Jacob Collier Answers Music Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED

[@jonibarguren6675]

the 5 finger polyrhythm is wild.. his coordination is beyond admirable

[@zukacs]

this was wild

[@Jamesonfp]

it’s quite literally INSANE

[@jamesheufve5265]

Especially while counting the time signatures 🤧

[@NotGabe001]

Fun fact: if you speed it up enough (or technically, even if you don't), it's a major chord

[@thelittlehooer]

That, folks, is what perfect pitch sounds like. A meeting of supreme talent and skill. I'm so envious.

[@orionthatman9390]

Non music people will not realize how insanely impressive him singing those microtones is. With actual separation between the tones and not sliding.

[@Megabooy1]

Me personal is a trainwreck when it comes to anything music and I have no fiber in my body that believes that any of what he just did was remotely easy xD

[@fullup91]

It was also crazy funny 😂

[@gubblfisch350]

My choir choir had a piece where a descending minor third was sung with 3 notes instead of 2 in between. That's precisely the easiest example he gave in this video :)

[@schwesterino1111]

Arabs do this effortlessly

[@lukeshioshio]

It's not impressive if you know how to sing I'm sorry but stop

[@somethingbl]

Singing those microtones with perfect clarity and distinction is ridiculous

[@DjTikkikun]

And so casual while doing it

[@futur_sunds]

That was insane

[@eamonshea4566]

“A fun game he plays” this guys so awesome

[@miikamartin7026]

I actually like groaned like this guy is wayyyy too talented wtf was that. Every time I see him do something he blows my mind and I don't even know anything about music. I can't imagine what people who make music for a living are feeling when Jacob is cooking.

[@n1k0n_]

That little part will be lost on so many people. Unreal

[@powerbastion1083]

Imagine having him as your tutor for 3 years at University. That would just be the most inspiring time of your life

[@jalava78]

Or lecturer, he could be the Walter Lewin of musical studies for rhythm and harmony.

[@cowboygareth]

he guest lectured at MIT, and performed there as well.

[@iangreer4585]

Bring him to the Curtis Institute!

[@SilentHillWomble]

Bass is one of those things where you don't notice it until it's gone. Things just sound empty when it's not there

[@ethandemille2585]

@@BassHeartRiffsHell yeah

[@brunosarramide572]

it's like eyebrows

[@yikmop]

I'd like to think that the person who asked that question outed themselves for only listening to music through phone speakers hahha

[@m.dave2141]

@@yikmop And never went even close to a club

[@alexkaplan6581]

It's the bridge between the guitars and the drums. Hard to pick out, but essential, and you'll know when it's gone.

[@noeliav.9878]

The speed in which he communicates without losing clarity is genius

[@stripedpants1668]

Jacob was struck by lightning and still gave this WIRED demonstration. Respect.

[@softlyspokensounds2001]

😂

[@march4652]

Idk maybe he's just sitting on a tesla coil

[@IDTT137]

The theramin definitely did that

[@senpaiii623]

LMFAO

[@MitchellMilkov86]

Good one. I guess you figured out he compensates for his Uber neediness by dressing like a Canterbury square hipster porcupine

[@euanwalker4436]

"This is E major, one of my good friends. and this is E minor, another one of my good friends." *everybody liked this*

[@mrjamestiu]

The way he explained and demonstrated the microtones in such precision is creepy good. And did it so casually too WTF LOL

[@vanclyde]

The speed at which he counted the notes, and the precision of the gap between those microtones is unreal

[@GizzyDillespee]

The "one hand, 5 rhythms" part was just as amazing, too

[@vanclyde]

@@akirathedog777 I dunno who pissed in your cereals but okay. People are not like "wow microtones" it's the speed and accuracy at which he does it, being it's not the usual scale here.

[@MenkoDany]

Poor jacob was struggling to not talk about every question for 13 hours

[@Will-zs6ln]

Jacob saying "I'm a musician" is the biggest understatement ever.

[@Jc2260]

Messi: "I play soccer"

[@adamplaza3935]

That dude IS music 😂

[@koreboredom4302]

Martin Scorsese: "I make videos."

[@dannywarnock8822]

"I make stuff" -God

[@adderon]

"I Me stuff" Me

[@smartasss6117]

wtf he just sang the microtone...

