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Lord willing, in a few days I'm going to be trying to communicate a musical idea to someone who is a trained musician...but to whom English is not a first language. What I'm going to ask him to do is "play the melody". However, I don't want an exact copy of my vocal melody. Heck, I'm not even going to do it exactly the same way every verse...and he's on a different instrument.
So how do I ask him to "play the melody" but with his own "feel"? Or will that be understood with "play the melody"?
Also, I'm going to ask him to do a verse and chorus pass playing anything that moves him--except for a three-note phrase that would be under the title line. Is the word for this "improvization/improvise"? And what about the three-notes that I want played? Is that a "quote"?
Is "improv" different from "interpret", and if so how?
I hope someone can set my head straight so 1. I don't sound like an idiot and 2. I get back what I want.
Last edited by Tangmo; 04/30/19 08:55 AM.
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For what it’s worth, I think you communicated to me exactly what your expectation are, so I think your friend will get it as well.
Keith
2026 Audiophile Windows 11 RYZEN THREADRIPPER 3960X 4.5GHZ 128 GB RAM 2 Nvidia RTX 3090s, Vegas,Acid,SoundForge,Izotope Production,Melodyne Studio,SONAR,3 Raven Mtis
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There is an extensive on-line music dictionary here: https://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheorydefs.htmIt might help. Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
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Thanks for the link Notes.
Added to bookmarks.
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Talk in his 1st language with this: Google Translate
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Tangmo, I do a lot of instrumental sideman work. I would understand if you told me I should 'interpret' the melody rather than exactly match the singer's phrasing (assuming that's what you want). That's quite different from improvising, which would mean do NOT play the melody but solo along with it.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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simple words work best. Say what you mean.
Example: I want you to play the melody but feel free to improvise where you wish.
Of course, when working across language barriers, idioms don't always translate well.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Hi Tangmo,
Like others above me, I thought you communicated your ideas really well.
The recurring theme that you mentioned for the title would probably best be described as a motif.
I like Steve's idea of using Google Translate -- this world we live in is pretty amazing nowadays!
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Thanks all for the tips and confirmation.
Matt, that's pretty much what I was driving at. I definitely want him to "play the melody" as he hears it one time through, then he can do whatever the spirit moves him to do. In both cases, he'll be the lead instrument. I won't be singing those passages, so it's up to him to take over for those bars.
Last edited by Tangmo; 05/01/19 09:39 PM.
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Tangmo,
I also agree with the suggestions the others have offered.
I also believe you articulated your intention quite well. A professional musician will have no problem in understanding your wishes.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Tangmo, as coincidence would have it, I was hired today to lay in a soprano sax part. The composer/vocalist asked me to solo then play what she called an 'overlay' of the melody going out.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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...Good luck and let us know how it goes!
I think it's underway. He had some questions, but I chalk it up to me trying to over-explain. It's hard telling somebody to essentially "feel free" but "do what I tell you" at the same time. Keep It Simple, Tang! I'll clue you in a bit. I made the contact of Fiverr.com. I didn't know there was such a place (the internet is a wonderful thing) until a recent thread about the guy who hired his whole band there, songwriters and all. Got my "producer" hat spinning and thought I'd give it a shot. I tried hard to demo the vocal melody, but I haven't sung "out loud" in years and dang, my voice is gone. That's no great loss to music, but puts a crimp on song-writing. I'm just hoping his ear is better than my larynx and he can "hear" the notes I couldn't hit or hold. So...got feelers out for a vocalist now. It's a good song...maybe worth what I'll be paying.
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However you get the point across is good.
I always advise singers who don't play other musical instruments to get a book on music basic, beginners, music theory. This gives the singer a better grasp on the common music language that other musicians should speak.
Note that I said "other musicians". As a musician who does sax, flute, wind synth, guitar, bass, drums, keyboard synth, and vocals, I understand that voice is also a musical instrument. I find it the hardest one of the instruments I play.
Insights and incites by Notes
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100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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