Musical intervals and relative pitch: Frequency resolution, not interval resolution, is special

Abstract Pitch intervals are central to most musical systems, which utilize pitch at the expense of other acoustic dimensions. It seemed plausible that pitch might uniquely permit precise perception of the interval separating two sounds, as this could help explain its importance in music. To explore this notion, a simple discrimination task was used to … Read more

Musical Training and Late-Life Cognition

“Musical Training and Late-Life Cognition” refers to a growing body of research exploring the potential cognitive benefits of musical training in older adults. This line of inquiry investigates whether engaging in musical activities earlier in life may have a positive impact on cognitive function and brain health as individuals age. Several studies have suggested that … Read more

What happens when you play one song backwards as a muse to writing another song?

Ian McCulloch, singer-songwriter.  I’ve always said that The Killing Moon is the greatest song ever written. I’m sure Paul Simon would be entitled say the same about Bridge Over Troubled Water, but for me The Killing Moon is more than just a song. It’s a psalm, almost hymnal. It’s about everything, from birth to death … Read more

Harmony: Chords and How to Build Them

How harmony works in western music. Traids formed out of scales, common harmonic progressions, nature of modulation. Listening skills for determining regular or irregular change rates. Wide variety of examples. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxf8mHkxgoA   Harmony in music refers to the combination of different musical elements, such as chords, melodies, and rhythms, to create a pleasing and coherent … Read more

How to Set Up and Intonate an Acoustic Guitar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9ywORU5EUs Setting up and intonating an acoustic guitar properly is crucial for ensuring that the instrument plays in tune across the entire fretboard. While intonation adjustments on acoustic guitars can be more challenging than on electric guitars due to their fixed bridge systems, there are several steps you can take to improve intonation and overall … Read more

Characteristics of “Music Education” Videos Posted on YouTube

Abstract This content analysis sought to determine information related to users uploading, general content, and specific characteristics of music education videos on YouTube. A total of 1,761 videos from a keyword search of “music education” were viewed and categorized. Results for relevant videos indicated users posted videos under 698 different usernames, with postings under a … Read more

Melodic sound enhances visual awareness of congruent musical notes, but only if you can read music

Predictive influences of auditory information on resolution of visual competition were investigated using music, whose visual symbolic notation is familiar only to those with musical training. Results from two experiments using different experimental paradigms revealed that melodic congruence between what is seen and what is heard impacts perceptual dynamics during binocular rivalry. This bisensory interaction … Read more

Long-term music training tunes how the brain temporally binds signals from multiple senses

Practicing a musical instrument is a rich multisensory experience involving the integration of visual, auditory, and tactile inputs with motor responses. This combined psychophysics-fMRI study used the musician’s brain to investigate how sensory-motor experience molds temporal binding of auditory and visual signals. Behaviorally, musicians exhibited a narrower temporal integration window than nonmusicians for music but … Read more

Affective constraints on acquisition of musical concepts: Children’s and adults’ development of the major-minor distinction

Abstract Across cultures and age groups music has a powerful impact on human affective states. We examined the effect of these affective responses on children’s and adults’ ability to label musical excerpts as major or minor. Content Affective constraints on acquisition of musical concepts: Children’s and adults’ development of the major-minor distinction Clarissa A. Thompson … Read more

The Cosmic 432 & The Musical Conspiracy

Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e9-P_zbj  bY Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOUprf8C-  7E Uploaded on May 3, 2011 The Conspiracy Extends to the Musical Scale (PROOF!): http://humansarefree.com/2011/03/does-conspiracy-extend-to-musical-scale.html To understand more clearly WHY he’s pursuing and presenting this info — read the paper MUSICAL CULT CONTROL by DR LEONARD HOROWITZ (free online, google it) and check the MILITARY SOURCES given in that paper which show the … Read more

The most elegant key change in all of pop music

Music makes you feel feelings. Lyrics make you think thoughts. Songs/Music make you feel thoughts.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epqYft12nV4   All By Myself features an incredible key change from G major to Cb major, let’s talk about it! 0:00 Introduction 1:21 Part 1 – Song Analysis 7:57 Part 2 – The Key Change!! 11:33 (interlude – mom … Read more