[@panavcreative]

That man did a 5 finger polyrhythm in such a flex that my fingers just fell off and ran away

[@ItsNessaTho]

The mental image of that is hilarious 😂

[@futuramabender2078]

@@ItsNessaTho Fingers be like "nope not playin that! Cya!" LOL! 🤣

[@stewiegriffin993]

The way this guy motivates me every single day...he just makes you realize there's no perfect or wrong approach to what you're doing musically, as long as you are satisfied with what you're doing. I literally picked up learning new instruments BECAUSE of Jacob Collier

[@MrPek-fe9fp]

Good job, Stewie Griffin.

[@JalenJaguar]

Music theory definitely is an encyclopedia of a thousand languages, and he seems to be fluent in an unusually high number of them

[@sethy2746]

The craziest thing about that, and I'm not undermining your statement by any means, is that music is also a universal language. It can be expressed and enjoyed by anyone, no matter your background. It's a true testament to Jacob's brilliance and understanding of sound. :)

[@nickkohlmann]

Agreed.

[@Rukiman_no16]

Nah, music theory ain't that hard.

[@kang018]

@@Rukiman_no16 it is at first

[@Robloxxx6969]

Fax, like the first 2 semesters rly

[@RobnDaHood]

Give this man a TV show like Reading Rainbow for music! Would be so great to have him teaching kids the joy and mystery of sounds

[@pitpride1220]

Living in his brain would be equally beautiful and terrifying! Fantastic artist.

[@anzeerjavec297]

Or a nightmare

[@parkman29]

Bro imagine just walking up to an instrument and just be able to play it

[@ThatColin]

@@parkman29that’s what happens when you learn piano and guitar

[@BenjamintheTortoise]

Lol, totally agree

[@daveski7]

​@parkman29 Learn music then you can do it too. You don't need to be amazing, as a player Jacob isn't anything special, he's just mental when it comes to theory and notation. A bit of practise and education and you could play any instrument you get your hands on. It's not that far out of reach.

[@UpdateFreak33]

The bass take was wild 💀

[@McSpicyYT]

This dude is like if Doctor Who regenerated and got into music.

[@Brothisisprivate]

I SWEAR LMAOOO EVEN THE COSTUME

[@GeoffPlays]

literally was about to comment the exact same thing lmao

[@VeganRevolution]

Just got a long scarf

[@ratboygirl]

most accurate description of someone i've ever seen

[@altuervo]

Tom baker if he was peter capaldi

[@iijj]

I am a musician but I didn't know minor chords don't exist naturally. This blew my mind

[@CamiloSoto]

I would like to know more on this

[@stephenbeck7222]

Look up the overtone series and undertone series. The major chord is the 4th, 5th, and 6th overtones but you can’t get the minor chord directly (with consecutive overtones)?unless you go to the undertones, which are not naturally produced by instruments.

[@factzilla1868]

overtone vs undertone series is the idea at the heart of the whole negative harmony thing Jacob's famous for, aka harmonic dualism. but it's worth pointing out there's also the harmonic mononist school of thought who believe only the major triad exists and all other chords are some sort of alteration of that model

[@antoniusnies-komponistpian2172]

Major is 4:5:6, minor is basically 1/6:1/5:1/4. These frequency ratios also exist in the overtone series as 10:12:15, but higher and not as direct neighbours, so I prefer to see it as part of the undertone series.

[@SamRoads]

He's under-informed! Here are the overtones of a C fundamental: C C G C E G Bb C D E F#(but a bit flat) G Note the G Bb and D, which make a minor chord of Gmin. A great example of this is the slow movement of Vaughan Williams' 3rd Symphony, when played on a natural trumpet. It sounds quite mournful, as it leans on those minor overtones.

[@plebbythepleb099]

You can tell he just lives and breathes music and I am so here for that.

[@tj03297]

Jacob is actually a G-half sharp incarnated as a human

[@plebbythepleb099]

@@tj03297 truly lol

[@kailynfarmer]

each time he gets a different level of recognition on a platform, i'm so proud. more people get to excavate his colorful lil self, i love it.

[@theyertishere7831]

Jacob looks more and more like an eccentric art teacher everyday

[@TyranBatten]

I think it's safe to say he IS an eccentric art teacher

[@patrikkis3584]

I'm not a big fan of his music, but I can appreciate his knowledge and creativity. The microtones and the one hand polyrhythm is amazing.

[@DLEE012]

Try bridge over troubled water!! The making of it is mind boggling

[@circeus]

"I'd recommend yelling in cathedrals in general" is a sentiment I approve XD

[@tj03297]

Especially if it’s directed toward a priest

[@blue-cs3fk]

Jacob Collier, the perpetrator of chaos

[@altuervo]

​@@blue-cs3fk*perpetrator of gospel

[@Molemanski]

I love how he's really encouraging about learning, trying and just exploring things. He never said that something sounds wrong.

