All Questions
37 questions
0
votes
1
answer
72
views
Ballade Pour Adeline: How to understand the dyads?
I am listening to Ballade pour Adeline for piano and specifically to this version on YouTube.
After the quick introductory arpeggio, the main part starts with a dyad of G and E played with the right ...
- 415
2
votes
1
answer
276
views
What is this harmony in this pokemon battle theme?
Fair warning: I'm more-or-less a complete neophyte when it comes to music theory.
I Bede's theme from Pokemon Sword/Shield, there's a piano riffing in a descending manner in the harmony in a really ...
- 345
1
vote
2
answers
127
views
What are these two right-hand chords in Schubert's Piano Sonata No 20 D 959?
I am not quite understanding the chord progression and the chord harmonies of the following two beats marked in the red rectangle.
Especially two right-hand chords. They sound very inharmony and ...
- 921
2
votes
1
answer
508
views
How are the Imperial March intro harmonies best interpreted on piano?
I'm wondering how the below is most effectively performed on piano. I've solved the 'rhythm problem' (i.e., the very rapid triplet repetitions) by using both hands via piano 'split' feature — each ...
- 23
0
votes
5
answers
227
views
To add chords to a song, is playing the chord that carries the melody equivalent to playing the melodic note as note 1, 3 or 5 of the chord?
When I was learning how to play songs on piano by ear, I didn't know how to add chords to a song melody. What I found on videos and on the Web was that you select a chord that carries the melodic ...
- 21
4
votes
1
answer
271
views
Notation of measure 2 in Chopin's Prelude #4 in E minor
The first measure has G-B-E-B, i.e. E minor tonic chord, first inversion. Makes sense so far.
Then the next measure is F♯-A-E-B followed by F♯-A-E♭-B , not so clear. According to this page the second ...
- 213
6
votes
1
answer
269
views
What is the Root/Quality chord symbol for this note cluster?
I am just starting to learn the music for Leigh Harline's song : "When You Wish Upon A Star"
In measure 5 the LH notes are C, D, and E and the RH notes are G♭, A♭, B♭ and C. The beginning ...
- 624
16
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How much of a jazz tune should I pre-arrange?
I have been learning jazz piano (mainly solo) for a few months and am trying to incorporate more color and more interesting voicings in my chords. However, I find it very difficult to keep the ...
- 171
0
votes
4
answers
225
views
Incomplete spelling of vii dim7 and vii half dim7
For the two chords above, diminished 7th (viio7) and half diminished 7th (viiø7), are they usually spelled complete or incomplete? Or both?
- 49
0
votes
1
answer
67
views
Analysis of Sonata form [duplicate]
I’m about to take my level 10 Harmony exam and I’m still kind of unsure about Sonata Form. Could someone give a (brief?) explanation of it? The textbook that I use does have a good explanation, but I’...
- 49
1
vote
3
answers
529
views
Characteristics of a Coda
I’m doing Level 10 Harmony right now and I’m being asked to identify a Coda in a Rondo. Any specific characteristics that I should look out for to make it easier to identify?
- 49
0
votes
2
answers
112
views
Applied Chords notation
I have a chord in the key of F minor. The notes from the bass are
A natural , C , F , E flat. From textbook: " Identify the following applied chord . Symbolize the chord using functional and root ...
- 624
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Jazz piano: chords and melody in right hand. How?
Aiming for being capable of playing solo and in ensemble, a jazz pianist is exposed to the following:
Bass player is playing the root tones, hence the pianist can play rootless
When playing alone or ...
- 979
1
vote
4
answers
227
views
Jazz piano: problem remembering harmony, melody is fine
In my quest to become a general jazz pianist I practice jazz standards. Having several years experience with violin, a melody instrument, I have no trouble learning and remembering melodies but the ...
- 979
-2
votes
2
answers
257
views
Isn't more comfortable to play Cmaj7 chord's root position 1245 instead of 1235 fingers on piano?
As I saw in Youtube and in various websites that Cmaj7 root fingering should be 1235, but for me it would look like more logical to play 1245. Because when I play on RH 1235, my wrist goes to left. ...
3
votes
1
answer
545
views
Questions on the harmonic analysis of Pixar's Up Main Theme
First time doing harmonic analysis.
This is the piece https://musescore.com/user/1596896/scores/715646
The key signature indicates F major, but I feel like the composer plays around with the ...
- 33
7
votes
3
answers
529
views
Which notes are skeletal?
I have been told to figure out which notes in Mozart's theme are skeletal and which ones are just embellishments before I develop my Theme and Variations.
But I don't know how to tell if a note is ...
- 6,654
3
votes
1
answer
218
views
How to overcome emotional tension with this Beethoven rondo
I never thought this would happen but it just did. The Beethoven rondo I am referring to is the one in G major, widely known as "Rage over a Lost Penny". There is a 20 measure section starting at ...
