The study of how music works, seeking to identify structures and patterns in music.
3
votes
4answers
87 views
“I-vi” in Major or “III-i” in Minor?
There are some progressions that seem to move back and forth between a major key and its relative minor, like the "I-vi" progression (C, Am for example, two measures each.)
Most people would consider ...
1
vote
1answer
92 views
What are the uses of Circle of Fifths? [closed]
I heard the "circle of fifths" can help a lot with chord progressions, the number of sharps in a scale, and more.
Please find questions below for which I am expecting answers:
Can we apply circle ...
6
votes
4answers
133 views
How to recreate a sound on a synth
Is is possible to recreate any sound you hear in a synth? Think of it like ear training, but with a synth. Being able to deconstruct a sound with your ear, know what type of waveform is being used, ...
6
votes
9answers
402 views
Where do musicians draw their melodies from?
It has been in my head for so long.
I am a visual artist, animator, I do motion graphics, 3D artwork and most of my work is done visually.
I am puzzled by this question.
Visual artists, they draw ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Voice-crossing in First Species Counterpoint
In two-part counterpoint, is it okay for the counterpoint and cantus firmus voices to cross?
Transferred from: Few Questions on Counterpoint in the Tradition of Johan Fux
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Diatonic Function of Accidentals in Counterpoint
Why is it in counterpoint that the fourth degree of natural mode "F"
lowered to "Bb" instead of remaining as "B"?
Why isn't the fourth degree lowered for other modes? Shouldn't the "B"
...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Meaning of “Battuta” in Counterpoint
What is Battuta and does it only apply to voice leading by
contrary motion?
For example, in treble clef, if going from "E-G" (major-tenth - that
is, the "E" is in the bass and the "G" is ...
5
votes
1answer
63 views
Raised leading tones in Phrygian mode counterpoint
In most cases the penultimate note of the counterpoint will be the
leading tone, which must be raised in minor to establish a sense of
tonality. But why is the leading tone in the Phrygian mode ...
2
votes
3answers
105 views
Same note in two staves [duplicate]
I have only just started to learn (on my own) to read music and play the piano at the grand old age of 64! Please can someone tell me how to play the same note on two staves? I keep being asked to ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Can sequences in music be modified rhythmically?
Can a sequence still be considered a sequence if the rhythm is changed?
For example:
Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op.13, II, in the left hand:
The phrase beginning on the upbeat of 1 in the 3rd ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Chordal Analysis of Christian Petzold's Minuet in G (formerly attributed to J.S. Bach)
The piece I am asking about is the well-known minuet that was originally attributed to J.S. Bach but has since been re-attributed to lesser-known composer, Christian Petzold.
My question concerns ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
Beginning counterpoint above or below a cantus firmus
I have more questions on the Study of Counterpoint:
Must the cantus firmus always start on the tonic?
If the cantus firmus is in the bass then can the counterpoint start with something other than a ...
4
votes
2answers
124 views
Accidentals in First Species Counterpoint
On page 39 of Alfred Mann's translation of The Study of Counterpoint there is a passage concerning justification of using accidentals in first species counterpoint.
Here is the passage:
Aloys: ...
5
votes
4answers
229 views
Comfortable notes in a key
I've been playing guitar for some time, and often when i do improvisation exercises, I hit notes which sound too tense to finish a run/lick/riff on. Kind of like having a sentence which no full stop.
...
1
vote
1answer
124 views
Figuring out the difference between major and relative minor scales?
I always seem have difficulty determining whether a song is in a major scale, or the relative minor. (the 3rd note back into it, but minor)
Lets use the Pokemon theme song for example. As I ...
-1
votes
0answers
22 views
What mixing console for playing dub? [closed]
I would like to know how to choose the best mixing console to play dub/roots ?
How many channels do I need ? How can I apply effects on my instruments ? Etc..
Thank you.
8
votes
4answers
207 views
Polymeter vs Polyrhythm
What is the difference between a polymeter and a polyrhythm? Do these words mean anything different for different instruments?
PS: I'm a drummer.
2
votes
2answers
129 views
how does the bluegrass major chord built off of the flat 7 “work”?
It's in almost every bluegrass song, but I've never seen an exposition of the theory behind the major chord (minor may also be used, but I don't think I've seen it) built off of the flat 7th of the ...
1
vote
2answers
58 views
What is imitation between two voices on an eighth note upbeat figure?
On the Wikipedia page on BWV 578, a technique devised by Corelli is mentioned.
The fugue's four-and-a-half measure subject is one of Bach's most recognizable tunes. The fugue is in four voices. ...
3
votes
2answers
74 views
What do I need to know about drums as an electric metal guitar player
My questions are as follows ...
As A guitarist (Mostly electric with heavy distortion) what minimum knowledge of drums do I need to be able to create or chose drums beats that suits the song I am ...
4
votes
1answer
63 views
How was the ordering of Allen Forte's list of prime forms determined?
I'm familiar with how "prime forms" are determined from a pitch class set using the Forte (or Rahn) systems. A good list is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forte_number
However I am puzzled by how ...
4
votes
2answers
190 views
What do you call plucking the violin strings with the finger, rather than using the bow?
I was attempting to learn a bit about violin sheet music, and then I wondered if the act of producing sound with the finger or the fingernail had a written notation.
I had a hard time finding a video ...
-2
votes
1answer
71 views
What is this song? [closed]
I've been hearing this song everywhere, but cannot identify it. It's the first few seconds of this video:
...
