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1500 questions
55
votes
4 answers
What are some chord substitutions for a I-IV-V blues progression?
I was watching a video of SRV and one of the things that really stood out was the fact that he seemed to have a different iteration of the I-IV-V turnaround - and made it look/sound effortless. Any starting points/suggestions for substitutions for…
JustnBeaver
54
votes
21 answers
Why are some people so paranoid about music theory?
Music theory is cool. However, I've noticed that a few genres of music tend to discourage it. I just read that learning music theory "seems like the antithesis" of being able to improvise.
Apparently, having the equivalent of a doctorate in music…
General Nuisance
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54
votes
11 answers
Does 3/4 time signature differ from 6/8?
I've always wondered how time signatures were thought of- I got the question because I noticed that well in terms of 'fractions', 3/4 is just half of 6/8. Does that apply to music when counting beats as well?
Nick
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54
votes
13 answers
How do you identify a good acoustic guitar?
What do you look for when going for a guitar? I own an acoustic and am looking for a better one.
What should I be looking for? Wood quality, brand, strings, etc.?
Sandeep Singh Rawat
53
votes
6 answers
I accidentally composed a song that sounds like a famous song
About six months into learning guitar, I tried my hand at composing a song. Looked into some basic composing theory, picked a specific tempo, learned how to record and actually play the thing, and then two months later I "finished" the song,…
GGMG-he-him
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53
votes
24 answers
Glossary of Guitar Effects
There are numerous effects options available to the guitarist, especially the electric guitarist. This question is intended to gather and cultivate a set of answers to questions in the form of:
What is insert guitar effect here for? How does it…
gomad
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52
votes
12 answers
Key signature for writing in modes other than major and minor
I have trouble deciding what accidentals to put in the key signature for pieces in Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian or Mixolydian modes. There seem to be trade-offs associated with each choice.
For example, when writing in G Mixolydian, setting an empty key…
Gauthier
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52
votes
3 answers
What are the differences between tone, note, and pitch?
I was wondering what the differences are between "tone", "note", and "pitch"?
Tim
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52
votes
8 answers
Guitar practice: more often but less time or once in a few days but for a few hours?
As many people, who have lots of every day responsibilities, like going to work, family and etc. I find myself struggling for the time to practice. Some days I just feel to tired to pick up a guitar and it just doesn't seem worth it, to play just…
Silver Light
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51
votes
3 answers
What does a small x-like symbol before a note mean?
I've been playing piano by ear for a long time and now I am trying to learn the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata. I am a little confused about the meaning of a little cross placed right before a note.
It seems to cancel a sharp or something,…
Patrick Da Silva
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51
votes
5 answers
Why are pianos traditionally tuned "out of tune" at the extremes?
My understanding is that the vast majority of western music uses equal temperament, i.e. all semitones have a frequency ratio of the 12th root of 2.
However I can hear in my piano that the notes at the low and high extremes of the keyboard are ever…
Michael Slade
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51
votes
11 answers
Why is a C7 chord named a dominant seventh chord?
I understand that a C7 chord contains a flattened 7th note in the C major scale, but what specifically makes this a dominant 7th chord? To me there is nothing 'dominant' about taking a note out of the major scale and flattening it. Can anyone…
jaffa
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50
votes
10 answers
Why can't drums produce melody?
A note is a vibration at a certain frequency. A drum produces a tone with a certain pitch much like a string percussed with a mallet.
Why is a drum unfit for playing a melody while a string inside a piano (or any other melodic instrument) is very…
Three Diag
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50
votes
7 answers
What's the difference between "modal music" and "tonal music"?
As the title says, what's the difference between "modal music" and "tonal music"? Is there also any other classification besides "modal music" and "tonal music"?
Alejandro García Iglesias
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50
votes
16 answers
How to know what notes will go together while improvising?
This is 3 questions in one, so it might take a slightly involved answer, or some good links.
Edit--- tl;dr:
How can you learn which keys to hit to make the notes you hear in your head? I know what I want to play when I'm improvising, I can hear it…
temporary_user_name
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