[6string]

Classical Gas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgR3DMWLzsA

[si16]

I think the guy did quite well under the circumstances.

One of the comments mentions parallel fifths. What are they and why did that person consider them to be a compositional no-no?

[cshude]

You need to go through and read all the comments- some Jason guy was basically busting on Tommy and the way that he plays because he is basically self-taught. Therefore, according to this bozo, TE and his rendition of Classical Gas are no good. Which begs the question, in my mind, of why he would bother to post such a non-sensical comment.

As far as what a parallel fifth is, I have no clue- all I know is that Classical Gas sounds cool, is fun to play, and really impresses people who don't play guitar themselves.

Also, it's fun to watch that whole episode- you can download it in the archives of www.woodsongs.com - Search for Tommy in the guest list. There's two shows, both worth the download. The camerapeople do a great job of showing the hands.

[Donovan]

Ah, great video, although I believe it has been posted here before. Anyway, can remember someone's comments on the "A Flat Minor/Miner" joke I think it's kinda cool of him to joke around a little

I watched the video again, but think I missed the parallel 5ths comment. At what time is it mentioned? Anyway, when two voices (or separate melody lines) that are a perfect fifth interval apart, both move in the same direction and end up forming another perfect fifth interval, it's called a parallel (or consecutive) fifth. Most likely they both move up the same interval, but they could be inverted or an octave+fifth apart, that really doesn't matter.

The "ban" on using consecutive fifths in classical compositions started in and around the renaissance I think. Argument was that the melting into eachother of the overtones (that's what makes "powerchords" sound so good with a little distortion on!) took away the individualty of the seperate voices. Check out this if you want to read some more.

Avoiding parallel fifths seems to be something specific to typical multi-voiced renaissance music, so a comment like that is most likely to come from someone with a classical education. Mind that that type of music (called polyphonal) wasn't exactly chord-driven then (I can imagine them being puzzled by PlaneTalk for example, if it's anything like I think it is).

Most contemporary music, however is chord-driven with a single dominant melodic voice (homophony). It SWARMS with parallel 5ths. Hell, if you really wanted to upset a renaissance composer: take your mp3 player, travel back in time, and let him listen to any rock/punk song with only powerchords

[si16]

OK thanks Donovan. They're not mentioned in the video you have to read the comments underneath.

Also I see you've passed the 300 mark, well done to you. I'm sure you'd have plenty more if it wasn't for annoying things like medical exams.

[Donovan]

Always glad to help and now proud to be a "Full Member" here as well, thanks!

And of course, I think we can agree that it's not all about quantity... I usually try to make the most out of my posts

[si16]

Absolutely.

[cshude]

Ah, thank you for shedding light on the subject for those of us too lazy (or not interested enough) to look it up ourselves. I would guess, then, that the part that the guy in the comments was talking about was the run-up section connecting the 1st part of the song to the 2nd.