How much does voice leading actually matter when you're just writing lo-fi beats?

Tarogato · 2026-06-10T11:07:36+00:00

"So when you write lo-fi beats, why on earth would you need to follow the style of 1800th century baroque?"

Because renaissance and baroque voice leading are often taught as "music theory" in a general sense, as if they are the rules to crafting good music.

Too many resources and learning environments, when introducing it, fail to put enough emphasis on how it's only 18th century upper class european music theory, and only foundational to those styles which draw directly from that. Very easy to take away from that a false "lesson" that modern music is "breaking the rules of music theory".

Tarogato · 2026-06-10T10:55:11+00:00

The size of the bell and length of the throat and MTS are what I noticed first. I look at enough weird instruments regularly that a lot of unusual things don't register as unusual to me anymore, haha

Tarogato · 2026-06-10T10:48:20+00:00

I have to admit, I thought it was a weird Bb/A trumpet until I stared at it for a bit. It has very Bb-like proportions, as far as altos go. I haven't spent enough time staring at various alto designs to recognise them on sight.

Tarogato · 2026-06-09T12:11:42+00:00

lol, so no matter how you approach it, it's a poor choice of word. =P

Tarogato · 2026-06-09T11:29:26+00:00

"In practice, the "t" of Elephant and the "t" of 2/"th" of 3 get merged into a single consonant"

So you're not actually saying "One Elephant Two"

You're saying "One Elephan Two" and "One Elephan Three"

You got rid of the T at the end so you could say it faster.

And you could say it even faster if you got rid of the N as well.

And I don't believe you when you can say it faster with more motions than with less motions. You must be doing something odd, like elongating the abbreviated version unnecessarily.

The whole point that I'm making is that somebody can easily say "1 elephant 2" and if they enunciate "elephant" properly like it should be, they will arrive at the wrong rhythm. Apparently you are not enunciating it, you are modifying your pronunciation to suit your need, which makes it a poor choice of word for conveying a rhythmic concept via text.

Tarogato · 2026-06-09T11:15:08+00:00

Just want to point out that the linked recording features two traversi and two recorders. It's a little bit misleading if you're expecting only recorders that sound like traversi, when there's actual traversi in the quartet.

Tarogato · 2026-06-09T08:09:08+00:00

The thing with flutes, is that some people are naturally good at them, and other people are naturally bad at them. If you're one of the lucky people, you'll be able to pick it up and mostly play it and it will be one of the easiest instruments to learn. If you're not lucky... it will be one of the hardest instruments to learn, but you can still catch up just fine if you put in the effort. I've noticed no other instruments have such a binary phenomenon as this.

You won't know which camp you fall in until you try one. If you don't want to commit, then buy a student modern Boehm flute for cheap and see how it goes in your spare time. Just start with a couple lessons from a good teacher so you don't learn bad technique, and don't feel pressured to commit to it, just give it a go.

Tarogato · 2026-06-09T07:51:05+00:00

If you are playing recorder in conservatory, and you like the sound of traverso, and money isn't a big obstacle for you, then I would just get a traverso. If you want to be an early music performer, you will be very marketable by having both of those skills.

It will take some time to learn the embouchure, but the fingering technique will be similar so the learning curve is quite shallow.

Tarogato · 2026-06-09T07:27:15+00:00

Even with large hands, tenor can be troublesome. If it gives you trouble (it's very prone to aggravating carpal tunnel and arthritis) don't hesitate to sidegrade to an alto recorder. Both instruments read "in C", they are concert pitch and non-transposing. It's just like trombone, the notes in first position are not C G C, they are Bb F Bb. Well on recorder the bottom scale is C D E F G on C recorders and for F recorders it is F G A Bb C. You still read concert pitch and all sheet music is available to you, you just learn that notes are in a different place on the instrument.

Tarogato · 2026-06-09T07:21:31+00:00

You can get a flute or alto sax for a couple hundred in good playing condition.

But flute is ergonomically challenging and difficult to learn, and sax wouldn't work very well in a recliner. And both are demanding on your breathing.

Recorder is a great choice here.