[@biggysmallz22]

5:22 goddam he matched that PERFECTLY

[@pineweaselsalad]

this is because the harmonic series of any given note is constant! harmonic overtones are a physical phenomenon based on the fundamental frequency (the intial note he sings) and he very likely just knows what the series is. not that this makes it any less impressive obviously! jacob is incredible

[@NoobViolin]

He has Perfect Pitch

[@JakeBodenhamer]

I respect the J. Dilla shout-out so much man. RIP to one of the greatest to ever do it. If you haven't listened to Donuts by Dilla already, go do it. And even if you have, spin it again.

[@arothmanmusic]

Jacob is like a cartoon mad scientist, but as a human and musical savant. We are all truly blessed to be living in the world at the same time as such an astonishingly gifted human.

[@gnulen]

have you listened to his music? It's not very good

[@dingaia]

and how many grammys have you won? and how many has jacob won ?????? @@gnulen

[@sam-sn5pu]

Give yourself more credit. "Blessed to live at the same time as..." Man what a weird thing to say. His music is cringe and annoying af.

[@santicarbajal3927]

​@@gnulenand that invalidates his talent?

[@Joshsclips]

@@sam-sn5puyou’re cringe and annoying for hating on good musicianship and boundless creativity. Lighten up

[@weshard1]

6:23 The riff reminded me of a mashup of Play That Funky Music, by Wild Cherry, and New Frontier, by Donald Fagen.

[@ChrystalWater97]

He is unbelievable. That polyrhythm on one hand.... insanely talented

[@richhamilton]

Any decent piano player could do the same thing with all 10 fingers

[@ADollarMight]

@@richhamiltonthat is not true and you know it lmfao.

[@richhamilton]

@@ADollarMight Thats literally what playing a piano is

[@numerohvh]

​@@richhamiltonit is definitely not.

[@richhamilton]

@@numerohvh You either don't play piano or you don't play with any proficiency because that is exactly what playing a piano is but with two hands instead of one.

[@leandrometfan]

11:34 As a drummer this is pretty difficult, imagine for a non musician

[@smksukcdc]

I'm here trying and failing to pat my head and rub my belly at the same time, while the man is playing 5 different rhythms on just one hand. Madness.

[@sanchitagolder]

you got me patting my head and rubbing my belly ngfl

[@XenialXenon]

That person who asked why "people even play bass" clearly isn't listening to the right music

[@davechongle]

its like someone asking why people season their food..

[@sedion]

Maybe he was a troll?

[@timtabutops4611]

The microtones and finger polyrithm are clear indicators that this guy in a genius.

[@superDUPERman102]

Anyone know the groove he played at 10:30? Wanna learn it but can’t tell exactly what it was

[@almendratlilkouatl]

When did he became super saiyan?

[@user-Aaron-]

He's just going for that Vegeta look

[@practical_precision_shooters]

super gayan

[@Echo-nn8dt]

Struck the wrong chord and he was never the same

[@MrKinasz]

I don't know, but his power is over 9000!

[@ivyisle]

this isn't even his final form

[@mattchewhughes]

@3:47 “I like playing games for fun.” Jacob’s entire mind in one sentence. And we’re all here for it.

[@Hoschi.]

His hair matches his personality perfectly. Its like theres an equal amount of intent and chaos!

[@MorfMusic]

just casually playing a 5 polyrhythm with his freakin left hand Jacob plz

[@CurrentlyYouTubing]

Here is to hoping JC creates an online music course one day. What a masterful musician and teacher with an infectious energy! ❤

[@paveldoltu9339]

Actually he did on skillshare

[@dans_ythandle]

check out his logic session breakdowns on KZbin, they're an amazing resource for learning his style of production and arrangement.

[@CurrentlyYouTubing]

i didn't know this, thanks @@paveldoltu9339!

[@CurrentlyYouTubing]

thanks@@dans_ythandle, will do this!

[@ukeblajwlog]

i like that while talking about funk he played "play that funky music white boy", it was quite fun to notice that

[@danielcoffey1975]

They could have Jacob on a hundred times and I wouldn't get tired of it.

