All Questions
529 questions
2
votes
2
answers
120
views
Is there a known neurological/psychological basis for the perception of resolution with descending perfect fifth motion?
Some neurological phenomena in music are relatively well understood, such as rhythmic entrainment and the perception of consonance and dissonance. However, I am not as familiar with any studies or ...
0
votes
2
answers
47
views
Middle voices in harmony: dropping middle voice and/or crossing it with the melody
Texts on harmony usually work with four voices (SATB=soprano, alt, tenor, bass) and put particular emphasis on doubling of the bass, which makes dropping one of the voices nearly impossible (except ...
- 355
0
votes
2
answers
93
views
Fugue Structure
I've been wanting to learn to write a fugue for a while. I spent some time learning counterpoint with a teacher starting with species, I think I got a good grasp on counterpoint now.
How do you write ...
- 103
3
votes
4
answers
238
views
Do 'avoid' notes depend on register?
Looking at 'avoid' notes, it seems that the general rule is: do not play a note which is a minor second above a chord note e.g avoid F over a C major chord as this forms a minor 2nd interval with E.
...
- 793
0
votes
0
answers
33
views
How does harmonic progression work in modes which aren't Ionian and Aeolian? [duplicate]
I have seen some similar questions to this but nothing that quite cuts close enough.
In major and minor, it is widely considered that harmonic progression works as follows (broadly speaking- don't ...
- 793
0
votes
2
answers
152
views
How chord functions using minor subdominant
I'm reading this part of arnold shoenbrg harmony book ( minor subdominant )
And i don't know if the chords are supposed to function at all or it's just the matter of voice leading and taste '
For ...
- 469
1
vote
2
answers
71
views
Humming to Brian Eno's "Needles in the Camel's Eye"
The question I have is prompted by the song "Needles in the Camel's Eye" by Brian Eno, in particular the opening instrumental bars. (Though I think I've noticed the phenomenon I'm going to ...
- 113
2
votes
7
answers
166
views
Is a “minor Seventh Chord” basically just a combination of a “minor Triad” and its Relative “Major Triad”?
Is a minor Seventh Chord basically just a combination of a “minor Triad” and its Relative “Major Triad”, (or a combination of a Major Triad and its Relative minor Triad)?
- 61
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
7
votes
6
answers
890
views
Can a monophonic melody have harmony?
I'm analysing a piece from the Traditional Songs of the Maori by Margaret Orbell and Mervyn McLean.
Can such a piece with a monophonic melody have harmony?
- 73
1
vote
1
answer
145
views
Why does it sound so weird? (Beethoven quartet)
Why does the first A# of the tetrachord of fugal development in op. 131, no. 7, m. 114 cello sound so weird? Is it because of the false relation with B?
- 33
6
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Term for a harmony that's always above the melody, but just enough to be in chord?
Is there a term for a harmony that always resembles the next-closest note above the melody that is in chord (not just in key)?
A friend of mine always does that when improvising a harmony and she ...
- 251
4
votes
2
answers
133
views
The root of augmented triad according to Hindemith
In Hindemith's book The craft of musical composition. Book 1, Theoretical part, he says that (p. 97)
The lower tone of a third or a seventh (in the absence of any better interval) is the root of the ...
- 549
2
votes
3
answers
704
views
Why does Cmaj7 and Emaj7 sound good (or a name to describe this progression)?
I have an extremely limited understanding of theory, and from what I currently understand, chords will sound good together if they share a common key/scale (e.g. for C major scale, the chords that ...
- 131
0
votes
2
answers
134
views
In Organum and Species Counterpoint why is one of the voices always in whole notes?
Edit: It was pointed out to me that counterpoint spawned from the Organum style of music. For more context, here’s information from two sources I just read. “Two styles of Organum existed during this ...
- 1,018
0
votes
1
answer
134
views
how to theoretically understand that chords are compatible? [closed]
how can we theoretically understand that chords are compatible? let's imagine that there is a chord X1 and X2, what rules/conditions must these chords follow in order to be compatible? I have a ...
- 11
2
votes
3
answers
176
views
The Newton Brothers "I'm the candy Man" chord progression analysis
I've been listening to "I'm the candy man" from The Fall of the House of Usher this morning and am hitting a little roadblock trying to think of the theory behind the chord progression.
It ...
- 21
2
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Does melody come from root progressions?
