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1500 questions
24
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9 answers
Why do listeners hear the lowest note of a chord most distinctly?
Source: Prof. Bruce Taggart (PhD in Music Theory, U. of Pennsylvania), 58 s of his Coursera video.
The lowest note of a chord is the most important one. It's the one that the listener hears most distinctly.
Why is the above true? I know no…
user26407
24
votes
6 answers
Should low frequency players anticipate in orchestra?
"The bigger the instrument, the heavier the strings, the bigger the bow, the bigger the mouthpiece, the more you should anticipate." This concept is expressed occasionally by double bass players, conductors etc. Is there any good reasoning behind…
Kari Kääriäinen
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8 answers
Falsetto voice in women
Can women have a falsetto voice?
If not, why not?
If yes, do they just have a deep enough voice or does it depend on something else?
Are there men that don't have a falsetto voice?
Edited to add a question from the discussion in the comments:
Is…
Phira
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12 answers
What are the disadvantages of buying a short-scale bass guitar
I'm considering buying my first bass. I already play guitar, and find that even though I'm an adult, stretching to a fifth is a struggle -- so handling a bass with its more widely spaced frets is going to be a challenge.
It occurred to me that a…
slim
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24
votes
6 answers
Difference between keys and scales?
I am a Tabla (a North Indian percussion instrument) player and I am trying to learn the western music theory. My study was going well until I stumbled upon keys and scales. Now though I know what scales are. They are just a bunch of notes the…
radiantshaw
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24
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5 answers
What are the characteristic scales, keys, intervals, progressions, etc. of pirate / sailing / nautical music?
Title pretty much says it. I am barely an armchair composer, but I would like to try my hand at some game music that requires some nautical theming. It seems to me that penny whistles and a celtic feel are close - but I would like to know what…
Adam Tolley
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24
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8 answers
B -> C and E -> F, No Sharp?
The keyboard has these notes:
A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#
Why do B and C and E and F not have a sharp note between them? If they did, the keyboard would look like this:
A A# B B# C C# D D# E E# F F# G G#
Bold being black keys.
Would…
Jacob Swanson
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24
votes
4 answers
What is the connection between time-signature, beat, and tempo?
What is the connection between time-signature, beat, and tempo? Mainly time-signature and tempo. Tempo is beats-per-minute I know, but does the time-signature affect it?
For example, in a 120bpm tempo, are note durations of 4/4 time-signature…
user488792
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votes
3 answers
How does a pipe organist deal with latency or delay?
I've seen church setups (choir loft in back) where the organ console is 30 Meters or more away from the pipes. That implies that there would be a minimum of 100 milliseconds from pipe sounds back to the organist's ears. That would introduce around…
hotpaw2
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24
votes
7 answers
What is the difference between monitors and (loud)speakers in technical terms?
I have seen people mention (reference) "monitors" when talking about equipment for (semi)-professional musicians, but when I google the products I find that they look just like the boxes that we used to call "loudspeakers". What is the difference,…
KnowledgeSeeker
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24
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5 answers
Am I allowed to add a b9 to a maj7 chord in Jazz?
On Jazzology chapter 2, exercise 6, example 2, I have to identify this chord (if it exists):
I thought that it was Cmaj7(b9). My train of thought was (from the lowest to the highest note):
C -> 1st
E -> 3rd
B -> major 7th
Db -> b9.
But I looked at…
Shevliaskovic
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24
votes
6 answers
If Für Elise is in Am why there is a D# in it?
Für Elise intro starts with E D♯ E D♯, Wikipedia says the key is Am.
What scale does it fit? Is it like a blues scale where D♯ is a flat 5?
Why D♯ is used in the sheet music? Is it easier to read compared to E E♭ E E♭ or is there a certain naming…
creator
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24
votes
6 answers
How to play chords like G/B
I heard that if there is a chord written like x/y then that means an x chord with y in the bass. This can be played by playing x normally, but then playing the y note on the 6th string, correct?
Then what about G/B? B on the 6th string is the same…
protect your ears
24
votes
8 answers
My guitar goes out of tune at a higher pitch rather than lower, is that normal?
It is my understanding that strings, over time, stretch and are unable to maintain their tension, so they go out of tune at a lower pitch.
When I pick up my guitar and I tune it with my electronic tuner, I often find most strings at a higher pitch…
UncleZeiv
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24
votes
2 answers
Properly fingering jazz chords?
I've seen these come up in a few places (Crazy Train and a couple of Jimi Hendrix songs come to mind offhand), however I've never figured how to work them in fluidly;the fingerings always seem awkward, especial when the shape changes from one chord…
Kaji