Questions tagged [learning]
Learning is the act of acquiring or developing skills and knowledge.
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What is good software for learning how to sight-read?
I'd like to learn how to sight-read on my own, but practicing the same song over and over again just causes me to memorize it, and filling out worksheets is boring.
Is there any good software for ...
68
votes
24
answers
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Best method to learn to play barre chords?
I've been trying to learn the F chord for a while now, and I am having a very hard time playing the barre chord. I've read that pulling back slightly with your finger and using the body of the guitar ...
Don
67
votes
9
answers
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How can a classical pianist learn jazz piano?
I'm a classically trained pianist. Took lessons all through my childhood. I've continued to play and read classical literature all my life. But I never learned anything about jazz piano. I also know a ...
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62
votes
10
answers
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Will learning to play another instrument help me to become a better guitarist?
I am a programmer and I do this for living. As a programmer, I've noticed how much difference it makes to learn another language - the quality of your work improves greatly, just because you know how ...
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52
votes
8
answers
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Guitar practice: more often but less time or once in a few days but for a few hours?
As many people, who have lots of every day responsibilities, like going to work, family and etc. I find myself struggling for the time to practice. Some days I just feel to tired to pick up a guitar ...
- 8,072
46
votes
16
answers
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How can I improve my piano sight reading?
I am 25 years old, and I started learning piano about 6 months ago. I really want to play the piano well, but it takes me so long to be able to play any piece of music. In the meantime, I'm using a ...
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44
votes
16
answers
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What instruments are inexpensive, portable and not too loud?
I'm a college student, and I'd really like to start playing an instrument. But I want to find something that is:
Inexpensive
Small and portable enough to fit in a backpack
Quiet enough to practice in ...
- 551
44
votes
10
answers
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As a guitarist, how can I learn to sight-read music?
I'm learning guitar right now, mostly from Justin Sandercoe's free online lessons, starting from the beginner's course. He has a lot of good tips for how to practice and drill chords, and scales, but ...
- 1,079
44
votes
5
answers
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Is there any "research" in music theory?
A researcher in, say, mathematics, conducts research in the form of proving theorems, laying out foundations for new theories, etc. But what do, for example, PhD candidates do in music theory? Split ...
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42
votes
17
answers
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How to minimize the pain for a beginning guitar student so they won’t give up before they develop calluses?
This is a common problem and solving it will ultimately lead to a much higher success rate for beginning guitar students. So I wanted to share the information here on Music and Theory.
Many of my ...
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votes
11
answers
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What exactly does practising scales teach?
First off, I'm not claiming that practising scales isn't a good thing to do. I'm just curious what specifically it teaches you that doesn't come from playing music.
I'm aiming it as a generic ...
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3
answers
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How can I train my ear for music?
I have noticed that some people are better at hearing music, e.g. they are better in distinguishing the notes or noticing mistakes when someone is play.
Is it possible to train oneself to hear music ...
user107
37
votes
10
answers
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Bored when playing instrument
Well, sometimes when I play my guitar, I got bored, it just like I'm too tired of playing the guitar (or any instrument, for this question).
Is there any motivation or suggestion or something that ...
- 4,127
37
votes
11
answers
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How does your brain learn to play the piano two-handed?
As a new piano player I find the entire concept of doing two separate things at once massively challenging. Even when both parts are incredibly simple and I can sight-read both lines mentally easily, ...
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votes
12
answers
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How can I learn to compose?
I am aware that Stack Exchange questions should be on-point, and not too broad, but I really would appreciate a response from people who know what they are talking about:
I recently saw Boublil and ...
- 2,656
35
votes
4
answers
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Using keyboard/MIDI controller to learn piano
I'm an adult just starting to learn music from scratch. The piano I have been using is sometimes not available for me to use, so I would like to buy a keyboard/MIDI controller so I can practice ...
