All Questions
91 questions
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Does this song use melodic minor or harmonic minor?
The song below was on a past IB Music Diploma Programme listening paper. The markscheme says that it uses melodic minor. I hear a raised 7th, particularly in the vocal, but I don't hear a raised 6th......
- 12.9k
1
vote
3
answers
155
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Are these notes with accidentals chromatic?
I'm having some difficulty deciding which notes with accidentals are considered as chromatic, and was wondering if someone could confirm/deny my assumptions about notes in the attached notation of ...
- 607
5
votes
3
answers
594
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Different harmonic changes implied by a simple descending scale
This is a question that readers may find confusing. It is a bit confusing to me too, but I'll try to explain and illustrate it as best as I can.
What are the harmonic functions (in terms of Roman-...
- 28.7k
1
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3
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542
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Diatonic Scales and Modes. How do I reconcile information about Modes?
The accepted answer to what a mode is and how they work is posted here:
What is the difference between a dominant scale VS a mode?
This is what I thought the correct answer was.
Basically that the "...
- 21
26
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8
answers
21k
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Is F Lydian mode in the "key" of C Major?
In most cases (if not all), a piece of music without sharps or flats in the key signature, would be considered in the key of C major or A minor. This question assumes the context of Western Music ...
CommunityBot
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10
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2
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Why is the third triad dominant?
I'm working through "Guide to the Practical Study of Harmony" by Tchaikovsky and I had a question about this section on triads (he's working with a C Major scale):
The whole mass of major and minor ...
- 59.5k
2
votes
6
answers
2k
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How do I manage internalizing foundation for chords, scales, hamonies and voicing
My teacher told me when I'm learning a piece I have to understand the underlying harmony, only then I would be able to learn and play it easily, he also told me to never learn the notes itself (...
- 26.1k
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5
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Do the notes in a scale have to be played in order?
Beginner here, it seems like a scale just defines a particular set of notes that don't have to be played in any order to me. But if you look at A minor pentatonic scale you have A, C, D, E, G, yet ...
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4
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Key and possible missing "tonic chord"
I just figured out in this tune the chords F major and e minor fit, and they are repeated all over. Surely its a simple and repetitive piece, but what I am wondering is, the only key where both chords ...
- 198k
0
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1
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Can someone please explain differences between Ionian dorian phrygian (etc) scales [duplicate]
If you have C scale, C, D, E, F, G, A, H, C this is already Ionian.
C dorian scale is when you play same tones but start from second tone, in this case D. I am correct?
- 85.1k
3
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3
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159
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Can someone help me understand this chord progression?
I've been jamming around with a chord progression that goes
D
F#m
C(b5)
Bm
The odd chord out is the C(b5), but my ear likes the tension-resolution is creates to end on the Bm. I know there's no "...
- 31
0
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1
answer
301
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Can't understand parallel progression. Can explain with example?
I'm sorry, I'm very noob at music theory.
I know major scales, minor scales (natural, harmonic and melodic) and them chords.
Since yesterday (so funny) I believed that to compose a track (I love ...
- 59.5k
0
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1
answer
19k
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Why do certain keys sound good together? [duplicate]
I am a DJ and the software I dj with just introduced key analyzation (Serato DJ). So now I have the key to every song in my library. Someone invented a way for DJ's to mix music in key without having ...
- 659
2
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2
answers
141
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Chord-scale vs chord/scale [closed]
Certain introductions to jazz teach that one should think harmonically in terms of "chord-scales" - for instance, that "E-mixed-third-7b913" and "E octatonic starting on a half step" are equivalent in ...
- 95.7k
6
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4
answers
5k
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Full range with white keys only?
This is probably a really stoopid question but.....I'm trying to learn to play a virtual keyboard online(Virtual Piano) but its really hard to use the black keys since you need to press Shift+(another ...
- 95.7k
5
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3
answers
406
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What is tonality when you're not playing with a diatonic scale?
Is there any definition of tonality which generalizes beyond a diatonic scale? For instance, can you have resolution from a dominant to a tonic if you're only using a pentatonic scale? Clearly you ...
- 1,874
3
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3
answers
800
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Triads in any scale
Sorry for the very basic question, but my only experience comes from using DAW software.
The rule I use to create a triad is playing three notes at {0,4,7} semitones for a major chord and {0,3,7} ...
- 85.1k
5
votes
1
answer
1k
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Why is the Mirror on a midpoint, rather than the root note, in Negative Harmony theory?
I'm curious about why Negative Harmony music theory relies on finding the midpoint between the Tonic and Dominant Degrees in a scale, and flipping the scale around that point, instead of simply ...
- 85.1k
3
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3
answers
1k
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What are the primary (or most common) chords of the minor scale?
I'm trying to figure out what chords appear most often in minor scales, in major scales it's easy: the I IV and V, it's not even a question. You can harmonize almost any major song with just these ...
CommunityBot
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2
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1
answer
541
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What scale degrees form the most-used chords in a minor tonality?
