Author Archives: gwilliams5

This week, we once again explore the close connection between music and math as we learn a simple method to calculate key signatures. As you probably already know, there are 12 distinct keys in music; any scale, melody, or song can be played in any of these 12 keys. Changing the key of a songContinue reading “Key Signature Calculation”

As I have shown in previous posts, there is a very close relationship between music and mathematics. Whether we are talking about the ratios between polyrhythms, how to count in irrational time signatures, or the similarities between rhythm and pitch, math always has its place in music theory. In this week’s topic, the two subjectsContinue reading “Tone Rows”

Irrational time signatures are best explained if we first understand their rational counterparts. In music, time signatures are rhythmic devices that tell us the number of counts in each measure, and the value of each of these counts. Let’s take a simple form of a rational time signature: Both numbers tell us different things. TheContinue reading “Irrational Time Signatures”

In this week’s post, I want to cover a new musical concept that can help when you’re writing chord progressions. As I have mentioned in previous posts, a chord progression is a series of chords played in a certain order. Chord progressions form the basis of all harmonic development in music, and in my negativeContinue reading “Modulation”

For this week’s blog, I want to try something new and different. Rather than exploring a specific concept, I want to analyse the musical components behind one of my favorite classical pieces of music. These components include structure, chord progressions, and stylistic details. This song also happens to be the same piece that I willContinue reading “Composition Spotlight: Liebestraum No. 3”

At its core, music is comprised of two essential components: pitch and rhythm. Pitch is the note or group of notes that is being played, while rhythm is the pattern and frequency that these notes are arranged in. Music without one or the other would sound disastrous, as they each play an important role inContinue reading “Pitch vs. Rhythm”

A polyrhythm is defined as the mathematical relationship between two or more simultaneous events. In music, a simpler explanation of a polyrhythm is when two separate but constant rhythms play at the same time, and line up together according to a specific ratio.  For example, one of the most common polyrhythms is two against three.Continue reading “Polyrhythms”

To explain exactly what negative harmony is, I first need to clarify some basic musical concepts. In every major scale, there are two kinds of notes: stable notes and active notes. Let’s take the notes from the C major scale: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – CContinue reading “Negative Harmony”

Perhaps one of the most unique aural skills that humans can possess is known as absolute pitch, or commonly referred to as perfect pitch. People with this ability can distinguish between tonal frequencies. More simply, they are able to identify any note that they hear. This talent is incredibly rare, as it’s estimated that oneContinue reading “Absolute Pitch”