Understanding music

[ernie2]

I am trying to learn more about music: do any comrades have recommendations for websites that deal with the basics of music, such a tone, scales etc and illustrate them with examples. I have read several books but without musical illustrations of the basic concepts it is difficult to really grasp some of the basic ideas :(. Thanks

[blake 3:17]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Music

Welcome to the board!

[¿Que?]

You should read some of the Frankfurt school on Popular Music, particularly, I think it was Adorno, wrote some critiques of popular music and culture.

Then you should also consider reading Bourdieu's Social Critique on the judgment of taste or something along those lines.

But specifically about learning music, just use google or your favorite search engine. I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for.

My own knowledge is limited to major and minor, and a little 7th (well, I know the number just signifies where to move particular notes of the triad, hence 7th, ninths and what have you). I have no understanding of diminished and augmented intervals, save for the fact that they occur as a result of the two pairs of notes of the chromatic scale which do not have a sharp or flat, respectively.

Maybe if you had a specific question, someone could answer it tho.

[ernie2]

Thanks Blake 3:17 and Que

I will go to the portal.

I have read some Adorno etc over the years and they are interesting but unless you have some idea about the structure of music etc you cannot really get to the root of what they are saying, which is one of the reasons I want to understand music structure etc more.

The best book I have read so far is Aaron Coplands What to listen for in music: which is brilliant. This is probably because it is done from a composers point of view. His analysis and explanations are clear, precise and understandable. He includes Jazz and makes an excellent defense of "modern music" which is basically listen to it, give it a chance and try and get used to listening to it, because one of the reasons "classical" music is so appealing is that we grow up hearing it and are used to it, where as modern music is something we have to approach in a much more conscious manner. I strongly recommend any comrade with an interest in music to read it.

Copland wrote it in 1938 but updated it in the 50s.

[ernie2]

Sorry Blake i forgot, thanks for the welcome.:)

[Fawkes]

Play an instrument




For example, the best way to understand how time signatures operate is to play around with different ones. The same goes for scales, harmonies, progressions, rhythmic patterns, etc.

Listen to a particular song that you like and then try to recreate it on whatever instrument you play. In doing so, you generate a practical understanding of the various elements used to make the song sound how it does.


This isn't meant to discount the role of books/illustrations in learning musical theory, but that information needs to be applied for it to be fully understood.


I hope this helps, sorry if I didn't really answer your question.

[ernie2]

Fawkes. Very good suggestion. Many years ago my parents did organise piano lessons for me, but due to dyslexia and a limited attention span, I really could not get what it was all about! However, I have thought about getting a keyboard to at least try and pick out cords etc. To engage in a bit of praxis you could say.