The word "octave" is related to "octopus", "octagon", etc -- in other words, eight. In music, an octave is 8 diatonic scale notes higher or lower than the note of the same name.
For example, the "A" note is always 8 notes higher or lower than the previous "A". The "A" above middle C vibrates 440 times per second, so the "A" an octave above it would vibrate 880 times per second, while the "A" below middle C would vibrate 220 times per second, and so on.
The human ear identifies these octave notes as being "the same" -- only higher or lower, so if a soprano sang A440 and a bass sang A110, the human ear would hear it as the same note -- just separated by pitch. That's why there are only 7 distinct diatonic pitches and only 12 distinct chromatic pitches, despite the fact that the piano keyboard has 88 keys. Each note is repeated over and over again, but at a higher or lower octave.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
How To Hear Differences in Chord Types
Major
Minor
Diminished
Augmented For example, minor chords sound more somber, more serious, than major chords. Why? Because of the way the intervals are "stacked" within the chord. A diminished chord sounds suspenseful, tense, nervous. An augmented chord has a distinctive sound, too. Learn how to hear, feel, and identify these chords, as well as extended chords (you'll learn how to listen for the "color tone" in any 4-note chord).
Here are the color tones we'll listen for:
6ths
7ths
9ths
Once you can identify the 4 types of triads, and then recognize the color tones, it is a short step to recognizing chords such as minor 7ths, minor 6ths, diminished 7ths, major 9ths, and so on.
http://www.playpianocatalog.com/ear-training-chords--how-to-hear-differences-in-chord-types.html
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Playing "Angels We Have Heard On High" on the piano
There are many ways to arrange any tune. Here is one "classical sounding" piano style you can use:
"Angels We Have Heard On High"
"Angels We Have Heard On High"
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
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