Questions tagged [analysis]
For questions about studying the intricacies of a piece of music. Questions should also be tagged with a more specific form of analysis if applicable.
282
questions
3
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2answers
340 views
Interpolated chords: How do they work?
Recently, I studied the tune 'Misty' by Eroll Garner. I was slightly confused as to the middle section of the piece, as it involves a passage with some delayed resolutions. I have come across three ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
How does Modulation in Spirited Away - Name of Life work?
I was wondering if there is any harmonic reasoning and mechanism in play with the modulation from C major to Eb major in measure 103? The only "logic" that I can think of is that in previous ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Chord Progression in Merry-Go-Round Of Life
In Joe Hisaishi's Merry-Go-Round Of Life, I'm trying to understand harmonically what is happening from measures 15 - 22. Below is my chord analysis in this G minor piece:
Measure 15: Bb/F [III]
...
0
votes
3answers
73 views
Chord naming conventions: When is a 6 a 13? [duplicate]
I have seen/ heard people say that you only write a 6 when there are no other upper extensions used (meaning no inclusion of 7 and above).
I have also heard people say that you only write a 6 when ...
3
votes
4answers
157 views
A romantic era piece has a baroque era title: how does one determine the style?
J. Danbé's "Petite Gavotte" (ca. 1888) for violin and piano seems to be baroque mainly because of the title, "Gavotte", which was a common baroque dance. But I can't find any ...
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vote
5answers
130 views
What makes a chord a sus chord?
In light of some recent answers to questions I have asked on Stack Exchange with regards to naming chords, I have decided to refine things a little further, focusing on sus chords.
If a chord contains ...
0
votes
1answer
91 views
what is the method behind naming jazz chords? [closed]
I have recently become confused about how to name chords in jazz.
This is my current understanding:
Add chords (without 7th)- chord that contains the root, third, (optional 5th) and one or more ...
1
vote
2answers
34 views
Seeking help: song comparisons and analysis [closed]
I'm looking for some assistance in comparing songs to one another. Lately I've been noticing that listening to a song will remind me of another song or two that often aren't even the same genre, have ...
5
votes
8answers
1k views
Secondary Dominants - is there a more appropriate term?
An example - in key C major, the E7 chord is a 'secondary dominant' chord. Now, if it goes directly to the chord it's dominant to in its own right - A, or Am, then it makes sense to call it secondary ...
3
votes
0answers
66 views
How can one analyze the chord progression from “Your Affection (from Persona 4 soundtrack)” by Shoji Meguro?
I've been listening to Persona 4 soundtrack by Shoji Meguro recently, and soon got hooked on a song called "Your Affection". It's a J-pop song whose catchy chorus intrigued me with a ...
3
votes
2answers
428 views
How do you explain this Db7 (functional harmony) in “There will never be another you”?
I'm analysing this Jazz Standard. And it's quite straightforward with some major and minor II-V cadences here and there yet there is a chord I don't know how to explain, and it is that Db7 indicated ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
How do I learn how to accompany with Piano [closed]
I've been long time sheet music reader and I've recently switched to chord sheets in desperate pursuit of improving my musicianship.
I've always wanted to reach a level where can arrange and ...
1
vote
1answer
609 views
Why would this piece be called “Adagio in D minor” when it's in E minor?
I have very little theoretical knowledge, but AFAICT this piece is not in D minor, but in E minor?
Adagio in D minor, by John Murphy from the soundtrack of Sunshine:
...
2
votes
2answers
217 views
How can this chord from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini be analyzed?
I'm working on an analysis of Variation XVIII of Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
This famous variation is in D♭-major. I'm trying to analyze that first chord in measure 660. This chord ...
3
votes
3answers
268 views
How would you analyze (harmonically) the intro of Preludio de Adiós?
I'm learning from books about harmonic analysis in order to improve my interpretative skills.
So, I am studying this piece by Venezuelan composer Alfonso Montes, called "Preludio de Adiós". ...
-1
votes
1answer
38 views
In your opinion, what song structure does Glasvegas's “Geraldine” follow?
I would argue that the song "Geraldine" by Glasvegas (embedded below) follows an AABA structure, as there is variation in the second A repeat; however, a melody from the original repeats ...
