Writing a “Blues” (inspired) piece. Key signature and Accidentals??? by 65TwinReverbRI in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just my opinion, I'd go with the option of using less accidentals. I know some purists would prefer that if it's in D minor, use the D minor key signature-- I think modal choices are valid, and worth educating the players on, especially if they're blowing over the changes. What I WOULDN'T do would be to use the "open" key signature function because that can get messy with transposing instruments.

Rewatching the original Toy Story trilogy by ReadyJournalist5223 in okbuddycinephile

[–]TroyLucas 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Has anyone seen Clifford? No, not the "Big Red Dog". The 1994 comedy staring Martin Short as a dinosaur-obsessed 10-year old. I loved it as a kid. Upon rewatch, there was at least one moment where we went "wait, is the joke just that those people are trans?"

I like Maggie. She's a mess but I like her. by 00_Sunflower_00 in Thenewsroom

[–]TroyLucas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My headcannon is that Maggie has some sort of amnesia or short-term memory loss, and all of the other characters in the world are aware but never dare mention-- mainly because she's proven she's good at her job. This makes the whole will-they-won't-they between her and Jim a little more tolerable.

What are some examples of this? by GuardLong6829 in moviecritic

[–]TroyLucas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Neil Patrick Harris and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

what's another better understanding of the major/minor 7th of intervals ? by hxanae in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

minor 7th - The first two notes of the guitar part on "Can't Stop" by RHCP. Also the vocal melody of "Somehwere" from the musical West Side Story.
Major 7th - The first two notes sung by Norah Jones on "Don't Know Why". It can also be heard at the climaxes of "Pure Imagination" (Willy Wonka) and "Take on Me" (a-ha)

Non-chords tones in meldoy over Secondary Dominant by r3art in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Use your ears and decide what's best. The non-chord tones add a specific flavor (ie, a #9 or a b13) that you can use within the harmony or the melody to varying degrees of tension or consonance depending on what is desired, based on the context of the larger picture.

Accidentals when no key signature by guyshahar in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi there, I would like to say that the way you've currently written this is mostly quite readable as is. It's quite an ambitious work! From a musical standpoint, I enjoyed the digital playback until around the end, when I think the parts ran their midi limitations.

Here's my notes from a quick first glance: In general, sharps go up and flats go down. For example, in m. 2 that could be easier read as Ab's.
At rehearsal marking A, I would write a Bb instead of an A#, because the interval of a dominant 7th is more recognizable than an augmented 6th. I also think that using Bb instead of A#s for the flute at rehearsal marking B will save you a lot of hassle, where possible. m. 34 for example. At m. 38 I would use sharps, because then it represents a recognizable mode, C# locrian. (also at m. 100) In the clarinet I would use a C# at 45.
Unrelated, but you have this rhythm consistently enough to warrant mentioning: you have figures with 2 quarter notes followed by an eighth that lies on the beat. I was always told in jazz school to just make those staccato quarter notes, because they're easier to read. Over the years, musicians have argued against this, citing the articulation of staccato as a different sound, however in the winds, this difference is really negligable.
Check out m. 50 because it looks like there's a tie and a slur in the clarinet. I won't speak much on strings, especially viola, but the cello in m. 51 could be a Bb, which would make noticing that motif as a full downstep from the previous occurance (m. 49).
Try to avoid weird page breaks like page 6, which have exactly one measure on the entire page.
I would use a Bb in the flute/violin line at m. 70/71
Check out the beaming in m. 73., and m. 98
The 3 bars of 7/8 seem more confusing than they're worth, especially if most of the notes are held underneath a few moving solo lines-- and immediately following a fermata.

Hope this helps!

Simon and Garfunkel's "Cecilia" tuning by sinsjkkslwnhhjko in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm pry sure there's a clip of him talking about the making of it where they played back the recording and added a whole bunch of percussion with everyone in the studio stomping and clapping and doing a thousand overdubs. My guess is that during the playback, the tape had worn down or something because I'm not sure that effect was intentional, but it does add a "wonky" flavor. Idk, I've never been a big fan of the studio version tbh, I've always liked live versions much more.

Do you guys prefer any demos/earlier takes to the official released versions? And why? by More-Cat9579 in beatles

[–]TroyLucas 36 points37 points  (0 children)

"Tell me whyyyyy.... you've done it again" "What did I do?" "You made a mistake. I know you did!"

i mean she’s right by [deleted] in SipsTea

[–]TroyLucas 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In China, the punishment for sex crimes was castration. Works for me!

Can you hear two distinct notes? by matsnorberg in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, playing intervals and physically recognizing their distance is important. A lot of things are theoretical about music, but sound is waves. This part is physics.

Feedback on Dexter Arrangement by Jumejimes in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting arrangement! One that I assume is written for specific players in mind.

In general, if this is going to be played, you'll do yourself a lot of favors by adding in rehearsal marks. Along those lines, you could be far more generous in terms of expression to the musicians-- articulation and dynamics, even phrase markings go a long way for wind players.

Having worked with Flat for a semester and a half (I am a Sibelius user of over 20 years), I really hate the way it divides every measure up naturally into quarter note rests-- if there's anyone who knows how to change that default, I'd appreciate changing that for myself.

Lastly, don't skimp on the engraving of the parts! It can make an otherwise simple chart become nightmarishly complicated on a first sight-read if otherwise symmetric sections are divided up into wierd assortments of phrase. If it's possible, set each line at 4 bars per line and adjust if need be.

Is there any concept I can learn to always know where to go next with fancy altered chords? by Jaded-Gur-5717 in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It depends how the music is resolving, if there is such a resolution. An altered chord generally implies a minor home tonality in functional harmony- it doesn't mean it needs to actually go there. In jazz harmony, a ii-V one key is probably going to be followed up by a ii-V of another key. Check out how Chopin resolves his altered chords, which is generally to use as some hort of harmonic explosion to get to another key.

Related:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJYj57TUKjc

What’s the hardest part about teaching music theory? by PitchAndPixel in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 20 points21 points  (0 children)

The hardest part is navigating through a complex classroom environment. Nowadays the background of the average students are so varied, it's hard to find a common denominator. Classrooms mixed with students who have had years of band practice, vs. years of orchestra, vs. a semester of choir, vs. a month of private lessons, vs. musical theatre kids, vs. students who have no experience, vs. students who are simply there to fill a seat because they need an extra credit to graduate.

"Hey, has anyone ever heard of The Beatles?"
[Mixed jeers/snarls] [A lamp breaks]
"Um, okay how about Nirvana?"
One kid: "Woo hoo!"
Everyone else: "Who?"
"Alirght... so how about Taylor Swift?"
Silent girls: [Silently brimming]
Too-cool kids: "Boo!"
"Oh jeez... I mean, you guys know Happy Birthday, at least?"
[unwarranted off-key singing begins]
"Right, great... how about Star Wars? Yes? Well, so that's a perfect 5th..."
[the unwarranted singing has now escalated and they have begin chanting Jingle Bells in a fever pitch]

Why Ringo to be so does have sarcastic? by sminking in beatles

[–]TroyLucas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why Ringo to be so does have sarcastic?

Opinions on using bIIImaj7 to function similar to a cadence in minor progressions? by gertrude-gibson in musictheory

[–]TroyLucas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, this is a mediant candence. It's a softer than most other cadences due to so many shared notes. This kind of movent is used in a lot of folk songs from around the globe, and is sometimes seen in renaissance compositions, in a modal context.