Questions tagged [physiology]
Use this tag for questions relating to the bodily mechanics of playing an instrument. An effort should be made to distinguish [physiology] from [technique], though both tags may be appropriate in some cases.
54 questions
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
Piano pieces, wich maximum note span is considred acceptable for composing? [duplicate]
As a male self trained keyboard player, I can observe that an octave is the maximum finger span I can reach with my pinky and thumb. I have read that individuals with smaller finger span might have ...
- 161
6
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Anatomy of plucking hand's motions for a bass guitar
The (following) questions came from analyzing my plucking hand technique. Consider playing 16th notes on one string with two fingers. It is accessible for me to play 8th notes with one finger (...
- 105
2
votes
1
answer
115
views
Relevance of physical size to playing the double bass?
I was an amateur musician for about 35 years and spent time studying guitar, then piano, sax, and finally viola. As time went on, I became more serious and systematic about it, so that by the time I ...
- 21
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Should I be consciously moving larynx when doing vibrato?
Aspiring classical singer here. Lately I've been experimenting with vibrato when singing by essentially just moving my larynx up and down gently but rapidly. I've certainly been able to produce a ...
- 191
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
If I lose weight, will my voice be a little higher pitched?
For instance my weight is 78 kilograms, and when I speak naturally, its around about 80 to 100 Hz in average… If I lose 10 kilograms and so I weigh 68 kilograms, will my natural speaking voice be a ...
- 71
9
votes
4
answers
601
views
How long can a pianist maintain a repeated, fast figure in one hand?
I'm working on an atmospheric/minimalist piece for Pierrot ensemble. I have the following figure in the piano part. I know that while the tempo is rather brisk (it's in 6/8 time, dotted quarter note ...
- 6,222
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What are the mechanics behind singing a "split note"?
I'm interested in the mechanics behind producing a certain vocal sound. You can hear it clearly in the vocal track for "Smells Like Teen Spirit", on the word "well", as well as &...
- 9,623
4
votes
1
answer
567
views
Are IV–I progressions easier for guitarists than V–I progressions?
Discussions of embodiment have become more and more prominent in the world of music theory. In a nutshell, claims regarding embodiment use the physical act of performing (and what the performer's body ...
- 85.1k
3
votes
1
answer
107
views
What is the most physically efficient way to change pitch within a vocal register?
What is the best method to vary notes when I sing ?
by stretching vocal cords ?
by increasing/decreasing my air pressure ?
by using both at the same time ?
- 31
2
votes
2
answers
120
views
Current consensus on consonant frequencies
I just read Physics and Music: The Science of Musical Sound
Book by Donald H. White and Harvey Elliott White and the book explains that consonant frequencies — those sounding "good" when ...
- 221
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How to Practice Torrent Etude (Chopin, Op. 10 no. 4) measure 2 [closed]
Even though I got my ARCT 5 years ago and can stretch to reach a 10th, simply put, the torrent etude is the hardest etude I have come across played at the right speed, true presto, like how Richter ...
1
vote
0
answers
73
views
What are the embouchure differences for the brass family instruments?
I play trumpet, but have little to no experience on other brass instruments. In terms of the physiology involved, how does the embouchure change from one (family of) instrument to another? Are certain ...
- 94.9k
3
votes
1
answer
226
views
What are the tactics of playing A shape barre chords?
I'm having trouble with playing A-shaped barre chords. I am aware of three ways to play them: Normal shape, using the ring finger, and using the pinky.
But given the structure of my hand (my phalanx ...
- 33
0
votes
3
answers
257
views
How (un)comfortable to play are these large chords?
I'm wondering if you could tell me how possible/comfortable this is to play? Particularly the 2nd & 3rd chords.
I can reach the notes myself on the piano but my ring/index finger end up at the top ...
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What hand-span is required by alto recorder
I have small hands and I am 4 feet 11 inches. I was looking into getting an alto recorder. Is the fingering too spread apart for me? Should I just stick to Soprano?
14
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Wind instruments: why is the left hand on top?
Every wind instrument which require the two hands to press keys (saxophone, clarinet, oboe…) have the left hand of the player being the top one. This consistency makes it easier to switch from one ...
- 5,282
5
votes
5
answers
380
views
What's different about brains of great technical musicians?
