyone in sync, rhythm wise. It goes without saying that one person falling out of time can ...
3
votes
2answers
344 views
How do I double tongue on a recorder?
I have been trying to play relatively fast pieces (e.g. staccato sixteenth notes at ≈200 bpm) on a soprano recorder lately. Single tonguing on them is impossible, I have found. I have done some double ...
4
votes
7answers
3k views
Is it important for a guitarist to know how to use a pick?
I've been playing guitar for almost a year and a half now and I still don't know how to use a pick. I strum very hard and I'm afraid that my guitar strings would break from the pick. Would this be ...
0
votes
1answer
184 views
Picking hand technique and precision
I started realizing that the picking hand was actually very important (probably as much as the fretting hand): it is always moving and it has to be extremely precise. I wanted to ask a question about ...
8
votes
2answers
427 views
What makes african blues so distinctive?
When you listen to the music by Ali Farka Toure, Rokia Traore, Afel Bocoum and other african blues artists you can recognize it in a second.
What is it what makes the african blues so distinctive?
Is ...
19
votes
4answers
749 views
How can I be sure that I am singing effortlessly in my natural voice ?
By now , I have years of vocalization practice but I still start straining while singing—especially if I am not vigilant. It happens imperceptibly and is a hard habit to break.
Is there a reliable ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
What is the name of perfomance technique used in the chorus of Celldweller — Last Firstborn?
I am currently obsessed with the track by Celldweller called "Last Firstborn". Is there any name for the keyboard technique used in the chorus? In this YouTube video you can hear it from 1:28 right ...
1
vote
1answer
270 views
How should I put my fingers on a piano / electronic keyboard?
Should the fingers be curved/bent or straight?
Should I press the key actively or let my finger fall by "using gravity"?
