All Questions
28
questions
5
votes
3
answers
518
views
Usage of sharpened subdominant in minor key: what is the diatonic function?
The piece Für Elise uses a D♯ in the key of A minor in the first bar, which is the sharpened subdominant. (I'm focusing on the first part, up to halfway through bar 23 in this score.) D♯ and G♯ are ...
- 559
-3
votes
3
answers
174
views
Given a four note combination under the span of a fourth, does this chart correctly show the number of times it will appear in a scale?
I have made this chart
that shows how many times will a four note combination under the span of a fourth whether perfect or augmented appear in a scale and some observations, so I wanted to ask you if ...
user85162
5
votes
1
answer
164
views
Harmony exercise, enharmonic equivalence
I'm studying from Walter Piston's book Harmony (5th Ed) so that I'm prepared before the semester starts at UNA.
Exercise 6.D asks: "For each one of the following intervals, name at least two ...
user85162
1
vote
1
answer
245
views
how do I add voices to compound species lines?
Update, TLDR: given multiple semi-written lines of music, which line should be deemed the cantus firmus before working on the counterpoint of the other lines?
Given a "free" (?) soprano ...
- 1,396
3
votes
3
answers
196
views
Does tonality require consonance?
It seems like tonality and consonance go hand in hand, but I’m still unsure if consonance is necessary to establish a tonal center, or if consonance is just the preferred sound against a tonal center. ...
- 453
6
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How does the tonic establish itself in a melody?
Whenever I hear an explanation about what the tonic or root note is, it’s about how it creates some kind of gravitational pull in the music. How does it do that exactly? How does our brain piece ...
- 453
6
votes
6
answers
973
views
Why do major and minor triads sound different both harmonically and melodically?
Sorry if the wording is odd, but basically my question is, why do the major and minor triads have two distinct sounds, if they share all of the same intervals? Not only when they’re stacked ...
- 453
4
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Why does A minor scale sound the "best" over Dm and C chord progression?
I created a little loop with the following two intervals:
D A and C G
Listen here: https://tinyurl.com/ybsukagd
In looking at what scale to use to solo over that simple progression, I thought D ...
- 141
0
votes
3
answers
277
views
Why do we use geometric Progression?
It seems what's important in the progression of the frequencies in notes is...the difference in frequency of any two notes is not the same, but the ratio between any two notes of the same distance is ...
- 453
4
votes
2
answers
753
views
What is the difference between diminished fifth and augmented fourth? [duplicate]
Are diminished fifth and augmented fourth the same intervals? They both consist of six semi-tones but why do they have different names?
- 533
12
votes
10
answers
4k
views
If equal temperament divides an octave into 12 equal parts, why are the hertz differences not the same but 12ths of two?
Let's take a 440Hz A pitch and the 880Hz A an octave higher.
If we divide space between 440Hz and 880Hz into 12 equal parts, we would have:
[440Hz, 476.6, 513.2 ... 880Hz.]
And this looks ...
- 231
1
vote
0
answers
62
views
Aural mnemonics: can we compile a list? [duplicate]
When I do ear training, I like to use mnemonics, in the form of a short snippet from a well-known song, to help me memorize certain aural patterns. I can share some of the ones I have so far, but I ...
- 333
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Maximum interval between Alto & Tenor, & intervals when writing for SATB
What is the maximum interval permitted between the Alto & Tenor when writing for SATB? I have read it should not be more than a 10th, whereas another source said it should not be more than an 8th. ...
- 1,793
20
votes
4
answers
4k
views
How can a perfect fourth interval be considered either consonant or dissonant?
I've been reading Ralph Denyer's book, The Guitar Handbook, and in the section on intervals he states that the perfect fourth can be either consonant or dissonant but it's not explained as how or why. ...
- 7,820
5
votes
5
answers
353
views
Are there any chords other than the dim7 and Fr. 6 that have two overlapping tritones?
On my question Why does the French sixth sound more dissonant than the others?, I got this answer from Ben I.:
It's because the French 6th chord has an extra tritone.
If we take an A♭ Augmented 6th ...
user53472