Growing up playing the violin, I was of average talent and met many people who had just much more natural talent at the muscle movements required to control the instrument as well as the fine hearing ...
- 511
4
votes
1
answer
217
views
What is the use of pharyngeal resonator or pharyngeal resonance in achieving mix voice?
Mix voice is blend of chest voice and head voice. That means it is blend of mouth cavity and nasal cavity resonance. So what's the use of pharyngeal resonator or pharyngeal resonance?
- 335
2
votes
4
answers
228
views
Hearing a sequence of tones but not a melody
Normal cognitive sciences (neurosciences and psychology) try to explain what goes on when a person
hearing a sequence of beats perceives a rhythm
hearing a sequence of tones perceives a melody
...
4
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Back hurts after playing piano
I'm learning how to play the piano and after practicing for an hour to an hour and a half my middle to upper back starts to hurt pretty bad. I was wondering if anyone knew what can be done to prevent ...
- 563
1
vote
0
answers
138
views
How to sing properly with a low larynx?
Changing the larynx position during singing is beneficial in order to archieve certain timbres. A hightened larynx is often caused by excess tension, so from this perspective alone, it can be ...
- 510
4
votes
1
answer
456
views
What is the difference between tone deafness and amusia?
Trying to explain that the multiple reasons of the inability to sing the right tone (to match pitch) I encountered two other terms: amusia and ton defness.
I wonder how far these two terms are ...
- 26.1k
2
votes
3
answers
588
views
How does a performer with smaller hands manage large intervals in Bach?
Has someone created a list of accepted modifications to make certain figures easier to play for a performer with smaller hands?
In the WTC (Das Wohltemperierte Klavier) there are intervals that are ...
user58289
1
vote
3
answers
838
views
Correct hand position at piano with nails
I am trying to give my modest advice to a friend that is looking to start piano playing.
When I learnt to play, my instructor was very careful about teaching me the right hand position (and saved me ...
- 249
2
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Cross Dominance - does it effect piano playing ability?
I am quite cross-dominant - in some areas more than others. For instance, I consider myself right-handed, I write right-handed, I'd kick a football with my right-foot, but I play snooker/pool left ...
- 561
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What happens if I continue playing the guitar despite tingling finger tips?
I used to play the guitar since puberty for a decade or so, then I stopped, and now I picked it up again. I meanwhile discovered vibrato, I play accustic with high strings and play BB Kingish vibrato (...
1
vote
1
answer
778
views
Why is a passing note easier to sing when descending than ascending?
It seems to me that, when singing a linear three-note figure with a quick passing note, it is much easier to articulate the passing note when the figure is falling than rising, and I'd like to know ...
- 474
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Will missing flexor digitorum superficialis keep me from playing the violin well?
I have flexor digitorum superficialis in my right hand but it is abscent in the left hand, meaning that my ring finger and my pinky finger on my left hand aren't independent.
Since my right hand has ...
2
votes
4
answers
357
views
Changing position (on piano) with fifth finger
The two images below show an exercise set I was contemplating practicing. The fingering is my own and would focus a lot on changing position with the fifth finger for the part playing eighth-notes. I ...
- 59.5k
3
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Limited finger movement and range
I would like to find out if there are particular exercises for problems with hand structure. I have been playing for 30 some years and discovered 10 or so years ago that the muscular structure of ...
- 211
2
votes
1
answer
145
views
How to (re)gain relaxation and muscular control? Any excercises, methods?
So, I started playing piano again after a long (~10 year?) break.
I get very fatigued, very fast playing simple stuff.
Not pain, just fatigue, as if I were doing a lot of pushups.
The fact that my ...
9
votes
4
answers
17k
views
Singing: holding on to the morning low notes
I've got into the habit of doing singing exercises in the morning and evening.
In the evening I'm often struggling to reach A110Hz. However in the mornings I can get down to E and beyond, sometimes ...
- 1,005
5
votes
5
answers
350
views
Does our hearing generate neural signals for harmonics?
First off, the (unrolled) length of our cochlea maps out frequencies such that high frequency sounds cause excitation (neural signals) from the front part of the cochlea, and low frequencies result in ...
