344 Answered Questions for the topic Theory

05/01/19

2-5-1 Jazz progression and modes?
I am classically trained and just started looking into jazz theory. I understand that the 2-5-1 progression is a good place to start. My basic understanding is to play the above progression with... more
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04/29/19

How to know key of a melody?
How can you tell what key a melody is in if it uses notes found in multiple scales? And if a note is introduced from a different scale than the one it was in, does that change the key? What if it... more
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04/29/19

How to name more than seven scale tones?
When a scale has more than seven tones, is there any **standard** way to name the scale tones vis-a-vis the major scale tones? For instance, this applies to the two variations of the diminished... more
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04/27/19

How would one create music based on the principles of Cubism?
How would one create music based on the principles of Cubism? (e.g., 20th century painters: Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Juan Gris, Fernand Léger) The basic definition of Cubism calls for the... more
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04/27/19

Is it too late to learn music theory and composition?
I have been playing electric guitar for 5 years and have pretty decent technique. I have a decent ear too (I'm still improving it). I listened to rock guitar virtuosos like Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul... more
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04/27/19

Which scales have a major chord built on second note? Which scales have a minor chord built on the seventh note?
Which base scales (base scale meaning not modes) have a major chord built on the second note? (In which scales is the II chord a major? Is this the proper nomenclature?) Which scales have a minor... more
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04/26/19

About Relative keys?
C Major key's Sub Dominant relative key is F. But instead, could Fm key also be a Relative key ? So if that works.. From c minor key, could F Major be a relative key also ?
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04/26/19

What other modes/scales can i play over a song in the Key of Eb Minor?
I'm wanting to have two pieces of music flow from one to another, first one will be completely original and performed by me the other one is a song that already exists. I've already discovered that... more
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04/23/19

Composition of music suitable for concentration?
What are the parameters of music to consider so that the resulting composition is suitable as a background music when reading, studying or doing some mental work? I'm interested in parameters... more
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04/23/19

How to name more than seven scale tones?
When a scale has more than seven tones, is there any **standard** way to name the scale tones vis-a-vis the major scale tones? For instance, this applies to the two variations of the diminished... more
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Expert Answers •1

04/23/19

Can someone please tell me why there are 5 different patterns to Penatonic scales?
I mean if you can move them, why do you need more than one? All are movable up and down the fretboard? Right? So why does each need 5 patterns and how do you know which one to use? This has really... more
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04/21/19

Are there historical references that show that "diatonic" is a version of 'di-tonic' meaning 'two tonics'?
Wikipedia says that "diatonic" refers to a whole note scale or a scale with seven pitched per octave. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatonic_and_chromatic But my take is that the major and minor... more
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04/19/19

Term for distinguishing dim/perfect/aug intervals from dim/min/maj/aug ones?
There are two types of intervals, distinguished by their possible qualities: - Unisons, fourths, fifths, and octaves (and their compound variants) may be of perfect or (multiply)... more
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04/18/19

Composition of music suitable for concentration?
What are the parameters of music to consider so that the resulting composition is suitable as a background music when reading, studying or doing some mental work? I'm interested in parameters like... more
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Expert Answers •2

04/18/19

Did Jeff Beck "play the changes" on Goodbye Porkpie Hat?
I have read several different accounts of Charles Mingus' reaction to Jeff Beck's cover of Goodbye Porkpie Hat. One account says he liked it and sent Jeff a note saying this while another says he... more
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04/18/19

Dominant Chord in minor key?
In a minor key, e.g. E minor, if you take the dominant triad, it contains the leading note. Is the leading note of the **natural minor** or the major for the dominant triad? So for E minor dominant... more
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04/18/19

What is the relationship between the melody line and the rhythm chords?
Let's say I've written a song with the chord progression I-IV-V in the key of A (just as an example). So, the chords I'm playing are A-D-E. When playing a lead over this rhythm, what notes do I... more
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04/18/19

Is looking for chord after having the melody unusual?
Most people I encounter seem to have the opinion that **the** definitive way is to first have the chords and then "mess around" with the harmony notes until one founds a desirable succession of... more
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04/16/19

what is a "leitmotif" and by whom has it been introduced into music language?
after debating about Paraphrase in music and whether "paraphrasing" could mind something different I came to the question, that someone has been used the first time the German term of "leitmotif"... more
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04/15/19

Guitar book to complement my guitar lessons?
I have recently started guitar lessons. I really love them, but I feel there is something missing. My teacher's approach is "every class, let's learn a new song" but I feel I need some theory, like... more
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04/15/19

Notating Augmented Chords?
When writing an Augmented chord, which inversion of the chord should I use? The problem came up while I was composing (piano). I came to an augmented chord and couldn't think of which version to... more
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04/15/19

Polyphony vs Monophony?
I am taking a basic music class as an elective and was given a chart to compare monophony and polyphony. The elements within the chart are: Melody, Accompaniment, Harmony, Rhythm of Words, Dynamics... more
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04/14/19

In harmony: key or the flow?
I play ambient music and my approach on creating chord lines is simple, just try to stick on the key and if I want to change the key then make it subtle. But today I tried to create harmony lines... more
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04/14/19

Who did introduce the mediant keys in to music harmony progression?
Which composer(s) introduced as the first time mediant chords and mediant keys in their compositions - or in which period the use of this kind of modulation was coming up?
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04/13/19

2-5-1 Jazz progression and modes?
I am classically trained and just started looking into jazz theory. I understand that the 2-5-1 progression is a good place to start. My basic understanding is to play the above progression with... more
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Expert Answers •2

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