Questions tagged [theory]

For questions about how music works, seeking to identify structures and patterns in music. Used to indicate questions about musical concepts and structures, as opposed to techniques and execution.

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Is there a name for this pattern of piano chord progressions? (Clementi Op. 36 No. 5 & 6)

I noticed in Clementi Op. 36 No. 5 and No. 6 there are these very similar and peculiar chord progressions (see image). Do those three chords often go together like that? Or is it more a Clementi style?...
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8 votes
1 answer
387 views

Open string call out does not match requested music note

I am learning guitar and recently came across a sheet requesting what I understand to be an open B string (red arrow), however the music sheet shows a C (blue arrow) note being played. What is the ...
1 vote
1 answer
95 views

Translating Sheet Music to Guitar Tabs (without any software help (: ) [duplicate]

I have been playing guitar for a few months and have grown to love it. I played sports and participated in 0 fine arts growing up, so this is all very new to me. I was excited to initially learn ...
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2 votes
2 answers
92 views

Tremolo notation for Sixteenth note triplets

I'm wondering if there's a tremolo notation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremolo) for a repeated Sixteenth note triplets like this one for example: I've only seen the notation for regular rhythm ...
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3 votes
1 answer
74 views

Historically, what is the difference between the interval qualities "perfect" and "major"? [duplicate]

So I'm trying to wrap my head around intervals. I know that, for instance, a major chord is made up by the fundamental (I), a perfect third (III) and a perfect fifth (V). So, the "important" ...
0 votes
4 answers
107 views

Why is it common to use slow practice when learning melodies on the piano but less common when learning to sing them?

I have been told by many piano teachers to practice playing melodies slowly, ie using slow practice. I have never really been told by singing teachers to do slow practice. Why is it common to use slow ...
1 vote
1 answer
42 views

What is the difference between singing piano (dynamics) and how most adults sing softly (with lower volume) when singing eg. lullabies?

Many adults who sing lullabies for children use more of a soft voice with low volume. What I have been told is that playing an instrument or singing in piano (dynamics) isn't that easy. My experience ...
2 votes
3 answers
100 views

A#dim7 resolving to Amajor7

I'm working on a Neo-Soul tune that keeps preceding the Amaj7 (I Chord) with an A# dim7 and some variations. The key is really A Lydian. One time the A# dim7 is replaced by an A9(b5)...and another ...
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1 vote
1 answer
38 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 ...
5 votes
6 answers
847 views

Question about beats and their inheritance of accents on the rhythm

I see that I've created a lot of confusion with my original question, so I have decided to send the author of "How to read Music in 30 Days, English 2022 Ed." a detailed question that should ...
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3 votes
5 answers
134 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 ...
1 vote
0 answers
44 views

cut time vs common time [duplicate]

i understand that 2/2 or cut time has 2 beats as opposed to 4/4 or common time, but how does this actually sound different? if you took a piece and played if it was notated as being 4/4 and then ...
11 votes
4 answers
1k views

How to notate a non-standard hexatonic key

I am writing part of a piano piece in a hexatonic "key" containing these notes: C - D# - E - G - Ab - B (I say "key" instead of scale because I'm treating it like a key, deriving ...
1 vote
1 answer
62 views

What would be the difference between using the laryngeal tilt and vowel modification for higher notes?

I have been told by singing teachers (all "classical") that I should sing down to the higher notes. To that sounds like they wanted me to use the laryngeal tilt. I've been told that by my ...
0 votes
7 answers
2k views

Is it correct to write C♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯ (twelve sharps) as C?

Let's say there is a song that starts at middle C and the next note is always the previous note raised by a perfect fifth or lowered by a perfect fourth to keep all notes within audible ranges. By ...
2 votes
6 answers
602 views

Is an E augmented triad the same as a C inverted augmented triad?

