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.
263
questions
3
votes
4answers
157 views
How should this half-diminished seventh chord from “Christmas Time Is Here” be analyzed in terms of its harmonic function?
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
63 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
57 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
29 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
votes
2answers
94 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
61 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
83 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
votes
7answers
151 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?
2
votes
2answers
86 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
95 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
vote
1answer
67 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
52 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
100 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
votes
3answers
101 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
183 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
88 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:
0
votes
2answers
58 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, ...
1
vote
1answer
83 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
50 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
253 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
302 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
156 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
272 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
208 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?
12
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
87 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
73 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
112 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
229 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
82 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
379 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
75 views
“Maybe tomorrow - Stereophonics”, is my analysis right?
I'm an amateur, self tought, musician whos's struggling to learn music theory without knowing solfège.
I'm trying to make harmonic analysis of easy pop tunes to practice and learn.
This song in ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
How would this chord from “The Chamber of 32 Doors” by Genesis be analyzed?
I'm trying to analyze a song I recently discovered, "The Chamber of 32 Doors" by Genesis. Here is the song link:
At 1:02, there is a chord progression with a ...
0
votes
5answers
157 views
Does there exist a way of notating ones own harmonic language?
It's quite clear to most that certain artists have a distinct sound. While a lot of it may be down to production elements and instrument choice, there can really be no denying that their personal ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
Texture of Beethoven's Symphony Number 8 movement 1
I have been struggling to come up with a conclusion if the first movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 has a polyphonic texture. But I cannot find a valid reason. Does anyone have any solid ideas of ...
3
votes
3answers
106 views
Analysis of a section
Consider the first section (first 4 measures) of this song :
I would like to make a basic analysis of the first 4 measures. My attempt :
the key is D minor
the chord progression is i--VI--iv--i--V (...
-2
votes
2answers
51 views
Choosing a piece to analyse [closed]
I have to write an essay which consists in analyzing a piece of Jazz/Pop/Rock music or a short Classical piece or part of a Classical music score (all between 16 and 32 bars of length). I really don't ...
4
votes
5answers
405 views
Can an Augmented triad be called a Quartal chord?
Since a Quartal chord can be defined as diminished, perfect or augmented fourths, can an augmented triad be analysed as a quartal chord with stacked diminished fourths enharmonically?
Also is the ...
5
votes
2answers
313 views
What are the quintessential characteristics of bebop?
What are the characteristics that make bebop, bebop?
A well-written answer in my perspective includes but is not limited to the following (credit to @jdjazz for writing (a) through (e))
(a) the ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
What are good resources for research on a particular work? [closed]
Are there some well-known resources for scholars, like JSTOR is for academic papers, or specialized publications?
Any type of investigation on a work is of interest, musical analysis, theory, ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
Beethoven “Appassionata” measure 42
I’m trying to figure out the chord progression in the highlighted measure. I know the key shifts from A flat major to minor, but what do the #c minor and A major chords do here? How can I write them ...
1
vote
1answer
92 views
Help with analyzing sus and add chords in this progression
I have been trying to analyze a score (the first one that I have attempted) and I'm a bit confused about how to analyze these chords. Here's the part (and here's the full piece for context):
Take the ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
What can I call these sustained tones, under which the harmony changes but does not create dissonance?
In an analysis of Haydn's "Piano Variations in F minor" my student has used the term "pedals" to describe the first 3 Es of the piece in the top line/right hand...and also the 3 Fs at the end of bar 2....
4
votes
3answers
695 views
Understanding bVII harmony [duplicate]
I was analyzing "Try to Remember" from the musical "The Fantasticks" and became stumped on what seems to be a flatted seventh major chord stuck in the middle of the song. I'd like to understand what's ...
2
votes
3answers
85 views
Does the concept of rhyme make sense when describing music?
We're all familiar with the concept of lyrical rhymes. For example, the words through, curfew and blue all rhyme despite being spelled differently because the sound of their final syllable is the same....
0
votes
2answers
64 views
Flume - “Helix” Drop Polyrhythmic or Not
I keep reading online that the drop to Flume’s song "Helix" is polyrhythmic; however, I am unable to hear it. Is there polyrhythm, and if so, what is the pattern?
3
votes
2answers
145 views
Lilypond: Looking for script to analyze .ly file
I have a lot of lilypond files each representing a single musical piece. There are many kinds of instrumentations in the lilypond files.
I want to get some simple statistics from a single lilypond ...
1
vote
2answers
158 views
Pandiatonicism in “She’s leaving home” (Beatles)?
In a documentary about the Beatles it was said She’s leaving home is in aeolian mode. I thought this would be rather dorian as we have a major 6th in the scale passage of the cello after the first ...
1
vote
2answers
76 views
bIII upon bII5, bII7#11omit3, how to name that chord in this context?
Note : I had trouble to name this question properly. I would've gone with "What's that chord name" but it doesn't seem to help anyone that would stumble across a similar problem to find my question. ...
