The title! I've been learning about functional harmony a little but I'm curious how to look out for unfunctional harmony specifically.

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Meaning that the 1/4 note triplets on beats 3 & 4 of the top line are the same rhythm as the dotted-8th tied-16ths dotted-8th figure on the beats 1 & 2 of the lower one. Is there any instance where this is right? I thought they were similar but ultimately different rhythms, and not just a “respelling” of the same one. Am I crazy or is the prof wrong here

Im looking for some good websites i can read at school in my free time. Im still trying to learn more theory and im still comprehending a lot of it. I play guitar, if that helps!

Hi all, i wanted to get a list of biggest pain points for people when learning music theory. Essentially I have my own pain points and wondered what was common. I'm a software developer by trade, so i wanted to potentially make a little mini app that might help me or others along the way, especially beginners. For me, committing to memory things like scale tones would be really useful, so I wanted to include things like "build a phrygian scale from these notes" just because creating a sort of 'muscle memory' works for me. I was wondering if I could get a list of others pain points to potentially have a go at solving those problems also? where possible of course. I know there are certain resources already out there that do almost a quiz style concentrating in particular areas but I wanted to have a crack at something a little different style wise

Thanks in advance :)

I am very new to reading music, and I have a couple of questions about the notation of Chopin's prelude in E minor (Op 28. No 4). I am sure these questions are pretty basic, but I would appreciate some guidance.

As I understand it, the key signature means that Fs are sharp unless annotated otherwise.

• Position 1: Why is this F marked as sharp? There is nothing earlier in the bar modifying it, so would it not be sharp by default?
• Positon 3: Why is this D marked as natural? The sharp sign on the D (position 2) is in the previous bar, so would it not be natural by default at position 3?
• Position 4 and 5: Why is the note marked as A flat at position 4, and G sharp at position 5? I understand (I think) that some key signatures will notate say, an F as an E sharp, but I do not see why one would notate the same note differently in the same key signature.

https://reddit-uploaded-video.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/27qs4jwglwge1

I have no fucking idea how to make this without humble bragging. I don't know anything about music, I just want to learn it because it's math. My grandfather was a jazz musician but I'm an autist and could never learn an instrument. I can't do this for random music but I guess if it has triplets or some "groove" elements it's fine? I try to match bpm for songs I don't like, which are usually 4/4/ and I have no idea how to count those because I think in triplets I guess...? I loved the migos...sitting down and counting the triplets is like a herculean task idk I just tap the beat lol.

I don’t remember where i read this exactly but it explained a technique used by Trane where he would put a major chord (unrelated to the progression being done) for a brief moment (a quarter bar) before a minor chord (meant to resolve) to add chromatic tension

like this

D-7(b5)|G-7|Bmaj7|C-7.

Did Coltrane really do this, I’m curious cause I like this idea a lot but I can’t seem to find any examples, thanks in advance

My background is in classical music, and that's how I learned music theory.

I also played in some pop/rock bands, with a repertoire that included Bon Jovi, Queen, Bryan Adams, and many more artists.

However, I’ve always felt somewhat limited harmonically. I can play in most keys and use chords with their 7ths and 9ths, but I struggle to go beyond that. Over time, I'm starting to feel that my playing sounds a bit shallow.

Sometimes, I see piano players adding subtle "twists", spicing things up with interesting chords - even in popular pop songs. It feels a bit jazzy, but not quite jazz. To me, it just sounds more mature, professional, and beautiful.

Do you have any ideas about the music theory behind those chord progressions? What materials would you recommend I study?

Thanks!

Suppose a soprano and a bass want to sing a two part harmony that's usually sung in the same key. Is it normal for one of them to sing their part an octave higher or lower than written? Is it safe to assume this will work or can it cause problems?

Would it look like a 'tenuto' sign above the ride? I can't find anything about it except this https://www.onlinedrummer.com/pages/drum-key

https://preview.redd.it/0mvyp4t6ouge1.png?width=163&format=png&auto=webp&s=70c39a969b722065c551cbf3a4eb48b365181ee2

I've played piano for years, but have recently started taking music theory lessons. I did work a few years ago on improving my sight reading skills, but I haven't practiced much in awhile, but can still read muisc ok. My latest task is to take Autumn Leaves from a simple melody and a lead sheet and work to come up with the closed and open voicings with drop 2/drop 3/drop 2 4. Fundamentally, I completely understand it. With thought, as an example for the first chord, I know the A_7 is ACEG, and I would work to keep my C on top for the melody, and do an open voicing below. My struggle right now is 1) I am working at memorization of just a root 7th chord, but don't have them all down perfectly yet so looking for exercises to help cement them in hopefully that's fun (I've done them in order up the keyboard, but not very exciting, and doesn't stick in memory as well) and 2) More exercises for open voicings of 7th major/dominant/minors? Any suggestions for videos, or resources?

https://preview.redd.it/zrhkoe1piuge1.png?width=1107&format=png&auto=webp&s=f03f0d5a980e94eeedb2c8958c04136561bba4cc

this is a short phrase that i transcribed from a video game soundtrack, and i really like the way it sounds. all i know that it resolves to C# minor, but i dont really understand the function of all the other chords. is anyone able to make sense of it?

