Success Music Studio

Tuning

 

music, low, electric bass

 

 

The archive contains posts about tuning instruments and vocals.

 

 

Instrument and Vocal Intonation

Are you frustrated that your guitar or synth chords sound out of tune? Do you want to sing in tune? Many of the following posts deal with how to retune guitars and synths so they sound better. Other posts deal with singing or playing in tune.

 

However, the tuning posts do not stop at the simple question of how to tune a guitar or a synth. They also look at the deeper questions of what does it mean to be in tune and how to tune better.

 

When musicians tune instruments, they bring the instruments’ notes into agreement with a cultural standard. The standard remains different for fixed pitch instruments, such as the piano, than for flexible pitch instruments, such as the voice.

 

In Western culture, equal temperament remains the standard for fixed pitch instruments. It allows the instrument to have a manageable number of notes. Also, all twelve scales remain usable.

 

However, the chords sound barely in tune. Therefore, many of the posts in the archive talk about how to tune instruments using Supplemented Equal Temperament (SET). SET is an enhanced version of equal temperament. Thus, chords sound better in SET than in equal temperament.

 

Flexible pitch instruments, such as the voice, violin, brass, and woodwind families, have the ability to adjust their pitch as they play. Consequently, many of the archive posts deal with vocal intonation. (Though any flexible pitch instrumentalist will benefit from the ear training.)

 

To help them achieve this, the singing posts have specially tuned sing-along songs that train vocalists to sing melodies and harmonies accurately.

 

© 2021 Geoffrey Keith

 

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How Do I Switch from Singing Shaped Notes to Standard Notation - Boys Choir - How Do I Switch from Minor Key Shaped Notes to Standard Notation - Singing Shape Notes Solfege Ionian Melodies - What Exactly Is a Chord and What Does the Term Harmony Mean - What Exactly Is a Chord and What Does the Term Harmony Mean

How Do I Switch from Singing Shaped Notes to Standard Notation – Part 1

“How do I switch from singing shaped notes to standard notation?” Because they’re easy to read, shape notes will always be a good choice for struggling readers, and it makes a great introduction to solfege too. However, the limited shape note repertoire means that shape note singers may want to learn to read standard notation as well. Click to learn how to transition from shaped notes to standard notation. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Why is it Important to Define the Dynamics to Sing a Piece of Music - sheet music, cake, and coffee

Why is it Important to Define the Dynamics to Sing a Piece of Music?

Why is it important to sing the dynamics for a piece of music? Dynamics play an important role in notated music, helping bring interest and variety to your songs. If you want help understanding how dynamic signs work, click to answer the question: “Why is it important to define the dynamics to sing a piece of music?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Why Do Just Intonation Keys Have Different Aural Characteristics - Piano Tuner

Why Do Just Intonation Keys Have Different Aural Characteristics?

Have you ever wondered why just intonation sounds different in different keys? This happens because the structure of just intonation diverges from equal temperament (the modern tuning standard), resulting in a different sound. Click to learn the answer to the question, “Why do just intonation keys have different aural characteristics?” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

Question - How Do I Get Better at Sight Singing - Male Singer - What Exactly Is a Ballad and How Do You Write One?

Question, How Do I Get Better at Sight Singing?

“What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” Sharps, flats, and naturals (collectively called accidentals) grew out of a problem that needed to be fixed in the mediaeval music notation. The music theorists of the time slapped their fix onto the preexisting notation system, and that fix is still with us to this day. However, having confused generations of budding musicians, the results of the fix leave a lot to be desired. Click to answer the question, “What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Is Singing Solfege Helpful for Learning to Hear Intervals by Ear - Children Singing - Sing Silent Night with Shape Note Solfege - Deck the Halls (Lyrics and Song) - Angels We Have Heard on High: A Powerful Carol of Joy [Words]

Is Singing Solfege Helpful for Learning to Hear Intervals by Ear?

Is singing solfege actually helpful for learning to hear intervals by ear? Sort of. In some contexts, solfege can be useful for hearing how the intervals sound so you can sing in tune. In others, solfege won’t help at all. Click to answer the question, “Is singing solfege helpful for learning to hear intervals by ear?” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.