/r/ELI5Music

Photograph via snooOG

For any questions regarding music or gear that needs a simple answer.

E is for explain: Explaining concepts you'd like to understand better; not simple one word answers, super detailed walkthroughs, or personal problems.

LI5 means friendly, simplified and layman accessible, not patronizing "Little Timmy" responses aimed at literal five year olds.

  • Please Search before submitting. The search box is in the upper righthand corner of the page.

  • This is not the place to ask advice, but rather a place to broaden your understanding of a topic.

  • Please tag your post with the instrument or topic, followed by the specifics of the post. (Ex: ELI5Guitar, ELI5Piano, ELI5Theory, etc...)

Example of a good post:

  • ELI5Guitar: How string gauges work

Example of a bad post:

  • What strings should I use?

Useful Sites

/r/ELI5Music

3,680 Subscribers

2

What's going on in this song?

https://youtu.be/bVllE42Im4k

Seems like the kids are killin him or something. Please tell me they aren't. Idk.

0 Comments
2024/07/15
04:46 UTC

4

Why did someone always have a saxophone in 80s pop music?

4 Comments
2024/07/09
11:03 UTC

1

Youtube Copyright music

Why are You tube videos allowed to use soundtracks from movies and shows without copyright? All I see is that in the comments it says "I do not own this music" is that enough to use whatever you want? when I google it or ask ChatGPT says that's still against the law, so why aren't those videos taken down?

2 Comments
2024/06/22
15:14 UTC

5

How does a hearing impared person enjoy music?

I know that they do, but I don't quite understand how. Would love to know more

3 Comments
2024/06/16
13:56 UTC

1

What is going on with this song that makes me want to be a conductor?

Brothers of Metal - Powersnake

There's a certain synergy to this track that I can't quite put into words. It's like it should be performed by a symphony, but we have a metal band rotating through the parts instead, which is awesome but I don't really know how to search for more like it.

3 Comments
2024/03/06
15:49 UTC

1

How do I get music files on my phone?

I'm on Android. 5g.

1 Comment
2023/12/13
13:37 UTC

1

Binearal beats, how/why do they work

It's not music but it's audio, maybe I'm wrong asking here but I am curious on the how and why

1 Comment
2023/12/04
12:13 UTC

4

Why is the word “wave” used in so many genre names?

So many genres use the word wave in them, such as “chill wave”, or “new wave”. What that all about? Why so many? Who makes these up?

3 Comments
2023/11/11
12:39 UTC

3

Given the amount of choice of music out there, why do radio stations tend to play the same few songs over and over? (not talking about chart or trending music)?

I've been listening to a Musicals station, and started listening a fortnight ago when I'm in the car, probably listening for maybe 20 mins a day my journeys...and surprisingly listened to some of the same songs over the course of those 2/3 weeks. I just figures, if I'm listening to the radio for such a small amount of time and still coming across repeats, then there has to be something to it? Interested in hearing thoughts!

3 Comments
2023/11/07
13:10 UTC

2

Why does this giant subwoofer sound louder on my phone than my gaming PC?

I have in front of me, a Sony SS-WP2200 subwoofer. When I wire it up with some terminal-to-3.5mm adapters I got for my surround sound (I'm not an audiophile, I just want more variety) it sounds super quiet on my desktop. "Ok," I thought. "It's a huge subwoofer. Maybe it needs more power than my PC can give it." Then I plugged it into my phone... oh boy. It got loud. This feels so counter-intuitive to me? I'm normally good with technology but this has me stumped.

EDIT: plugged it into a 4th gen iPod Shuffle and it got even louder

3 Comments
2023/10/29
20:05 UTC

1

What are the bit rate and kHz numbers on music quality settings?

Title. I’m confused by what the terms mean. And is it worth it to get lossless audio on apple?

2 Comments
2023/10/13
01:14 UTC

4

Rap/hip hop

Someone explain the difference between these two? I don’t particularly enjoy either genre but, I have no idea what the difference is either.

3 Comments
2023/10/10
00:53 UTC

5

Why are orchestra conductors a thing?

I'm an ok guitar and piano player. I'm utterly not pro-level. So when an orchestra is playing something sublime, the musicians are looking at the music sheets before them and playing their hearts out.

But they seem to ignore the conductor, who waves a little wand about. Are they watching him? If so, we don't see it. And what are they getting from him (or her) that they didn't already know?

Baffling yet entrancing example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAoLJ8GbA4Y

13 Comments
2023/09/30
23:41 UTC

2

what is it about the blues scale that makes it so fundamental to so many genres?

3 Comments
2023/09/19
17:27 UTC

1

how to figure out a voice "track"'s BPM

hi, i am brand new to music nomenclature.. but i have google i just dont know what to search.ive got several songs? verses? poems? in my head,and like i can sing (poorly) the syllable rhythmand comparatively how high/low i want the words to sound,and spacing between each um word? syllable? like how drawn out each one is

specific example (theres a good bit more, but this is enough to know how it all works.. i think):What is your wish and what is your desire? (10)If you say "this", then you're a liar. (8)We all have hopes, and we all have dreams; (9)which we will capture by any means. (8)

so for this i know i want "this", then to take up the same quick/back to back/no pause as captureand the (10) line and (9) line to be the same amount of time/pacing for the first 9 syllables, then the same total time with a lingering ghost pause after (9) till (10) would have finishedand "what is your wish (slight-drawn-slur into) and what..", the same as "we all have hopes, (slight-drawn-slur into) and we all.."and the emphasis on wish, desire, this, liar, hopes, dreams, cap(ture), means

idk enough to really share the exact music bit ive got in my head but only through words, when i dont even know the words to use

i looked up some music theory videos and how to do sheet music stuff and found some free online beat-makers (soundtrap) in attempts to 1 make more songs and 2 make the songs i already have "official" via knowing what notes and rhythm and stuff im usingbut idk how to do this, i have made like 3 new beats.. one of them is ok.. but i am totally lost on how to take stuff i already made and fit it into the music system

possible trouble shooting: i record myself singing, then study the sound clip and see what the pattern is.. i go to some music place and ask them what the im doing when i do it.. idk im here asking yall rn