I’ve noticed that in a melody certain notes stand out and it’s always the root of the current chord or arpeggio. (also, are arpeggios only descending/ascending or can they be in a random order?)
In ...
- 1,018
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How does one resolve the conflict between Renaissance theory of Cadences and the contradictions against it in Bach Chorales?
A level pupil.
Made the mistake of learning Renaissance cadence voicing way before starting A-level harmony course. There's a conflict of interest between the cadential progressions of the renaissance ...
3
votes
1
answer
128
views
How can harmony be implied by melody [duplicate]
I'm just curious about allot of compositional techniques, and one of them is the concept of "implying" harmony because it can be useful for determining later harmonic lines for an already ...
- 123
8
votes
5
answers
674
views
Why are triads considered perfect chords and the basis which all extensions are built off of?
Why are triads considered perfect chords and the basis which all extensions are built off of?
I'm sort of posting the question from an ignorant standpoint but I do already have some prior knowledge. I ...
- 1,018
3
votes
3
answers
437
views
Is it possible to approach hidden 5ths & 8ves by contrary motion?
Is it possible to approach hidden 5ths & 8ves by contrary or oblique motion?
Put differently, every time there is contrary or oblique motion between voices, are direct 5ths & 8ves allowed ...
- 31
6
votes
1
answer
122
views
Roman numeral analysis: how to notate tonic root anticipation / triple suspension V7 I742 I?
Sometimes in a cadence between V7 and I there's a moment when an anticipated tonic root in the bass given on top of suspended 7^2^4^ from the V7 (triple suspension?). Two examples:
Beethoven op 10 no ...
3
votes
1
answer
700
views
Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2 (1st movement) Tempo I - Bar 86 - why D not D flat?
In Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2 (1st movement) Tempo I - Bar 86 -
Red box shows a D.
Green box shows a D.
Blue box shows a D flat.
My question is that what is the logic / why the Green box is ...
- 921
1
vote
2
answers
87
views
Identifying a chord with seeming multiple suspended notes
I cannot figure out what would be the name for the chord containing these notes:
D,E,G in the key of C Major.
Also, does a sus2/4 exist. For example, Csus2/4 being C,D,F,G?
To make things clearer ...
...
- 11
3
votes
5
answers
577
views
Is there such thing as a secondary dominant (or 2-5) of the 7th degree?
Specially in jazz, it is common to approach a chord that is not the root by its diatonic 2-5, or simply its 5 (secondary dominant). When approaching a minor, it will be a ii7b5 - V7, and, in major, a ...
- 151
2
votes
0
answers
113
views
What are the acceptable ways to traditionally resolve dissonance?
This is a follow up to my previous question, about a seemingly unresolved "suspension" in Bach's Prelude in C major, bar 21:
In the next bar, it resolves to this chord:
If we block the ...
- 1,636
11
votes
10
answers
5k
views
Why does the iii chord seem to be usually avoided in many styles?
Chord iii in major key is often avoided. This transcends specific styles. Popular music almost never uses chord iii, classical music usually shies away from it even with its large harmonic potential, ...
- 1,636
5
votes
3
answers
315
views
Can someone explain why this spacing is preferred for III-VI progression
I was studying from walter piston's harmony and came across this. Can someone explain why the first progression is unusual while the second one is preferred?
- 79
2
votes
1
answer
176
views
Can anyone help me understand F#ø7 - F7 - Asus - AM7 - D7 - Em?
I'm trying to understand what's going on in this small piece written for Genshin Impact game, the song's name is "Pure Sky" is about 1min long and you can listen to it here (the part I'm ...
- 93
5
votes
3
answers
532
views
Usage of sharpened subdominant in minor key: what is the diatonic function?
The piece Für Elise uses a D♯ in the key of A minor in the first bar, which is the sharpened subdominant. (I'm focusing on the first part, up to halfway through bar 23 in this score.) D♯ and G♯ are ...
- 559
1
vote
4
answers
171
views
What chords are considered acceptable as passing chords in common-practice-period tonal voice leading?
I want to move from an FMaj to an Fmaj(6) chord. Putting a passing chord in between, a CMaj(3/4)(A second inversion dominant 7th) chord seems to work nicely. But these chords, at least in the common-...
- 1,636
1
vote
1
answer
42
views
Can you explain why they have (in bar 7) a fifth interval moving in similar motion in this hymn arrangement?
