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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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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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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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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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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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.
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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 ...
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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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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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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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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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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?
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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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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, ...
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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. ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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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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. ...
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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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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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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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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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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 ...
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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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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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What are qualities/features that you think about when thinking of a musical "note"? (For AI/programming purposes) [closed]
TLDR, open-ended: What is a set of qualities that a musical "note" can have that are important when playing or analyzing music? Think performance, practice, rehearsal, production, any ...
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Next step on music theory as a guitar player
I've been playing the guitar as a hobby since 2013 and have been gradually gaining familiarity with it by playing all kinds of songs.
At first, I simply tried to remember the fingerings by reading ...
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Why do we divide octaves with a a♯ b c c♯ d d♯ e f g g♯ etc.? Why isn't there a note between e and f in equal tone temperament or b and c [duplicate]
Why did we choose to put a note between c and d but have b and c be a semitone away? Why couldn't we have divided the 12 tones as a a♯ b b♯ c c♯ d d♯ e e♯ f f♯ as that would be much simpler to ...
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How do I learn to sight read?
I started my school’s jazz band recently and I really struggle playing with them. It’s just really different to playing by myself alone, where if I make a mistake I can just go back and keep repeating ...
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Constructing a database of complete music theory?
I would like to write a python program which is connected to a freely downloadable music theory database / data-structure to run the following query:
Return all chords within the E major scale ...
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16 eighth notes in a 12/8 measure... How? [duplicate]
Hello, I quite new to music theory. I was writing a code that reads through sheet music and noticed something I didn't understand in some of the measures (like in the image: the leftmost measure, top ...
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Why is G the lowest note of the Gamut? [duplicate]
The Gamut made use of the seven letters of Saint Gregory: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. It represents the twenty notes of “true music” (musica recta), from low G to high e2.
Why was the lowest note in ...
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I beginn in music [closed]
Since a lot of time, I'm more and more passionate by the romantic era (mostly by the works of Chopin and Liszt).
However, I like but I don't know why. So I would like to study the theory of music.
I ...
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Does the scale of C major with a half-sharp D have a name?
I am using the same melody for 2 instruments and I half-sharpened every D note on the second one, and left the first as C major. Does this have a name? Or is it used anywhere?
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What determines a Note?
In the context of guitar for example:
if I press down on string 6 fret 3 and play that string, that note is a G.
if I play the open string 3 that note is a G
if I press down on string 1 fret 3 and ...
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Why is a soloist using an E major triad over a G major 7 chord?
I've just transcribed the trumpet solo in the following recording:
http://www.sierramusicmp3.com/mp3/newmp3s/Heat%20of%20the%20Day,%20The%20(UNT).mp3
At around 5:20 the soloist plays an E major triad ...
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What is this key signature used in Gymnopedie 1 - F major or D major?
I'm learning Gymnopedie no 1 from the Faber-music Piano Anthology but I'm confused about the key signature of B-flat. All of the B-flats within the piece are written as a natural and there's an ...
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Trying to visualize Ternary Form with this piece
I am using this piece: "Ob ich manchmal Dein gedenke" (Josephine Lang, 1872) to try and visualize ternary form. I know the ternary form is ABA' but I am a little confused. Does it go A, then ...
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Roadmap - Guitar [closed]
I have been playing guitar (acoustic) for a long time.
I have the basics of musical theory. And I have good guitar skills.
I studied on my own, so I didn't have a clear learning structure. Now faced ...
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Six string bass and Guitar Technique
I know some stuff on guitar. By stuff, I mean scales/chords etc...
I would like to have some knowledge for the bass. Maybe for home recording, enriching my sounds.
The bass is a four stringed ...
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Does the human voice qualify as noise?
If we follow a common definition of noise, which is an aperiodic signal... Then is voice a noise? I've read lots of definitions on a certain free encyclopedia, but it could be that due to the nature ...
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bVI Root Substitution [closed]
Curious as to why this substitution of the root for a ♭VI chord works. It's pretty standard but I don't get the theory of it. I recently saw it being used in the context of a ii - V - I to delay the ...
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Notes not adding up to time signature, with weird white oval note
Any idea how to play this piece? The notes doesn't add up to 8/4, and there are some white oval notes, which I've never encountered before. Also, what does "Air" mean on the second staff?
...
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Getting played note frequency using Unity and FFT
I am working on a project using the Unity game engine, The idea of the project is that the user plays a note on a guitar (and other instruments) and the app should display the note frequency that the ...
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Solo piano: Why not compose everything in or including the keys C major and A minor? [duplicate]
This is a follow-up question to What's the point of keys other than C and Am?
After going through that question, I wrote down the key general facts:
The C major and A minor keys have the simplest ...
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I am teaching myself to identify sequences (harmonic and melodic) in Bach Orchestral Suite No.3 Air
I am using Bach's "Air" to identify melodic/ harmonic sequences. I started some of the first page and want to know if I am on the right track. IS the bass I labeled considered a sequence? I ...
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How Can I Make a Chuck Berry Inspired Piece? [closed]
I'm thinking about making an unofficial Club Penguin Music Jam song for the Pizza Parlor, and I want to make it inspired by Chuck Berry, the king of Rock and Roll. What can I do to achieve the Chuck ...
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Calculating the frequency of quarter tones
I have several questions on the subject of note frequencies and their ranges:
First Question
How should I calculate the frequency of a quarter tone, such as the half-flat (half-bemol) that is found in ...
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Shostakovich style (5th, 10th) [closed]
During my music education I was more focused on classical styles of western composers up until times of Beethoven. Namely, I understand the structure and some ideas behind music by Vivaldi, Bach, ...
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Is there proper terminology for the fundamental elements / layers of a drum beat?
In many musical styles a drum beat is composed of three main elements:
Bass drum
Snare
Hi-Hat
... but more fundamentally, three separate functions that can be performed by other parts of the drum ...
