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1500 questions
13
votes
7 answers
What kind of practice leads to the ability to play the exact melody in my mind?
Just like when we're singing ,we just sing it out without thinking what the next note, whereas I have to translate my melody in mind to corresponding "do re mi ..." and play the instrument, which is so slow and may play a wrong note as I make…
ming
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13
votes
5 answers
Why am I seeing more notes than allowed to be in a bar?
Consider:
Quarter notes + 4 32nd notes + 8th note.
In a 3/8 time signature, there should be no space for the 8th note. What am I not seeing?
BioPipeRex
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13
votes
5 answers
Which instrument (generally) has to read the largest number of clefs?
I recently had a (light-hearted) argument with a violin-playing friend, I play the trombone and we were discussing which instrument is more difficult to play. We talked about the relative difficulty of orchestral parts and made the obligatory…
SBaker
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13
votes
1 answer
Why does closing a recorder bell raise the pitch sometimes and lower the pitch other times?
I have been playing recorder for two years now and have recently been using this chart, http://www.dolmetsch.com/efingeringchart.pdf for third octave soprano fingerings.
Playing the D or the F# fingering with a closed bell lowers the pitch a…
American Luke
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13
votes
1 answer
What does a -4 above the stave mean?
I've recently encountered a -4 above the stave in both vocal and instrumental jazz pieces. None of the students nor our director know what to do with it, what does it mean? Here are two examples:
Wave - By Antonio Carlos Jobim - Arr. Paris…
Matt Reynolds
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13
votes
4 answers
Unusual keyboard in a picture
I came across the picture which represents the piano keyboard with equally spaced black keys (as if two missing were added to ordinary keyboard).
The picture is a painting by Silvestro Lega, named Il canto di uno stornello (Wikipedia gives it as…
Rodion Gorkovenko
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13
votes
3 answers
Organ technique for pianists
I've been playing the piano for 15-odd years, so I like to delude myself into thinking that I'm somewhat skilled. However, my question revolves around the organ. I've played the organ for 5-odd minutes, and I've found myself in the position where…
Babu
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13
votes
8 answers
A total newbie wants to learn how to write songs. What does he need?
I am recently being interested in writing my own songs/my own music. However, I'm a newbie when it comes to music. I am not really musically talented nor inclined. I only know basic guitar chords and strum patterns. I know how to locate notes in the…
Lance Gray
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13
votes
9 answers
Opposite of a Fermata?
I'm notating a musical chant and there is a part where there is a shortened syllable. I don't think changing the time signature and/or shortening the actual rhythmic value of the note makes sense. However, I do want the overall duration of the…
MikeiLL
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13
votes
4 answers
13
votes
2 answers
Where did the symbols ♭ and ♯ originate from, and why those?
We're all used to flat and sharp signs, also naturals. Accidentals in some cases. But why those unusual signs? I suspect the ♭ may have something to do with the German B, but the ♯ sign? Something to do with the German H? Otherwise known as hash,…
Tim
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13
votes
6 answers
Should I change my guitar strings?
I received my guitar a few years ago and haven't changed the strings. I don't know when the previous owner had last changed the strings, but it seemed as though it had just been sitting around for a while. I don't think I need new strings, but some…
Maggie
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13
votes
4 answers
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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13
votes
2 answers
Why are eighth notes seemingly so important in bass guitar?
In an effort to push through a plateau in my playing, I've started really digging into method books and even getting lessons (I'm mostly self-taught). Quite a few books, and my instructor have all given me the lesson to practice eighth notes.
The…
Dedwards
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13
votes
9 answers
Is it possible to write a melody which can't be notated?
Is it possible to have a piece which can't be notated using the musical notes we currently have?
Featherball
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