From 95ae5191ceedfdaae1f85b8e5ed34926129bb9fa Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Felix Roos Date: Thu, 16 May 2024 03:36:35 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] begin "understanding voicings" --- website/src/config.ts | 1 + website/src/pages/understand/voicings.mdx | 196 ++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 197 insertions(+) create mode 100644 website/src/pages/understand/voicings.mdx diff --git a/website/src/config.ts b/website/src/config.ts index 9dee2aac..f85d60d8 100644 --- a/website/src/config.ts +++ b/website/src/config.ts @@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ export const SIDEBAR: Sidebar = { { text: 'Coding syntax', link: 'learn/code' }, { text: 'Pitch', link: 'understand/pitch' }, { text: 'Cycles', link: 'understand/cycles' }, + { text: 'Voicings', link: 'understand/voicings' }, { text: 'Pattern Alignment', link: 'technical-manual/alignment' }, { text: 'Strudel vs Tidal', link: 'learn/strudel-vs-tidal' }, ], diff --git a/website/src/pages/understand/voicings.mdx b/website/src/pages/understand/voicings.mdx new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a36ecd8a --- /dev/null +++ b/website/src/pages/understand/voicings.mdx @@ -0,0 +1,196 @@ +--- +title: Understanding Chod Voicings +layout: ../../layouts/MainLayout.astro +--- + +import { MiniRepl } from '../../docs/MiniRepl'; +import { PitchSlider } from '../../components/PitchSlider'; +import Box from '@components/Box.astro'; + +# Understanding Chords and Voicings + +Let's dig deeper into how chords and voicings work. +I'll try to keep theory jargon to a minimum, so hopefully this is approachable for anyone interested. + +## What is a chord + +Playing more than one note at a time is generally called a chord. Here's an example: + +").room(.5)`} /> + +Here's the same with midi numbers: + +").room(.5)`} /> + +Here, we have two 3-note chords played in a loop. +You could already stop here and write chords in this style, which is totally fine and gives you control over individual notes. +One downside is that it can be difficult to find good sounding chords and maybe you're yearning for a way to organize chords in some other way.. + +## Labeling Chords + +Chords are typically given different labels depending on the relationship of the notes within. +In the number example above, we have `48,51,55` and `53,57,60`. + +To analyze the relationship of those notes, they are typically compared to some `root`, which is often the lowest note. +In our case, the `roots` would be `48` (= `c3`) and `53` (= `f3`). +We can express the same chords relative to those `roots` like this: + +".add("<48 53>")).room(.5)`} /> + +Now within each chord, each number represents the distance from the root. +A distance between pitches is typically called `interval`, but let's stick to distance for now. + +Now we can see that our 2 chords are actually quite similar, as the only difference is the middle note (and the root of course). +They are part of a group of chords called `triads` which are chords with 3 notes. + +### Triads + +These 4 shapes are the most common types of `triads` you will encounter: + +| shape | label | +| ----- | ---------- | +| 0,3,6 | diminished | +| 0,3,7 | minor | +| 0,4,7 | major | +| 0,4,8 | augmented | + +Here they are in succession: + +".add("60")) +.room(.5)._pitchwheel()`} +/> + +Many types of music often only use minor and major chords, so we already have the knowledge to accompany songs. Here's one: + +\`.add(\`< +a c d f +a e a e +>\`)).room(.5)`} +/> + +These are the chords for "The house of the rising sun" by The Animals. +So far it doesn't sound too exiting but at least it's recognizable.. + +## Voicings + +A `voicing` is one of many ways a certain chord shape could be played. +The term comes from choral music, where chords can be sung in different ways by changing which voice sings which note. +For example we could add 12 to one or more notes in the chord: + +".add("48")) +.room(.5)`} +/> + +Notes that are 12 steps apart (= 1 `octave`) are considered to be equal in a harmonic sense, which is why they get the same note letter. +Here's the same example with note letterns: + +") +.room(.5)`} +/> + +This type of voicings are also called `inversions`. There are many other ways we could `voice` this minor chord: + +".add("48")) +.room(.5)`} +/> + +Here we are changing the flavour of the chord slightly by + +1. doubling notes 12 steps higher, +2. using very wide distances +3. omitting notes + +## Voice Leading + +Let's revisit "The House of the Rising Sun", this time using our newly acquired voicing techniques: + +\`.add(\`< +a c d f +a e a e +>\`)).room(.5)`} + punchcard +/> + +These voicings make the chords sound more connected and less jumpy, compared to the version without voicings. +The way chords interact is also called voice leading, reminiscent of how a choir voice would move through a sequence of chords. + +For example, try singing the top voice in the above example. Then try the same on the example without voice leading. Which one's easier? + +Naturally, there are many ways a progression of chords could be voiced and there is no clear right or wrong. + +## Chord Symbols + +Musicians playing chord-based music often rely on a so called lead sheet, which is a simplified notation of a music piece. +The chords in those lead sheets are notated with symbols that allow a piece to be notated in a very concise manner. +A common way to write the chords "The House of the Rising Sun" would be: + +``` +Am | C | D | F +Am | E | Am | E +``` + +Here, each symbol consists of the `root` of the chord and optionally an `m` to signal it's a minor chord (just the root note means it's major). +We could mirror that notation in strudel using the `pick` function: + +" + .pick({ + Am: "57,60,64", + C: "55,60,64", + D: "50,57,66", + F: "57,60,65", + E: "56,59,64", + }) + .note().room(.5)`} + punchcard +/> + +## The voicing function + +Coming up with good sounding voicings that connect well can be a difficult and time consuming process. +The `chord` and `voicing` functions can be used to automate that: + +").voicing().room(.5)`} punchcard /> + +Here we're also using chord symbols but the voicings will be automatically generated with smooth voice leading. + +## Voicing Dictionaries + +The voicing function internally uses so called `voicing dictionaries`, which can also be customized: + +") + .dict('house').anchor(66) + .voicing().room(.5)`} + punchcard +/> + +In a `voicing dictionary`, each chord symbol is assigned one or more voicings. +The `voicing` function then picks the voicing that is closest to the `anchor` (defaults to `c5`). + +The handy thing about this approach is that a `voicing dictionary` can be used to play any chord progression with automated voice leading!