The study of how music works, seeking to identify structures and patterns in music.
10
votes
4answers
413 views
What gives a piece of music its personality and feeling?
What makes a piece of music sound angry, dark, sad, happy, or otherwise?
"La Chute" by Yann Tiersen sounds so angry to me and "A Dark Knight" from "The Dark Knight" movie sounds so dark and ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the difference between a “Riff” and a “Melody”?
How do I tell when a Riff becomes a melody, or is it even important to know? Can you construct a song around a riff - what are some suggestions on how to construct a song in that manner?
2
votes
3answers
355 views
What does it mean when one says that rock and jazz have strong beats on the even numbered beats?
It is usually said that rock and jazz musics have the strong beats on the even numbered beats (2 and 4 on a typical 4/4) instead of the odd ones (1 and 3).
However, chord changes and bass (whether ...
4
votes
2answers
119 views
How do you label a sequential interval when the second note is lower in pitch than the first?
Consider the interval D3 G3. This would form a perfect fourth.
In a sequential interval, say a quarter note D3 followed by quarter note G3, this still "sounds" like a perfect fourth so using that ...
3
votes
3answers
511 views
What is a groove?
How is possible to "trigger" a groove?
Is there a technical reason for the groove to happen?
Is it just when you stuble across any kind of rhythm / melodic progression interaction that "moves"?
...
10
votes
1answer
195 views
When did keyboard partitions start to use the G-clef for the upper staff ?
When you look at very old sheetmusic (for harpsichord or organ), you see that the upper staff has a C-clef, first line. The lower one is the familiar bass F-clef, fourth line.
Why and when did the ...
2
votes
1answer
165 views
The tonal function of a bar in minuet by krieger
This is Minuet by J.Krieger
If I look at the 6-7-8 bars, there is the following chord progression:
E - E(7) - Am
With a trill in the 7th bar. I feel like the 6 bar does a kind of "teasing" in a ...
3
votes
2answers
220 views
Recommended book for learning Jazz Music in the piano
I have been playing classic music in the piano since I am a teenager and now I want to switch to Jazz music and learn it by myself. Which book would you recommend me? I know there are is this one Jazz ...
13
votes
5answers
1k views
Prokofiev's style
I have a predilection for music from the first half of the 20th century. I can't pinpoint the exact reason why, I suspect it is from absorbing so much music from movies, tv series and computer games ...
11
votes
6answers
385 views
My ear is not very well trained - what can I look for as easy hints when trying to identify a ii-V-I progression in blues music?
I'm looking to learn how to better analyze music I am listening to, and I'm having problems identifying ii-V-I progressions, especially when they're the basis for improvisation. What are some hints or ...
15
votes
6answers
2k views
Fast Chord Identification
How would someone go about identifying chords quickly and efficiently? While sight reading, I would often come up to some strange chord and try to decipher it. It normally takes me (what feels like) ...
2
votes
2answers
426 views
In what order should I learn all the theoretical concepts for piano?
I can do major scales with every key. I am now start minor scales. In what order should I learn all the concepts and theories? For example chords, chord progressions, lots of other stuff etc..
I ...
5
votes
3answers
218 views
Recommend reading why we have 12 pitches and another metrics in microtonal music?
I know there are many books which describe why we have 12 pitches (for example this book: R.H.M Bosanquet - An elementary treatise on musical intervals and temperament, 1876 in the public domain).
...
7
votes
2answers
178 views
In chord progressions, how can I refer to a chord that's out of the scale?
I'm training a music that is most on the G Major scale.. But then there's a B chord. As B is not on the G Major scale, how can I refer to it when I'm writing the chord progression?
EDIT
My guess is ...
17
votes
8answers
2k views
How to transcribe music by ear?
Often times we find ourselves enjoying a piece of music that, for whatever reason, we are unable to find appropriate documentation/tablature for. What are good practices for transcribing music by ear ...