0
votes
2answers
72 views
How would these chords from “When Christmas Comes to Town” be analyzed?
Hi everyone.
I'm analyzing "When Christmas Comes to Town", which is one of my favorite holiday songs.
The image shows the last four measures of the bridge section. The bridge is in E♭-minor, ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
How would this nonchord tone be labeled? Is it a retardation?
I'm working on an analysis of a song, and there is a section where the phrase starts off on this E-natural note over a B-flat major triad. This is the first note of the melody line.
Since it isn't ...
3
votes
4answers
395 views
How should this half-diminished seventh chord from “Christmas Time Is Here” be analyzed in terms of its harmonic function? [duplicate]
Hi everyone.
I'm working on an analysis of Christmas Time Is Here, which is in F major.
I'm trying to determine the best way to analyze the Bm7(♭5) chord circled in the image. I have 3 explanations ...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
Analysis of a difficult piece of music without access to the score [closed]
I'm aware that this question is long and contains many sub-questions, but I hope it is fine the way it is at the moment.
Lately I've started becoming more interested in analyzing musical scores in ...
0
votes
1answer
148 views
Analysis of Bolivia by Cedar Walton [closed]
I am a guitarist learning jazz and our combo leader has given us Bolivia by Cedar Walton. I can play the head and the comping (barely) but I am completely lost about improvising in the A section. I ...
1
vote
1answer
94 views
Redundant entry of a Fugal Exposition
When analyzing a fugue, I get confused at times about where to put the redundant entry. Is it the 5th or more entry of the subject and/or answer? I’m not sure.
0
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2answers
98 views
How do I determine the key of this given only an E7 secondary dominant chord
How am I supposed to determine the key with the only given E7 chord, which is used as an extended dominant in this case .
1
vote
2answers
69 views
How would these nonchord tones from Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata best be analyzed?
Hi everyone.
I'm working on an analysis of Movement II from Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata.
In the measures shown in the image, I am trying to analyze the nonchord tones that occur in the chromatic ...
2
votes
2answers
137 views
How to think about this moment from BWV 816
I've been tasked by a textbook I'm going through to make a harmonic analysis of the G major "Gavotte" from BWV816, "The French Suite" specifically minding a handful of questions ...
0
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7answers
153 views
Name two reasons why the music in the next passage starts in C Major and ends in G major?
Please help with the question in the title. I am struggling so much, thank you.
Why?
3
votes
2answers
140 views
Why the flat roman numerals in minor when they aren't needed?
This is one thing that has always bothered me, why are VI and bVI 2 different chords in major but the same chord in minor? That makes no sense to me. I mean it does but it also doesn't. If you view ...
0
votes
2answers
112 views
How does James Bay's song Let it Go sound sad in a Major key? [duplicate]
If you listen to James Bay's - Let it Go, it sounds sad yet written in major key. In general, not just for this song, what in theory makes this happen?
I've read people suggesting flat majors make a ...
1
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1answer
70 views
What properties make this piece sounds good?
Those two bars catch my attention and I started analysing what is making it to sound so unique and pleasant. And I want to extract from it the universal bricks for the relations of music components. (...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Pre-requisite to analyze classical music [closed]
First, I'm sorry for my poor English.
I enjoy listening to classical music.
According to Schiff's analysis of Beethoven's Sonata, It seems that classical music has a certain form, so if any note ...
0
votes
2answers
109 views
Naming and analyzing chords : problem with a stack of fourths (and 2 other slash chords)
I am writing a piece from little licks I have from years, and I found what seems to me a really moody intro consisting of 3 "exotic" chords.
for context, I have no education in music theory,...
0
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3answers
171 views
What meter is it when the accented beat is the fourth beat out of six? (one-two-three-FOUR-five-six)
In this song when the drum comes in, the accented pulse is the 4th beat out of 6 in a measure. 6/8 has the accented beats on the 1st and 4th beat, but there is no accent on the 1st beat in this song. ...
5
votes
2answers
191 views
What chords does Donald Fagen mean?
Willie Nelson says:
All you need is three chords and the truth.
I expect those chords would be I, IV and V
But in his song H Gang, Donald Fagen sings about:
…the ultimate five-chord band".
...