[@ATIARImusic]

As a bassist I am offended on behalf of all bassists

[@cmflyer]

The pitch circuit in a theremin consists of two oscillators, one fixed and one variable. The variable one is changed by altering a capacitor's charge with your hand (the hand becomes a capacitor plate, in effect). The pitch played through the speaker is the difference between the frequencies of the two oscillators, which have been designed to create audible tones.

[@Bobbias]

Very neat and super simple design.

[@NiliMoto]

Interesting, i didnt know that. That must mean the variable oscillators resonant frequency is not only determined by the distance of the hand but also by the area? So at the same distance the full hand will produce a higher frequency than a finger? At first i thought it was the other way around since low distance/big area = higher capacitance = lower resonance, but the output is the other way around. I guess that has to do with the output being the difference between fixed and variable osc and not just the variable osc itself. Please correct me if im wrong, this is fascinating!

[@tdhoward]

Ahh! I KNEW it wasn't electromagnetic radiation. Thanks!

[@mickcollins1921]

I've been a musician since my elementary school. I play a few instruments and understand the roles of most others. I can hear nuanced differences in the depths of a song's composition. I appreciate subtle base line changes and modifying the place of different instruments in the mix for emotional or narrative effect. I fancy myself a bit of a music nerd. I don't know who this dude is, but he has made me feel simultaneously astounded and woefully inferior all in the same moment. I thought I was fluent in music. Turns out, this guy is fluent and I can basically only order a beer and ask where the bathroom is.

[@morkovija]

Welcome, you should check out his steve wonder breakdown where he refers to himself as humble fan of Steve =)

[@ProcrastinatingGameCat]

Welcome to the Collier fan club. It is a ride for sure.

[@jopo7996]

He explains things so clearly you'll have no treble understanding, so don't fret.

[@andijacobsen9148]

He doesn't really explain a lot, most of his explanations are "it is like that because that's the way it is"

[@zukacs]

@@andijacobsen9148true

[@Mike-er2ih]

When you are on that level and everything is just so natural and easy for you, it is really hard to also be aware of that fact when teaching or explaining to a "normal" person.

[@holliefitzzz]

but for more clarity just boost around 4khz

[@catsinwonderland7473]

He's very talented too, never misses a beat. He has a key understanding of music!

[@SonasRecording]

Been following Jacob since he was 16. There isn't a single person on earth with a greater natural understanding of music and harmony to the point of people wondering if he is even human because he is so talented :) Despite the depth of his knowledge, he has a great gift of being a musical educator. He can make difficult things sound understandable. All of the people I aspired to being when I was young were on a pedestal but Jacob makes music accessible to everyone on their own level. Such a rare talent.

[@Pfpfpfpfpf2020]

​@@yolomorgannwg7713lolumad?

[@orionthatman9390]

You have no idea how much joy it brought me to hear him mention and give praise to J Dilla. LEGEND.

[@Keychain-]

yo if youre a fan of Dilla get yourself a copy of the book DILLA TIME by Dan Charnas if you havent already! Im not a heavy reader but its a must read for Dilla fans imo P.S. i was also super happy to hear him credited for the sound in this video but after reading the book it makes perfect sense lol

[@arnowtc4674]

It got me too!!!

[@adamsteinken1185]

Well that polyrhythm finger trick confirmed you’re beyond human. This is my introduction to this man and is already a favorite musician of mine.

[@odgeUK]

04:11 - I've never heard anyone do that before.

[@HungryWolf1971]

"What makes a bassline funky? Hmm..." 7:29 *Start playing Play that Funky Music* 😂😂😂

[@Erlewyn]

I don't think I've liked any music he has produced, but man, this guy is impressive!

[@stevengoodwin6421]

Same. I can listen to him talk about music all day. But I can't just listen to his produced music. It's interesting, but not good for casual listening.

[@bikeweiss]

I think his newer stuff has been more approachable and accessible. He stopped throwing EVERYTHING at the wall and instead just throws A LOT.

[@JoshuaMiloMusic]

You guys should check out his more acoustic stuff, e.g. his album "Djesse Vol 2". I find it amazingly beautiful and touching

[@julienlamy6084]

I recommend listening to hideaway. The rythmic construction of that song is soothing

[@Sienna53]

listen to little blue and never gonna be alone

[@ultimapanzer]

He’s basically a happy alternate universe version of L.

[@Pyroific]

4:19 is now my favorite jacob moment ever xD hahaha

[@sgeggbub1008]

What a shame WIRED can never have the energy to mic up a drumkit, even with stewart copeland they just left it

[@neuronaljunctiondecay5673]

11:40 BRO WHAT THE HECK?

