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1500 questions
26
votes
2 answers
Is there a name for this famous “memeish” rhythm?
I wonder if there’s a name for the famous rhythm heard many times around the web. I’d like to know its origins but I can’t google it without a name. I wrote it down but I can’t describe anyway differently, so here it is:
It should be one of the…
puccj
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26
votes
7 answers
Is there a legitimate reason why a C-Clef could ever be used in piano music?
I'm working on a composition that I can't help but to use the C-Clef because it renders neater on paper. This one switched to treble clef twice. But this would be a mess with bass clef and treble clef switching much too often, and I'd still end up…
Mickael Caruso
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26
votes
10 answers
Why is there a key signature if I never play those notes?
I'm just getting back to playing on keyboard. I'm trying to play "Ode to Joy" from the piano sheet but I have a basic question.
At the beginning of some staffs, on the right of the treble clef I can see a key signature with single sharp (#) sign on…
Piotr Sobczyk
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26
votes
4 answers
Playing a Coltrane polychord and the limits of space
As I was the reading sheet music for John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, I noticed a chord I had never seen before. It looks like this:
I'm familiar with slash chords, but never had to practically encounter a polychord like Gm over Fm7.
The notes…
Aryeh
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26
votes
8 answers
Teaching a student to match pitch
I'm a piano teacher and I currently have a student that is taking voice lessons from another teacher. Our lessons involve me accompanying her and discussing interpretation and style. She has some interesting problems with pitch matching.
Once…
ecline6
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26
votes
8 answers
Stage volume levels in rehearsal and performance
Two questions in one here. Often when rehearsing or at gigs, I'm asked to turn up my volume "'Cos we can't hear you!" when the band is already quite loud. Very rarely will the others turn down to achieve a re-balance, where we'd be able to hear each…
Tim
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25
votes
11 answers
Why does Bach sometimes end with flat 7ths?
I've been studying the Bach inventions, and I see a common patterns in the first 3 inventions: They tend to include the flat 7ths in the very end. Examples:
C major:
D major:
E♭ major:
From a music theoretical standpoint, it's confusing, but…
Karamell
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25
votes
1 answer
Two voices for a solo singer written in a sheet music
I was reading the score for Mozart’s insertion aria for his own opera Idomeneo “Non Temer Amato Bene”, K. 490. In it, Idomeneo’s son Idamante (scored for soprano; trouser role) expresses his undying love for Ilia.
In the Allegro Moderato section,…
The Lad of Leipzig
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25
votes
4 answers
What's the short and accented note at the very end of a song called?
In some songs, there is a short and accented note at the very end, usually as the last note. Is there a special term for this note besides calling it the "last note"?
Examples:
"Hamilton" from Hamilton
The Stars and Stripes Forever by Sousa
huanglx
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25
votes
5 answers
Why is B♯ higher than C♭ in 31-ET?
I was looking into microtonal series, and started reading a bit on the 31-ET series, and came across something that doesn't quite make sense to me.
I noticed this chart on the wiki page for 31-ET that listed all of the notes in the chromatic…
Siyual
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25
votes
8 answers
Why can't we play rap on piano?
In piano and any other instruments which produces musical notes, it seems the notes that matches the rap are never found.
But I think it can't be true, because after all there is some voice frequencies at which the rap is done, so if we can…
user58855
25
votes
4 answers
Identifying the interval from A♭ to D♯
This is a very theoretical question but it's confusing me a little.
So intervals overlap - That's why I can call a major 3rd a diminished 4th, and such.
However, from what I understand, a perfect 5th only overlaps with a diminished 6th. You cannot…
fishamit
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25
votes
8 answers
Is redundancy used when live recording important performances?
From the wikipedia page about redundancy:
[...] redundancy is the duplication of critical components or functions of a system with the intention of increasing reliability of the system, usually in the form of a backup or fail-safe [...]
This…
wizclown
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25
votes
2 answers
What is it about this note that subverts my expectations?
This question regards the main theme from the video game The Last of Us. The video I will be referencing is someone playing it here:
There is a little introductory phrase at the beginning. Then, from 0:07 to 0:20, he plays the same riff three…
Mark White
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25
votes
6 answers
Why are birds never out of key when they sing?
Why are birds never out of key when they sing?
In fact, this is not just about birds; almost all creatures that make pleasant sounds (except us) never make a note out of key.
How is this possible?
Quazi Irfan
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