Questions tagged [instruments]
For questions about generalities about instruments or groups of instruments.
0
votes
1answer
47 views
After Apple nerfed GarageBand (10.3.2), how do you add or import other instrument libraries?
I noticed that GarageBand appears to have lost the ability to import other instruments or libraries. Is there a way to import third party instruments into GarageBand in 10.3? Along those lines, ...
18
votes
5answers
2k views
Why do lower pitched string instruments have a larger body?
I know that increasing the length of the string will decrease the pitch, but that doesn't explain why the body of a cello is larger than a violin, only longer.
What would be the "problem" with ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Good learning source for musical ensemble types and instruments? [closed]
I use MuseScore 2 to write sheet music, compose and I just find out I know nothing about things like SATB or "wind ensemble" or any other type of musical ensembles.
I tried to Google it but I didn't ...
2
votes
4answers
198 views
Can I produce music with code and without instruments?
I'm so curious about music, and I also tried to learn to play some instruments, but due to some personal reasons I can't continue with it. Now I'm a software developer, which is my passion, but my ...
0
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0answers
27 views
How do I keep my spit out of my harmonica? [duplicate]
I've been fooling with my new set of harmonicas, but I'm having trouble with them because they are filling up with spit. What can I do to prevent this problem?
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Find the proper sound / instrument for background (layer)?
I'm currently trying to compose some dungeon synth song. I like them and most of the time they use (very) simple melodies, so I thought this would be a perfect way to practice and develop my skills.
...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
What is this rattle-like instrument seen from an Indian music festival?
I am wondering what instrument is this? It produces a sound like sands, and the performer seems to rotate the upper part of it to make sounds.
I also find it on an Indian music instrument ...
7
votes
4answers
884 views
How is speed change notated
This is a very beginner question as I am a complete beginner. How is change in speed during a song notated in standard notation? Is it done by changing the time signature for each measure that has a ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Realistic jazzy sound with VST
I've been quite impressed with the orchestral sound of Nina Simone's "I put a spell on you". The part which interested me can be heard at first 17 seconds. So is it possible to simulate such warm and ...
0
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0answers
59 views
Why do some instruments play and octave higher/lower than written? [duplicate]
Can someone please explain why some instruments play an octave lower/higher than written?
Thank you :)
7
votes
1answer
110 views
Why can a vuvuzela only play one pitch, while a non-valved bugle can play many?
According to our collective nightmares from the 2010 World Cup Wikipedia, the vuvuzela is a monotone instrument; it famously plays (roughly) the B♭ below middle C.
Why is the vuvuzela restricted to ...
2
votes
3answers
116 views
Mnemonic or memory aid for Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Marimba, and Vibraphone
I am a choral director who has been transplanted to concert band. I know the differences between the percussion keyboards in theory, but in practice I still need to do an internet search to remember ...
1
vote
0answers
61 views
How much louder than an upright is a small grand piano?
I now have a kawai upright (height 135cm) and I'd like to upgrade to a small grand piano (around 170 cm I think). I'm wondering how much louder it will be. I don't really need a louder piano, my ...
3
votes
1answer
30 views
Tubulum Construction: How does including elbows affect the pitch?
I am considering building a tubulum out of 2" PVC pipes. (Like Blue Man Group) There are some specs on the internet for making the notes, but no one really says when inserting an elbow into the length,...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Identify a drum in a song [closed]
I need help identifying a drum in YelaWolf's 'Till It's Gone'.
Can anyone help me? It's the cracking whip drum in that track, you'll hear it quite often
here is a URL
4
votes
1answer
41 views
Harmonica for pop music chords
Are there harmonica types out there that play the chords most frequently used in pop music—the 1, 4, 5 and 6 minor, or in the key if C, they chords of C, F, G and Am?
A standard blues harp harmonica ...
0
votes
3answers
94 views
Keyboard sounds which begin before the audible beat: are they playable?
