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Horizontally? Vertically?

Discussion in 'Music Theory [DB]' started by stephanie, Jul 24, 2003.

  1. Jul 24, 2003 #1
    stephanie

    stephanie

    Nov 14, 2000
    Scranton, PA
    Didn't want to hijack the '11 chords' thread...

    Sorry for the silly question: I see posts like this all the time that mention horizontal/vertical. What exactly does it mean in regards to chords, chord progressions, or what-have-you? :confused:

    Thanks,
    Stephanie
     
  2. Jul 24, 2003 #2
    Michael Case

    Michael Case

    Jun 4, 2002
    Salt Lake City, Utah
    It refers to melodic lines and chords. Vertical up and down is a chord as played on a piano or guitar because the notes are stacked. Horizontal, is side to side, a walking bassline is horizontal so is a melody.
    Hope this makes sense.
     
  3. Jul 24, 2003 #3
    stephanie

    stephanie

    Nov 14, 2000
    Scranton, PA
    Ahh yes, that makes sense. I knew it was a simple answer lol.

    Thanks Mike. :)
     
  4. Jul 24, 2003 #4
    Don Higdon

    Don Higdon In Memoriam

    Dec 11, 1999
    Princeton Junction, NJ
    There's no need to apologize for trying to learn.
    That's my opinion, and I think it's shared by most DB regulars. We quickly figure out who's serious. Nobody starts out being an expert, and not many end up that way, either.
    As for tonality expressed horizontally. If you sing "Pop Goes the Weasel", you won't need a key signature to tell the tonality. A more sophisticated example of spelling chords horizontally would be the original Gerry Mulligan quartet, but my guess is that's not your bag. That's OK.
    Now run for your life; when the big hand reaches 12, I get nasty.