I know that a C augmented triad is C, E, G♯ and an E augmented triad is E, G♯, B♯. However, I think we can replace the B♯ in the E augmented triad by its enharmonic equivalent, a C. Is it appropriate ...
9 votes
1 answer
187 views

Interesting symbol in a piece of piano music [closed]

A friend sent me this image and asked me to identify the symbol circled in red. I tried using Google Lens but no luck. Thanks for your help!
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2 votes
4 answers
134 views

Is there music that recursively subdivides the beat in odd subdivisions?

For example: 3/4 has 3 quarter notes per beat, and each quarter note subdivides into 2 eighth notes, 4 sixteenth notes etc. which makes the total count an even number (6/8 or 12/16 etc.) Is there any ...
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1 vote
1 answer
114 views

Am I over simplifying what I think I know about keys

I've read a few threads about the same question and seem to have really missed something from music theory 101. My question is around, for example, Cant you See by Marshall Tucker. Very simple ...
1 vote
5 answers
126 views

What is the definition of folk music and how does it differ from traditional music?

I've been thinking about the terms folk music and traditional music. Traditional music seems in most cases to mean music without a known author or composer (or sometimes a tune writtten by a person, ...
1 vote
1 answer
54 views

What is it that makes I närvarande parter a polonaise?

Bellman's I närvarande parter is a polonaise. What is it that makes it a polonaise? In this video (at 1:31): it is explained that a polonaise should be based on a ...
1 vote
3 answers
134 views

1564 (I V vi IV) chord progression for Minor

Many of I-V-vi-IV chord progression examples are C major. My question is Minor. For example of Am key signature, the 1564 is Am , Em, F, Dm; however, I-V-vi-IV should mean major-major-minor-major. May ...
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6 votes
2 answers
464 views

Fux Counterpoint

In Fux's study of First Species modal counterpoint, why is it permitted to raise the 7th as he approached the final cadence. I realize that allowing that creates a leading tone which sounds better, ...
1 vote
1 answer
57 views

Question on the definition of a dissonant passing/neighbor tone?

I am currently trying to teach myself counterpoint following Jacob Gran's videos. When I was analyzing my exercises today, I thought of this question. If the first two notes of a dissonant neighbor(or ...
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1 vote
3 answers
92 views

Key for Am-G-F-D [closed]

writing a song, verse in key of F, F Dm Bb C then the chorus is Am-G-F-D... I know Dm is the vi of the F key, but Dmaj sounds like I want. Tried 7ths and other combos but this sounds best for my song....
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0 votes
3 answers
94 views

Time signature vs. Melody [duplicate]

I have a very difficult time understanding the relevance of time signature in music. Does a musician think in terms of time signature when composing a piece, or thinks in terms of melody? When I play ...
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0 votes
2 answers
77 views

Question on the formation of the Harmonic field in general

Given a key note, you can build up any sort of scale, for scales are just patterns of whole and half steps. The minor and major are examples. Now, if the scale is the set of notes, the harmonic field ...
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1 vote
1 answer
108 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 ...
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5 votes
3 answers
484 views

Greek modes, minor and major scales

By definition, a major scale is: W W H W W W H similarly, a minor scale is: W H W W H W W Now, the standard notion of Greek modes begins with: a major scale, and the construction of the modes with ...
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7 votes
1 answer
128 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.
1 vote
4 answers
174 views

Is Fantaisie Impromptu actually in G# Phrygian?

I’m new to music theory and the definition of key I’ve learned seems to contradict established fact. I’ve been told that the tonic of a piece is the key where the melody comes to rest, where it feels ...
1 vote
2 answers
115 views

Are there optimal intervals for major and minor 3rds?

I've been reading an excellent book on the mathematics and history of scales called "The Arithmetic of Listening". Based on what I have read, I am thinking that both the 4th and 5th have an ...
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0 votes
3 answers
125 views

How to make infinitely large chords?

Theoretically, it is possible to have a major 27th chord, a minor 35th chord, etc. I know that to make an infinitely large major chord you just keep stacking thirds on the root, where each new note is ...
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5 votes
7 answers
1k views

How should I learn to read music if I don't play an instrument?