- 6,654
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Melodic Fragments and Idioms
Could someone please explain what melodic fragments are? I’ve been told that if you see scale degrees 123 or 321 in the melody or bass it calls for an idiom. I’ve also heard that there are other ...
- 71
2
votes
1
answer
415
views
Why do B and C resonate sympathetically?
While experimenting with piano acoustics I came across this weird phenomenon. Having an open B string and then hitting the C above will cause the B to resonate! This also works with open C and playing ...
1
vote
4
answers
2k
views
Playing matching chords to melody by ear
I'm a beginner on piano who plays be ear using pentatonic scale and I'm having hard time accompanying the melody with a chord with the left hand. I can easily play the melody to any song but if I want ...
- 115
5
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Should I know the chord name and scale degree when I play by ear?
Just to give a bit of context; say I'm playing a song in a certain key, F major. and let's say I'm playing the I IV V chords. I'm playing a song I learned by ear, right now it happens to be bicycle ...
user34288
3
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How to harmonize a melody without knowing the scale?
I've been doing this thing lately where I randomly pick a note on the piano, and use that as the starting note of whatever melody I'm playing, every time I do this I'm in a different key. I find this ...
user34288
5
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Three ways to harmonize a note with a triad?
For simplicity assume we're in C major. Let's say I'm playing a song, and I want to play a basic triad chord to harmonize whatever current melody note is played. In this example say the melody is a D ...
user34288
1
vote
1
answer
342
views
Tri-Tone Substitution theory and practice [duplicate]
Can someone give me a practical explanation of the theory and practice of tri-tone substitution for jazz piano?
2
votes
1
answer
756
views
Need Help with Trumpet Lesson and Piano Chords
Not sure how to explain my problem so please bear with me.
I'm studying IIm7-V7 Etude from a Trumpet book called "Amazing Phrasing". It's called Idea #11 if anyone happens to have the book. It's a ...
- 178
2
votes
3
answers
625
views
Transcribing piano from recording when available recordings are poor
I do a fairly large amount of transcribing of various jazz material. Usually, I do transcriptions of solos with only vague concern for what the accompaniment is doing (since usually the harmony is a ...
- 872
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Possible to learn harmony by ear?
I was wondering if there's any people that approach harmony by ear. I've noticed the majority of instructors teach harmonizing by knowing: 1. the scale pattern. 2. figuring the diatonic chords from ...
user34288
0
votes
1
answer
110
views
Is it a good idea to create fomulas for chords and secondary dominants?
For example say I'm analyzing the piece and I'm using C major as a reference
and I realize that the composer plays a dominant chord 3rd inversion
Can I think of the dominant is 5-7-2-4 as well as ...
- 477
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Modal Cadence Options
I understand that when playing in a mode, the cadences are quite different from tonal cadences. For example, in the Phrygian mode a cadence would be IV - iii (or II - i if we're renumbering the chords)...
- 2,344
0
votes
1
answer
150
views
Identify chord proggression
Hi Im new to the site so please inform me if I am doing anything wrong.
So,4 arpeggiated chords all sixteenth notes
The arpeggio goes as follows:
F-G-G#-C-D#-G-G#-C
D-F-G-B -D-F-G-B
C#...
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why D sharp not E flat in Turkish March
I'm analyzing Mozart's Turkish March piece for the piano.
As I see in measure 18 the harmony is F7 (fourth) with minor seven.
Assuming it is a minor seven because the harmony is F7 why they thought ...
- 855
2
votes
2
answers
7k
views
How can I find a chord to go to after any other chord played on the piano?
For example if I played a Dm triad, how would I find a/the chord this one would resolve to?
- 309
5
votes
2
answers
540
views
Bartok Mikrokosmos Book 3, no. 70
I have recently been trying to master this piece from Bartok's Mikrokosmos, and at first sight, it appeared daunting due to the fact that the right-hand part is in B major and the left-hand part is in ...
- 2,693
2
votes
3
answers
849
views
Filling in a chord with your right hand
I am learning RH chords, playing them along with LH chords. So right now, I'm playing 2 note RH chords. Suppose the measure calls for a C chord, and the melody note is an E note.
When playing below ...
- 21
2
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Progressing from a C Minor 9th
If I am playing a C Minor 9th chord what are the next chords up that work with a C Minor 9th? Am I able to follow the C Minor scale and create a 9th from each note in the scale? A bit confused on ...
- 357
12
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Understanding the elements of harmony in "honky-tonk" or ragtime style piano
I enjoy improvising piano in what I call (perhaps incorrectly) a "honky-tonk" or "ragtime" style, usually involving a steady stride or two-step in the left hand, and playing over that with lots of ...
- 355