I often hear sounds and think "boy, would that be a cool sound for playing a tune on a keyboard." But, often the sounds begin substantially before where the understood "downbeat" would be.
An example ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Designing the home audio setup with musical instruments in mind
I'm trying to plan my new living room from the audio point of view and because it's a small living room, I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to use my musical instruments for jamming with ...
5
votes
3answers
231 views
Xaphoon: Which key, C or Bb?
I have been thinking about buying a xaphoon for a while. I have no experience with wind instruments of any kind (well, I can play the sweetflute) so I don't know whether to pick the C key or the Bb ...
4
votes
3answers
220 views
What instrument is used to create this kind of music?
Today I came across a song and (esp the beginning) it left me in an euphoric state.
Here is the song:
What instrument is used to create this kind of angelic sounds? ...
0
votes
1answer
101 views
What is the name of this type of bell?
I'm looking for some keywords I can search for samples similar to the bells in the background of link 1, and also 1:03 of link 2. I bought FLStudio Producer Edition which comes with Sytrus, but none ...
8
votes
2answers
160 views
What is this Antique Brass Instrument on display at the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels, Belgium?
Does anyone know what type of instrument this is? It looks like some type of Euphonium, but obviously very different.
2
votes
3answers
115 views
Portable non-electronic keyboard instrument that is not an accordion? [closed]
Do you know of any rare musical instrument that is
Portable enough to carry around all day.
Keyboard or similar, so that some of my piano skills do transfer.
Not completely electronic(not a ...
3
votes
0answers
41 views
Did the rain stick originate independently in multiple continents?
There is a traditional rain stick (percussion instrument) in African, Latin America, and I believe in Australia as well. Was it invented separately, or did one culture influence another?
Here is a ...
6
votes
3answers
179 views
GuitarPro: Change to Eb, but keep notation in E
I just downloaded GuitarPro 7.5. I used to use GuitarPro quite a bit, but it's been a while.
I like to tune down and play in Eb. I want to change a song to sound 1/2 step lower, but want to keep ...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
When to use sub-brackets for similar instruments within a section?
In some scores, especially printed sheet music, “like” instruments in larger sections will be grouped together with sub-brackets, such as piccolos with flutes, oboes with English horns, clarinets and ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
Loudness of A Contrabass
I was watching a play called The Contrabass and the actor stated that "the contrabass is different from other instruments in that, it is heard better as one moves further from it" (please note that ...
4
votes
3answers
821 views
Is Learning Guitar and Ukulele side by side a good idea?
I'm trying to decide whether it's a good idea to learn playing the guitar while I am also learning the ukulele.
I've been playing ukulele since about six months and I'm making really good progress. ...
0
votes
1answer
92 views
How do East Asian instruments (Shamisen, pipa, etc.) get their unique sound?
Is it because of the tuning of the strings, what the strings are made of, or the shape of it? Or something completely else? Would it be possible to replicate the sound with a regular guitar?
0
votes
2answers
64 views
How do I turn a regular instrument into electric (with aux port, etc)
Once I get a waterphone I was wondering if I would be able to get a kit or something that would let me plug it into my PC to record it. Would this be feasible for someone who has no experience with ...
3
votes
2answers
241 views
Are bass clarinet and tenor sax notations played an octave lower? [duplicate]
I am totally blind, and I read music Braille. I also use a MIDI keyboard to make musical tracks using a sequencer.
Recently, I had a piece, October by Eric Whitacre, transcribed into Braille music.
...
30
votes
10answers
8k views
Why don't “classical” stringed instruments mark their note positions?
So, I understand why classical strings (violins, cellos etc.) aren't fretted, because of the change this makes in the tone. I've often wondered though, why the note positions aren't marked on the neck ...
1
vote
5answers
415 views
Between a guitar and a ukulele what should one consider when choosing a new instrument to learn?
I really want to learn to play a musical instrument. Ever since my "keyboard" lessons as a kid 3 decades ago - I have been put off.
I learned songs on keyboard by "rote" i.e., the instructor ...
