Musical technique

Musical technique is the ability of <a href="/facts/Musical_instrument/UMSjL1Ks">instrumental</a> and <a href="/facts/Human_voice/RPzaPWwh">vocal</a> musicians to exert optimal control of their instruments or <a href="/facts/Vocal_cords/H1K7NPo2">vocal cords</a> in order to produce the precise musical effects they desire. Improving one's technique generally entails practicing exercises that improve one's muscular sensitivity and agility. Technique is independent of <a href="/facts/Musicality/HJ7snw49">musicality</a>. Compositional technique is the ability and knowledge <a href="/facts/Composer/6zrz16FN">composers</a> use to create music, and may be distinguished from instrumental or performance technique, which in <a href="/facts/Classical_music/oglVXmSb">classical music</a> is used to realize <a href="/facts/Musical_composition/EUR2qaQw">compositions</a>, but may also be used in <a href="/facts/Musical_improvisation/TfefTzPP">musical improvisation</a>. <a href="/facts/Extended_technique/pUUJ4cgU">Extended techniques</a> are distinguished from more simple and more common techniques. Musical technique may also be distinguished from <a href="/facts/Music_theory/BoekvflP">music theory</a>, in that performance is a practical matter, but study of music theory is often used to understand better and to improve techniques. Techniques such as <a href="/facts/Intonation_(music)/aaz2c57V">intonation</a> or <a href="/facts/Timbre/lVXB949E">timbre</a>, <a href="/facts/Articulation_(music)/5SoWzI6X">articulation</a>, and <a href="/facts/Musical_phrasing/45kgtwa7">musical phrasing</a> are nearly universal to all instruments.
To improve their technique, musicians often practice <a href="/facts/Ear_training/PFw9GG2b">ear training</a>. For example, <a href="/facts/Interval_(music)/aFwkkgpY">musical intervals</a>, and fundamental patterns and of <a href="/facts/Musical_note/spIQyV4T">notes</a> such as the <a href="/facts/Natural_minor/MedkQtlE">natural</a>, <a href="/facts/Minor_scale/MedkQtlE">minor</a>, <a href="/facts/Major_scale/WtnkhIgv">major</a>, and <a href="/facts/Chromatic_scale/ntfCjHK4">chromatic scales</a>, <a href="/facts/Minor_triad/XdLGImHS">minor</a> and <a href="/facts/Major_triad/RwuuqKYS">major triads</a>, <a href="/facts/Dominant_seventh_chord/E4EIVqmN">dominant</a> and <a href="/facts/Diminished_seventh/9bVQstuU">diminished sevenths</a>, formula patterns and <a href="/facts/Arpeggio/TNDg3PMw">arpeggios</a>. For example, <a href="/facts/Triad_(music)/YIA2T6Y6">triads</a> and <a href="/facts/Seventh_chord/XeWsnNrL">sevenths</a> teach how to play <a href="/facts/Chord_(music)/hJBCHCSB">chords</a> with accuracy and speed. <a href="/facts/Scale_(music)/QjMlvs3u">Scales</a> teach how to move quickly and gracefully from one note to another (usually by step). Arpeggios teach how to play broken chords over larger intervals. Many of these components of music are found in difficult compositions, for example, a large <a href="/facts/Tuple/BI1HIxL8">tuple</a> <a href="/facts/Chromatic_scale/ntfCjHK4">chromatic scale</a> is a very common element to <a href="/facts/Classical_music/oglVXmSb">Classical</a> and <a href="/facts/Romantic_music/Smlk40jm">Romantic</a> era compositions as part of the end of a phrase.

<a href="/facts/Musical_tuning/v5Q1kYxC">Tuning</a> is a musical technique which is performed directly before nearly all instruments are used (even <a href="/facts/Unpitched_percussion_instrument/u2v133xP">unpitched percussion instruments</a> are often tuned), so it is often taught to students at the beginning of study of most instrumentals. Different instruments require varying techniques. For example, <a href="/facts/String_instrument/srW2H8dV">string instruments</a> require <a href="/facts/Fingering_(music)/PHoJwUeY">fingering</a> technique, while <a href="/facts/Bowed_string_instrument/yoLGrKeu">bowed string instruments</a> require bow technique. <a href="/facts/Brass_instrument/UP94qM52">Brass</a> and <a href="/facts/Woodwind_instrument/JBMxaxyM">woodwind instruments</a> require <a href="/facts/Mouthing/DQrHbkIE">mouthing</a> techniques (correct positioning and shaping of the mouth and proper breathing), while woodwind instruments often require fingering technique, brass instruments often have simpler fingering than woodwinds but require a basic understanding of the <a href="/facts/Harmonic_series_(music)/PdElIrxL">harmonic series</a>. Musical technique is often related to physical memory, such as correct <a href="/facts/Position_(music)/4L39ruMh">position</a> and <a href="/facts/Stopped_note/GpsrUpGp">stopping</a> on a string instrument, positioning of the <a href="/facts/Trombone/yI8vuH6n">trombone</a> <a href="/facts/Slide_(wind_instrument)/AgmaR9fb">slide</a>, memorizing <a href="/facts/Guitar_chord/kuNrtIoD">guitar chords</a>' and <a href="/facts/Piano/lRI60lQK">piano chords</a>' fingering, and the proper position and shape of one's mouth for brass and woodwind instruments.
<a href="/facts/Heinrich_Schenker/Hj9ozQEl">Heinrich Schenker</a> argued that musical technique's "most striking and distinctive characteristic" is <a href="/facts/Repetition_(music)/TpSkfwn9">repetition</a>.
Works known as <a href="/facts/%25C3%2589tude/ftPShGhv">études</a> (meaning "study") are also frequently used for the improvement of technique.

Musical technique open-in-new

Musical technique