foreign music

[lefthat]

Hello! I was wondering if anyone had any tips on learning foreign styles of music (for example klezmer or greek) besides just figuring songs out by ear. I am pretty new to the whole ear training thing, and although I am making progress I dont think I could figure out an entire song with such unfamiliar sounds yet. Thanks!

[DemonSorcerer]

Try learning middle-east music first, as it is very common and easy to understand in terms of harmony and melodies...don't try hard things like Indian Music, because they have a different, more refined and complex way of seeing harmony....they have a 24 quarter tones and ENDLESS scales that use different, unique formulae...

Good luck

David

[lefks]

Hey lefthat,
What kind of greek music were you interested in? I am a guitar player but I also play the baglama. I like playing rebetika music (1920's basically).
I do not know my theory that well but I do have some things and I could scan and email them to you...I will have to look for them..I have the notes to some of the dromous(roads).......
anyway just curious also on what type of Greek music you were interested in!

[widdly widdly]

Maybe you could find a book with some tips and transcriptions. There is a guitar atlas series by alfred publishing that has volumes for Africa, India, Celtic and the Middle East. Unfortunately I don't think they've got to greece yet. The african one is a pretty good introduction. I've not read the others.


@ DemonSorcerer

I'm not sure what you mean about middle-eastern music being easy to understand. From what I've seen it is similar to Indian classical music in terms of complexity harmonically and rhmthmically. And they certainly have all those scales with microtones. They have Maqam which are the much the same as the Raga's.

[DemonSorcerer]

@ DemonSorcerer

I'm not sure what you mean about middle-eastern music being easy to understand. From what I've seen it is similar to Indian classical music in terms of complexity harmonically and rhmthmically. And they certainly have all those scales with microtones. They have Maqam which are the much the same as the Raga's.

I'm talking about Arab music...they use harmonic minor modes such as phrygian Dominant scales and the Phrygian mode...i've heard some mixolydian melodies as well...rythmically, is not as complex as many people think...it's just that we westerners are so used to square, 4/4 music...BUT!! We latins are used to different, more twisted and syncopated rythms so it kinda makes it easier for us, i guess :D!

David

[Romp]

Not to restate, but I think I would recommend that you put a lot of emphasis on learning different modal techniques and sounds. In my experience, that's usually the main difference in music across ethinicities which, if I'm reading your question right, is what you're asking about. As you experiment with different modes, you'll hear sounds that remind you of a particular culture or ethnicity. Note what mode you're in, and remember that mode sounded like that kind of music.

I'm sorry I can't think of any specific examples off the top of my head, but I'm relatively new to employing modes in my music composition.

[lefthat]

thanks for all the suggestions, guys. i looked up the guitar atlas series online and am going to order the middle east one in a few days. as for the greek music, im not too sure - my friend played me some folk music.. i believe the name of the type of song was zeibekiko, or something like that. i also saw a band play at the local greek festival last year, and they played a lot of folk music as well i think.. people danced to it.. haha im not really sure man, but if you could scan a few things id be very grateful!