14
votes
6answers
4k views
Why do music directors use keyboard (or similar) instruments for composing music?
I have seen that most of the film music directors use keyed music instruments for composing music. I hardly saw directors use other instruments like strings or wind instruments for the same. What ...
3
votes
2answers
102 views
How young could a child start learning an instrument?
I play the guitar and have always tried to include my son in the fun when I play. He's 9 months old and seems to always like listening to it so far. Recently he has become very curious about the ...
5
votes
3answers
639 views
Can I play an English horn part with a viola?
I want to perform music in class for a Shakespeare play. Can I play an English horn part with a viola?
1
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0answers
31 views
Computer-controlled portable reed organ?
The "Melauton" is an automatic, computer-controlled reed organ built from a melodica. Is there any record of similar instruments being built? It looks like a very interesting project.
17
votes
3answers
3k views
Are musical floppy drives tone wheel instruments?
So I'm doing a project involving classifying electrophones according to MIMO's Hornbostel-Sachs system (see here) and I'm looking at musical floppy disk drives specifically (see here).
The drives ...
1
vote
3answers
412 views
Is it possible to play Novation Launchkey Midi controller without computer
I am planning to buy Novation Launchkey midi controller. But I am wondering if I can play this keyboard just like other ordinary keyboard by just connected to power ? Is it mandatory that it to be ...
6
votes
1answer
145 views
How did the harmonium and violin become an integral part of Hindustani music?
The Harmonium hails from Germany and it is not an Indian instrument. Also, it is a equal tempered instrument. But the harmonium is a very common accompanying instrument in Hidustani Classical and ...
35
votes
9answers
10k views
Can wind instruments be played out of tune?
I believed that the trombone stands almost alone among wind instruments, in that it allows to play a continuous pitch range. The rest have a discrete set of possible notes (pitches), hence things are ...
2
votes
2answers
139 views
What is the name of the technique where the pitch of the instrumental or vocal line slides smoothly between notes?
Okay, I have been trying to find the word for this vocal trick/note trick for so freaking long. I don't even know if there's a word for it but it's in so many songs spanning the history of recorded ...
1
vote
1answer
181 views
What's the name of the instrument that is blown into, that has a lid that lifts up?
In cartoons, especially in processions, there's an instrument that I think is reminiscent of a tuba. When blown into, the lid lifts off.
What's this instrument called?
1
vote
1answer
613 views
Loudness of instruments - musician's viewpoint [closed]
I have been wondering how loud seem instruments to musicians that play them. Let's say that you put an instrument in a room with average acoustics and measure loudness that musician hears and loudness ...
5
votes
2answers
570 views
Musical that requires changing the keyboard MIDI sounds quickly [closed]
Within the score for our school production the keyboard part has to change voice every other page and there isn't time to change the voice manually.
Rather than having 6 different keyboards in the ...
2
votes
3answers
195 views
Choosing musical instrument
I need help with choosing my next musical instrument. I used to play the diatonic harmonica, but I plateaued after learning all the basics. Another reason why I stopped liking the instrument is that ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
How to get rid of a scratch on my strat
I know that it's possible to rub out a scratch on my cars finish using rubbing and polishing compound. Does the same thing work on a guitars finish if the scratch is not to deep?
1
vote
3answers
105 views
How musicians are chosen to accompany on stage? [closed]
I had a question about music concerts. When solo artists do concerts, in the backstage different unknown musicians are accompanying them. So how are these musicians chosen to accompany?
4
votes
1answer
662 views
Default instruments for FL Studio 12?
I can not find this anywhere on their website or forums. I understand that FL 12 has a lot of presets and whatnot for the oscillators, and a lot of synth sounds, but what does it have for real ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Examples of people who started their instrument at an age >20 and got good at it [closed]
Do you know any instrumentalist (guitar, piano or anything else) who has achieved something and started out at an age >20 years? (by achieving I mean give decent performances, handle their instrument ...