I have several related questions. I'll try to lay out the context because you maybe able to answer the questions I am not asking as well :-) Context I do not know how to read music. I do not play any ...
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2 votes
1 answer
104 views

What chord name is Bb - Eb - Ab [closed]

I'm new to music theory and just finished some basic stuff like scales, arpeggios, etc. I'm learning a song(Ab Maj) but can't figure out what chord name is that has Bb - Eb - Ab in the right hand and ...
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1 vote
0 answers
72 views

Songs that end on the leading tone? [closed]

I'm looking for songs (mainly pop songs) that end their melody on the leading tone. I'm struggling to come up with any off the top of my head, can anyone help out?
1 vote
3 answers
277 views

Can my scale have two whole steps of distance?

I want to create scales. I would like to do that to create the most original music as possible. Now, as a beginner, I don't see why the scales that I studied are composed just by whole steps (W) and ...
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6 votes
2 answers
123 views

Is this a typo, or is the natural symbol normally omitted here?

The song is in D major, but the Bb13 (#11) chord has no natural in front of the C. Since a C# would give a #9, I first thought this was a typo. But then I wondered if this is some kind of convention, ...
4 votes
1 answer
65 views

What resources are there to teach Ukrainian refugees music theory? [closed]

I have a Ukrainian student in one of my music classes. We can get past most of the language barriers with Google Translate, but the translation for music theory is a little too complicated sometimes. ...
6 votes
1 answer
519 views

How Can The Leading Tone Resolve Up and The 7th Go Down?

I'm struggling and my professor suggested I try Artusi. This isn't homework. I'm trying to learn about 7th chords and I'm stuck on this problem in Artusi: From the picture above, I'm thinking both ...
3 votes
1 answer
149 views

Does playing vocals, instruments and bass in different speakers at the same time give a better experience to the listener?

Does playing vocals, instruments and bass in different speakers at the same time give a better experience to the listener or does playing it whole as a song in multiple speakers?? I recently got ...
1 vote
0 answers
28 views

How do you treat add6 on a minor chord? [duplicate]

So would a Dm(add6) chord have a major or minor 6 on top? Are they just always major by convention? Would a Dm chord with a Bb on top be a Dm(addb6)?
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1 vote
2 answers
81 views

What does MM quarter note mean? [duplicate]

One of the requirements for an audition process I am going through is to play my chromatic scale. The required speed for it says MM quarter note = 100. I can't figure out the speed necessary for it. ...
2 votes
2 answers
320 views

Functional ear training vs interval ear training for singers

Do singers use functional (scale degree) ear training method or interval ear training method to find a reference pitch from the accompaniments to start singing in key? for example, the accompaniment ...
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6 votes
3 answers
908 views

Learning to sing a song: sheet music vs. by ear

Every time I want to learn to sing a new song, I get sheet music of the song and practice playing the melody on the piano before practicing singing it to match the pitch from the piano, memorize the ...
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0 votes
3 answers
120 views

What is a "minor-minor" seventh chord?

In the question "difficulty with chord spelling and voicing in Neumeyer's Hindemith analysis", reference is made to a "minor-minor" seventh chord. Note that the 'VI-with-upward-...
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2 votes
4 answers
367 views

Playing a chord then a note

If I played a chord (c major for example) then a note (B for example), will I hear the note B relative to C as major seventh or relative to E as perfect fifth or relative to G as major third or ...
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2 votes
4 answers
186 views

Formal definition of an inverted chord

Question: Is there a formal definition that would apply to all chords / genres of what an inverted chord is? Given a chord, I want to formally prove on paper (so not using my ears) that the chord is ...
3 votes
2 answers
732 views

Do I need to know every note I am going to sing?

If I am learning to sing a song do I need to know what notes and chords are in the song to find my reference pitch for the first note I am going to sing or singing the first note happens unconsciously ...
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3 votes
3 answers
78 views

Music Theory Terminology

What is the term for when one instrument (let's say trumpet 1) plays a high note, while another (trumpet 2) plays a note an octave or 5 semitones lower? I want to be specific and get this correct. ...

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