25
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Why are so many pieces originally written for the lute now arranged for guitar?
Availability.
Guitars are far more available than lutes. You can go down to any music store and buy a guitar for a very reasonable price. Even non-musicians will sometimes keep a guitar on hand. ...
- 1,014
24
votes
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How much of a jazz tune should I pre-arrange?
A relevant story
I was in a lesson once with Arturo O'Farrill, a brilliant jazz pianist. He asked me to play a ballad, and when I was finished, he said something like "for that song, you can take ...
- 11.3k
20
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How to transcribe an arpeggiated 4-note chord to be playable on a violin?
The octave your violinist suggested is fine. Another possibility is the following:
Why did Beethoven not write the above chord in his piano sonata? Because that major tenth is rather awkwardly wide ...
- 5,230
20
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Low Eb on electric bass
There's plenty of 5-string basses out there. I'd just write it. You can give a 4-string player a get-out like this. But he'd do it anyway.
- 95.6k
19
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"Only open voicing below middle C!" Really?
There are acoustical reasons for not wanting close voicing in the lower register; in short, the upper harmonics muddy each other up and fog up the sound.
But in my experience, C4 is a really high ...
- 85.1k
18
votes
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When to abide by Sibelius and not
You should consider the performer. An able player will be able to produce this without problem - but less experienced players will simply not be able to perform that note at all. Beginner trumpet ...
- 12k
16
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Double basses in Beethoven's Eroica
Beethoven wrote those low notes even though he knew they were not playable on the instruments available. The subject of Beethoven's disregard for the range of the bass has been much discussed. Stephen ...
- 22k
15
votes
Low Eb on electric bass
There is a big difference in the sound of the lowest Eb on a 4 string bass and an Eb an octave lower so if that is the sound you want go after it. As a bassist if I know someone wants that note or any ...
- 28.6k
13
votes
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Chord voicings used by backup trios in Motown girl groups?
This vocal style comes from the American traditions of close harmony. As popular music (and the radio) came into being in the 20th century, it took influence from the styles of its times, just as any ...
- 12.9k
12
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Can saxophones be in orchestras, not just like the symphonic jazz orchestras/big band?
Yes, there is a body of classical, non-jazz music for saxophone, including works for orchestra. Although not a standard part of most orchestras, saxophones are added when needed.1
A 2014 article in ...
- 94.9k
11
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How to transcribe an arpeggiated 4-note chord to be playable on a violin?
Don't be so literal minded. This is easy to play, and effective:
If the quartet know the original piano version, they can easily simulate the arpeggio simply by violin 2 playing a bit ahead of the ...
- 111
10
votes
What's the most comfortable key for a group to sing "Happy Birthday"
Either F or G are the keys I've played it in, with many different bands. That takes the high note - the one that's hardest for some to reach - a D, when in key G. However, since the lowest note is ony ...
- 197k
10
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Accepted
Notation for rapid diminuendo
The amount of annotation you can put in does of course depend on how much horizontal space you have in this bar (this can drastically limit the amount of ps you might put there). Writing molto dim ...
- 23.1k
10
votes
What is the best way to notate an arrangement and melody for a low singing voice?
The standard way to do this is to notate the voice part on a separate staff. This clearly delineates the vocal part and accompaniment part(s).
However, if it's necessary to notate on two staves, then ...
- 94.9k
9
votes
"Only open voicing below middle C!" Really?
Closed vocings aren't bad, but you need to be aware of the register you are in no matter what you compose. In lower registers, having notes close together isn't always what you want. Specifically ...
Dom♦
- 48k
9
votes
Accepted
Simple way to add an additional octave in Musescore?
There is, thankfully! This answer assumes MuseScore 2 or higher. (It may also work on MuseScore 1, but I can't verify that.)
Find the group of pitches where you want to add the optional lower octave.
...
- 85.1k
9
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How to transcribe an arpeggiated 4-note chord to be playable on a violin?
Disclaimer: I'm not a violinist. What follows is all head-knowledge, not practical experience.
As you know, since a violin bridge is curved, no more than two strings can sound at a time, so any chord ...
- 20.9k
9
votes
Accepted
Double basses in Beethoven's Eroica
I would strongly advise against Solution #2 (tuning the string down). Especially if this is a school/amateur orchestra (as you say), this could wreak absolute havoc. I have enough experience giving, ...
- 85.1k
9
votes
Notation for rapid diminuendo
The Italian word 'niente' is usually used for 'nothing'. So you write "al niente" or "πn". "πΓΈ" is often used instead of "πn".
According to Elaine Gould's ...
- 22k
8
votes
Accepted
Why would a composer arrange chords such that hands cross on piano
The crossed version is quite easily playable (assuming you can reach octaves with ease), and it makes it easier to control the balance between the notes making the theme. So in the first chord, the RH ...
- 2,315
8
votes
Can a baritone be used for a trombone part?
There will be differences in the tone quality, because the baritone/euphonium is a conical bore instrument whereas the trombone is a cylindrical bore. (Generally speaking, this means that the trombone ...
- 85.1k
8
votes
Using SATB arrangements with a SAB choir
You certainly don't want to just leave out one of the parts; it will almost certainly have at least some vital musical information that will hurt the final product.
Typically with arranging for three ...
- 85.1k
8
votes
Accepted
How to arrange a song written on piano for guitar?
Don't try to find a "fastest possible way". In any case it won't be fast and easy. You're asking about eating an elephant - the only way to do it is: one piece at a time. Learning to sight-read a ...
- 28.7k
8
votes
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How to "fix" Toccata and fugue?
There is no "one fits all" procedure. What you want to do is arranging: cutting out parts, changing where notes are to fit the instrument or your hand. Arranging was and is very commonly ...
- 645
8
votes
Scales changes in Orchestration
I think you're talking about the 'truck driver' modulation. PLay it, then play it again, up one step!
A composing/arranging technique more than an orchestration one.
https://www.musical-u.com/learn/...
- 95.6k
8
votes
Low Eb on electric bass
I would consider, if the low Eb is really important, one of the following options:
You can simulate the "depth" of a low Eb by playing the higher Eb with the Bb a fifth up from it (i.e. an &...
- 9,663
7
votes
Why are so many pieces originally written for the lute now arranged for guitar?
The lute has a very pleasant part of the audio spectrum in the classical repertoire. It is much easier to get a lute working with a string ensemble than it is a guitar.
It just seems to fit the ...
- 15k
7
votes
Why are so many pieces originally written for the lute now arranged for guitar?
The lute is a very difficult instrument to maintain. Has lots of issues with stability in various temperatures and humidities. And the sharp angle in the neck makes it easy to mistreat physically. ...
- 2,671
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