Q. Basically, I have the scales down, but you know how each major key has a minor opposite, like C Major has no sharps or flats, and neither does A Minor, so on. At a music theory test, they obviously don't provide you with a piano to play the song (that's how i usually figure out the key of a song), so what's the real way to figure out the major or minor key?
A. The real hint to finding the key of a piece of written music is to look for accidentals and to analyze the first chord of the piece and the last chord. For instance A harmonic minor, will have g# as the raised 7th scale degree and you will also see f# as the raised 6th scale degree if the piece is using A melodic minor. Also, most music examples have the beginning and ending of the piece and the piece will 98.76% of the time end on the tonic or beginning chord. So it becomes easy if you actually look for these things. Hope this helps!
How can I hold high notes while singing?
Q. I have quite a high vocal range e.g. when I scream its so high pitched that glass should break. I have started to sing classically and I have found that I can sing both really low and really high. However, sometimes when I sing high my voice sounds weak and my vibrato stops. This is completely different on other occasions when I can even sing a high A.
How can I hold my notes and strengthen my vocal chords?
A. 1. Stand up straight. Stand with your spine against a pole, (or out-facing corner of a wall) head high but loosely relaxed, shoulders back, and arms hanging by your sides.
2. Hold your hands in table fasion position (flat and parallel to the ground) above your lips but below your nose. . . . just do it . . . and say "HA!" loudly. If your not sure how look at a military movie (pretty much any one would do) and mimick the soldiers answering their commanding office. Hold a piece of paper out in front of you (about 6 inches or so) and if it moves when you say "HA!" then your doing it right. Remember how your diaphragm feels. If you don't know what a diaphragm is and you don't feel like looking it up then just remember how all of the muscles in your stomach feel.
3. Raise your chest and take a deep breath. Your back and rib cage should expand sideways. If your shoulders move more than your rib cage lie down on the floor facing up, breath, and remember how it feels. Stand up and try breathing the same way you did on the floor. Breathe for four counts. (like four seconds)
4. Place your diaphragm in the same position as it was when you said "HA!" and sing at a comfortable note . . . . I know it feels weird . . . after you think you have it try going up the scale with the same technique. This is what you should feel like all the time when you sing.
*After your comfortable with it try singing softly. It's harder to sing soft than it is to sing loud. If you can sing something at least at piano (softer than speaking voice, louder than, but closer to, a whisper) then it will be a lot easier to control louder dynamic levels.
*If you still have trouble with your diaphragm and you are an imaginative person then pretend that in your body you are trying to hold an inflated beach ball below water.
*It should never hurt. Though, sometimes it feels like you just worked out your stomach (because you did) after singing for a while or just doing a lot of staccati. (short, crisp, detached notes)
*Never lock your knees. (Don't push them all the way back when standing. The blood in your body won't circulate right and you'll faint after a while.) To stand correctly do this: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Place your knees a barely-squatting position over your knees. Place your hips (with the top half of your body, of course) over your knees.
Hope this was helpful and not too long! ^-^
How does one transpose music from one key to another?
Q. I play bass guitar and rhythm guitar in a band. Sometimes our leader changes the key, and I need to be able to figure out how to write the chords out on my own sheets in the new key our leader wants it in. How do I do this? It should be simple. I have played guitar for fifteen years but have never been taught simple theory. HELLLPPPP!!!! lol Thanks!
A. Drop or raise the note by the proper amount of steps to get the the new key.
Say you're moving from C to G, and the chords in C are C, F and G.
You need to raise the pitch 4 whole steps.
C becomes G
G becomes D
F becomes C
Bad example, but you probably get the idea. It helps me to look at a diagram of piano keys, as it really illustrates where the steps are and exactly what chord becomes what. Just google image 'piano keys' and you'll find something you can use.
Also, learn your chord families. C F G is a I - IV - V progression. If you know the numerals of the progression, you can use a chart like this: http://www.i-love-guitar.com/guitar-chords-major-keys.html to find the chords in any key with little effort. That's what I usually do.
How Long until a piano with a new pin block and strings holds it tune?
Q. Had a new block and string put in about 4 months ago. How long until it will hold a tune?
A. Good question but the answer will depend on the quality of work done, the piano's environment and other factors. Generally it is not uncommon for it to take a few months for the tuning to stabilize. Even when both the materials and the workmanship are of sufficient caliber, the music wire will continue to stretch and will do so unevenly, noticeable in unisons, octaves and various chords. If the work or materials were less than optimal, then of course that will exacerbate the problem.
How many tunings has it received? It should have received multiple rough tunings and pitch raises followed by fine tunings while in the shop and will need several more in the home over the next year. After that first year, it should be "normal" and one or two tunings a year may be sufficient depending on its environment and your needs.
In addition, changes in temperature and humidity affect tuning, even when not recently restrung. And of course the expertise of the tuner is a factor. If you believe there is a problem I would definitely recommend discussing it with the technician(s) who did the work. If a problem continues and you still have concerns you might want to have another technician inspect the instrument but in fairness you may simply be experiencing normal settling.
If you need to find a technician you can search at http://ptg.org/findATechnician.php
Good luck.
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Title : How to tell if a song is major or minor?
Description : Q. Basically, I have the scales down, but you know how each major key has a minor opposite, like C Major has no sharps or flats, and neithe...