[@Dawid30303]

bro got electrocuted in tom and jerry

[@C36B]

Been playing music for over 30 years. I both understand everything and not much of what Jacob says. Amazing.

[@andrewdotcom6770]

8:33 the snare tone is absolutely orgasmic i’m losing my mind

[@rickadias]

I think Jacob is the best example of humble genius. He knows so much about music and yet has the attitude of someone that still has so much to learn.

[@fakejellybean]

YES! people say he's pretentious but I just don't see that? he's always so genuine and enthusiastic about music

[@rickadias]

@@fakejellybean I think people might confuse his enthusiasm with pretentiousness. But I agree with you, to me it does sound very genuine, not a character.

[@SmileytheSmile]

​@@rickadias As one of pretentious croud, it always weirds me out how this man always manages to dress up like an asylum escapee, who paints his oversized stray jacket in different colors before appearing in public to ward off any suspicion and get the feds off his tail.

[@unknown6390]

​@@SmileytheSmileyou're just an unhappy person to interpret his pedestrian fashion in such a negative way 😂

[@SmileytheSmile]

@@unknown6390 Whatever his fashion is, "pedestrian" is not the word I would use to describe it.

[@heatherqualy9143]

I don’t even understand the bass question. How can you not hear it?! When I’m trying to break down a drum part, my biggest issue is hearing the kick drum. Because I have a hard time hearing it over the sound of the bass!

[@paperfoe]

Even his talking is so melodic and soothing

[@FrankWildOfficial]

Humans can hear up to 60k hz?? Really? I don’t think

[@ev3lynxx._]

i can't explain how much i love this man and his literal genius

[@endisthebeginning24]

This man got dressed last minute with the lights off

[@LiamFernandez-uc4b]

💀💀💀

[@veritush]

for real? with all of the knowledge he shared, all you have to contribute is an opinion on what he wears?

[@zynosgd9982]

Singing microtones perfectly and doing 5 different ryhtms in one hand. Those sound like complete nonsense to most people but to musicians, it further cements Jacob Collier as the messiah for us music theory nerds.

[@CupOfJav]

There are other people that can do some of the things he can, but I doubt there's anyone that can do all the things he can. I don't love all his music but his knowledge and enthusiasm are incredible.

[@skibaa1]

this is exactly what I think every time, he is so incredible in technicalities, but his songs rarely make me move my head, let alone impress me emotionally :( And then you take some artists who hardly can tune their guitars, and everybody (including me) listens to their songs in loops

[@Serendipideemusic]

I agree. There’s no doubt he’s an absolute genius and I commend him for that, and although I like some of his music, he tends to get caught up in making it the most technically advanced, groundbreaking thing possible so that it loses emotional value and connection I think.

[@civi554]

Very funny Jacob, while responding to "What make a bass line funky" you played "Play that funky music", well played

[@humanfingers]

zaddy Jacob 😳😳😳

[@AtomizedSound]

Jacob is certainly something in the world of music. Child prodigy of sorts in his experience of in the world of music.

[@pinkleprechaun52]

are we just gonna gloss over the fact he lost a pasport inside a guitar

[@HoorayForJay]

If anyone is still not convinced that you can "hear the bass", look up a song on youtube that has the bass guitar removed. It sounds just awful and empty.

[@alexander777-n3s]

When doves cry has no bass but its a great song.

[@asavage24_76]

6:40 the riff he came up with sounds like a smash of the Mario underground theme, and superstition by Stevie wonder

[@medusasound7396]

please drop these every week lol. jacob is a legend

[@l3gendbaap963]

When Jacob’s music knowledge improves his hair gets exponentially higher

[@kjlkjjjk]

at 6:29 bro played the mario underworld theme and thought we woudlnt notice

[@WandaMaximoff1998]

11:13 HOW DOES HE DO IT

[@isaiahodierno7116]

I’ve been watching the last interview for so long, I’m so excited for another one! Can’t wait to see Jacob in May!

[@PaarthGuptaYT]

Same here! I'm also going to that concert in SFO!

[@dannysairpids]

This is probably the most insane display of musical abilities I have ever seen

[@DuranmanX]

J Dilla mentioned. Best support ever now

[@AmandaHuggenkiss]

What up doe?

[@supreme_xenon]

00:28 Expecting Flight of the Bumblebee start playing but it's not

[@AdarshHari708]

Fr

[@MURDERPILLOW.]