10
votes
4answers
2k views
Music Theory for a Beginning Drummer
I've been learning Drums for the past few months (lifelong dream, and I should have my very own kit in 36 hours or so! \o/) and my teacher has been teaching me how to sight-read. I'm doing quite well ...
13
votes
4answers
370 views
Where can I get started with my improvisation?
I have been playing the alto saxophone for a while now. I have also improvised from time to time and have some theoretical and practical background on the instrument, harmony, scales, etc.
I have ...
3
votes
2answers
228 views
What technique is it called in the song “Better Man” by Robbie William?
I just recently recall about this song and started to play it. There is a change of base chord in the song during the bridge.
I am playing on C (C, G, Am, F, Em) and during the bridge, it changed to ...
4
votes
1answer
249 views
What's so special about III ?
Take a C major scale, and pick each other note, starting from each note
C-D-EF-G-A-BC-D-EF
I: C E G = C
ii: D F A = Dm
iii: E G B ...
10
votes
3answers
312 views
How can I easily translate between a key and a key signature?
Is there a good mnemonic or trick for working out the key signature from a given key? I can always write out the chromatic scale, then count out the appropriate intervals from the tonic, and figure ...
4
votes
2answers
204 views
Computer-aided musicology
I have been trying to explore music theory concepts programmatically, namely through music21 software, but I've run into alot of trouble. Are there any other frameworks for this?
5
votes
3answers
203 views
What makes augmented fourths and the diminished fifths so hard to sing/remember?
I've always wondered what makes these particular intervals so difficult.
2
votes
1answer
91 views
personal interview for musicology studies
I'm applying for musicology studies at the university, which requires a personal interview in order to check my musical skills and knowledge.
However, some theoretical points are unclear to me ...
11
votes
2answers
465 views
Music education audio lessons
I am currently learning to play the guitar, and that has sparked an interest in learning more about music in general. I would like to learn about music theory, ear training, history, musical styles ...
3
votes
1answer
282 views
Why do the Canadian and American ways of writing chords symbols differ?
I've been studying music harmony (for the RCM program), and my teacher explained to me that the American way of writing chord symbols slightly differs from the Canadian way. For example, the chord ...
5
votes
3answers
267 views
Composition of music suitable for concentration
What are the parameters of music to consider so that the resulting composition is suitable as a background music when reading, studying or doing some mental work?
I'm interested in parameters like ...
18
votes
3answers
811 views
What's so special about minor and major scales?
background: I'm an amateur and self-learner pianist. What I know, I know from books or google, so I'll start with summarising what I already know - please don't hesitate to correct me if I have ...
5
votes
1answer
148 views
Non-fixed-frequency instruments playing by themselves versus with fixed-frequency instruments
[I don't know a better term than "non-fixed frequency instruments" but I mean things like string instruments, voice, trombone as opposed to things like a piano which has a fixed (typically 12-et) ...
5
votes
2answers
100 views
Links and tips for Learning and using scales
Tips and links on learning and using different types of scales will be helpful.
If possible List of scales with songs in which they are used and (artists/types of bands) who uses certain scales to a ...
3
votes
5answers
258 views
Sharp / Flat: Collectively known as property by what name?
If a chord can be said to have a Quality which relates to whether it is major, minor, augmented or diminished then by what name do we call the property of a single note's flatness or sharpness?
Note: ...
18
votes
5answers
246 views
What are some of the components of a good guitar solo?
Putting aside the emotional value of listening to a great guitar solo, what are some of the criteria that can be applied to make an educated judgement as to the quality of a solo within the context of ...
7
votes
5answers
167 views
Resources for learning the Blues
Can anyone recommend any good resources (books or online) for learning the Blues on the guitar? Scales and theory is what I am looking for.
6
votes
4answers
303 views
When is it proper (if ever) to extend time signatures (8/4 vs 4/4)?
When listening to most contemporary music, in my experience, time signatures tend to be in "common time", or 4/4. But sometimes it feels like the phrase or measure extends beyond the four quarter ...
8
votes
4answers
460 views
What is an atonal mode?
