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1500 questions
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4 answers
Playing the trombone: what does "in stand" mean?
I play in a jazz band and we are playing some Latin pieces. In "One Note Samba" there is written "in stand". What does that mean? How to play that with the trombone?
WeSee
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How to translate rock guitar style to keyboards?
The particular property of the guitar, at least to my ear, is that it can easily "fill the room", as it were, even when playing simple chords or patterns. The keyboard seems to want... more complexity. But this doesn't work so well for, say, amusing…
Brian H
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How to calculate the tempo of a song in numbers and find the Italian terms?
I'm trying to understand how exactly we calculate tempos and how we assign their Italian names in written music. I've searched before asking, but I'm not 100% sure I've understood everything correctly, so I'd like someone to confirm or correct me in…
T. C.
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Composing For Drums as a Non-drummer
As an instrumentalist I am primarily a guitarist, but as a composer I write for a range of instruments. The one thing I am particularly struggling with is writing for drums. Although I've managed to get by alright so far and create good enough drum…
systematic
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In jazz, what is a guide tone?
I've heard that guide tones are very useful while improvising, and seems to be an important concept for jazz theory.
What is a guide tone? How can it help improvisation?
TaylorSwiftFan5932
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2 answers
Singing an opera "all'italiana"
When an opera is played without staging (be it either a rehearsal or an actual concert) it is called all'italiana (translated: "in the italian style"). Or, at least, this is how we call it here in Italy.
This term is used when the singers are not…
Saturnix
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What is this type of shift called?
In a lot of (usually electronic) music, I notice a section of music that seems to shift up a number of notes and continue with a similar melody in a way that greatly emphasizes the melody. Does this kind of transition have a name?
This is a good…
Archenoth
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What is this scale? [Root , +1 , +3 , +1 , +2 , +1 , +3 , +1]
Intervals (relative to previous note):
Root , +1 , +3 , +1 , +2 , +1 , +3 , +1 (Root again)
Example:
A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G#
This scale is used often in Turkish Music. But I don't know if it has a name in Western Music. Does it ?
jeff
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What changes in the amp when I adjust its presence?
The tone controls on a guitar amp are pretty obvious, but what does the presence knob affect?
It's a subtle effect but can sure make or break a sound. It doesn't seem to be treble or midrange boost, though it helps them cut through more. Is it…
the Tin Man
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7 answers
How do you mic a guitar amp?
How do you go about mic'ing a guitar amp for live performance? Would you do anything different if you were mic'ing the amp for studio recording? Is there anything specific I should look for in a microphone for either of these scenarios?
Jason Punyon
15
votes
4 answers
Note bending on harmonica
I'm trying to learn to play the harmonica, and one thing I haven't quite figured out is how to consistently bend notes. (I can only hit two and three draw, inconsistently, for a semitone, and can only do it with my tongue "out of position".)
Do you…
Willie Wong
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Is a written music theory exam noisy?
I haven't taken a written music theory exam, and I never will, but I don't understand how it would work. You've got a lot of people in a room, all trying to answer the same questions. And if half of them are like me, then half of them are humming…
Adam Chalcraft
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What is the preferred musicology term for "classical music"?
What is the preferred, more precise English-language musicology term for the genre of music which North Americans typically call “classical music”? I mean the broader meaning of "classical", which includes composition before and after the "Classical…
Jim DeLaHunt
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Rachmaninoff C# minor prelude: towards the end, staff lines are joined together, and there are two end markings
I'm studying Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# minor and towards the end, the staff lines are joined together, with two ending lines.
Do I need four hands? :)
Mihai Danila
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6 answers
Why do musicians prefer to play in certain keys?
Why do musicians care about which keys they choose?
Harry Brill
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