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34
votes
1
answer
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Beginning "adult" piano for musicians
My piano skills are the weakest part of my conducting/rehearsal technique, so I'd like to work on them essentially starting from scratch. I don't have the option of a piano teacher, so I'm looking for ...
- 451
28
votes
15
answers
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Which instrument can a person play with 2 malformed fingers on each hand?
Due to a birth defect, I have 2 malformed fingers on both hands (fingers 1,2).
(The picture is from the web just to illustrate the fingers i'm talking about.)
I've seen GuiGui Zheng videos, it is ...
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27
votes
12
answers
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I can learn guitar fast, but I haven't got the nerve to sit and practice for hours, how to practice for long sessions?
I've been playing an acoustic guitar for 5 months or so. I noticed a little problem on my way to success.
I feel as if I'm not getting to my potential of playing.
I'm not impatient - I know it takes ...
- 387
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votes
8
answers
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Memorizing notes on guitar fretboard
I have 2 questions, which are somehow interrelated.
Learning which-note-corresponds-to-which-fret-position was told to me as an extremely important task for any guitarist who want to get better at it....
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26
votes
14
answers
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Can one be too old to learn an instrument?
I own a guitar. I've owned it since I was about 13, but never really got into it because I was a spiteful teen who wanted to play the drums, and went out of my way to play the drums instead (to the ...
- 363
26
votes
11
answers
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When practicing on my instrument - which is more important - quantity or quality?
I mainly play guitar but sometimes play piano. Occasionally I aspire to improve my skills by practicing - which for me - usually consists of trying to learn to play a more complex passage in a ...
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26
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12
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How can I keep learning new songs and not forget the previous ones?
I love learning new songs. A fairly easy, energetic rock piece is sometimes everything that I need to keep playing for hours. However, some pieces are harder, some solos require more patience and all ...
26
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14
answers
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What are the advantages of learning to play on your own versus learning from a teacher?
Ok, as a new learner I have started by watching Learn and Master Guitar lessons, using other web tutorials, and whatever other resources I can find on the internet.
Do you believe that this way is ...
Sotiris
26
votes
8
answers
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Teaching a student to match pitch
I'm a piano teacher and I currently have a student that is taking voice lessons from another teacher. Our lessons involve me accompanying her and discussing interpretation and style. She has some ...
- 2,101
26
votes
4
answers
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Learning Piano without a teacher
How can I effectively learn how to play the piano if it is simply impossible for me to get a teacher?
I took it upon myself to learn the piano. However, I am not sure where to start, especially with ...
- 369
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votes
10
answers
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Why don’t piano teachers teach the chord method of playing to young children and adults?
I have been playing piano since I was 10 and now I am 43. I have never really been good at sight reading sheet music. I have recently been researching alternative methods of learning songs fast as ...
- 351
25
votes
6
answers
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What is the first scale one should learn on guitar
The title really sums it all up but I'll try expand it slightly. Lets say I'm learning guitar and would like to improve my guitar work. Which of the scales should I learn first and why?
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11
answers
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When practicing a new piece, how do you prevent repetition from dulling the punch?
When I start on a new song, I tend to do so because I'm completely absorbed by the piece and its emotion. Inevitably, I have to play recordings of the piece a few dozen times until I'm comfortable ...
25
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9
answers
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What are good resources for learning music theory?
What is a good resource for learning music theory, especially as it relates to the guitar, coming from a completely beginner's perspective? I had a musician friend try to teach me about modes such as ...
24
votes
4
answers
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Where can I get started with my improvisation?
I have been playing the alto saxophone for a while now. I have also improvised from time to time and have some theoretical and practical background on the instrument, harmony, scales, etc.
I have ...
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votes
13
answers
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Are very cheap cellos acceptable for a beginner?
I'm looking at getting a 1/2 cello for my son. My options are either rent a mid-end one for 50$ a month, or buy a very cheap one (there seem to be some online for 150$~200$).
My experience with ...
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votes
6
answers
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How to learn to play guitar with a slide?