0:22 i swear i heard flight of the bumblbee in therw

[@alexanderlinderson2655]

8:50 Carefull there Jacob, J K Simmons might just hurtle a chair at your head.

[@shashankyadav5703]

because drake is tryna strike them

[@ProjectPhoenix21]

I was scrolling kinda fast and for a split second I thought this was Jean Ralphio

[@Kornbread363]

They're sad because of Drake

[@khiddtank]

lmaooo, found it!

[@V1ralB1ack]

his coordination and skill is mindbogggling

[@YaddyHyrule]

Brutha I've been a musician for over two decades and I think you doing a 5-way polyrhythm with all the fingers on one hand is one of the most absolutely astounding things I have ever seen hahaha

[@jaykhan7119]

Man left us with more questions than we started with

[@jeffyen]

The most incredible thing is his respect for the various questions. He answers the most basic and 'insignificant' questions (difference between weighted and unweighted keys) and to highly technical (polyrhythm, say) with the same respect and attention to the respective subject matters.

[@SpaceCattttt]

Interesting theory about minor chords. I think another reason why they can sound "sad" is simply because we associate them with sad songs. For hundreds of years, whenever it's time for a serious or an unhappy song (usually concerning love) minor chords carry the burden. So you could say that we grow up hearing minor chords played over sad lyrics, and then put two and two together.

[@SynthApprentice]

This is 100% it. It's a cultural thing.

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@SynthApprentice Probably, yes. But it must've started somehow.

[@ishmaelmcgoo2945]

That's definitely part of it. As for the origin, maybe it's just its relation to major chords. I'm not sure that his comment about them being opposite to major chords makes sense, are they opposite? They use two of the same notes. But he may be onto something. What they do is take a very consonant major chord, keep the most consonant interval (root and fifth) and then lower the third by one semitone. It stays very beautiful sounding but it's a kind of warping of the consonant, pure and unequivocally happy major but just a little bit so something is a bit off about it, almost like teasing the listener. Almost like it's a metaphor for life's struggle and the ever-elusive pure happiness.

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@ishmaelmcgoo2945 Well, while it's easy to describe in technical terms the difference between major and minor chords, it's very different to describe why we react emotionally different to each of them. I'm not much for love poems, for example, but I do get the gist of them, you know? Except, they can also be reduced to mere alphabetical letters, if you want to analyze them REALLY closely, at which point, they no longer hold any greater meaning outside of their alphabetical and linguistic characteristics. I think minor chords sound "sad", which would suggest that I associate them with certain sad emotions. And not just because I've been taught to hear them in that way, but also because they resonate differently in my ears and my mind. You could try to analyze this and describe it in words, but I'm not sure if it's possible to reach a satisfying conclusion. Perhaps there are sounds in minor chords that trigger the primitive parts of our brains? Perhaps our early ancestors associated certain tones with dangerous animals? If so, hearing those notes today would certainly make us react differently than when we hear major chords. I don't know.

[@nternetrat]

yees! i'm sure there's many poppy songs that are in minor. barbie girl by aqua is in a minor, i think? C♯/D♭ key and a minor mode, says the internet

[@LeYoIdBeHe]

"i recommend yelling in cathedrals, it's quite fun" - jacob collar

[@WandaMaximoff1998]

6:35 made me think of Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry lol

[@dangeraardvark]

you don't always hear the bass, but you always feel it.

[@pickthestickup]

minor chords sound sad to people raised in a western musical canon. But a melody made of minor chords might be read and heard as jolly, depending on the culture.

[@ArthurvanVliet]

Do you have an example of this? Really curious, as I also associate minor with sad

[@pickthestickup]

@@ArthurvanVliet the first example that comes to mind is Indian Classical music. While many of the ragas may sound sad to western ears, the lyrical content is anything but, and is often devotional in nature, exalting some deity. The ubiquity of the western musical canon and culture these days has changed that in younger generations.

[@hairbymoses123]

Minors sound sad because Drake found them

[@i_look_just_like_buddy_holly]

are you unstraight

[@JacquesLuu]

Jeeez WIRED, i know you prefer short format but im pretty sure Jacob wanted to answer more questions

[@rdennisdom]

About microtones; Yes we've heard a simple microtones in western music, try Have Fun Go Mad by Blair MacKichan (1997) around minute 2 where the solo of the saxophone begins. I realized this when I was trying to cover this song with a Korg X3D which can be freely tuned per key.

[@m.dave2141]

also when singers sing instinctively in just intonation, which is technically microtonal.