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
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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 gap (interval) between the rest of the adjoining strings is 5 frets (semitones) (or a perfect ...
David Kethel
136
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28
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What's the point of keys other than C and Am?
I'm VERY new to music theory, just learning. I'm reading about keys and scales right now.
From what I understand major keys are all the same except for being shifted by one or more semitones (e.g. C ...
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12
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Why are there twelve notes in an octave?
I know that one scale consists of 12 half-tones. But my question is still: Why? Why not 13 or 11?
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13
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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 ...
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86
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13
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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 ...
- 1,014
76
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7
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Why are there both sharps and flats? [duplicate]
If we can get away with just having sharps (aka black notes on a piano) then why complicate things and add flats as well?
For example, if I have a C# why call it Dflat? Why not just leave it as C# and ...
user34288
71
votes
6
answers
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What is the relationship between "do re mi" and note letter names?
When people sing the song, they use do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, (si), etc, but sometimes I hear that the music people say A, B, C, D flat, etc.
Is there a relationship or are they two different ...
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22
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What is the difference between a mode and a scale?
I can't seem to find a straight definition for both.
- 1,113
70
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What's the difference between a G♭ 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 ...
- 1,607
70
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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 ...
- 1,081
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Ways to get out of a scalar rut?
I'm a well versed and experienced guitarist. I have a decent sense for rhythm and melody, but I have a VERY hard time with soloing. I know you've heard it all before I'm one of those guys that got ...
- 1,690
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Why Is Just Intonation Impractical?
I've read about the debate of "just intonation" vs 12-tone equal temperament. And nowhere it was clearly stated why just intonation is impractical. Here are my assumptions. Please let me know if I am ...
- 755
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4
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(1/√π)/√⅔ as a time signature?
I recently found this article on wikipedia about lists of musical works in unusual time signatures and the first unusual time signature is (1/√π)/√⅔. I looked up the piece that was listed as having ...
Dom♦
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Which notes are optional in jazz chords?
I have a question on jazz chords, and what notes can be removed from the chord. My understanding is fairly superficial - mostly from what I've read in books. This is what I understand:
In some chords,...
- 2,834
57
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Do advanced musicians still practice scales every day?
I'm wondering if you're ever "done" or do you just go practicing them forever?
user34288
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12
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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 I'...
- 681
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Does it really make difference to play a song in a different key?
I hear sometimes players and composers say that this song won't sound good in F Major for example, and you should play it or write it in G Major (this was just an example). In other words, it seems ...
- 2,263
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Why are some people so paranoid about music theory?
Music theory is cool. However, I've noticed that a few genres of music tend to discourage it. I just read that learning music theory "seems like the antithesis" of being able to improvise.
...
- 3,857
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4
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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 ...
JustnBeaver
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What are the differences between tone, note, and pitch?
I was wondering what the differences are between "tone", "note", and "pitch"?
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How to know what notes will go together while improvising?
This is 3 questions in one, so it might take a slightly involved answer, or some good links.
Edit--- tl;dr:
How can you learn which keys to hit to make the notes you hear in your head? I know what I ...
- 2,904
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7
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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"?
47
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What are the practical reasons for still having transposing instruments?
I understand that historically there was a need for transposing instruments. e.g. Brass instruments would use lead pipes to change their key and players in brass bands would like to stick to the same ...
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46
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10
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Why learn scales? What are they for?
I tried Googling but it seems there is no answer for this one. So the internet assumes everyone knows what scales are for? Why should I learn them? Are they important to be a good guitarist?
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9
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What does it mean to write a song in a certain key?
I have been searching for a while to try to correctly understand this.
What exactly does it mean if for example a song is written in C Major? Does it mean the song's notes cannot contain any sharps ...
- 841
45
votes
8
answers
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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 ...
- 797
45
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8
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5k
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Does the difference in harmonic series between instruments have a significant effect on the consonance of the sound?
We all know that an instrument's timbre is uniquely determined by its harmonic series. Harmonic series are also very effective in describing whether an interval is consonant or not. For example, the ...
- 1,194
45
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11
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Why do octaves sound equivalent?
