Questions tagged [theory]
For questions about how music works, seeking to identify structures and patterns in music. Used to indicate questions about musical concepts and structures, as opposed to techniques and execution.
3,707
questions
12
votes
7
answers
2k
views
If a piece (classical or otherwise) has multiple sections with different keys, is "this piece is in key X" a valid statement? Why?
Now, this would be an easy enough question if:
The piece in question had a title containing the key, or
The piece would have a home key, modulate to another key and then come back to finish in the ...
- 123
12
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Why is a minor 3rd consonant but an augmented 2nd dissonant?
I am currently reading the Jazzology and on the chapter per the consonant and dissonant intervals I came across this statement:
while a minor 3rd is consonant, an augmented 2nd is dissonant.
(...
- 31.4k
12
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Can we really detect the difference between a couple of BPMs?
My question relates to our capacity (trained or untrained) of detecting differences between two frequencies. In harmony, the analogue to our capacity of detecting the difference between two tones/...
- 1,254
12
votes
3
answers
4k
views
If I press C4, C5 and C6, is this a chord?
Are there any other special requirements for three sounds to be a chord by musical definition? Do overtones or the same note just sounding on different octaves (sounding together) still can be named a ...
- 4,494
12
votes
7
answers
9k
views
Sharp 5 or flat 13? Sharp 9 or flat 10?
Let's say I'm in C major. I have a dominant altered chord built on G. This very popular voicing has the following tones (I'm including both enharmonic spellings for the accidentals):
G B (D# or Eb) F ...
- 991
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is a I♭ chord?
I was watching Music Matters' video on counterpoint when I came across this chord progression:
| I V | I V IV | II♭ V I VI I♭ | II♭ V I ||
My question is what is a I♭ chord. Is this chord common? Is ...
- 129
12
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Why does C9 sound so good resolving to D major 7
So, I have been playing this chord progression in the key of D major with the chords DM7, Bm7, GM7, C9, and I can't seem to figure out why the c9 resolves so nicely to the D major 7 chord. Is it just ...
- 121
12
votes
5
answers
20k
views
How do I correctly borrow chords from one key to another?
So how does one decide to borrow chords?
Let's say I am in the key of C Major. Can I borrow chords, say, from the G Major key?
How does this work?
- 353
12
votes
4
answers
5k
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.
...
user2691
12
votes
3
answers
964
views
What is meaning of “concert” in this musical theatre score?
In rehearsals for a production of American Idiot musical and this reference to “concert” is in the score. My guess is this means male parts should sing in the written concert pitch instead of an ...
12
votes
8
answers
513
views
Alternatives to scale-centric beginning music theory?
I'm a noob music student and I recently asked a question here about the widespread use of a bVII chord in a scale where the seventh scale degree is vii°, and the general consensus in the many helpful ...
- 663
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why does the same classical piece sound like it's in a different key in different recordings?
I've noticed that sometimes a different recording of the same piece will sound like it's being played in a different key. For example, I listened to Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat Major, BWV 1051: III. ...
- 253
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Chopin Polonaise in Ab major, op 53 change in key
In Chopin's polonaise in A-flat major, op.53, in the second section the key changes from A flat to E major. What type of change is this? Is it from the flattening of the sixth (F-flat major), or was ...
- 145
12
votes
2
answers
787
views
"Punning chord"
I'd like to know if the following description is accurate:
"A composer modulates from one key to another by the use of the “punning” chord, the augmented sixth (punning because it is also a dominant ...
- 129
12
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Harmonic analysis of the B section of "Have You Met Miss Jones"
I've been studying the standard Have You Met Miss Jones and I came across a very interesting chord progression in the B section of the piece. The A section is pretty typical and the key it's in is F ...
Dom♦
- 47.7k
12
votes
3
answers
639
views
Are the discrete hexachords of a tone row always either the same set class or z-related?
In a traditional 12-note tone row, it seems to me that the first six notes will always either be in the same set class as the last six notes, or will be z-related, but I'm having trouble confirming ...
- 18.3k
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to interpret a switch from Em (Aeolian) to Bm?
I'm self taught, so I know just a few things on scales and modes, some probably wrong.
So the other day I was composing a new song. I believe it starts in E minor, as I was playing over the Chords Em ...
- 675
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to establish a mode?
I would like to learn about the art of establishing a mode. For example, how to make A minor sound like A minor instead of C major.
- 211
12
votes
3
answers
1k
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 ...
- 840
12
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Do modes exist in the harmonic / melodic minor scales?
I'm trying to get my head around modes and the tonal center.
In my understanding the natural minor scale is the same as the Aeolian mode.
However, when considering the mix-up that happens in the ...
- 361
12
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is there a term for a chord progression that chromatically ascends or descends an octave?
I've noticed a pattern in music that is very interesting where a progression will start with one chord and chromatically ascend or descend until the starting chord is reached again.
For example: a ...
Dom♦
- 47.7k
12
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Why did composers write atonally?
Can anyone tell me the best justifications for writing atonally by the composers who did so? Did anyone, including Schoenberg, explain what "freeing the dissonance" means? Does it imply that he ...
- 121
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Interval of a 4th above the bass
As I was studying music theory (harmonizing a melody in particular) I got confused with the statement:
The interval of a 4th above the bass is considered dissonant and must
resolve down by step.
...
- 437
12
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Why is Italian the standard for expressive markings in music?
I was reading through the music for Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy a few days ago and I realized that I am often surprised when I see expressive markings (dynamics, tempo, accents and the like) that ...
- 2,087
12
votes
5
answers
918
views
What are the benefits of determining form before composing?
I've heard time and time again of composers who say "It is better [for beginners] to know your form, and have a general idea of important chord progressions before you begin thinking seriously about ...
