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1500 questions
18
votes
4 answers
What is the proper name of the dash symbol over a note and how to play it
Sample score with this symbol:
Can anyone specify the name of the particular symbol above the crotchet in the top image and everything marked in red in the sample piece of music? According to Wikipedia it's called a Tenuto but my teacher said it's…
Sazid Ahmad
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18
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5 answers
How to develop rhythmic sophistication in writing music?
Often times when I'm writing or producing some music on my computer I tend to follow the usual and annoying pattern "standard" beat pattern, like when you have
a metronome that ticks and you start or change a phrase exactly on that given beat, no…
user2485710
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18
votes
7 answers
Amp picking up radio stations
When I plug my combo practice amp into a normal wall outlet I pick up a local public radio station, just loud enough to be annoying. The only way I've found to reduce it is to plug it into a UPS or to wrap the input cable around the amp. Anyone…
bobtheowl2
18
votes
3 answers
Should the dominant-seventh chord in just intonation use 9:5 for its seventh, or rather 16:9?
It may be just out of habit, what with the 12-edo temperament all around us, but anyway: I find the dominant-seventh rendition 20:25:30:36 sounds extremely harsh. In particular, the tritone from the third to the seventh is so wide that it raises…
leftaroundabout
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18
votes
5 answers
How can I effectively secure guitar strings to the tuning pegs?
One of the bigger problems I face when restringing my guitars is properly securing the strings to the pegs.
How should I wind the strings around the pegs before tightening them to prevent the string slipping when the tension increases?
My electric…
Jasarien
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18
votes
6 answers
How to accurately intonate a 3 saddle telecaster?
I have a traditional 3 saddle telecaster bridge. With two strings on each saddle my intonation is always a slight compromise. This is OK on the first four strings, but the bass strings are noticeably off. Other than replacing the saddle, are there…
gingerbreadboy
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18
votes
4 answers
How to interpret this chord notation?
How do you interpret this couple of notations?
In Bar 2, Fm / Ab, what does the slash do? Do I play either chord or both?
In addition, in Bar 3, what does the /9 mean?
Haoest
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18
votes
3 answers
Are there any MIDI extensions that allow quarter tones?
It'd be nice to be able to use MIDI for more diverse music than just that based on western scales. Are there any MIDI extensions that support quater tones, or other sub-semi-tone pitch divisions? I know things can be done with pitch bend automation,…
naught101
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18
votes
4 answers
What is this 'degree' symbol on a roman numeral chord?
I found this neat tool online to save me having to draw out a circle of fifths myself, and clicking on the key you are writing in even shows you the chord 'family'. Since I'm writing in F minor I clicked on that but I'm unfamiliar with the small…
mza
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18
votes
1 answer
How should I inspect a used piano prior to purchase?
I am considering finding a used grand (or baby grand) piano to purchase. This will be a standard acoustic piano, not an electronic version that "looks like" a grand piano. I am an experienced musician, though not an accomplished pianist.
I realize…
Andrew
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18
votes
1 answer
What does "j" mean in a chord symbol?
In a book of jazz trumpet duets (for Bb trumpets), I keep seeing chord symbols like "Fj" (shown below). I'm familiar with the various kinds of chord symbols (the various seventh chords, extensions, etc.), but I've never seen "j" before. What does it…
Aaron
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18
votes
2 answers
What is it called when a song starts sounding like the beat is in one place, but is actually somewhere else?
The example that brought this to mind is Lindsey Stirling's "Darkside". At the beginning of the song, plucked notes are played on what we later find out is on the third triplets, but we have no "context" to let us know that and it sounds like it's…
CreeperInATardis
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18
votes
2 answers
Why are end-blown flutes shorter than their ideal length?
A flute is an open cylinder air column instrument. This means that an idealised flute, the fundamental pitch of the flute should have a wavelength of twice the length of the flute.
This isn't exactly the case with a real flute though. For example, a…
naught101
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18
votes
1 answer
What does the 'L' line in Elgar's "The Spirit of the Lord" mean?
In the introduction to the Elgar's "The Spirit of the Lord", the prologue to The Apostles Op. 49, the score has lines which looks like octave signs, but which have the letter 'L' instead of 8va , e.g. in bar 3 in the below:
Does anyone know what…
bobajob
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18
votes
5 answers
Why is this a G7b9?
My understanding is that one approach to naming a chord is to first identify the root. However in this case, if this is really a G7b9, the root 'G' does not appear in the chord. How am I supposed to tell that this is really a G7b9?
I do know that…
user125089
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