Questions tagged [technique]
For questions about ways to use one's instrument or voice precisely to produce a desired musical effect.
931
questions
2
votes
0answers
26 views
Is this a correct traditional grip?
I know I put the stick on my ring finger but the exact joint that I’m supposed to have it on confuses me as I was told to do this, but it is slightly painful and my ring finger slides around a lot.
2
votes
2answers
57 views
In which ways does plucking a string at different locations affect/change the sound?
In both guitar and bass lessons, it's common that some techniques require you to pluck/strike/excite the string at specific locations. For example, it's very common to see bass players plucking the ...
1
vote
3answers
54 views
playing guitar and singing
I am a singer songwriter, and also like to work various covers into my set.
I take on some songs that have quite a few chords, for example some old jazz standards, and I can play through the chords ...
1
vote
0answers
40 views
What is Acle (Tesseract) doing when sticking out his thumb?
See for example this video. The song is Singularity, the time between 4:50 and 5:20. The musician appears to be using the slapping technique, but I am not sure. It also sounds unusually.
I am ...
3
votes
4answers
489 views
Fingering for Bach's Toccata in E-minor BWV914
I am currently learning the Fugue of Bach's "Toccata in E-minor BWV914". My question is if I should play the first bar with the 5th finger or not. Meaning starting with "545 3423 1". I feel more ...
11
votes
8answers
2k views
What is the best way to go about re-learning an instrument?
I used to play the electric bass, for about 8 years. I got quite good at it. By the end of my period of playing, I was playing pretty decent stuff, jazz, funk, finger style, slap etc. I had gotten to ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
What is the techniques used at the beginning of “Victory” by Two Steps From Hell?
Apart from the drums and piano at the beginning of this piece, there is some kind of string arrangement happening. I'm not sure what technique is being used, it is also used in several of their other ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
Guitar exercises for precision and accuracy
I started with metal guitar a little more than a year ago, and mostly learned all this classic Metallica stuff from the 80's like Master of Puppets. Now I can play it up to speed, I can even play it ...
6
votes
5answers
87 views
How to bring all fingers down at the same time learning ukelele
I’m in about 6 months in attempting to learn the ukulele. I know my basic chords but cannot, at this point, bring all two or three fingers down at the same time on an f chord or g chord (for example). ...
2
votes
2answers
49 views
the meaning of figure-work in the musical field perhaps with examples
Reading the book The creative development or f Johann Sebastian Bach I happen to come across the term figure-work when the author analyzes pieces by the great musician.
3
votes
1answer
77 views
What Does This Pushing Technique Do?
I have watched a number of guitarists do a certain technique before where they push on the upper body of the guitar near where they strum. I have seen it done on both on acoustic and on electric ...
7
votes
4answers
624 views
Correct piano wrist movement
I'm currently learning play piano by myself. Since I'm a beginner and I don't have any tutor, I'm very careful about learning proper technique.
Here it looks like Mr. Hoffman has no problem with wrist ...
2
votes
4answers
130 views
Guitar picking technique: anchoring the picking hand
Is it a good idea to pick strings without anchoring your right hand?
The right hand just stays hanging in the air while picking.Does it decrease accuracy ?
0
votes
1answer
89 views
Need advice for improvements [closed]
I learnt piano for 9 years when I was young (until around 23 years ago).
I have started playing again 6 years ago.
I now play some Chopin nocturnes and valses (the slower pieces).
I found out that my ...
1
vote
0answers
25 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
83 views
How to use “synthetic modes”
Im having trouble understanding a concept in Persichetti’s book 20th century harmony (Page 43) where he introduces new scales he calls synthetic scales.
Just before that he talks about the church ...
4
votes
3answers
565 views
What is a rest stroke?
From classical, jazz, to flamenco and folk; each style and tradition calls it differently, and sometimes even approach it differently. Why is it used instead of normal strokes?
Conceptually, what is ...
1
vote
2answers
59 views
Tickle in the throat when practice singing
Two weeks ago I've started taking singing lessons to learn the proper technique and improve the extension.
