All Questions
15
votes
4answers
1k views
How to properly tune drum heads?
I would like to know if there are any tips on tuning drumheads; I keep hearing harmonics.
6
votes
9answers
399 views
Where do musicians draw their melodies from?
It has been in my head for so long.
I am a visual artist, animator, I do motion graphics, 3D artwork and most of my work is done visually.
I am puzzled by this question.
Visual artists, they draw ...
3
votes
4answers
85 views
“I-vi” in Major or “III-i” in Minor?
There are some progressions that seem to move back and forth between a major key and its relative minor, like the "I-vi" progression (C, Am for example, two measures each.)
Most people would consider ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Reading and Writing Drum Tabs?
I have been playing Drums for 4 years or so now and I have never understood tabs for them is there an easy way to read and write them? Or is it down to personal preference?
Also any hints and tips on ...
28
votes
7answers
12k views
Is there a “standard” or “typical” drum kit layout?
I am dipping my toes in the water of getting a "real" drum kit -- by drumming standards, it's still pretty crap since it's (basically) the Alesis DM6 entry level electronic drum kit. But one thing I ...
0
votes
4answers
88 views
Is there any kind of jam helper application? [closed]
Is there was an application which facilitates jamming in some way. I saw a few back tracks generators which allow you to select chords and measures to play them and I wonder if there is something ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Recording a song in the right rhythm
I wrote a few songs and I try to record them since nearly one week.
I play on an electric guitar and I record my voice for vocals. I only have one mic (cheap karaoke mic for 20$) so I record both, the ...
8
votes
4answers
452 views
What is the technique Adrian Belew utilizes through-out : “Elephant Talk” by King Crimson?
Adrian Belew has some incredible sounds coming out of his Strat - one of them is the quasi-Elephant sound on Elephant Talk - King Crimson - "Discipline". I've watched him do it live but apart from ...
20
votes
4answers
13k views
What Does a Compressor Pedal Do?
Quite often, when I see a pedalboard of guitarists I admire, there is a compressor pedal in the chain. How exactly does this pedal affect the sound?
8
votes
11answers
14k views
How not to touch neighbouring strings?
When playing guitar, my fingers often touch other strings on the guitar. I found that my fingertips are too broad for the strings. When I press one string by my middle finger, the meat of the ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Is there any substantial evidence that a constantly fluctuating pitch is considered less musical than more discrete tones?
Does any one know of a peer reviewed article that argues why a combination of discrete tones, or notes, can be considered more musical than a collection of pitches in a constant state of flux?
In ...
0
votes
5answers
105 views
Why transpose at the octave?
If an instrument has a range too high or too low for composers to easily write its music on bass or treble clef, the music may be written either an octave higher or an octave lower than it sounds, ...
6
votes
4answers
131 views
How to recreate a sound on a synth
Is is possible to recreate any sound you hear in a synth? Think of it like ear training, but with a synth. Being able to deconstruct a sound with your ear, know what type of waveform is being used, ...
-2
votes
2answers
41 views
Playing Virtual Instruments? [closed]
How can a virtual instruments like Ivory grand piano can be played on computers ? Is that any other device needed to play it by connecting it to the computers ?
By connecting digital piano or midi ...
5
votes
5answers
435 views
What are the various methods of tuning the guitar?
This is not a question as much as it is a discussion. I am curious to know what are the different techniques to tune the guitar (using standard tuning) given you know that one string is in tune. I ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Why is a particular measure of Rach Prelude in C# minor always played slowly?
I've noticed that in many renditions of Rachmaninov's Prelude in C# Minor (Op. 3 No. 2) that the fourth measure of the Agitato section is always played in a slow, unusual (almost weird) fashion. You ...
10
votes
2answers
394 views
Is playing an out-of-tune instrument damaging to the musical ear?
My piano is nearly 100 years old, and can no longer stay in tune. Repairing it would cost much more than the piano is worth, and I'm not ready to spring for a new one just yet. So for now I am stuck ...
