Indian Classical Music vs Western Classical Music The Classical Story
Indian Classical Music is all about ragas. A raga portrays a mood, a sentiment, expressed through a microtonal scale. There are a number of ragas, each with its own mood and its own corresponding microtonal scale that is based on the natural harmonic series – the natural law of vibrations.
Today, Indian Classical music is influenced by a foreign tonal system that is not based on the natural harmonic series. This is the Western tonal system that has had a big influence on Indian Classical music. Many Indian Classical musicians, nowadays, make use of Western instruments such as guitar and drums.
Most Western audiences find Indian Classical music to be quite exotic. Two major reasons are the differences between the two traditions in tuning and scales.
The subtle differences
Let’s straightaway delve into the differences between these two vast genres of music to get a better idea:
Indian Classical Music (ICM) is primarily homophonic, which means that it focuses on creating melodies using a sequence of notes, whereas Western Classical Music (WCM) is to an extent polyphonic, which means multiple notes are played/sung together, where the counterpoint, harmony, and texture created using multiple voices is very important.
WCM is composed, whereas ICM is improvised. WCM compositions are formally written using Staff Notation, and performers usually follow that. But in the case of ICM, the Teacher-Student tradition of learning leads to each performance being an improvisation.
ICM uses “Taal”, where Taal is a cycle of beats that is centered on “Sam” that repeats itself. In the case of WCM, there aren’t any complex beat cycles.
WCM is modal and so has a chord for each note of the scale. On the contrary, ICM is tonal and, hence, is based on a single scale (a single drone, chord, and key).
Fusion all the way
But then again fusion is a growing concept in India. So, their differences and some similarities make fusion music even more interesting and challenging. If we take a deeper look, we will actually find a number of similarities. Today, “guitar” has acquired prime position and popularity in Indian Classical Music with Indian Ragas being played on guitar.
There are two types of Guitars that is used for fusion in India: Spanish guitar and Hawaiian guitar.A wide variety and mix of instruments ranging from Guitar, Drums, and Saxophone to Sitar, Tabla, and Flute are used for fusion music/concerts.
My band, known as Kaivalyaa, is also a fusion band, where we fuse various western genres with Indian Classical music. The Western and Indian instruments we use include Guitar, Drums, Keyboards, Mouth Organ, Bass Guitar, Harmonium, Flute, Sarod, Tabla, and a number of percussion instruments. Some of the big names in the Indian fusion scenario are Indian Ocean, Avial, Advaita, Raghu Dixit Project, Mother Jane, Tabla Beat Science, and Bandish Fusion. With varied influences, experiments, scales, tones, and sounds, fusion is the next big thing. So, if you want to know more about the Indian Classical scales/Ragas, you are at the right place.
Guitar Solo Scales
Learning to play Guitar Solo Scales can be confusing at first, but once you learn some basic music improvisation techniques and guitar scales, you can solo to virtually any song. Before you try to become an expert at guitar solos, It is important that you have a basic music improvisation exercises understanding of guitar chords, guitar tab and music theory. Mastering the guitar can take years, so diligence is critical. When all else fails, consider taking guitar lessons; you can work one-on-one with an expert who can monitor your skill level and focus on your weaknesses. Here’s Tips On Guitar Solo Scales :
Find a slow song you enjoy that allows room for guitar solos or a song that already incorporates a guitar solo. A good example is “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton; it incorporates a repeating signature guitar riff and contains a very basic chord structure. A blues or classic rock song is probably best, as they typically follow standard structures and chords.
Determine the key of the Free Jazz Theory song. You can usually find the key of the song at the beginning of any sheet music or guitar tab. If the key is not noted, the key is usually the starting chord of the song. For example, “Wonderful Tonight” starts on G major and is in the key of G major. Remember, this is not true in all cases; however, it is very common in popular music. Learning this step by ear will take extra practice.
If the song is in a major key, locate the relative minor note. For example, “Wonderful Tonight” is in the key of G major, which has a relative minor of E minor. If the song is already in a minor key, for example, C minor (often written Cm or C-), you can omit this step. To figure out the relative minor of the song, refer to the major scale of the key; the sixth note of the major scale is the relative minor root. You can use this simple chart to get started.
Find the relative Guitar Solo Scales minor note on the 6th string (E string). This is your root note and starting point for the minor pentatonic scale. For example, if you are soloing over “Wonderful Tonight,” you would start in the open position or on the 12th fret. If the song was in A major, you would start on the 2nd fret. Keep in mind, this only relates to the first position pentatonic scale and you do not have to start in this position; it is simply a good starting point for beginners. As you advance, you can start your soloing anywhere on the neck.Attempt playing the notes of the Guitar Solo Scales over your song choice. The notes should sound like they blend with the song. The notes can be played in any order, but you will notice it sounds best when the starting note is played in accompaniment with the current chord.Practice the same technique over different songs in different keys and different tempos.Learn every note on the 6th string and attempt to learn all of the notes on every string; it will help you locate the root notes of the scales quickly, increasing your soloing range and speed. It will also help you understand how scales work.Master the first position of the minor pentatonic Guitar Solo Scales before moving on to other scales and nodes. The first position is used most often and it will boost your confidence. In addition, you could never learn another scale and still be able to solo to practically any song with this single scale structure.
Music Creation Software – What Are Your Options
Those of you aspiring to create and record your own music can now do it sitting at home. Music creation software packages allow you to create, record and edit music conveniently. Not just this, there are software packages that cater to different ages, from musically inclined kids to the more advanced music creating software for adults.
