A few years ago I had a go at learning to play the mandolin. I didn't get very far with it, but the upside was that I did learn quite a bit of theory along the way. In order to keep it in my memory, I came up with some mnemonics.
So let's have some fun. I will type some mnemonics below, and let's see who can be the first to decipher them. I will start with the easiest.
By 'eck - no sharps.
Take That sound terrible; they totally suck. (Or if you prefer not to be brutal - Take That sound terrific; they totally sell.)
Take some time to savour the taste.
The times, she says, three times.
The same three sisters stay three semesters.
I only came up with the last one today, and it is pretty hard.
Comments
The others look like lists of intervals as well. If the last one means 3 intervals of 3 semitones, then that would fit a Dim7 Chord.
Then natural minor. The last two aren’t full scales. I think the last one is supposed to be the symmetrical whole/half scale, or maybe the half-diminished.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
The second is the major scale. Every word beginning with S indicates a semitone, and every word beginning with T indicates two semitones.
The third is a natural minor.
The third is a blues scale. The number three indicates three semitones.
The last one is an Egyptian or Arabic scale.
or F# major?
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Obviously B# and E# do exist, as do Cb and Fb (though we know what you mean - they don’t exist as black notes on the piano). So for the sharps and flats, I think a huge step in theory is to commit the entire circle of fifths to memory and really understand how it works and what it is. I came up with rather a neat way of remembering it, and through extension, the sharps and flats (other than using the awesome “father charles” / “battle ends” mnemonics), like this:
It starts with C (C for “circle” )
then you imagine plucking a 5 string bass from top to bottom: G D A E B
then you imagine detuning by a semitone and repeating: Gb Db Ab Eb Bb
finally it finishes with F (F for “fifths”!!!)
(yes, the Gb is also called F# but that spoils my method!)
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Obviously this keyboard requires what we hear as F being relegated to G#, and the whole system is a silly bit of nonsense!
https://youtu.be/uGzF4gA-fGs
Sorry for going off track
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com