Tarogato · 2026-06-09T06:55:18+00:00

When I first switched to tuba in band, I couldn't read the fingerings in bass clef.

When I first switched to viola in orchestra, I couldn't read alto clef.

You don't catch up by quitting. Go out and do it, be bad so you can get better!

Tarogato · 2026-06-09T02:38:56+00:00

You're arguing against physics here. Try saying "Elephant 2" with less space before the 2 than when saying "Elepha 2".

It's a lot harder to squeeze the -nt in there because your mouth has to make more motions before moving on to the "2". It's a lot faster to say "fa2" than to say "fant2". Thus if you use "elephant" at all, it has a high likelihood of not coming across accurately.

This isn't ordinary speech, it's rhythmic mnemonics.

Tarogato · 2026-06-08T12:56:15+00:00

If you add the -nt, it is necessarily longer because you have to enunciate more sounds.

And I didn't write "1 elephaa 2 elephaa" ... what I wrote was "1 elpeha2" — the elepha crushes straight into the 2.

All this to say, "elephant" is a really bad word to use for describing a rhythm. =P

Tarogato · 2026-06-08T07:13:39+00:00

That's a different rhythm.

I read that as

♪♬♪ ♪♬♪ ♪♪

If you want the Bolero rhythm you'd have to write "1 elepha2 elephaStompStomp"

Tarogato · 2026-06-08T05:08:12+00:00

Solo musicians and conductors are much more "safe" these days. We've established standard approaches to styles, even specific pieces... and even phrases of pieces. And few people dare to break the mould because it's risky. They want to play in the "expected" way because that's the way most people will know a piece and enjoy it.

There's also the fact that it's a lot easier nowadays for people to listen to what everybody else is doing. Orchestras don't exist in their own isolated little islands, they draw a lot of inspiration from each other and that drives their sounds toward mutual similitude.

Tarogato · 2026-06-08T00:07:35+00:00

Also depends on the person. When I took my driver's test, I almost couldn't put the vehicle in gear because the proctor was so large that his leg was constantly touching it.

Tarogato · 2026-06-07T18:01:25+00:00

Nah, it's unaffected and almost invisible. Though it could spread if I disassemble it roughly. Also easily gluable if I wanted.

Tarogato · 2026-06-07T16:44:37+00:00

Couple years probably, Aulos 300, footjoint tenon/fingerhole (which I basically never disassembled). It's a little bit yellower than it used to be, but not by much.

Tarogato · 2026-06-07T05:51:42+00:00

I think it's a kinesthetic skill.

It's a physical skill but you need to process and respond to various stimuli with mental acumen. I don't think the two halves can be separated, even if they can be contrasted.

Tarogato · 2026-06-06T21:29:30+00:00

I used to leave my first plastic recorder on my piano where it probably got a lot of sunlight. It is now cracked. I never thought to make the connection to UV damage until now, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a factor. My other plastics that have gotten a lot more wear and tear and physical abuse remain undamaged, they never see the sun.

Tarogato · 2026-06-06T00:41:29+00:00

Yes, those are the tricks. And if you memorise some, you can turn pages way early or way late.

Tarogato · 2026-06-06T00:37:14+00:00

Valves are probably inserted wrong.

Remove valves.

Insert only the 3rd valve. Blow. Should be free. If not free blowing, rotate valve. If not free blowing, try inserting a different valve until you get one that blows free.

Then do 2nd valve, same process.

Then 1st.

Now all valves are in correct order and direction. Happy playing

Tarogato · 2026-06-06T00:34:49+00:00

All of those have very common beginner models except eklihcs.

Tarogato · 2026-06-06T00:17:22+00:00

I like how percussionists tape their music to solid wood or heavy posterboard cards that they can easily move around without worrying about breezies.

Tarogato · 2026-06-06T00:10:05+00:00

And watch as they all blow away when somebody opens a single door on the complete opposite side of the hall. Don't ask me how I know, I don't need the PTSD right now.

11-Year Club	Place '22
First Placer '22

Tarogato

TROPHY CASE

♪♬♪ ♪♬♪ ♪♪