0
votes
0answers
49 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
73 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
97 views
Finding the “Starting point” when creating a composition or score
This is a fairly simple one, and hopefully not too wide-open to be permitted here: what approaches are available when sitting at a fresh screen or sheet of paper, or at your instrument, to create the ...
6
votes
3answers
231 views
On a piano scale what is considered “middle C”?
I'm learning to play the piano and I'm slightly confused after reading this:
http://pianoscale.org/scales/root/c/major/
Is the 1st note in the treble clef the same as the 8th notes in the bass ...
1
vote
3answers
237 views
What is the difference between a collection of sounds and music?
From my reading I've gathered that the difference between music and noise is that music is an organized collection of sounds. In that definition, noise would then be an unorganized collection of ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
Difference between dissonance and clashing notes
Wikipedia describes dissonance as the quality of sounds that seems "unstable" and has an aural "need" to "resolve" to a "stable" consonance
Which basically means it hurts your ears and you want it to ...
-2
votes
1answer
94 views
2 guitar progression [closed]
These are progression from a song that I was playing with a friend but we don't understand it at all. Can somebody please explain conceptually why they sound good when played together i.e first ...
2
votes
3answers
84 views
The origin of “Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father” [closed]
The order of the flats is given by the mnemonic "*B*attle *E*nds *A*nd *D*own *G*oes *C*harles' *F*ather". What is the history behind this strange phrase?
8
votes
2answers
301 views
The differences between natural, harmonic and melodic minors
I'm studying scales and came across the natural, harmonic, and melodic minors. I understand the patterns for each scale but what other important differences exist between the three?
-1
votes
2answers
101 views
Looking for advice on my self-taught music education
Until a year ago, I had absolutely no music education, and I decided to change that around this period, well more exactly I picked up on (acoustic) guitar as a hobby and from there gained interest in ...
0
votes
2answers
61 views
Can the “music of the spheres” be applied (or projected) to instrumental music?
I've read lots of books on Pythagoras and the philosophy of the Music of the Spheres, but it all seems to stop at labeling planets with scale degrees. And then what? If they're all there, filling up ...
7
votes
4answers
246 views
Playing Guitar Tabs on Piano?
I was wondering if anyone could possibly explain how I could somehow translate a guitar tab into notes on piano. Is there some sort of algorithm I can apply?
ex:
...
-4
votes
1answer
155 views
What are the best books to learn music theory? [closed]
I haven't been able to find anything that particularly relates to this, and I'm sorry if this is a duplicate, but what are the best books to learn about music theory? I honestly have no idea about ...
10
votes
1answer
196 views
What are some good/interesting ways to exit a circle of fifths section?
Circle of 5ths is in tons of chord progressions, sounds nice and 'easy', etc. But if you keep going on it the song can sound unreasonably predictable.
What are some good ways to use a little bit of ...
6
votes
3answers
149 views
Dominant functioning as a Subdominant!
The D9 chord voices appropriate seems to be able to function as a subdominant chord. This is very intriguing and I've always thought and read that dominant chords function as dominant chords(except in ...
2
votes
2answers
123 views
What should I be trying my hand at to practice composing?
I don't really know how to play any instrument, but I do have some USB keys that I have plinked with in Garageband.
I'm not interested so much in learning to perform my works. I enjoy and am inspired ...
6
votes
4answers
224 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
392 views
What is a key signature?
I'm trying to learn the flute and I bought a book that is supposed to help me learn. In one of the first chapters it describes something about key signatures and the circle of fifths and I'm ...
1
vote
4answers
256 views
How Can I Replicate The Sound Of An Instrument?
I have experience of basic music theory, guitar and piano. My current project involves creating a computer program that can replicate the sounds of any given instrument (starting with piano).
I can ...
4
votes
2answers
107 views
Name for music that imitates speech
I have searched and asked others for the answer to this but have come up dry: what is the name or technique in music where musical notes approximate/imitate speech? Note that I am not talking about ...
13
votes
5answers
384 views
The major scale - why and how?
background: I am an amateur guitarist. I was trained in Indian classical music as a kid. Most of what I know in music theory is from books or Google. So please feel free to correct me or tell me if ...
5
votes
1answer
203 views
“Andalusian cadences”: How are they commonly heard?
The "Andalusian cadence" I-bVII-bVI-V is commonly heard as a repeated figure in Flamenco music as well as many pop songs, e.g. "Hit the Road, Jack":
...
3
votes
2answers
93 views
What is A flat to C minor?
I know that Cm is the relative minor of Eb.
I noticed the Eb chord is made up of two of the same notes of Cm (beginning on the third degree). Ab is also made up of two of the same notes, but on the ...
6
votes
2answers
149 views
What does it mean when progression is resolved?
I saw this text inside a very basic piano workbook in which I'm not sure what the author means by using "resolve".
Progression #1: C-F-G-F-C
NOTE: This 4 bar progression resolves back to C ...
6
votes
2answers
197 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
What should I do next to improve and expand my musical knowledge? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where can I get started with my improvisation?
How to develop soloing vocabulary
What are good resources for learning music theory?
How does one start learning music ...
-1
votes
2answers
87 views
How To Derive Note Frequencies From The Harmonic Series? [closed]
The harmonic series give us the (natural or just) frequencies of the notes in an octave. To achieve that we need to transpose the higher-order harmonics to the same octave as the fundamental tone. But ...
