Beat This definition is not “beat” we normally think of with the rhythmic speed at which a song is played. Another definition of beat is related to acoustics. In music acoustics, a beat is the interference pattern between two sounds (wavelengths or sine waves) of slightly…
Microphones are ubiquitous. Chances are you’re reading this on a device that has at least one, either built-in or attached. How do they work? What types of microphones are used in music performance and recording? What are their key differences?…
As a kid, drum triggers confused me. This is because I only saw them connected to acoustic drums, and couldn’t understand how you would hear the trigger but not the drum, since both would be making sound. It didn’t make…
Countermelody or descant Sometimes a piece of music that is basically melody-with-accompaniment (homophonic) will include a single part that is truly independent of the melody. For example, a choral piece might be chordal for a few verses and then, to…
Room Mode A room mode is a frequency that resonates due to reflection from the surfaces in a room. Essentially, if the length between surfaces (or the sum of lengths between surfaces) is a multiple of a particular frequency, then…
Sonata From Latin, “to sound”, is a composition for an instrumental soloist, often with a piano accompaniment, typically in three or four movements of contrasting forms and keys. Sonata means a piece played as opposed to a cantata (Latin and Italian cantare, “to…
Recent Comments