I have always wanted to play guitar with a slide. How should I go about learning this skill?
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4
answers
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Criteria for selecting a voice teacher [closed]
I have been singing in a (classical) choir for several years, including the occasional solo line, and am now seriously considering voice lessons. However, finding a good teacher seems like a daunting ...
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votes
17
answers
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X or Y guitarist doesn't know music theory - how true is this statement?
We've all heard a statement similar to the following:
X didn't / doesn't know any music theory and is one of the all time
greats
replacing X with a famous guitarist.
Being a novice, I am trying ...
- 363
21
votes
9
answers
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When learning a piece, concentrate on playing the beginning really well or the whole piece the same?
I'm currently learning to play piano for 6 months and every time I learn a new piece I learn it like this:
learn the first line, play it until its pretty good
learn the next line and play the first ...
- 727
21
votes
8
answers
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"The intervals considered dissonant have changed since the 'Middle Ages'"; How so?
In reading my new book 'Complete Classical Music Guide', I understand the following:
If two notes are separated by a consonant the sound is pleasing to the ears. If they are of a dissonant ...
- 2,656
21
votes
4
answers
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Very little time to learn pretty complex songs. What should my strategy be?
I got invited to join this band. They've got plenty more experience than I do, but I've been playing with one of the members for quite a while and, I guess, I wasn't doing so bad, since he's now ...
21
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6
answers
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Skills needed for classical guitar
I've been playing steel-string acoustic for 25+ years, and I'm becoming more interested in classical guitar playing. While I'm fairly good at fingerstyle, I'm aware that making the leap to classical/...
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10
answers
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In electronic music equipment and software, what are some good ways of cutting costs without sacrificing quality/effort?
I'm interested in getting into producing electronic music (EDM, house, whatever I end up digging at the time), but I've recently run into a roadblock: money.
Potential costs include:
Computer
DAW
...
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Becoming a good guitar teacher
I am thinking of starting guitar teaching and, of course, I am aiming to become a good guitar teacher. I don't think it will happen in the near future, because I don't have enough skill level yet, but ...
- 8,072
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Do I need a teacher to learn violin?
I'd like to take up the violin, but I travel too much to take lessons.
Is it reasonable to learn violin without a teacher? And I take 'unreasonable' to mean "don't even bother- you'll be much better ...
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I find myself making the same mistake when practising - despite focussing on that part- how to remedy?
I'm an extremely newbie musician (preparing for Grade II on oboe - no prior musical experience). I've looked into the best ways to practise (and I have a teacher) but I find myself struggling with ...
- 351
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Teaching Bandmates to Count
I started out as a classically trained guitarist and spent my high school years playing bass in a (school) jazz ensemble, so I have some (limited) formal musical training. Playing rhythm in Jazz ...
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5
answers
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How to learn many musical instruments?
It's absolutely possible for one to know how to play more than one instrument and even be good at or master some.
I currently know how to play guitar, keyboard and drum. Planning to start learning ...
- 1,944
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6
answers
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Get back into an instrument after long break?
In my youth I played lots of piano, for over 10 years, and became quite good at it. During college, however, I just didn't have the time to keep it up.
It looks as if I'll soon have access to a ...
- 451
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7
answers
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Standing up acoustic guitar playing position for women
It goes without saying that women typically have different body types than men and this fact often never gets addressed when guitarists are speaking on how to position a guitar when standing up. It ...
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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 ...
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answers
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What is the most effective, structured way for an adult beginner to learn drums without a teacher?
I've wanted to play the drums since I was kid. I tried to learn when I was 11 but I lacked the psychological confidence to keep myself on it - my teacher at the time had learnt by banging on his ...
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11
answers
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Software that transposes music?
I would love to be able to learn the flute by playing more popular music. However, all the free sheet music that I can find for a flute in the key of C is lame stuff like "Jingle Bells."
In my search ...
- 1,173