Morton Subotnick’s Making Music for beginners
This is an educational and fun music software for kids. Created by Morton Subotnick, an award winning composer, Making Music allows children to have an easy and enjoyable music composing experience. Designed to be kid-friendly, the software has ‘animal building blocks’ that allow children to create their own unique melodies. Rhythm and pitch can be modified by lining birds up on a wire, resembling music notes. The software also allows kids to select any of the sixteen instruments on the computer screen and listen to the sounds produced by each individually or together. Other fun and exciting games include testing kids musical sense by asking them to listen to two melodies and judging whether they are different or similar.
For aspiring musicians
With its popularity in Europe soaring, Music Maker from Magix allows aspiring musicians to create music even if they do not have prior knowledge of music composing. This music creating software allows users to choose from several thousand pre-created samples and loops from different musical instruments, digital music files and CDs. The samples, loops can be previewed, dragged and dropped on screen. The software allows users to create more than ninety different music tracks. Other important features of Music Maker include enhanced editing tools, a quality drum machine and a tuner that creates a complete choir from one recorded voice and also corrects recorded vocal samples automatically. The musical pieces can be exported to files and played on Windows Media Player.
Using Microsoft Songsmith, you can create songs by choosing appropriate music to accompany your vocals. You start by choosing a particular song style and setting a tempo. You will then have to sing the song into the microphone in tune with the percussive beat. Once you are done recording, Songsmith will set the key, choose the chords and play the song again with musical accompaniments. You can edit the score, export it to a disk and share it.
DUBturbo is another quality music creating software using which you can create hip-hop, house, jungle and modern music pieces. Sonic Producer is also an impressive music composition and creation software that offers bang for your buck.
Advanced music creating software
Cakewalk Music Creator Pro and Cubase are high-end, advanced music creation and editing software for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 users. They can be used with a computer keyboard or you can attach instruments to a Midi keyboard (sound card). The programs offer more standard pattern and loop based arranging as well as advanced audio mixing. Pitch shifting and real time stretching are some interesting features offered by Cubase.
Determine your musical needs before you buy music creation software. Research and compare different music software online to make an informed purchase decision.
[Top]Zulu Musical Instruments, Essential To Develop Musical Traditions In Africa
African music is the music of Africans who live in a large region of 50 nations, each with a special culture, history and language, South of Sahara. Zulu musical instruments are part of this multilingual culture. African music has some distinct characteristics: the use of repetition is one of them. Another important characteristic is the polyphony; this is the combination of different musical parts played simultaneously.
The history is marked by the awesome military strategies of the Zulu King Shaka. The King’s and his warriors’ campaign of expansion is well known in world history. Zulu rich traditional culture includes songs, dances and colorful rituals, Zulu musical instruments are spectacular and original. A variety of Zulu musical instruments are well known, s well as the traditional Mine dance; Zulus have longtime used their music as a cry for freedom.
African music is really rich in modes of expression: drum ensembles are using Zulu musical instruments from the percussion family. Each drummer uses special methods to produce sounds to distinguish his drum from the others. Iron bells are very popular Zulu musical instruments; they are used to produce a repeated sound to help the drummers to play at the correct time.
Zulu musical instruments, rare and very special
The akadinda is a king of xylophone; two groups of African musicians are playing simultaneously. The first group is playing repeatedly the same pattern; the second group plays to fill in the missing sounds. Groups of Zulu musicians play also using flutes, trumpets or xylophones. Each player plays a single note in a strange rotation with the other players. The result is a polyphonic piece, characteristic to African music.
Musical practices of South African people were observed from many years; Zulu musical instruments are obsolete. Venda mbila is an old Zulu musical instrument; it is not used anymore. Reed flutes, contrary, are still very popular. The influence of foreign cultures and civilizations causes many of old Zulu musical instruments to become obsolete.
Musical instruments such as tsonga a horn, ingungu a friction drum, nkoka a drum, pedi a flute, venda musical bow and stick, deze and demba thumb piano and resonatos, umfece ankle rattles are almost obsolete.
To preserve this awesome heritage of Zulu musical instruments, the necessary information was entered into a database; each Zulu musical instrument was digitally photographed to preserve all information about it.
[Top]Music to enhance your child’s learning skills
A child’s development depends on all-round care and nurture. Education is one facet of their lives but so too are others. Music is one such factor. Helping to provide self-discipline, organizational skills and building teamwork, this much-dismissed program is an essential part of a child’s learning structure.
If you’re still skeptical of its ability to nourish your child, check this – according to a M.I.N.D. Institute research, music improves spatial-temporal reasoning. Scientists have found that children who take up music are better at problem-solving, evaluation and analysis and have higher thinking skills. It has also been found that children who spend time learning music are less likely to get involved in drinking or drugs.
For elementary school music lessons, planning has to be more detailed as children become more able to grasp details and harder topics or subjects. A planbook’s components should typically consist of single lessons, assessments, repertoire, resources and standards. Here, repertoire means performances; and resources mean the materials, available space and time.
Other elementary school music lessons can include integrating music with other subjects kopiervorlagen like maths and drama. At times, students can zone out if the music in the curriculum is not to their taste. Don’t hesitate to incorporate more modern music. By combining classical and modern, you’ll be able to pique their interest while also teaching them music worth learning. Remember, innovation is the key to being able to teach well.
Like any other subject, you cannot make your child -feel’ music. What you can do, however, is fill your home with music, humming and singing while they are still very young so that the trend is not lost. In fact, some mothers while still pregnant, make their babies listen to classical music to get the most out of the experience. Aside from its ability to promote developmental skills, music education is an integral part of human culture and behavior like gottesdienst. It also helps promote peace and civility in schools as the mind and body is made to integrate to create something that is beyond a person’s subconscious. Parents and others alike should band together to make music education compulsory in all schools, be it in the West, Middle East or East, if they want their children to grow up to be wholesome individuals.
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