I got an album by Ornette Coleman and Pat Methany, "X", and on the linear notes it talks about atonal experiments within the song structures. Are there scales and chord progressions that go along with ...
7
votes
3answers
453 views
What is a chromatic scale?
I notice that the blues scale usues notes that don't fit into the regular pentatonic scale, is there an entire scale that icorporates this method?
5
votes
3answers
787 views
What are alternative “voicings” for Major/Minor/Dominant Chords if I can't play “Barre Chords”?
I would like some alternative Chord Voicings if I don't want to play the standard barre chords for major/minor/dominant voicings: Thanks!!
4
votes
4answers
133 views
What are some harmonic options for layering guitar lines while recording?
I would like to layer multiple guitar lines for a section of a song that I'm working on - what are some harmonic variations that I would be able to use?
12
votes
2answers
3k views
What is concert pitch?
I was watching a song video lesson earlier today and it mentioned that the guitar should be tuned to concert pitch. What does that mean? Is it different from the normal EADGBE tuning?
3
votes
1answer
247 views
Chord lick, looking for others similar and maybe a bit of the theory behind how it works…
Here's a nice little chord lick that I picked up from Little Charlie of Little Charlie and the Nightcats. Charlie uses it as a turnaround in a few Swing Blues tunes he does.
$4.9.$3.8.$2.9.$1.7 / ...
10
votes
1answer
326 views
What does it mean to play in an 'arpeggiated' style on the guitar?
I sometimes hear a guitar player described as having an 'arpeggiated' style, such as Peter Buck of R.E.M.
I know that an arpeggio is the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th of a scale, but exactly what does it ...
4
votes
3answers
669 views
Can I use semi-acoustic guitar with overdrive (or compressor) without getting feedback?
Old-school method like to put lots of paper into body of guitar is not recommended in here =))
Anyway, I saw on youtube that one guy having delay+compressor+overdrive+reverb played with epiphone DOT, ...
10
votes
7answers
417 views
How to figure out what key a piece is in?
I am trying to write a guitar accompaniment to the piece "Fair and Tender Ladies".
But I have no clue what I need to do to figure out what key that piece is in.
Also, the instrument playing the ...
14
votes
2answers
922 views
What is the relationship between the melody line and the rhythm chords?
Let's say I've written a song with the chord progression I-IV-V in the key of A (just as an example). So, the chords I'm playing are A-D-E. When playing a lead over this rhythm, what notes do I need ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
What are the actual notes of each natural harmonic?
So I know that if you play a natural harmonic at the 12th fret, this is just the same note as fretting the 12th is. Also, when I play my electric guitar and listen to lots of metal music in ...
3
votes
1answer
353 views
I need help to understand chord intervals (not single note intervals)
I understand intervals between notes. Each number of steps between two notes has a particular name. Like this:
But some times I see people refering to intervals between chords, not single notes. ...
9
votes
4answers
727 views
Capitalization of key names (C Minor vs. c minor)
I was taught when I was young that minor key names should be written with the note in lowercase, as well as the word "minor". Nowadays on recordings, etc., I usually see both capitalized.
What was ...
5
votes
1answer
174 views
Alternative Numerical Representation of Pitch
I'm aware of a number of different ways of representing pitch as numbers (including one I developed for use in my own software) but am interested if there are others.
The most widespread is probably ...
12
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is C the base note of standard notation and keys?
Why is it that notes "start" with C? In key signatures, for example, C Major is the basis and accidentals are added for all other key signatures. I know that the musical alphabet starts with A and ...
9
votes
4answers
332 views
In what order shall I introduce traditional music theory concepts to adults using solfege?
I have 24 sessions in which to deliver basic music theory to university-age students. Although they are likely to do some singing in their future careers, they are unlikely to receive further musical ...
13
votes
1answer
477 views
Are there any machine-readable databases of chord progressions available?
I'm interested in doing some linguistics-inspired computational musicology on chord progressions and am wondering if there are any freely available databases of chord progressions.
Obviously, I could ...
