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

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What is a chord in terms of frequencies?

I'm trying to understand what chords are in terms of frequency. So I get that each note represents a frequency range. For instance, an "A" note in the third octave (A2) is ~110hz. An A major chord (in third octave) is constructed with an A, C#, E,…
ZAR
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What can I do about my problems with piano scales which manifest in just one direction?

I've been practicing scales for some time now, and I found them mostly easy and fun to play. The problems begin when I have to play them faster, but oddly enough my problem manifests only when playing towards the thumb, that is descending scales in…
neuviemeporte
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Free software to create a score from scratch

What open source softwares are available for creating a music score? I have Logic X but I don't think it's geared well for that kind of thing.
Kellen Stuart
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What are parenthesis used for in notation?

I have seen parenthesis occasionally used in notation and would like to know what they mean. Here are some examples of them I have collected. Around a note: Around an Appoggiatura: Around a fermata: Around an accidental: Around an accidental…
zaz
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Why is a consistent rhythm and tempo such a vitally important component of modern music?

When performing music solo on guitar (and singing) for an audience, I have noticed that the audience is very tolerant when I miss a chord or mess up a lick. Often they don't even notice. But if I get my timing off on the rhythm and miss a beat,…
Rockin Cowboy
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Learning an instrument online

I took ballet and with ballet you gain something called muscle memory and if you learn incorrectly, it's almost impossible to become a great dancer. Because of this, you can't learn ballet out of a book or from a video -- you need an instructor to…
Melanie Shebel
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Causes of sharp pain in a fretting finger after playing guitar or bass?

I have been playing guitar and bass for about 20 years now and I have noticed that sometimes, particularly in the last five years, I will do something with my fretting hand that causes a sharp pain in the finger that leaves the tip very sensitive…
glenatron
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What to choose? Violin or piano?

First of all. I am 26 years old. I have no musical background or whatsoever. I don't know how to play any instrument. I can't even read musical notes. But I want to learn an instrument. About my time. I have a 3 hours free time on weekdays and whole…
aozora
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How long is Staccato?

Question for skimmers: how do we know when to play portamento/portato or a dry staccato? Is it based on a date or composer? Or is a half-staccato still common practice? Sometime in college I played a timpani part and had a conversation like…
Josiah
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Locrian Harmony

I like utilizing modes in my the pieces I write, but there is one mode I've never been able to fully grasp and utilize and that is the Locrian mode. The chords that naturally occur in the Locrian mode don't seem to lend themselves well to any chord…
Dom
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What's the shortest that a note can be and still have a recognisable pitch?

While talking about this question: What does it mean to play a note for half a second? I got to thinking - how short can a note actually be for us to perceive its fundamental pitch? Obviously real world notes often fade in at the start or have…
Нет войне
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On a guitar, what keys correspond to different capo positions?

I've long had this question. I know some music theory, but I can only get a vague idea as to the progression of keys when moving the capo down a guitar's neck. I'm fairly certain that the guitar is in the key of E minor when no capo is used, but…
mckryall
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What are the various methods of tuning the guitar?

This is not a question as much as it is a discussion. I am curious to know what are the different techniques to tune the guitar (using standard tuning) given you know that one string is in tune. I usually tune the 1st string and then go on comparing…
aliensurfer
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What gives a piece of music its personality and feeling?

What makes a piece of music sound angry, dark, sad, happy, or otherwise? "La Chute" by Yann Tiersen sounds so angry to me and "A Dark Knight" from "The Dark Knight" movie sounds so dark and mysterious. "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber is a…
Chiron
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Music Notation - Little notes

Can someone please tell me what the little notes (4 bars after C) are called?
user2950895
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