0
votes
3answers
77 views
Music and time, “natural” time
To play music rhythm in time it was always something difficult to me, with a metronome also. Basically I can not count time. On the other hand I have some intuition to compose simple music, and when I ...
-2
votes
1answer
100 views
Really confused about x's on a note?
So on the sheet music I was playing there were these notes with x's on top of them. Like on the stem. What am I supposed to do? Do I just not play them? This is for the piano by the way.
4
votes
2answers
71 views
Techniques to Improve Vocal Volume?
I am a singer who typically does acoustic guitar type performance, but I've been playing with full 'rock' bands for a little while now and am having a terrible time of getting 'loud' enough to cut ...
2
votes
4answers
133 views
Screaming / Proper Technique
I just started screaming properly (i think i have no idea) a bit ago like a couple months and i just need to know if im doing it right
I will try my best to explain how i scream
When i scream i ...
4
votes
1answer
69 views
tab reading on middle strings
How do i play this tab ?
Image link to the tab
I confused since no fret number is written on the 3rd string, and i guess its not an open string either. Do i pick those two (2 and 4) strings only?
...
22
votes
9answers
2k views
Why are orchestras tuned differently?
In 1936 American Standards Association (and the International Organization for Standardization in 1955) accepted that A would be tuned at 440 Hz (or cycles per second). Yet despite the fact that a ...
8
votes
3answers
217 views
Beatles - Because: Chord progression
I am currently looking at this tune but I'm a bit confused by a part of the progression.
It seems to be using chords built mostly from the C# harmonic minor scale.
So, my current understanding ...
4
votes
2answers
68 views
Cello: Is it possible to play a double stop of a major 9th on the I and II strings?
The cello is using scordatura, the tuning is Cb Ab Eb Ab (from the fourth to the first string).
I want to know if the following passage is possible, tempo is around 220~240 quarter notes per minute:
...
4
votes
4answers
201 views
Does playing in scale mean only using notes from that scale?
Many melodies contain notes that are not from scale they are composed in. For example, "Stairway Heaven" solo contains an A minor pentatonic scale plus an additional F note. I've read that this is not ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
How to select a key-signature for a song
There are so many songs in pretty odd key-signatures like 4,5,6 sharps or flats. At least this is my impression when I listen to songs on the radio/net while trying to follow them on my piano/guitar. ...
0
votes
2answers
47 views
Help me in this chord progression analysis please [closed]
Verse is in G major key
Then it comes bridge: Am B7 Em A7 Am D C
And then a typical C lydian progression (G major again) for the chorus
Id like to understand whhich modulations are occurring in the ...
0
votes
3answers
120 views
Starting metronome at different places
I am trying to align a stereo track click track in a DAW with the stereo track of a rap song. I wasn't sure if I should start at the very beginning of the song (00:00:00) or wait till the first beat ...
2
votes
3answers
86 views
Chord naming conventions: add2 versus add9
I'm confused about the chord naming convention for the chord C-D-E-G.
Is it Cadd2 or Cadd9?
Similarly, I'm confused about the chord C-E-F-G.
Is it Cadd4 or Cadd11?
EDIT: I understand what is the ...
5
votes
5answers
320 views
I need help understanding the concept of chord inversions.
This article from wikipedia, states:
In the first inversion of a C major triad the bass is E—the 3rd of the
triad—with the 5th and the root
stacked above it (the root now shifted
an octave ...
3
votes
1answer
30 views
How can I pick LilyPond style choices at compile time?
I have LilyPond lead sheets for which I would like to be able to choose some display tweaks at compile time, primarily in order to tailor the sheet for the preferred transposition (e.g. for B-flat ...
5
votes
3answers
537 views
What is the true definition of Drop C tuning?
Since I play bass I will tackle this question from a bass guitar perspective.
