The study of how music works, seeking to identify structures and patterns in music.
2
votes
4answers
558 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
391 views
What is bad about Roman Numeral Analysis?
I have studied roman numeral analysis in my theory courses and I think that it's a good way of describing and understanding classical music, especially that of the classical and early romantic ...
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
145 views
Converting to harmonic and melodic minor
Is this correct?
In converting from major to harmonic minor of the same root (not the relative minor (with the same key signature)), flatten the 3rd and 6th.
In converting from major to ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Music Theory: Frequencies related to playing a note on guitar
I am studying the physics related to playing guitar. I need to understand the relationship between the fundamental frequency of a guitar string and its harmonics.
For e.g., the top string has the ...
5
votes
2answers
208 views
Why play out of scale notes as part of a chord?
So, I'm learning 'Stray Cat Strut' right now and came across something I'm not sure I understood. I have to say, I've only just begun to learn theory, so maybe that's why.
Anyway, as far as I can ...
9
votes
2answers
219 views
How does one start learning music theory?
I know some basic stuff like scales and how to construct chords, but I don't know much about the roles notes play in melody, what kinds of melodies there are, how to do chord progressions, and so on.
...
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
165 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?
4
votes
1answer
433 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
241 views
18-note groupings across 4 beats in this Yngwie Malmsteen inspired lick
I have a few questions regarding the following lick:
...
3
votes
2answers
255 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
589 views
What is this called? Why is it allowed?
"Golden Train" by Justin Nozuka (YouTube link below) is in the key of Ab major. However he uses a Cb major chord throughout the song, which is not in the key of Ab major. It sounds good and works ...
3
votes
1answer
219 views
How to become a DJ
I'd like to become a DJ, and to tell the truth, I also have made many tracks using Encore notation software. But, now that I want to bring it to reality, I don't know what instruments to purchase. A ...
1
vote
1answer
143 views
What note(s) are a diminished 3rd above D-flat?
In
What is the interval between Db and D#
some of the comments indicate that the interval Db->Eb can be considered as a diminished third. I would think that Fbb (double-flatted F) is a diminished ...
6
votes
3answers
732 views
How many (major and minor) keys are there? Why?
I am wondering about how many major and minor keys there are and why.
Here are some suggestions:
24 keys
One could argue that there should be one major and one relative minor key for each of the 12 ...
9
votes
8answers
1k views
What is the difference between a mode and a scale?
I can't seem to find a straight definition for both.
13
votes
4answers
338 views
Are the any great open questions in music theory?
In many sciences there a are a number open questions that are well known in the field, and for which a solid answer would gain the answerer much Prestige. For example, maths has many open questions, ...
14
votes
6answers
1k views
Is it possible to write a song without a key?
"This song is in F Major", "That song is in A Minor", "This song is in D Minor, but modulates to F Major in the middle", etc.
Can we say "This song has no key"? Are there songs that have/follow no ...
3
votes
3answers
406 views
What makes a song a “rock” song?
I mean, sometimes I'm not completely sure when a song is a "rock song" or when it is from another music genre or even a "something-rock" song, how do you recognize it?? is it some bass rithm? some ...
7
votes
5answers
527 views
tips for writing the drum notes to a song in a band
I play the drums in a band, and the song has already been written and everything that the vocalist, guitarist and bassist will play. The drums were left out and I have to write them to fit the song.
...
12
votes
4answers
200 views
What are modes and how are they useful?
I'm a self-taught guitarist with zero to little experience in music theory. After marrying a violinist I found that there's a lot to music theory that I know tribally but don't understand the ...
9
votes
2answers
138 views
Do different modes have the same cadence structure?
In major and minor keys, the perfect cadence is V to I
Will this structure remain the same in a different mode?
I.e. E Phrygian Mode in the key of C (E F G A B C D), the tonic chord is the iii of ...
1
vote
2answers
102 views
Which note is consonance and which is dissonance
1) I did some reading saying 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th note are unstable note. where 7th note tends to move towards the tonic and it is the most unstable note. Is it true? When I play through the scale, i ...
3
votes
3answers
215 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
How to come over nervousness while stage performance? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I overcome the fear of performing in front of an audience?
I have played guitar several time on stage. But every time I start performing I feel a lot nervous. I ...
0
votes
4answers
132 views
Is music always supposed to be dependent on timing? [closed]
I wanna know, is music supposed to be dependent on timing, or what we more specifically call Beats Per Minute (BPM) or time signatures?
