Music theory questions

[Bushfire]

Okay, now I'm really confused... Have we come to a general consensus, or are you all as confused as I am? (cause we have three different definitions now people! Count 'em! Three! )

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

2/2, 2/4, 6/8, and 12/8 are pretty common in western music as well. Just wanted to throw more confusion in there

Also, downbeat is not necesarily always a strong beat. Beats 2 and 4 are commonly accentuated in jazz and blues.

Bottom line, just learn to count and go from there.

[Bushfire]

ToR-Tu-Ra: Yes, I've come across all of those but 2/2.

tim99: So once you know what the strong beats are, you (as a rule of thumb) use chord tones on the strong beats, and scale tones on the weak?

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

Originally Posted by Bushfire

ToR-Tu-Ra: Yes, I've come across all of those but 2/2.

Yes, "latin" (rumba, guaguanco, son, bossa, samba, etc) is mostly written in 2/2.

[Bushfire]

One more question: In the 1st cello suite, in the first section after the prelude, my copy denotes the time sig as a C with a vertical line crossing through it. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but does this not mean 2/4? Cause the whole section seems to me to be written in 4/4 still (theres 4 beats to a bar, every bar) so I'm am confused...

[Howard K]

That means 'cut time', it's essentially 2/2. The same space of time passes per bar, but the music is felt in two minim beats per bar rather than four crochets

[Red Wonder]

Originally Posted by Bushfire

Yeah, I guess scales are born of music, not the other way round huh?

+1
Nicely put

[Bushfire]

Originally Posted by Howard K

That means 'cut time', it's essentially 2/2. The same space of time passes per bar, but the music is felt in two minim beats per bar rather than four crochets

So what does this mean when I play it?

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

That means you give it a "two" feeling instead of a "four" feeling.

In a "simple" 4/4 you count: One, two, three, four
In 2/2 you count: One, two

The two in 2/2 falls on the 3 in 4/4 if you were counting it in four.

Listen carefully to some latin stuff, the bell usually plays minims, so that would be your beat. Two instead of four.

[Bushfire]

I get the beat, but doesn't the note length in the score stay the same? Is he just notating the feel he gave the piece?

[dlloyd]

Originally Posted by Bushfire

Is he just notating the feel he gave the piece?

Pretty much, yes.

Don't worry too much about it.