Does anyone else have trouble with imagining notes or chords, and is this something that can be learned?

https://youtu.be/rJYKtt9eg4o?si=wSD-0AG-KjGjamlB

Can anyone help me? I want to add autotune to the chorus and try to get the more melodic parts of the verse emphasized. I extracted the stems but I can’t nail the key. I’m pretty new to this and trying to learn if anyone has advice.

This is a sax soli from a song I’m writing in C minor (It’s on concert pitch btw).

While populating my quarter-tones scales demonstrations videos YouTube playlist : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nNfmNhcyeg&list=PLfdsYf3DUqIJh5ETgnAV-bTBBcdP8wdEu&pp=gAQB it took 10 scales before I stumbled on yet another gem : Most modes of this scale have the typical yet interesting bluesy feel to them, while a few sound different but still funky (see mode #6 for what i mean).

See scale demo video here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG0gzec-JQ0

I am a high-schooler in band. I am already ahead as I know music theory and can play about 8 instruments. I want to write a score for a small to normal concert band. I've already done a bit of research on counterpoint, and forms. What would be the best way to compose a piece, and are there any tips for what I should learn. (Also, if anyone could give tips on what instruments sound good together, or give any resources on where to learn that, that would be really helpful.)

Probably a bit of a stupid question, but why, for example, in analyses of a song that is in the key signature of F major, do people say that a part is in, I don't know, C major? I know it has something to do with modulation, but how do I perceive these things?

First of all thanks for your support. Ive already writen that paragraph As a comment on that subs QnA but there was no respond. If its forbidden sorry for that. -I started music 1,5 years ago with my school. My school provides sax for us. Actually since i'd started to play I've learn Just some national march. And taking sax is forbidden. Just in school.
-Another inst, electro guitar. I started at mid of august. Before that there was a old classic guitar(that is from my uncle and useless). I think I am not bad at electro I have no problem with tecnique(according to my friends). -music theory, I know notes, some scales(Just places on the fret). Actually I cant read music sheet of fathom music theory -another point, me and my friend planning to make some experimental music(mostly hiphop with metal and jazz elements) if you know can you suggest something for that too like daws and making music. -genres, There are a lot of genre i listening, mostly:blues, jazz, metal(especailly deathcore and prog), Rock, experimental, hiphop/rap(jpegmafia, if you havent tried you must look at it!). For now thats all(sorry for my english that is not good)

So i was listening to dandadan opening, otonoke and i was wondering if the part where it goes dan-da-dan would be eighth note and a quarter note or a dotted eighth note and quarter note ….. idk….

I keep seeing this music theory guy on TikTok promote his new book “The Science of Music Theory” with his supposedly revolutionary new approach.

Has anyone read it? Thoughts?

There are a lot of examples for Mozart but I picked this one because it’s really obvious, it’s at the 3:25 mark: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RgrCs7EgBQ0

Mozart suddenly injects melodies into his works that have never appeared before in the work. It’s not a variation on the already established theme, it’s not a cadenza, and it’s catchy as hell when he does it -like he teases you with an awesome melody for thirty seconds that should have been a work entirely on its own.

Was this common for his era or is it a Mozart thing?

I’m learning some eastern music and really struggling to train my ears to recognize the half flat and half sharp notes in eastern scales.

I only have a piano so I can’t really listen to those tones enough to memorize the sound. Are there any apps that I can use to mimic the sounds so it’s easier? All recommendations are welcome!

I'm doing some SATB excersices and the circled area does not make sense to me. This is chorale style, and I'm pretty sure it's something like V/V to V.

Starts at 38 seconds here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1YlMxddHNd0

It sounds like a chime of some kind but it’s a bit more ‘wood’ sounding.

Also, does John Williams have the player play on the off beats of the main theme?

Also, is the main theme in a different key here? It sounds like he lowers it a bit so he can have the chime part stand out.

Is the chime part a counter melody thing?

Since it’s not really related to the Imperial Theme but is overlayed on top of the theme and because it sounds like just three sets of triplets is this considered a standout harmony to the Imperial theme even though it’s a quick part?

Thank you for any answers on one of my favorite John William moments. I like how he ‘freshens’ up the Imperial March throughout the movie with little things like this since we hear the theme a lot in the movie.