{"id":5151,"date":"2021-10-01T07:14:06","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T14:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=5151"},"modified":"2023-01-26T14:26:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T22:26:17","slug":"music-theory-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/music-theory-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Are These Music Theory Rules Even Necessary?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Music theory rules can be confusing. Sometimes, they don\u2019t even make sense! (At least to me.) In this lesson, I sit down with Sam to discuss some of music theory\u2019s weirder rules. You\u2019ll see that we disagree on whether these rules should be followed, and we each have some very strong opinions! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what we\u2019ll talk about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. The Invisible Bar Line Rule<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Ties vs. Slurs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Types of Staccatos<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Double Sharps and Double Flats<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The Tritone<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Now, as much as I disagree with him from time and time, Sam does an excellent<\/em> job explaining all these rules. So, if you\u2019ve ever been confused about the difference between ties and slurs and how to tell them apart keep reading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rule #1: The Invisible Bar Line Music Theory Rule<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The invisible bar line<\/strong> or the imaginary bar line<\/strong> is a rule for writing sheet music. Imagine that an invisible bar line cuts through each measure of music, splitting it into two equal halves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The rule is you can\u2019t cross the invisible bar line. This means you typically cannot combine beats 1 and 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Diagram<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In the first, incorrect measure, beats 2 and 3 are combined into one half note. In the second, correct measure, beats 2 and 3 are written separately. But both versions sound the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now, the invisible bar line rule sounds pretty <\/em>unnecessary to me! But according to Sam, organizing measures into two equal parts makes it easier for musicians to read very complex sheet music. For example, this rule can help musicians read syncopations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\ud83c\udfb9 The invisible bar line rule debate goes on!<\/i><\/b> Interestingly, not everyone agrees that the imaginary bar line makes things easier to read (take that, music theory rules!). In fact, someone did an informal poll<\/a> and many musicians seem to prefer the \u201cincorrect\u201d way of writing things\u2026<\/span>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    If you want to learn more about this rule, check out Berklee\u2019s music theory lesson<\/a> for a more academic explanation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n