10
votes
5answers
941 views
33
votes
6answers
1k views
What's the difference between a Gâ™ and an F#?
I've heard it said that, whilst on most instruments these notes are played with the same fingerings/technique/etc there is a subtle difference.
This isn't specific to this particular note ...
2
votes
3answers
363 views
How to understand layering of multiple elements in composition (pop/jazz)
I'm trying to understand more about how to compose music and most importantly combine multiple instruments at the same time.
I'm quite capable of composing a bass-line, chord progression, or main ...
6
votes
2answers
202 views
What are the major differences in a composition of metal and progressive metal?
I am a bit confused about the differences in the composition of metal and progressive metal. Are there major differences in their orientation of sound, or it is just the difference of incorporating ...
5
votes
4answers
847 views
Why does the Dorian mode on C have two flats?
I'm studying scale modes and I just found on Wikipedia that the Dorian mode on C has two flats...
Why is this? Because the Dorian mode is just the major scale (Ionian) starting from the second ...
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, ...
4
votes
1answer
347 views
Using modes and static harmony
Edit: i know what modes are and how they are related to major scale..etc. question is about modal harmony and chord progression in modal harmony. not what is a mode and name of other modes..etc
What ...
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votes
3answers
99 views
Which Music Instrument Have The Widest Variety of Sounds and Effects? [closed]
Can anyone let me know which instrument can be used for large number of music effects and different varieties of sounds produced.
13
votes
1answer
212 views
Is this piece of renaissance music really in the locrian mode?
A fifteenth-century dance manual contains this piece of music:
which appears to be (uncharacteristically) in the locrian mode. Is it really, or am I mis-reading? Does anybody know of other music ...
6
votes
4answers
206 views
Lorem Ipsum in music
I would like to use some Lorem Ipsum like thing for synthesizer sound demonstration. To be specific, I want the following properties
Polyphonic (Some sounds like pads really needs a chord)
It should ...
1
vote
2answers
281 views
Determining modes in a minor Key
Speaking of Functional harmony; If a song is in key C, then we call the C major scale from E to E is a Phyrigan mode. Good, what if a song is in key Am, which is actually relative of C and also Am ...
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 ...
10
votes
2answers
222 views
What is the name of the interval Db - D#?
I know that Db - Eb is a major second/diminished third. What is the interval Db - D# called (and why)?
EDIT: oops, Db - Eb is NOT a diminished third.
4
votes
1answer
172 views
What are these aspects of song structure called?
In songs, we often have very similar melodies and rhythm patterns being repeated over and over again. The following is an approximate melody of one stanza of Willy O' Winsbury as performed by ...
5
votes
3answers
165 views
Is solfege systems octave-agnostic?
I'm writing a somewhat comprehensive music theory programming library - Both to have the ability to make "intelligent" theory programs, and to refresh all the theory to myself.
I've however just met ...
0
votes
0answers
129 views
Song Analysis Foo Fighters - Arlandria [closed]
In the process of trying to improve my songwriting skills, I decided to do a little more "structured" transcription (see also Justin's explanation why this is helpful). I'm posting my progress here ...
15
votes
6answers
8k views
How to know what notes/chords go together while improvising?
This is 3 questions in one, so it might take a slightly involved answer, or some good links.
I'm a very good classical pianist, but I skipped theory entirely in my early days and learned to play well ...
3
votes
1answer
208 views
Is there such a thing as “pop music theory”?
There is large body of work describing the theory of Western classical music;
I'm unaware of the state of analysis of popular music forms.
Are the differences between, say post-50's American ...
4
votes
1answer
107 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 ...
11
votes
5answers
9k views
What is the first scale one should learn on guitar
The title really sums it all up but I'll try expand it slightly. Lets say I'm learning guitar and would like to improve my guitar work. Which of the scales should I learn first and why?
26
votes
4answers
2k views
Purpose of double-sharps and double-flats?
In a few pieces of music I have read through, I have come across double-sharps and flats.
To my understanding, they are two semitones above/below the note indicated. What is, then, the point of ...
2
votes
3answers
321 views
International notation system
I would like to know if there is a special order for notes in English and/or an international notation system.
In french, our order is Do RĂ© Mi Fa Sol La Si which is equivalent to C D E F G A B, what ...
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 ...
