Most Popular
1500 questions
14
votes
6 answers
Why digital piano has more polyphony voices than there are keys on the keyboard?
My digital piano has 88 keys and the manual says it provides 128 voices of polyphony, and this seems not a particular exception or unusual feature.
I even cannot imagine how it would be possible to press all 88 keys all at once or even in a close…
h22
- 4,454
- 6
- 24
- 61
14
votes
5 answers
What is the rhythmic notation for 5/8 the duration of a whole note?
Assume that the whole note time equals 8.
Then a note which time equals 3 will be written as 1/4 note and dot.
How you write down a note that time is equal 5/8 of a whole note?
szydan
- 413
- 5
- 11
14
votes
4 answers
Why does a clarinet behaves like a closed pipe?
Saxophones, oboes and generally generally most woodwind instruments I can think of behave like open pipes. That seems logical; when every key is closed, they actually are open pipes and, if I remember correctly, a pierced pipe behaves like a…
Édouard
- 3,867
- 1
- 21
- 32
14
votes
5 answers
Can a 24-year-old learn to play violin/viola proficiently?
I've seen a few of these questions asked, but it seems like most of the students to be where just starting out in music. They didn't have limber fingers, couldn't read notes. That's not a bad thing considering we've all had to start somewhere.…
Cynthium Roses
- 209
- 2
- 7
14
votes
4 answers
What is the difference between analog and digital effects pedals?
What are the main differences between digital and analog effects?
Do they have different circuitry? Sounds? Features?
brian
- 2,291
- 5
- 22
- 26
14
votes
4 answers
History of screaming in music throughout the world
Screaming is a common technique in metal and other music genres but according to Wikipedia it has also been used in blues music and very few times in more classical Western works.
Are there other early examples of music (Western or not) that make…
Christian Bueno
- 241
- 1
- 4
14
votes
2 answers
What does "al primo" mean?
I'm currently playing a sonata from the late baroque period, which ends with two menuets: minuetto primo and minuetto secondo.
Now, under the closing repeat mark of menuet two, "al primo" is notated.
I assume, that this means, that the first menuet…
guidot
- 10,215
- 1
- 21
- 51
14
votes
4 answers
Is there music where it makes no sense to talk about a tonic?
Is there music without a tonic?
I.e., the structure of which is such that it makes no sense to talk about some stable home base note where we return. Or maybe music tonality changes so frequent that there is no point in talking about a tonic?
CrabMan
- 241
- 4
14
votes
7 answers
Tips and tricks for turning pages without noise
I'm singing in a choir of 50 singers. We will be recording, and want to eliminate the sound of swishing pages when turning them. (Of course it would be better to memorize the music, but we haven't done this yet.)
Does anyone have tricks for making…
Cindi
- 141
- 1
- 3
14
votes
6 answers
Why do musicians prefer to play in certain keys?
Why do musicians care about which keys they choose?
Harry Brill
- 421
- 2
- 6
- 8
14
votes
7 answers
Does the key a piece is written in affect playability for piano?
Key signatures and reading sheet music aside, does the key a piece is written in affect the ease with which it can be played on piano?
For example, are any keys known for more difficult or awkward fingering? Is there any concept among pianists of…
hb20007
- 331
- 2
- 13
14
votes
7 answers
What do you have to do to sound like you're improvising when you're actually reading from sheet music?
There are several reasons I often can't think fast enough to improvise a trumpet solo live over an unfamiliar set of chord changes, things like:
if there are upper extensions on the chord (e.g. #9, 13, and so on)
unfamiliar key
chords given at…
Brian THOMAS
- 10,171
- 1
- 31
- 65
14
votes
3 answers
Is my mandolin broken?
I read here that playing a string on the 12th fret will produce a note that is an octave above the note produced by playing the same string open (with no frets held down). For instance, if the bottom string is tuned to G, then playing the bottom…
Big McLargeHuge
- 243
- 2
- 8
14
votes
3 answers
String sticking to the fretting finger - how to avoid?
When raising a finger from a fret, it sometimes happens to me that a string "sticks" to the finger, producing an annoying sound (like when I would do a pull-off, but unintentional). This happens most often when I do the scales:
C D E F G (starting…
anatolyg
- 2,457
- 4
- 25
- 47
14
votes
2 answers
What is this notation used for the singer?
Consider this excerpt from Te Deum Laudamus by C.V. Stanford:
What is the notation used on top of the voice?
I suppose the letters indicate the notes (d(o)-r(e)-m(i)-s(ol) for re-mi-fa#-la in D major), and the symbols relate to the rhythm?
Karlo
- 1,299
- 11
- 20