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1500 questions
25
votes
6 answers
What are overtones?
Can someone please explain what overtones are and why they are important? I read a lot on the web about them but didn't understand. Also how can they be used when writing for orchestration?
LoveIsHere
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25
votes
12 answers
Collective word for sharps and flats in the key signature
On a mailing list I'm subscribed to, someone recently asked what the collective name was in English for the sharps and flats you find in the key signature. Apparently, the closest translation from several languages (German, Dutch, Russian) is…
duncanm
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25
votes
5 answers
F# major vs Gb major?
I was looking at Dvorak's Humoresque (op 101 n 7) : it's mostly in G♭ major, in the middle it changes to F♯ minor. This would have looked more natural for me if F♯ major instead of G♭ major were used. I understand that F♯ major and G♭ major are…
leonbloy
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25
votes
10 answers
How would you live perform a piece whose recording has a faded ending?
Much recorded pop music has endings that fade to silence. If a live all-acoustic band is trying to perform such pieces, it's not really feasible to do a fade. So what other techniques are available to performers and arrangers to end a piece without…
Brian THOMAS
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25
votes
3 answers
Why does the octave number change between B and C?
I noticed that everywhere I read about music in scientific pitch notation, I see the notes in ascending pitch as in:
A2 B2 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 A3 B3 C4
Instead of what I expected, which was
A2 B2 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 A3 B3 C3
So why does the octave number…
Délisson Junio
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25
votes
6 answers
Do capable harmony singers sing in just intonation or tempered tuning?
I understand that the mathematical frequency ratios between certain intervals will correlate with the overtones that are present when a note sounds in a fundamental frequency. Certain predictable overtones will occur naturally at frequencies that…
Rockin Cowboy
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25
votes
9 answers
How to select a key-signature for a song
There are so many songs in pretty odd key-signatures like 4,5,6 sharps or flats. At least this is my impression when I listen to songs on the radio/net while trying to follow them on my piano/guitar. I can understand that some instruments prefer…
MikeD
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25
votes
2 answers
Why does this note have a stem pointing up and another pointing down?
What does the first note below mean? Does it need to be pressed down while playing the second notes? If not, why are there two stems, one pointing up, and one pointing down?
laurent
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25
votes
7 answers
Why are grand pianos usually black?
Upright pianos are often covered with transparent lacquer, revealing their natural brown wood colour. This is similar to violins, guitars and other classical instruments, where wood structure is clearly visible. Contrary to that, when going to…
texnic
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25
votes
13 answers
Tips for how to stay calm before a concert
I have a big performance coming up and I am SUPER anxious that I'll mess up the song or something. I need help from anyone who has had experience with orchestra concerts and that sort of thing. How can I keep a level head? (I play violin.)
Shevliaskovic
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25
votes
3 answers
What exactly does "feat." mean?
Does anyone know what does the "feat." mean exactly?
Some song titles have the word "feat" in it, for example "I wanna love you clean Akon feat. Snoop dog".
What does "feat." mean?
Pacerier
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25
votes
7 answers
Improving fretting hand strength
I've been playing for years now as a hobby guitarist, but my fretting hand strength plateaued - it never really improved much beyond what I could do 2 months after I started playing.
Since then, I'm at the point, where playing a full F chord
F
is…
Chris Lercher
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25
votes
13 answers
The difference between self-taught and professional pianists
As an amateur pianist, I've noticed that I can pick up on the difference between someone who has taught themselves piano, and someone who has had a high-quality piano instructor.
It's hard to detail the differences exactly, but I would describe the…
Nick
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25
votes
2 answers
What are the advantages of WAV vs. MP3?
Being an electronic music producer, file format is something I have to consider at some point. I usually export my songs as .wavs and then convert them to .mp3s later (since they are smaller than .wavs). But can someone tell me which is better…
manejar
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25
votes
7 answers
How to record a piano with high quality?
I want to record myself playing the piano. I am a complete beginner when it comes to this, so I just want to ask the basic questions, so I can and make an informed decision, once I buy the equipment (I have about 1500 USD to spend).
What components…
Perry
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