- 841
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
When is the "d" in "Goldfinger" sung?
I noticed that some choirs will synch up their consonants while singing. Is there a standard approach for timing consonants? For the sake of example, here's a cropped portion of sheet music (source):
...
- 221
12
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Do songs written in certain modes not have keys?
Up until recently I thought that if a song was written in a mode with a major 3rd, then it was in a major key, and if it was in a mode with a minor 3rd, then it was in a minor key. But I read an ...
- 223
12
votes
2
answers
6k
views
In jazz, what is an upper structure triad?
What is upper structure? How are upper structure triads constructed? How are they used?
- 16.2k
12
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What online resources should I use to learn harmony and musical analysis?
I had some harmony courses and I want to learn some more about it.
Ideally, I am looking for is a KhanAcademy-like website about harmony and musical analysis. If that doesn't exist, where else should ...
12
votes
1
answer
433
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 ...
- 8,195
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Recognizing modulation style / pattern in Steely Dan's "West of Hollywood"
I'm a fan of Steely Dan's music, but I find analysis of their music to be difficult from a tone-, modal-, and chord-theory point of view. But perhaps the complex jazz-influenced M7/M9/M11 chords ...
- 1,344
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is the four tonic system?
What is the four tonic system? What's the theory behind it? How is it used in improvisation, harmonization, reharmonization?
- 16.2k
12
votes
3
answers
6k
views
How would one create music based on the principles of Cubism?
How would one create music based on the principles of Cubism?
(e.g., 20th century painters: Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Juan Gris, Fernand Léger)
The basic definition of Cubism calls for the use ...
- 4,084
11
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Is it mathematically possible to create an equal temperament which matches just interval ratios?
I've coded a Python app which lets us have any number of semitones in an octave in order to experiment with microtonal music.
I would like to ask if there's a possibility to create such an equal ...
- 315
11
votes
9
answers
13k
views
Is it necessary to use only notes and chords that belong in a specific scale?
I used to think it is necessary to at least follow the chords of a scale until I came across the Nirvana song "Lithium" and I realized the notes and chords he used in the song don't fit in any scale! ...
- 113
11
votes
11
answers
4k
views
Math PI represented musically
I'm creating a program to output the values of pi as sound. I've seen a few videos and some other representations, and want to try to make my own for fun, except i'm unsure how to proceed.
There are ...
- 229
11
votes
10
answers
3k
views
If the music alphabet had more than 7 letters would octaves still sound like the same note?
I have a question about theoretical music theory...
So say whoever first invented/discovered the musical alphabet decided to make it an 8-letter alphabet, consisting of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. ...
user63565
11
votes
4
answers
6k
views
What are the interval patterns for the modes?
I came across this on this site:
C Ionian is C D E F G A B, whereas C Dorian is C D E♭ F G A B♭
The WWHWWWH is for Ionian.
What is the equivalent for the other modes?
- 933
11
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Why is a minor chord or key considered to be "lesser?"
I am trying to understand why the terms major and minor, meaning greater and lesser, are applied to chords and keys. Why is a minor chord considered to be lesser and a major chord greater?
I ...
- 521
11
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How to notate a non-standard hexatonic key
I am writing part of a piano piece in a hexatonic "key" containing these notes:
C - D# - E - G - Ab - B
(I say "key" instead of scale because I'm treating it like a key, deriving ...
11
votes
4
answers
18k
views
How do you know if a song has triplets in 4/4 or if the tempo is 3/4?
How do you know if a song has triplets in 4/4 or if the tempo is 3/4 ?
For example, consider this song :
For the first line ,
I can count 1,2,3 ,1,2,3 ,1,2,3 ,1,2,...
- 179
11
votes
9
answers
7k
views
Why are key signatures like E# and B# necessary?
Why do we need key signatures such as E♯, B♯, C♭, and F♭? Take a look at the scales for E♯ and B♯:
E♯ has 4 sharps and 4 double sharps. The key of F is exactly ...
- 371
11
votes
5
answers
4k
views
What do you call this alternating melodic pattern?
I hear the following in string parts a lot in intense movie scenes or certain styles of music. I don't think that this falls under the categorization of Alberti Bass since it's functioning as a ...
- 2,344
11
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Does a chord need to include its root?
While I understand that it is very important to include the root note in a chord, is it required?
Let's say I'm in C Major, and I want to play a I chord. Do I need to include C in order for it to be ...
- 213
11
votes
6
answers
3k
views
What is the name of this chord? D Eb A
I'm writing a song with some pretty funky chords. I am unsure what to call one of them.
The notes are D Eb and A. D is the root of the chord. It is like a Dsus2, except the 2 is flat. Would that be a ...
- 135
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What is this straight line at the beginning of the measure?
Could this just be a error on the editors part? Is it possible that i could also be a ghost note of some sort?
- 111
11
votes
9
answers
1k
views
In what language-level in Chomsky's hierarchy would the chord-progressions of classical music be categorized?
Formal languages
In language-theory and grammar-theory, a language is the output generated by a grammar.
Let's say "the grammar" is the rules and "the language" is the sentences and words that may ...
- 219
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is doubling the root when converting guitar chords to piano wrong?
If you take guitar chords and put them into sheet music for piano, should you double the root (CEGC) or not (CEG)?
And if you do is it wrong because you'd have parallel octaves? I mean I know ...
- 157
11
votes
3
answers
3k
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.
...
- 388
11
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Why practice enharmonic equivalent keys as separate keys
In this video Victor Wooten explains that there are 30 keys that people need to practice in as opposed to 24. I found out that the 6 extra keys are actually redundant in the sense that each one of ...
- 487