- 17.9k
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Playing guitar with webbed fingers
I've just got myself an acoustic guitar and I'm struggling with holding down chord shapes. I have webbed 2nd and 3rd fingers on my fretting (left) hand. This causes those fingers to follow each ...
- 151
14
votes
1
answer
885
views
I've "lost my voice." What physically happened to my vocal physiology?
I've been suffering from a mix of allergies and a cold over the past few days, and woke up this morning to find that overnight, my normal singing range of about F2 to G4 had been reduced and lowered ...
- 35.4k
4
votes
1
answer
236
views
Exercises For Conditioning a Broken Hand
Last August I suffered an accident where I shattered my 4th and 5th metacarpal into my wrist, severing my ACU tendon attaching to my pinky. I've been slowly relearning my right hand to play saxophone.
...
- 281
10
votes
2
answers
11k
views
How does countertenor vocal technique differ from "standard" vocal technique?
I am curious about the countertenor voice. What are the techniques for countertenor vocal production?
It would be helpful if the answer compared to the standard techniques of vocal production, ...
- 35.4k
12
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Why is my voice lower pitched when I get up in the morning?
When I sing or speak just after waking from a long sleep, I can reach lower pitches than I can after being awake for a few hours.
Why does this happen? What happens to my body after waking that ...
- 1,004
6
votes
5
answers
19k
views
Technique for octaves on piano without pain?
So I'm a decently experienced pianist, but I never had formal training. And now I've got this absolutely amazing arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody, and it's killing me.
The first two parts were so ...
- 3,044
9
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Is it dangerous to sing an entire song in falsetto?
Be it short-term or long-term. Is it true that if you use your falsetto on songs for more than those typical "uuhhhhs" and "oohhhhs" to give it a more sentimental/breathy touch, you could damage your ...
- 91
19
votes
9
answers
41k
views
Does weight and/or body frame have anything to do with singing?
Does a small body frame (meaning small bones and possibly small organs) or low weight affect the "power" of a singing voice?? Does a higher weight creates some sort of "pressure" or something that ...
- 191
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Ear pain when using on-ear headphones
I have a set of Bowers and Wilkins P3 headphones that I've had for about 2 months now and they are pretty comfortable but sometimes I get a very sharp pain in my right ear. I have experimented and ...
user2923
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
physiological responses to different rhythms
InspIred by Physiological basis for note durations?, I'm wondering about a more general question of how the body responds to different tempos and beat structures, and how musIic is designed to elicit ...
- 2,258
11
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Playing trombone with a beard?
I've just picked up trombone, for the first time. I find it really enjoyable to play, but I'm having trouble with my beard and mustache. As far as I can tell, it doesn't affect the sound at all, but ...
- 2,258
15
votes
7
answers
63k
views
How to correctly position your larynx when singing?
I'm a beginner singer who wants to get it correctly. I've seen quite a lot of videos explaining how keeping the larynx neutral while singing is crucial, but not a lot of the techniques they teach work....
- 251
2
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Pain in left wrist after playing Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1
I've been playing piano for a year now (I used to play in a conservatory when I was a child, maybe 2 years total). I've already learned Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (1st Movement), Chopin's Nocturne ...
- 21
17
votes
6
answers
80k
views
Causes of sharp pain in a fretting finger after playing guitar or bass?
I have been playing guitar and bass for about 20 years now and I have noticed that sometimes, particularly in the last five years, I will do something with my fretting hand that causes a sharp pain in ...
- 433
6
votes
1
answer
209
views
Recommend reading on physiological basis of music perception.
I am looking for a general description of what happens when people listen to music.
Essentially, I'm looking for which areas of the brain are more active, what substances are secreted, what effect ...
- 277
13
votes
8
answers
21k
views
How can I improve my playing of faster finger runs?
I am just preparing for my grade 8 piano exam. I'm struggling with quick runs in the 3rd movement of Beethoven's Sonate Pathetique. It really doesn't sound right. When I play I can't do it smothly and ...
- 131
11
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Do cold/hot drinks have any effect on woodwinds and brass performers?
Hey, I saw this question and I immediately remembered one or two teachers that kept saying that drinking cold/hot drinks before and/or during playing any woodwind or brass instrument was a bad thing, ...
- 2,781