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1500 questions
14
votes
10 answers
Do I need to replace very old strings of my guitar if I just start learning?
I found an old acoustic guitar and am thinking of starting to learn it (as a complete beginner). The guitar still has steel strings on it. These must be very old, I think, twelve years at least if not more. The guitar was not in use. However seems…
h22
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14
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1 answer
Deciphering the series of numbers shown for songs in a hymn book
Consider almost any song in a church hymn book. Either at the top just above the ledger lines or at the bottom near the credits is a series of numbers usually a set of four to six numbers such as 87 87 87 or 10 10 10 10 10 or 88 88 88. They are not…
zundarz
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14
votes
1 answer
Most efficient way to silent read 2 or more voices (audiation)
I would like to become able to silent read music. I am interested in renaissance and early baroque organ composition, which usually means two to four voices.
As now I can recognize intervals (melodic & harmonic), read silently simple melodies in…
Emilie89
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14
votes
4 answers
Is there a rest symbol that means "rest until the end of this measure"?
Is there a rest symbol that means "rest until the end of this measure"?
e.g. I've put a 16th note in the beginning of the measure and I don't want to bother calculating duration for the remaining rests. Is there some symbol I can use to mean "just…
Jubei
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14
votes
3 answers
Whole bar rest in 6/8 time?
Can one expect to find a semibreve rest in 6/8 compound time?
Lschk
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14
votes
3 answers
How to make C lydian not sound like G ionian?
What are some concrete melodic and harmonic tools to establish the correct tonic center in a lydian melody?
The reason for asking about lydian specifically is that there is no minor seventh for the dominant, which would seem like a sure-fire way to…
oyvind
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14
votes
1 answer
Does Chinese music avoid counting in 4s?
Many East Asian cultures consider the number 4 to be unlucky, because their words for that number are highly homophonic to the word for death. Quite often you will see companies skipping the number 4 in their product numbers to avoid being unlucky…
Cort Ammon
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14
votes
4 answers
Exact pitch of blues scale notes
Wikipedia gives multiple candidate definitions for the blues scale.
A musician showed me how to play blues e.g. in C by smudging say Eb and E.
The actual note lies somewhere between. But where? Is there any rationale for placing this note? Is…
P i
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14
votes
4 answers
How do you write successive, non-functional chord progressions?
Elements of non-functional harmony is ubiquitous among contemporary music creations. In most cases, it materializes in the way of non-functional chord progressions, which are characterized by its "successive" feel and lack of diatonic association,…
user19533
14
votes
6 answers
When does audio latency matter and not matter?
When does audio latency (physical action to heard sound) matter and/or not matter?
iOS touch-to-sound latency is reported to be on the order of 50 milliSeconds, yet some musicians manage to play iOS music apps without too much complaint.
I've also…
hotpaw2
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14
votes
6 answers
Why do we call the Hendrix chord 7#9 instead of 7b10?
The Hendrix chord is usually mentioned when a harmony contains both the major and the minor third, together with the minor seventh. Were it a major seventh, I'd say we have an augmented 9th and thus it would make the 7#9 notation seem more logical.…
András Hummer
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14
votes
5 answers
Why are four-chord songs (I-V-vi-IV) so prevalent?
Over time, many musicians have experimented with various chord progressions, but none has stood the test of time as the four-chord song. What is it about this progression (and its variations) that are so appealing to the masses? Is there any…
Erich
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14
votes
5 answers
How can a shy singer get feedback?
I like singing, and while I've got more comfortable with the sound of my voice over time, I still don't really like it, and I'm massively self-conscious about anybody hearing me sing. I'm so jealous of people who don't have great voices but have no…
Mr. Boy
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14
votes
6 answers
Any quick way to know if my tune is already used?
When I come up with a lick/melody, there always lingers that question of "Has this melody already been used?" Should I worry about it or is there a way to find out without too much hassle?
manejar
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14
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3 answers
What is the benefit of soaking double reeds in water?
My bassoon teacher advises me to soak my reed in water before playing. Apparently water has properties that my saliva alone doesn't. Why would this be useful?
Also I have seen Oboe players doing this, but not Clarinettists, Saxophonists (or anyone…
8128
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