I've had some musicians state that the following tuning is Drop C tuning (E is dropped to D, and then all strings are ...
4
votes
1answer
86 views
String configuration on a bass guitar
Having swapped my 4 string bass about 12 years ago,for a 5 string, I'd never go back. Lots of players love them, but some hate them. The advantage for me is having an extra low string, not necessarily ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
What are the uses of Circle of Fifths? [closed]
I heard the "circle of fifths" can help a lot with chord progressions, the number of sharps in a scale, and more.
Please find questions below for which I am expecting answers:
Can we apply circle ...
4
votes
5answers
120 views
How to play short repeated sections differently?
I am practicing some short guitar etudes. Many of them have short repeated sections, which are identical and so sound rather boring (example: both first and second half are played twice in this Sor's ...
4
votes
1answer
86 views
Tips for bowing in the Spiccato-esque part of Tchaikovsky's Pezzo Capriccioso on the cello?
See this video, about three minutes in, for details:
...
16
votes
6answers
5k views
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
61 views
How can I force LilyPond to repeat a chord symbol (relates to alternate endings)?
In chordmode, LilyPond chooses not to display chord symbols when they are the same as the preceding symbol, which is usually the right behavior. However, this behavior gets weird in the context of ...
5
votes
5answers
958 views
What are good beginner books to follow for classical guitar (self study or otherwise) ?
I've come across a lot of different series and 'methodologies' (Aaron Shearer, Mel Bay etc) books - and it's very confusing for the beginner when there's no teacher to guide him or her.
2
votes
3answers
80 views
Effects of practicing on electronic piano
I want to buy an electronic keyboard for someone that plays piano. I am afraid practicing on an electronic piano may be harmful for her technique. There is not enough space for a mechanical piano or ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Acoustic guitar: How to stop right index finger nail from wearing away?
My nails tend to chip and crack when playing steel-string acoustic guitar. Cracking and ripping can be kept partially in-check by keeping my nails well-trimmed. However, a far worse problem is that ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
How should I choose a Ukulele?
I am planning to buy a ukulele tomorrow, and I am a bit lost. I did manage to figure out the differences between a Soprano Ukulele and a Concert Ukulele, so I have chosen an Concert Ukulele, which I ...
18
votes
16answers
5k views
What instruments are inexpensive, portable and not too loud?
I'm a college student, and I'd really like to start playing an instrument. But I want to find something that is:
Inexpensive
Small / portable in a backpack
Quiet enough to practice in my dorm room
...
4
votes
1answer
106 views
Iannis Xenakis' Artistic Aesthetic and Public Perception
Did Iannis Xenakis write any music with intentions beyond absolute music? For example, music paired with other forms of art?
For example, Terretektorh (diagram pictured below) illustrates that ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
What are the best techniques to play overtones in the saxophone?
I play Alto Saxophone, and I've been wondering this for quite a while now.
I've not played one single overtone yet, so what are your suggestions?
2
votes
0answers
60 views
How does this technique (Beat Tap?) work?
I'm trying to play this song.
The part with the thumb slapping on the strings is quite difficult for me... He seems to perfectly hit just one string at a time (while beating the lower strings). ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
How to modify Trace-Elliot Velocette amp to make it more suitable for use with bass?
I have a Trace-Elliot Velocette that I'm very satisfied with. This amp works very good also for recording bass, but the low notes will be much less sturdy when recording through this amp than if I ...
-3
votes
0answers
52 views
Harmonic Minor Scale [closed]
Does anyone else use the harmonic minor scales??
I was stuck playing the pentatonic scales and I was just starting to learn the basic Major scale ( IONIAN ) Someone introduced me to the relative or ...
-1
votes
1answer
45 views
Can I change/modulate to a scale the uses notes outside of the key I'm in? [closed]
Can I change from one scale to another? even if the notes in the new scale are note in the key?
For example, If I am in the key of C minor, can I use the C melodic or harmonic minor scale?
