The study of how music works, seeking to identify structures and patterns in music.
3
votes
2answers
94 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: ...
6
votes
7answers
1k views
Why is the highest frequency on a piano 4186 Hertz?
The human hearing range is between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. The lowest frequency on a piano is 27.5 Hz, which is almost at the start of the human hearing range. However, the highest frequency on a piano ...
2
votes
1answer
62 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
61 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 ...
9
votes
2answers
782 views
Is there any real difference between Counterpoint and Polyphony?
From what I understand, they both kind of refer to the same thing. Why the need for 2 terms?
13
votes
8answers
1k views
How is counterpoint different from harmony?
Harmony is a kind of second sound you hear. Counterpoint is also the second sound you hear. Aside from technical differentiation, how can you by ear differentiate these two concepts. I mean, is it ...
1
vote
2answers
65 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
3answers
315 views
Voice leading confusion
I perfectly understand the theory of voice leading when explained in most theory books about moving voices between chords in the shortest possible manner to give a smooth connection between chords.
...
1
vote
1answer
88 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 ...
5
votes
4answers
131 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.
...
17
votes
7answers
833 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 ...
-1
votes
0answers
17 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.
11
votes
2answers
2k views
What's the difference between “modal music” and “tonal music”?
As the title says, what's the difference between "modal music" and "tonal music"? Is there also any other classification besides "modal music" and "tonal music"?
13
votes
5answers
367 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 ...
-2
votes
0answers
54 views
Mathematical basis for Ionian mode as most natural? [duplicate]
I realize that there is a mathematical basis for the seven-tone scale because of overtones. However, is there any mathematical basis for the Ionian mode as being the "most natural", as opposed to the ...
8
votes
4answers
174 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
118 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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
506 views
What is a good solo to learn in the major scale?
I am starting to play / improvise in the major scale and would like to learn some guitar solos that are good examples of this scale so that I see how other people use it. What are some famous solos in ...
1
vote
2answers
53 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. ...
7
votes
4answers
195 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:
...
3
votes
2answers
61 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 ...
2
votes
4answers
206 views
Introduction to jazz theory
I have developed an appreciation of jazz (Coltrane, Ayler, Sanders, etc.). I have no musical education though. I am therefore looking for some sort of lectures or texts for a better (or any at all) ...
4
votes
1answer
62 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
161 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
757 views
son vs. rumba clave and bass line
The answer to Latin jazz: anticipated chord change on last beat provided by Ulf Åkerstedt raises another question: I have written a son bass line, and I realize I have a rumba clave on the drum set. ...
11
votes
4answers
447 views
Algorithms for music composition
I'm a beginner in music but I also like to fool around with simple computer programs . So I found a little python library to generate MIDI files . So what I do now is that I have a few rhythm ...
48
votes
7answers
2k views
Why is the guitar tuned like it is?
Why is there that funny tuning kink between the G and B string on a guitar in standard tuning? I.e., the (musical) gap between the rest of the adjoining strings is 5 frets (or a perfect fourth), but ...
-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:
...
10
votes
1answer
194 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 ...
10
votes
3answers
403 views
Most common jazz theory method book
What is the most common text book for learning jazz music theory?
I have a strong background in classical music theory and would like to supplement it. I particularly am looking for something for ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
What is a good guitar solo to learn in the minor scale?
I am starting to play and improvise in the minor scale, and I would like to learn some guitar solos that are good examples of this scale so that I see how other people use it. What are some famous ...
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
209 views
A good source to learn the theory of chords in an accordion
I have been learning to play accordion for a few months and I can play 15-20 songs with their chords now. I know the physics behind the musical notes (such as I can understand what one implies by ...
7
votes
1answer
89 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
212 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
130 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
83 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
3answers
77 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?
-2
votes
1answer
91 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
162 views
Was the pitch A given that letter because the minor key was originally the “basic” mode?
It's something that's puzzled me; The key that has no sharps and no flats, in essence the "basic" key, is C Major. Well, fine, but why C? Why not label that key and note A, if it's the foundation of ...
8
votes
2answers
192 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
98 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
59 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 ...
10
votes
5answers
349 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 ...
11
votes
3answers
288 views
How can I move beyond learning songs?
I can competently learn and play chord progressions and simple runs on the guitar but I do not feel like I understand the instrument. My playing progresses by memorizing songs.
However, I know that ...
8
votes
6answers
262 views
What are good resources for learning music theory?
What is a good resource for learning music theory, especially as it relates to the guitar, coming from a completely beginner's perspective? I had a musician friend try to teach me about modes such as ...
-4
votes
1answer
102 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
377 views
Harmony analysis program
Is there any computer program that automatically analyzes harmony given the score?
By harmony, I of course mean, 'I', 'III, 'IV' etc.. and their connection.
6
votes
3answers
145 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 ...
