05/24/19

What key is a piece in if an augmented chord is used as a dominant?
I personally think that augmented chords can be just as consonant as major if used in a certain way. For example, in the first octave of a piano, if I play an augmented chord, yes it will want to... more
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05/24/19

Polyphony vs Homophony in Hymns?
I understand that polyphony is multiple melodies, while homophony is a single melody with chordal accompaniment (in my own words). I've read that hymns are generally homophonic, yet I find that... more
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05/24/19

Significance of pop songs with progressions that alternate one chord with one that's three semitones below it?
I've noticed a couple of pop songs that use one chord progression that alternates between swapping one chord (either fifth or fourth) with one that's three semitones below it (to third or second):*... more
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05/07/19

How to dramatically change the feeling of a song while keeping the melody largely the same?
How to dramatically change the feeling of a song while keeping the melody largely the same? Let's say we have a happy, upbeat pop song and we want to turn it into a sad song (or vice versa). Is it... more
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05/07/19

How to create Chord progressions that make sense?
I've been reading over Walter Piston's Harmony book, and it has been an eye-opener to say the least. I understand concepts like tension and release, voice leading and so forth, but I still don't... more
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04/30/19

Writing a Strange Ukulele Tune - Need Chord Help :)?
I'm writing a strange little ukulele tune that goes G-G7-C-Cm and then repeats, basically. But I'd like it to repeat to a different last chord/last two chords but I'm having an issue finding a... 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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04/27/19

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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04/18/19

Alternative theories of harmony?
Do you know of any alternative (to functional) descriptive theories of harmony or attempts at creating them? By that I mean attempts to explain both functional and non-functional harmonies in a... 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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04/06/19

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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04/04/19

Can someone explain the rhythm of a Mazurka?
While perusing some Chopin and Liszt sheets, I tried to play a Mazurka or two. But, I simply don't understand how the rhythm works. It feels awkward and unbalanced when I try and I just don't *get... more
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04/02/19

Do classical pieces sound different today than the originals due to temperament?
I was reading how classical music used to not be in equal temperament. So each of their keys sounded completely different and that's why they named their pieces after the keys they were playing.... more
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03/26/19

Alternative theories of harmony?
Do you know of any alternative (to functional) descriptive theories of harmony or attempts at creating them? By that I mean attempts to explain both functional and non-functional harmonies in a... more
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03/19/19

What does it mean to be able to write a fugue?
My theory teacher told me once in passing that she had written fugues. Later on people let me know that to write a fugue you need to be somewhat of a theory genius. Why is this so? What makes the... more
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03/19/19

How to differentiate between relative keys?
So I'm learning that C major and A minor scales have the same notes. Then, if I look at, say, 10 consecutive single notes, how do I tell if they're in C or Am? It's easier when you see a chord,... more
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03/19/19

How do I write an original melody?
I'm trying to write a song, and I keep thinking of a melody, but they have all been taken. How do I find a melody that hasn't been taken?
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03/19/19

How do I correctly borrow chords from one key to another?
So how does one decide to borrow chords? Let's say I am in the key of C Major. Can I borrow chords, say, from the G Major key? How does this work?
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03/19/19

How to make the dominant preparation less boring?
This is one thing that I have always noticed when I compose a sonata. Even if I can get through most of the development section in sonata form, the dominant preparation sort of grinds my gears. I'm... more
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03/19/19

Why do modern popular songs composed on piano sound different than songs composed on guitar?
Songs that I hear that are piano based - ie. **composed and originally performed on piano**, seem to have a different feel than those composed on guitar. The flow, the movement, the chords used -... more
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03/19/19

Shouldn't all music intervals have five names?
Shouldn't technically all intervals have five names? (Maybe with few exceptions where it goes below zero semitones but still I can't see why it can't go below zero semitone when it can be... more
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03/19/19

Is it possible to understand and enjoy classical music just by listening, without music theory knowledge?
Pretty much every book out there which claims to teach the readers to appreciate classical music, has significant amount of theory in it. Ex: What to listen for in Music by Aaron Copland. Is it not... more
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03/18/19

Why did composers write atonally?
Can anyone tell me the best justifications for writing atonally by the composers who did so? Did anyone, including Schoenberg, explain what "freeing the dissonance" means? Does it imply that he... more
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03/14/19

Composing/Arranging for a String Quartet?
I've been taking arranging and composing classes at the college I'm attending and I have recently been tasked with writing a piece for a string quartet. I would like to know in general, what should... more
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03/14/19

What does an arranger do?
When you see the "arranged by" attribution on a score, what did the arranger (typically) do?
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