It is, I think, a perfectly clear observation that one note an octave above another note sounds as if it were the same in a certain sense; while they are by no means the same exact note, they are ...
44
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8
answers
16k
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Why do notes have multiple names?
I've seen the same note called different names for example the note F# can also be written as Gb. Why is this the case and are there times to use one name over another?
Dom♦
- 47.7k
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Is there any "research" in music theory?
A researcher in, say, mathematics, conducts research in the form of proving theorems, laying out foundations for new theories, etc. But what do, for example, PhD candidates do in music theory? Split ...
- 671
43
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7
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Major scale of one note is the Minor scale of another note?
I am learning guitar at the moment and I learned the major scale.
Then I checked the minor scale and the positions are the same!
Not only that, the C major scale is the same as the A minor scale.
So ...
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42
votes
12
answers
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Why do many songs in major keys use a bVII chord?
Based on my understanding of chord theory, the chords used in most modern popular songs are comprised of notes that occur in the scale of the tonic key for that song. The I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, and ...
- 27.3k
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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 ...
- 11.5k
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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, ...
- 1,143
41
votes
12
answers
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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 ...
- 2,263
40
votes
9
answers
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Why is music theory built so tightly around the C Major scale?
Lately, I'm trying to study deeper into music theory, learning Intervals, key Signatures, Chords, Progressions etc. I can see that everything is built around the 'normal' notes that belong to the C ...
- 675
40
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8
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What exactly should I have to learn to understand why certain combination of chords are harmonic when played in a sequence?
I am an intuitive music composer trying to move to a technical music composer. As a dummy, I see music as a composition of 'pieces' (my word). Each piece is a set of notes that are melodical when ...
André Pena
40
votes
4
answers
10k
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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 ...
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39
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6
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Why do people sometimes write notes as E♯ or C♭?
Instead of writing F or B, sometimes people use E♯ or C♭ to write these notes. Are there any advantages to this notation?
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39
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14
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What makes an interval "Perfect"?
I've been trying to find an answer, but to no avail. Is what we call a perfect interval somewhat arbitrary? It seems as if the modern definition is "perfect under inversion". I know the other thing ...
user12838
39
votes
6
answers
77k
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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.
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39
votes
10
answers
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What is the difference between sharp note & flat note?
In guitar or generally in any musical instruments, what is the difference between sharp notes & flat notes?
For example : Are A♯ & B♭ the same? And are C♯ & D♭ the same?
Does that make ...
- 835
37
votes
12
answers
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How can I learn to compose?
I am aware that Stack Exchange questions should be on-point, and not too broad, but I really would appreciate a response from people who know what they are talking about:
I recently saw Boublil and ...
- 2,686
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10
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Why isn't D the "most central" note?
When laying out the notes in the two-dimensional Wicki-Hayden layout, which is the most symmetrical layout I know of, it is visually clear that D is the "most central" note.
Why, then, doesn't D play ...
37
votes
3
answers
52k
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How do harmonics work?
The guitar has harmonic notes at some places. I can play it, but I don't understand the logical reason why/how this is can played. Can you tell me how exactly this works?
What other musical ...
- 1,712
36
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8
answers
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How to tell the time signature of a song by listening?
Every song has some kind of time signature; even if different parts of the song have different time signatures, there is always a time signature. When learning a song by ear and no score, knowing the ...
Dom♦
- 47.7k
36
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When is a piece in A minor versus C major?
When would you say a piece, or a movement in a symphony, is in A minor versus C major? They both use the same notes on the scale... what would indicate that the piece is in A minor?
Let's take an ...
- 640
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How do classical composers write music?
I am starting to learn about music theory and today it hit me how do classical composers such as Mozart and Beethoven are able to write music for instruments they don't play, such as (for example ...
- 573
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9
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What is the best way of learning the notes on the fretboard.
What is the best way to learn the notes on the fretboard. Are there any good tips on how to do this?
gwc
35
votes
11
answers
4k
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Advantage of 7-note based theory over 12-note alternative
I'm a beginner at music, so I apologize if this is a dumb question. I've been trying to figure out why (in a 21/12 equal temperament tuning) music theory is based on 7 distinct notes (A,B,C,D,E,F,G) ...
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