(if im not supposed to say something i did, lemme know and i will edit right away, hopefully this isnt delete worthy)
edit: oh or if i should ask somewhere else, pls lemme know so i can copy paste there, then ill remove this one

3 Comments
2023/09/06
05:07 UTC

2

Chord voicing question

What would a minor triad with a flat 3rd on top be?

7 Comments
2023/06/16
16:16 UTC

2

Help my guitar timing "click"

I'm using some demo/Example tracks to get some ideas for new blues solos on electric guitar. Before the actual licks start there are drumstick clicks. These kind of throw me off as far as when to come into the song. I need help knowing how to count the convert the clicks into rythmn and/or standard numbers such as ' 1 and 2 and 3 and...'.

What really throws me for a loop is that there are two clicks with short clicks abd then 3 steady clicks. I think the ryhmn is 1 2 3 1 2 3 with the 2 missing in the first set but not sure ( so 1 - 3 1 2 3). Also guessing it is written in 12/8 as it is slow blues.

Here is one example for reference https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/CA8nu

Thanks!

3 Comments
2023/05/23
12:40 UTC

7

Why is it when I try to start a playlist inspired by a song sung by a female vocalist, the entire "station" ends up being just girl bands??

Meanwhile, if I start playlist with male vocalist's song there are always women's voices/bands mixed in. Never the other way around.

2 Comments
2023/04/15
17:53 UTC

5

Question about tonality

Hi redditors,

I have been practicing my music theory particularly intreval study. I noticed that even though I was practicing all decending maj/min 2nd they sounded somehow different. Before anyone says that's obvious because they are in different keys I mean different as in some major 2nd sounded sweet and pleasant while others seemed to sound more minor than major.

While trying to figure this out I came across the concept of tonality and how chord progressions that are the same will sound more "eerie" or possibly dissonant depending on the key. Also came across how g major is seen as the 'happiest' and warmest key.

Please explain to me like I'm 5 tonality and why certain chord progressions/scales have a different feel despite being the same intreval depending on key.

Thanks!

2 Comments
2023/03/17
11:22 UTC

4

Sheet music for drummers

This is going to turn into a “I was today years old…” but I’ve often wondered how drummers learn a song. Do they just go with the beat or is there sheet music for drummers?

4 Comments
2023/02/01
13:23 UTC

7

As much as I love watching live music orchestra, I am not able to understand the role or the importance of the Music conductor, Can someone please explain in detail?

Edit: Thanks for all the very detailed explanations.. feeling pleased that people are taking time to answer the question to a non music person like me .. you guys made my day

12 Comments
2023/01/18
10:09 UTC

1

ELI5 Why is Imagine Dragons considered rock and roll?

1 Comment
2023/01/18
08:30 UTC

8

Am I in the wrong hobby?

Not sure where to put this, just trying to find anyone who might be able to help me.

Been trying to get into music most of my life, wrote songs in middle school that were terrible, got guitars and pianos, loved to just mess around. Music means so much to me but I was never able to seriously pursue it because I always became too busy with school and work. Over a dozen years later and I'm trying to create an album with no formal musical training or anyone to help me and I can't understand music theory or anything to save my life. I create something and I think it's okay and then listen to it later and can't stand it. Been re-learning the guitar and trying to find out how to make my music sound like I want it to but I can never figure it out. I'm wondering if I'm just delusional about this dream and whether I will ever accomplish it. Am I in the wrong hobby? What do I really need to do to get me where I want to be?

4 Comments
2022/12/09
04:14 UTC

4

European Guitar Amp in US

Hi, i'm a beginner guitarist & about to get my first electric guitar & amp.

i won a free Harley Benton HB-40R amp in a giveaway. unfortunately these are made for the European market & i am in the US. i know i need some sort of power transformer for it to be able to work here, but all my searching has left my head spinning.

so what do i need to make noise & not blow up either my house or my amp?

4 Comments
2022/11/25
21:32 UTC

2

If this question has been asked a hundred times already, apologies.

What i want to know is what is it about a minor key that unnerves us and a major key that puts us at ease? Ty!

3 Comments
2022/11/18
22:47 UTC

3

What is the difference between folks and country music?

1 Comment
2022/11/12
05:59 UTC

1

What's happening in this video?

How are these cables and foam making stuff happen with the sound? https://youtube.com/shorts/oML5YiNOfFI?feature=share (I know my post has a link in it so delete it if you must)

3 Comments
2022/11/08
06:55 UTC

8

ELI5: what is a single? Why do we care?

Exactly what the question says, lol. I always hear people talking about singles/hoping a major artist releases a certain song as a single. What exactly is a single? Why does it matter that a song is a single, especially when it’s from a mainstream artist?

8 Comments
2022/10/30
04:50 UTC

3

Guitar, headphones, & a beat.

I’d like to learn how to play the guitar but I need headphones so I don’t disturb my roommates. I also want to play to a rhythm. How do I play the guitar to some drums through some headphones?

3 Comments
2022/10/25
18:25 UTC

6

ELI5 Impedance and how to properly pick an amp and speakers

0 Comments
2022/10/14
22:27 UTC

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