[KaerfSusej]

There are only 12 different notes and only so many ways they can be played in chords and melodies and what-not and only with certain rhythms... I have wondered if some day in the future of mankind, could we ever exhaust all the possibilities within music? Would it ever be possible to get to a point where originality is impossible?

I mean, It's a far cry for sure, but it's cool to think about. I kinda doubt it myself. Heck, you don't even need notes to make music. A drum solo can be enough to express a thousand emotions. But then again...

I just now stumbled across the concept and I have to hear everyone elses ideas about it.

[Fretsource]

I'd say it's limitless and if it ever came to the point where 12 notes weren't enough, we'd just start adding more.
A similar thing happened around a thousand years ago. There were only seven named notes but it was gradually expanded to twelve over a period of a couple of hundred years.
Some music systems already use more than twelve notes, i.e., microtonal music.
Burt even with just twelve notes, the rhythmic combinations are virtually unlimited.

[Ben_Sir_Amos]

When people start to learn music, they tend to think that music is made up of notes. As they get more experienced they realise that what makes up a "tune" is the spaces between the notes (often referred to as "intervals"). If you don't believe me, try this test. Learn to play your national anthem - just the first few bars will do. Go and ask you neighbour if s/he can recognise the tune. Then put a capo on the first fret and play the exactly the same sequence, but one fret higher. Check with your neighbour who should still be able to recognise it as your national anthem, even though every single note is different.

So we move on from "there are only 12 notes" to "How many different intervals can we use during a four bar sequence?". Let me know when you've worked it out. Then we can make a start on harmony.

[stringslinger]

Music is limited only by ones own inspiration and imagination.

[fly135]

Well lets see...

The probability of any random note is 1 in 12. So the probability of two particular notes in a row are 1 in 144. 3 in a row 1 in 1728. 10 specific notes in a row is 1 in 62 billion. Of course out of that 62 billion a significant number of those sequences probably won't sound too good, but one man's music is another man's noise. I guess shredders are exploring the possibility faster than the rest of us.

[Ben_Sir_Amos]

Originally Posted by fly135

I guess shredders are exploring the possibility faster than the rest of us.

lol

[stringslinger]

Originally Posted by fly135

Well lets see...

The probability of any random note is 1 in 12. So the probability of two particular notes in a row are 1 in 144. 3 in a row 1 in 1728. 10 specific notes in a row is 1 in 62 billion. Of course out of that 62 billion a significant number of those sequences probably won't sound too good, but one man's music is another man's noise. I guess shredders are exploring the possibility faster than the rest of us.

YEP, thats about how many notes I try to fit in any given song...

[scrappydidnt]

aint that the truth lol Just a lil history lesson Boxcar Willie ( a great writer and king of the rails, for all you youngsters) wrote this:


Willie Boxcar - Song Of Songs Tabs, Chords + Lyrics



there ya go five completely different songs all to the same "tune" but completely different in their own respect and all good songs too lol dont forget all it takes is a change in the tempo or even adding or subtracting a note here and there you can take the old and create a whole new beast.

[Stratrat]

I think it's limitless for all practical intents and purposes. Even given something as simple as a 3-chord progression on a guitar, there are countless ways to play it to make it different. Once you get beyond those permutations, consider the inclusion of other instruments (drums, bass, keyboards, etc.) and the differing backgrounds they can provide. Now factor in effects (distortion, chorus, tremolo, etc.) and you can add even more variety. You could have many songs that are quite alike in the technical sense that they're comprised of three chords in a 4/4 time signature - but in listening to them, they'd hardly bear a vague resemblance to each other.

This would be an interesting experiment in the collaboration forum - set out a 3-chord progression - say G, C and D - and challenge people to put together a song using only those three chords. I'll bet every single one of them would be different.

[wcostley]

I guess it's similar to DNA.
Skip....

[namiguShin]

Originally Posted by fly135

Well lets see...

The probability of any random note is 1 in 12. So the probability of two particular notes in a row are 1 in 144. 3 in a row 1 in 1728. 10 specific notes in a row is 1 in 62 billion. Of course out of that 62 billion a significant number of those sequences probably won't sound too good, but one man's music is another man's noise. I guess shredders are exploring the possibility faster than the rest of us.

Add there that those notes can have different duration and that you can add rests... The same note sequence would give a totally different melody when you play around with these two elements...

[Kraco]

My wife said there better be an end to it and it better happen soon!

[wcostley]

Originally Posted by Kraco

My wife said there better be an end to it and it better happen soon!

I had to laugh out loud when I read that, because many, many years ago when I was about 30, I ran into the same stumbling block, I ended up giving up on my attempt to learn the guitar, now that I'm old and have a larger house, I think my wife is happy to have me off in the bedroom practicing and out of her hair. I doubt there is any help for your situation, other than growing old.
Good luck,
Skip

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by fly135

Well lets see...

The probability of any random note is 1 in 12. So the probability of two particular notes in a row are 1 in 144. 3 in a row 1 in 1728. 10 specific notes in a row is 1 in 62 billion. Of course out of that 62 billion a significant number of those sequences probably won't sound too good, but one man's music is another man's noise. I guess shredders are exploring the possibility faster than the rest of us.

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by fly135

...I guess shredders are exploring the possibility faster than the rest of us.

Could be. I just still can't understand why they have to cram every one of them into a 20-second solo!