How do a singer and a musician begin a selection? Every song or piece of music has a label. That label is called a key. This stamp, or key signature, can be found immediately after the time signature on the musical staff. A key signature … Continue reading
Musical tension comes from many places… dynamics, instrumentation, rhythm, chord flavor, and harmonic pulse (frequency: how often chords change). Once tension has been built, one is compelled to get back home, back to the I Chord, to release the tension. There are also many ways … Continue reading
Musical tension begins once you play and leave the I Chord… from that very moment, you’ll be looking for a way to get back home – back to the I Chord. Tension can also come from instrumentation, dynamics, feel, mood, and/or atmosphere. But regardless of … Continue reading
Music in general is all about numbers… time signatures, tempo, note lengths (duration), rhythm, progressions, note names (letter names), transposings, inversions (note placement within a chord – figured base). The number system is really easy – once you get it in one key, you’ll know … Continue reading
Scale degrees are 1 through 7 and have specific names that identify them… The I Chord – “The Tonic Chord”: This chord is the Root, or place of rest, and usually identifies the key that the piece is in. This chord is usually repeated, and … Continue reading
