Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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What is the true definition of Drop C tuning?

Since I play bass I will tackle this question from a bass guitar perspective. I've had some musicians state that the following tuning is Drop C tuning (E is dropped to D, and then all strings are dropped 1 additional step): C - G - C - F I've also…
5StringRyan
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Does piano tuning software actually work?

I would like to tune a piano that is in a remote place. Usually I would call a tuner but since there are none around it will just be too expensive. I found out recently that there is software that helps to do this. I know there is a lot to piano…
nsn
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What's the name, and symbol, for the "normal" dynamic volume? (between mp and mf)

Let's say I'm singing and there's no dynamic mark at the start. I'll sing at my default "normal" volume. Then there's an mp so i get a bit quieter. If there had been an mf I would have got a bit louder. If, after the mp, I was supposed to go back…
Max Williams
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Is it possible for a left hander to learn guitar right handed?

I am looking to get a guitar for my step son. He is largely left handed, but currently he plays the drums right handed without any difficulty. Would the same apply with learning guitar from scratch? Learning right handed has the obvious advantage…
Mongus Pong
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What does an arc mean above the notes in a piano sheet music? How do I play it?

See the picture above. Is there a website where these (perhaps not so basic) notations are collected? UPDATE: I see Wikipedia has a nice collection of musical notations. How do I play the slur on the piano? The slur example on Wikipedia is not to…
Ali
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Is it possible that some people can play one instrument but not another?

I took piano lessons for six-seven years, and became rather advanced despite having poor practice etiquette, even learning some of Bach's two-part inventions, but when I tried to learn guitar, I never really seemed to make much progress, and ended…
Jacob W.
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Why rootless chords?

I understand the functionality of rootless chords in a band setting where there is a bass player, but rootless chords are supposedly used in solo piano as well (the Jazz Piano Book says this, and I think Bill Evans is a prime example). However in…
Airdish
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Training and Influences of J. S. Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach is undoubtedly among the most celebrated of Baroque composers, and to many the great composer in all history. The era of the late 17th and early 18th centuries in which he lived, however, means that his life was not as well…
Noldorin
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How can I hear what a mathematical function sounds like?

I'm working on differential equations homework right now, and I just came across a solution to a problem that has the form: I graphed the function with my computer and it has an interesting waveform that I want to hear. Is there a way I can do…
Matt D
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What does "gliss 2x" mean here?

What does "gliss 2x" mean here?
qed
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Is there a term for chords like F/G and C/D?

Chords like F/G and C/D are really quite common in jazz, blues and soul music yet I have never heard or been able to find a concise name for them. To be clear, I am referring to any major (or indeed minor) triad with the chord's supertonic in the…
Tim Hargreaves
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Cheap way to make sound from a MIDI keyboard, without PC

I have a USB MIDI keyboard which is totally useless when not plugged in into a PC and playing a digital instrument. Is there a cheap way, for example some type of box which has predefined sounds, synthesizers, pianos etc on it and a box integrated…
JustGoscha
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A,B,C,D,E,F,G and H in boxes in piano sheet music, how do I play it?

Sorry I probably just too new but all of those letters are in piece I want to play. What is that letter and how should I play it?
Andrej Zelman
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Which would benefit my band the most, learning covers or writing originals?

I've been playing the guitar for nearly four years, and I think I'm getting better at it.My brother plays the drums, and our two cousins play the guitar well. When we had all met last time, we wanted to do something fun. Two of us wanted to write a…
Cherubim
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What is the technique called where you hold a crash cymbal while hitting it?

I used to play in a band with a drummer who used to grab the crash cymbal (before hitting it) with his left hand and strike it hard (on the edge) whilst playing the bass drum. This made a really nice sound, like iron being struck in a blacksmith’s…
Tim Hargreaves
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