When we study part-writing we often hear about how a two notes making up a fifth should not move in the same direction. I've been told not to do it, but I see professionals hymn arrangements breaking ...
- 568
5
votes
5
answers
369
views
Harmony: why does transforming a ii minor chord into II major chord work?
I accidentally composed a song that uses the same harmony "trick" as the song The Odyssey from Symphony X. Both are in the key of Eb (I know it's C minor, but I like to think major for ...
- 296
1
vote
1
answer
175
views
Is Pink Panther Theme ALL in Em key? [closed]
referring to this question, it was determined that Pink Panther theme is actually in Em, but I was wondering if the key could be considered Em even when the theme varies (Consider this video from ...
- 111
7
votes
1
answer
134
views
Can't understand meaning behind this sentence in Schoenbergs Theory of Harmony
Hello, the current topic is minor mode. Why can only II degree follow major IV in minor scale? Can't quite figure this one out.
- 73
4
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Next step on music theory as a guitar player
I've been playing the guitar as a hobby since 2013 and have been gradually gaining familiarity with it by playing all kinds of songs.
At first, I simply tried to remember the fingerings by reading ...
- 143
1
vote
4
answers
212
views
bVI Root Substitution [closed]
Curious as to why this substitution of the root for a ♭VI chord works. It's pretty standard but I don't get the theory of it. I recently saw it being used in the context of a ii - V - I to delay the ...
- 1,974
6
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Jarring F natural in Bartok's "Former Friends"
I'm trying to wrap my head around the awfully jarring - it hurts my ears so bad, I literally can't bring myself to play it - F natural in m16 of Bartok's "Former Friends" from his Book 1 for ...
- 3,054
1
vote
1
answer
70
views
If a chord has a note from an extension in the bass, is that note still an extension? [duplicate]
This question stems from a recent discussion I had with a friend, neither of us are academically trained musicians. A chord was described as a Gm9/C. My point of view was that the C note makes it a ...
- 848
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the term for swapping parts in a harmony?
What is the technical term given to the technique where parts of a choir switch or swap their parts in a harmony?
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
159
views
G# major vs Ab major in the Liszt's Les Preludes
In this video at 6:21, the instructor says that
In measure 62 of Liszt Les Preludes (image below), the intonation is difficult if you think of as a "G sharp major."
Instead, it will be ...
- 921
0
votes
3
answers
135
views
Is the chord progression of this short piece C-G7-C?
Is the chord progression of this short piece C-G7-C? I'm new to music theory and want to confirm my understanding.
- 3
4
votes
2
answers
260
views
Db - Ab - Abb - Fb: What is this chord?
In Chopin's Nocturne in Bb minor, Op. 9, No. 1, m. 19, b. 4-6, we have a left-hand arpeggio comprising, in order, Db2 - Ab2 - Db3 - Abb3, while the right hand plays Fb.
This harmony sits between Db ...
- 95.1k
5
votes
3
answers
825
views
what is the oldest use of 9th chords in western music and when did they become popular
From page 752, of Laitz's The Complete Musician 4th edit.
''(...) By continuing the process of stacking thirds, these composers added another third above the seventh, creating a ninth chord; by adding ...
- 119
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
2
votes
2
answers
100
views
How to determine if a song is in F#Aeolian or D Lydian or Ab Locrian
Hello how are you? :) delighted to be here in my first post, I am a graduate of Sound Engineering and I am currently studying modern harmony in a self-taught way, I have been able to understand the ...
- 33
2
votes
5
answers
577
views
Should I continue my classical study (avoiding parallel 5ths and octaves)
I just want to make pop tunes but I do take my hobbie seriously.
Do the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Stevie wonder avoid parallel 5ths/octaves? Have any of you studied their sheet music and ...
- 229
2
votes
2
answers
239
views
An accented or a non-accented passing tone?
Okay, this might seem like a silly question, but I didn't find a quick answer through Google, so here it goes. I was just sketching a little pastiche in the style of Bach in the key of B minor. I ...
- 61
0
votes
1
answer
116
views
Why is this augmented 4th bad ? 16th century counterpoint
I'm studying 16th century counterpoint.
My book says, when writing a melody for second species, augmented 4th or augmented 5th shouldn't occur between strong beat and a strong beat.
But this is not ...
- 1,475