We know that for songs written in a major tonality, the I, IV, V chords are the most used. The II chord is used often, the III and VI chords a slightly less often, and you almost never see the VII ...
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6
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40k
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Do all chords in a progression usually fit within a scale
I am wondering if when writing a chord progression, all the notes fit within a single scale.
If not, what is the logic behind chord progressions?
1
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2
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207
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What is the Term for diatonic scale usage for a non diatonic chord?
Lets say im in c major and i play a standard 1-6-4-5-1 progression. But on the second time around i play 1-6-4-#5-5-1. The #5 chord is obviously an Ab flat major/ G# major, and i know many scales can ...
- 85.1k
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1
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What are some of the underlying harmonies/scales behind this type of songs? [closed]
Recently, I came across an album by a guitarist that sounded quite "exotic" and wanted to know more about the theory behind the sounds.
Some interesting phrases: 2:00,...
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1
answer
354
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Is this a harmonic riff?
Here's the riff.
For me a harmonic riff sounds harmonic. Without any thinking about the theory I can hear it most of the times. But in this case I'm not sure. Especially G 1 sounds a little bit off.
...
Dom♦
- 48k
2
votes
4
answers
2k
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How to give voice into a chord progression?
Say, I am going to use my vocal into a chrod progression like C Am Dm G (that belongs to C major scale). Since a chord consists of three notes. As I know I can give voice any notes belonging to that ...
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6
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3
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2k
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What are the uses of chromaticism? [closed]
I very much feel safe and pleasant in the world of tonality but I would like to learn more about chromatic playing. I do admire a blue note here and there, and I do admire very limited chromatic ...
Dom♦
- 48k
1
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3
answers
2k
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Playing Major Scale on a Minor Song - Does It Work?
I've heard throughout several forums online that playing a major scale on a minor song doesn't work, yet playing a minor scale on a major song DOES work. Perhaps I misunderstood but that's as much as ...
- 161
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1
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521
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What is the exact usage of harmony?
I have completely studied music theory (even diatonic chords) and have just started harmony but I don't know what I am studying in harmony!!!
I have faced 2 specific questions and 2 general question :...
Dom♦
- 48k
11
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2
answers
2k
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Melodic Minor - Uses
The one problem I have with the Melodic Minor is that I just don't know how and where to use it. From my comprehension, it is the Minor scale when descending and when ascending it has a maj6 and maj7. ...
CommunityBot
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20
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5
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Guide-lines for creating a simple chord-progression?
I am working on a computer program that generates a simple melody, based on a simple chord progression of four chords taken from the 7 triads of the C Major scale. The program is also supposed to ...
CommunityBot
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3
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2
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493
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Chords derived from uncommon scales
I came across an unusual chord progression in an A minor track: iv-I.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but my first guess is that the I is borrowed from the major key. However, after thinking a while, I ...
- 15k
3
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1
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240
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Which category of music theory would the topic of "which scales to play over which chords" fall into?
For example, in blues it's common to play a minor pentatonic scale over a major chord, and in a lot of rock music it is common to play the corresponding major/minor pentatonic scale over a major/minor ...
- 31.5k
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3
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2k
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How to Harmonize uncommon scales?
How do you harmonize scales like
C C# F F# Bb
Whole tone scale : C D E F# Ab Bb
?
(The scales above are just examples.)
Scales like these do not seem to bias to Major or Minor harmony, ...
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4
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2k
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Why does this key change work?
In the song 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin which is a fairly simple progression in Bb major the saxophone solo part of the song seems to make a key change to the key of Em. I don't understand why this ...
- 198k
5
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1
answer
675
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What is the Slonimsky-Schillinger Symmetric System?
What is the Slonimsky-Schillinger Symmetric System? What's the theory behind it? How is it used in composition?
- 739
6
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3
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793
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Max Payne theme scale
There is something weird about the Max Payne theme in that although technically it's in C minor, it's using B-natural prominently. What is this called, where is it coming from?
- 1,973
12
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3
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Is there a minimum of notes and chords i need to determine the key of a song?
Just by curiosity. What is the minimum of notes and chords i need to determine the key of a song?
- 12.3k
13
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3
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1k
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Pentatonic scale with a sharpened 2nd note, any name?
I was messing with the A minor pentatonic scale and discovered that if I sharpen the 2nd note of the scale, it sounds very interesting to my ears, even more than the original scale.
Does this already ...
- 5,961
11
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2
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6k
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Using modes and static harmony
Edit: i know what modes are and how they are related to major scale..etc. question is about modal harmony and chord progression in modal harmony. not what is a mode and name of other modes..etc
What ...
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2
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What scale is used in the Morrowind theme?
Do you know the name of this scale? C D E♭ F G A♭ B
It's used in the Morrowind theme:
- 7,023
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1
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297
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How do I find the accompaigning low-pitch note when playing fingerstyle?
If you're trying to learn a song by ear for example, how do you find the backing note to go along whith what you are playing?
For example, when playing canon in D, you first start with the D string ...
CommunityBot
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