The teacher gave me 2-3 exercises to do at home that are involved with correct breathing (...
1
vote
1answer
114 views
What technique is Eddie Van Der Meer using?
In his cover of neon genesis evangelon opening, he does something throughout the song at 0:21 and other times throughout the verse. It sounds almost like a thumb slap but doing just a thumb slap ...
3
votes
2answers
86 views
What sound should humming make?
During rehearsals for the SATB choir I'm part of, we are sometimes asked to hum the melody of a song, or even scales as a warm-up exercise.
The humming-technique is sometimes explained as "keeping ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
singing without lyrics
I was recently listening to some music while working on a book I'm writing and an orchestral piece came on. There was a woman singing over this instrumental but it wasn't lyrical words, more just ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
What is the name for a fluid transition between two tones? When did it first appear?
With instruments such as violins or trombones, it is possible to shift from one tone to another fluidly. What is this practice called? When has it first appeared in [Western] music?
1
vote
1answer
72 views
piano : muscles or nerves?
At the piano, to play very quickly with dexterity, are the important parameters the muscles of the hand or the nerves of the hands?
If it would be the nerves : how to improve them ?
2
votes
3answers
66 views
Do I really play this entire passage with my hands crossed? (Ludwig Schunke, Piano Sonata, Op. 3, Movement 2)
I've listened to Ludwig Schunke's Piano Sonata, Op. 3 before, and my favourite movement is its second movement (a scherzo), so I got the sheet music and tried to play it. It was surprisingly easy and, ...
3
votes
1answer
50 views
Possible damaged tendon in forearm from playing jumps in the bass. Is it my technique or am I just getting old?
I've been playing / teaching the piano for years with no problem but recently started a new piece; two days in and I have a swollen and painful injury just above my wrist, which I can feel across the ...
4
votes
1answer
122 views
Western vs Indian Carnatic style of violin playing
I am a trained Indian Carnatic style violin player. Can I play Western songs on a violin with carnatic fingering techniques or do I need to re-learn everything to adopt to the Western style?
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Forearm soreness while practicing the piano
Recently I have had a bit of fore arm soreness, and I don't know what to do about it. The soreness isn't lasting though, It's more like, I play a phrase and by the end it my forearm is sore, and if I ...
1
vote
0answers
52 views
Why I have “pops” in my vocal
I recently noticed when I'm singing I have "pops" like Popcorn in my voice.
I've never had this before, what is that "pops"? It's normal?
Here's example
https://drive.google.com/file/d/...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Expert Guidance on Body Posture when Playing Bansuri
So far when I play Bansuri, my torso is twisted to the left, while sitting cross-legged on my bed (and I attempt to sit straight). And my head is slightly bent at an angle.
I see others playing ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Fingering not synchronized with change of bow direction
I've begun to be conscious of an odd effect that happens with stringed instruments as the player changes from one note to another note. Fairly often (it seems to me) the bow changes direction just ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
Finger dexterity issues
I have some weird issues with my left fret playing hand. I’m a brand new guitar player and the way my fingers automatically react when spreading, especially when trying to spread them in a claw, is ...
2
votes
2answers
114 views
Can violins change notes in the middle of a double stop?
I am arranging Mozart's Piano Sonata for a string trio, because, when I listen to it, I hear 3 voices, with the bass voice in the Alberti bass being the first note and the lower melodic voice as being ...
4
votes
3answers
508 views
Questions on how to write sordino directions
I’ve decided to tweak my scores by adding more sordino directions so that players can prepare their instruments in advance, but I’m not entirely clear on what to write and where to write it, so I have ...
1
vote
2answers
136 views
How can I improve my technique on acoustic guitar while teaching the basics everyday?
I'm a guitar teacher that teaches beginners and intermediates almost 5 times a week. I've been teaching for 2 years now, mostly using a nylon strings guitar (I'm Brazilian, it's used in popular music ...
