All Questions
20 questions
2
votes
1
answer
398
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The definition, and the origin of this sign notation "x"
Here is an example of the double sharp (within the red mark) from Liszt Les Preludes, see below.
I suppose this notation "x" is called double sharp.
Questions:
What are (1) the definition, ...
- 921
8
votes
8
answers
1k
views
How can Key be understood differently when composing music vs playing it as a musician?
When I was younger, for years, I played musical instruments such as the french horn, violin, acoustic ("standing") bass, electric bass, piano, and electric guitar. During these years, I also ...
- 201
3
votes
4
answers
714
views
Why is there only a viiᵒ chord and no vii chord?
So I have this chord progression in A minor:
Am, Fm, Dm, Gm, Gmaj
The first three chords are fine in roman numerals:
i, VI, iv
However at Gm I got stuck, as none of the online analysis generators did ...
- 33
0
votes
2
answers
139
views
How to notate scores when the keys don't admit a heptatonic scale?
I was playing with microtonality. Specifically, equal temperaments other than 12edo. Since the point of equal temperaments is versatility, I wanted them to admit a notion of key signatures similar to ...
- 539
13
votes
7
answers
5k
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Why is The Star-Spangled Banner said to be in key of F instead of C?
Just learning music theory.
The Star-Spangled Banner, https://www.musicallthetime.com/printable-pdf/star-spangled/star-spangled-banner-for-recorder-alto.pdf
This piece is written in Key of F with one ...
- 149
0
votes
1
answer
86
views
Keys and major pentatonic, minor pentatonic or minor harmonic scales [closed]
Are Keys with minor or major pentatonic and minor harmonic scales named differently or how do you discern the scale based on the key if it's pentatonic or harmonic instead of natural?
- 3
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why are the accidentals here written in a rather complex way, when there exists simpler notation?
(Score taken from Tchaikovsky Symphony No.1, Op13, Bassoon part. PDF file from IMSLP.)
I'm referring to the second line, starting from the mf. The melody goes on temporarily on another key but the ...
- 141
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is this note? [duplicate]
This is in key of F# major or D# minor, there is a D# in this key, but the D# in this picture has a double sharp sign beside it, so is it a D#(##) (which is an F)?
user64861
6
votes
3
answers
4k
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Minor Key (and other key?) Roman Numeral Analysis
What is the general standard in RNA for the natural minor key, as well as keys that are neither major nor nat. minor?
So in studying RNA, I found the major key pretty straightforward: I ii iii IV V ...
- 309
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How do I contextualize chords from different keys that sound good together?
For instance, an E major triad followed by an A minor sounds really good to me. I don't believe these can belong to the same key, because you can't have a sharp g and a natural C in the same scale as ...
- 1,125
3
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Rules for naming borrowed chords in Roman numeral analysis
I don't seem to find an extensive resource on how to name out of scale chords in Roman numeral analysis.
E.g., let's look at this piece from "All imperfect things" of Michael Nyman:
I'm ...
- 3,054
2
votes
1
answer
868
views
Are you still playing a scale if you don't include every note in said scale? [duplicate]
For instance, if you're playing C major, and instead of playing C D E F G A B, you play C D E F G A, or C D E F G, would that still be considered playing in that scale or key? Because I doubt that ...
- 1,125
8
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Do the notes in a scale have to be played in order?
Beginner here, it seems like a scale just defines a particular set of notes that don't have to be played in any order to me. But if you look at A minor pentatonic scale you have A, C, D, E, G, yet ...
- 1,125
6
votes
6
answers
940
views
Why do jazz chord symbols give absolute, not relative, roots?
Answers to the question How do they decide the key? point out how useful it is for a jazz musician to be able to play a piece in any key.
So, in jazz, why does sheet music give chord symbols with ...
- 5,230
30
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Where do the double accidentals go in "theoretical" key signatures?
Recent questions led me to discussions of theoretical keys, which are defined by Wikipedia as keys with at least one double accidental in the key signature. (Unfortunately, the source of that ...
- 85.1k
13
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why did Albéniz write in C♭ instead of B?
I'm referring to Evocación, the first movement of Iberia, which is in the key of C flat (7 flats, every note flat). The key of B uses exactly the same hotes, but using 5 sharps instead of 7 flats. To ...
- 131
10
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Indicating Key Signature Change
Key of C Key Signature has no symbol, so say I was notating music in G Major then wanted to change to the Key of C, how would I show this?
- 151
2
votes
1
answer
67
views
Determining closest key when primary contributing factors are shared among keys
Given a construct of intervals as follows:
1,#2,3,4,5,6,b7
(Dominant #2 first position)
For the purpose of general notation, as the #2 is equivalent to a b3 and the 3rd is still present, would this ...
- 75
9
votes
5
answers
35k
views
Do I play all the F's as sharp or just the one with the sharp in the space?
I am trying to teach myself how to play piano and while I know what a key signature is, I don't have a firm grasp on it. I have sheet music in the key of G major. There aren't any F's on that line, ...
- 91
17
votes
7
answers
13k
views
Capitalization of key names (C Minor vs. c minor)
I was taught when I was young that minor key names should be written with the note in lowercase, as well as the word "minor". Nowadays on recordings, etc., I usually see both capitalized.
What was ...
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