0
votes
2answers
108 views
What scale is the melody in the song? [closed]
I was wondering if this song was in major or minor key. I am new to analyzing music and so I am having a hard time trying to figure out the melody, or how to describe it rather.
This is the song link:
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2answers
67 views
(REVISED): Roman Numeral Analysis of Fuchs- 'Mother Tells a Story'
On the back of seeing the score, I have filled in the missing harmony. I am still stuck on the harmonic analysis in a few areas. The Roman numerals I have put in thus far are all relative to G major, ...
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1answer
88 views
Roman numeral analysis of exam practice exercise: “Polish Song” by Hiller
The piece in question is 'Polish Song' by Hiller. I have labelled the bars from 1 to 11.
The piece is in A minor, and we seem to have A minor leading to V7 in the opening measures (I'm putting the C ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
What's the time signature for “Son of Flynn” and “Recognizer” in the TRON: Legacy Soundtrack by Daft Punk? [closed]
What's the time signature for "Son of Flynn" and "Recognizer" in the TRON: Legacy Soundtrack by Daft Punk?
It seems to me that "Son of Flynn" is clearly in a mixed meter: ...
3
votes
2answers
299 views
What is the relationship between the chords in the bridge of Frank Ocean's Sweet Life?
The chords in the bridge to Frank Ocean's Sweet Life are:
||: C#maj9 | C#m7 | Bmaj7 | A#m7 :||
Here's a link to a tutorial of the song that shows the chords:
And a ...
5
votes
3answers
327 views
What is the name of this notation in this example by Couperin?
Consider following excerpt from the beginning of the 2nd leçon of Couperin's Leçon des ténèbres pour le mercredi saint:
As you see, it uses a rather strange notation where, for instance, a bar of 3/2 ...
3
votes
1answer
168 views
Why do notes not add up to the bar in this example by Couperin?
Consider following excerpt from the beginning of Couperin's Leçon des ténèbres pour le mercredi saint:
I noticed that the note values don't always add up in a bar.
Cases (indicated in the figure):
...
3
votes
3answers
339 views
What is the harmony of this bar from Chopin's Minute waltz?
Consider following excerpt from Chopin's Minute waltz in D flat major.
The last bar is the chord of D flat major (tonic).
What is the chord of the penultimate bar? Why is there an A flat and A natural ...
2
votes
5answers
275 views
Mode of Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd? [closed]
The melody of this Pink Floyd song seems to be in the Dorian mode, but there is a G chord in the second half of the verse. How can it be determined whether the song is in Dorian or Aeolian?
14
votes
4answers
3k views
How can I slow down a YouTube video I'm trying to analyze or transcribe?
[Note] This is a "compendium" question, intended to address a general concern that arises in a variety of contexts. Please add additional answers with any techniques not yet addressed.
I'm ...
4
votes
1answer
102 views
Why use Pitch Class Sets to describe music?
Can someone please elaborate on the significance and relation of pitch class sets to music? I understand the labeling and nomenclature methods but still can’t grasp how and WHY it relates to music ...
0
votes
2answers
86 views
Textbook for music analysis [closed]
I've searched for previously asked question about the recommendations but all those questions focus on some specific topics in music analysis. e.g. Bach's Fugue or Jazz, etc. So, this is not duplicate....
3
votes
2answers
116 views
Compound Operations in Basic Atonal Theory by John Rahn
Looking into John Rahn's Basic Atonal Theory for Compound Operations. I’m reading John Rahn's Basic Atonal Theory.
What I dont understand is how the T11l(T7(Tol(T2(T5(X))))) example, in this section 3....
4
votes
3answers
252 views
Diminished seventh spelling but functioning as an Augmented Sixth?
I know that there are many ways to resolve a diminished seventh chord, but only a few ways to resolve an augmented sixth chord. I have done modulations from the minor tonic to the major subtonic using ...
2
votes
4answers
89 views
What is sufficient information to identify a classical music piece?
I am a software engineer, and I am downloading Public Domain Classical Music. The original filenames are an inconsistent mess, and I would like to correct that. I have some metadata at my disposal, ...
4
votes
5answers
398 views
Does the subdominant prepare the dominant : a general rule? [closed]
Can we say that iv prepares the V in a minor key? Because iv is a subdominant chord and V is the dominant?
10
votes
8answers
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 ...