4
votes
5answers
615 views
Playing a fast but quiet Alberti bass
My Alberti bass in the 3rd movement of the "Moonlight" sonata by Beethoven is way too loud, so that the melody in the right hand often vanishes. So I wonder how I can fix it. It should be played piano ...
1
vote
6answers
341 views
Difference between Minor and Diminished Intervals
The minor is decreasing Major intervals (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th) by half step.
Diminishing means made the perfect or the major intervals smaller by half step as well.
So what is the difference? I am ...
1
vote
4answers
97 views
Does every song in a particular scale require finger to be positioned in the same way?
I'm a beginner learning keyboard. I'm not sure of the right fingering techniques (except some basic concepts like avoid crossing fingers or positioning fingers in a weird way). Let's say I'm learning ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
How to produce high pitched sounds on James Holden and the Animal's “Each Moment Like The FIrst” [closed]
I'm starting to dabble in synth music but don't know much at the moment. I love this track - "Each Moment Like The First" James Holden and the Animals and I'm intrigued by this high pitched synth that ...
2
votes
2answers
73 views
Why does my bow bounce on lower half?
Picking up the violin after a few decades I am unable to keep my bow from "bouncing" or shuddering while bowing steadily on its lower half.
Here is a video of me illustrating a full stroke with three ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
What technique is Sungha Jung using in this video?
In his cover of Secret Base - Anohana during the chorus at 1:25 he makes a loud twang-y(?) bass note noise that overall gives the composition a really nice sound. Im wondering what hes doing and ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
Would it be a good idea to memorize relative interval positions on guitar?
It seems like if I memorized the relative intervals between the notes on each string, it would help a lot with quickly making chords and such. It seems a lot easier than trying to memorize individual ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
Broken octaves help
Lately I’ve been having a real problem with broken octaves. I’ve noticed this after playing rondo alla turca and gewitter (thunderstorm), an AMEB grade 4 exam piece from the series 16 book. Whenever I ...
1
vote
1answer
85 views
What are the practical limitations when writing a polyphonic piece for classical guitar(s)? [closed]
I am planning to compose a 4-voice polyphonic piece. I am not familiar with the classical guitar at all and do not know its limitations. However, I would like to write the piece in such a way that it ...
1
vote
2answers
107 views
High notes on trumpet, sound stuck in my throat
I'm a french trumpet player. I have been practising a lot on my trumpet lately and I am making improvements. But everytime I try to get to high notes, the sound is "stuck" in my throat.
However, when ...
3
votes
3answers
90 views
How can I stop my accordion bellows sliding out of my left hand while standing?
My accordion is quite a heavy instrument, and the outer casing is smooth. I usually practise seated, and like that, with the weight on my left leg, I have no problems playing. When I play standing up, ...
2
votes
1answer
44 views
Can I get nauseous from singing while closing off my nose in my throat? [closed]
Please note that I am not trained in singing. There are certain muscles in the throat that allow you to close off your mouth and nose independently of each other. When I sing loudly (which is the ...
2
votes
1answer
168 views
Tenor sax trouble with low D and E (other notes are fine)
I recently bought a 1950's Conn Naked Lady sax and it works fine except the low D and E are, for lack of a better word, "bubbly", or unstable. It's not a leak because C and below sound fine. I've ...
3
votes
2answers
86 views
Sore around the thumb (abductor pollicis brevis) after playing the piano
I started having an interest in playing the piano again (taken some piano lessons at a young age but stopped). This morning I felt my abductor on my right hand a bit sore.
I curved my fingers, keep ...
1
vote
3answers
140 views
I have a problem understanding Mono and Stereo
So I have some gears and instruments and they say that one Synthesizer I have should be connected in Stereo and not Mono, so I want to connect it in Stereo but the sound-system in the bar I want to ...
1
vote
2answers
89 views
Newbie guitar learning recommendation
After having giving up on learning acoustic guitar years ago, I feel like learning it again (and sing to my wife). I did a bit research and then bought a Squire electric starter pack. I have access to ...
