There are areas of gray in music, and you can get people arguing about whether something is really a fast waltz or a slow triplet rhythm. For example, is Billy Joel’s Piano Man a quick waltz in 3/4 or a slow 6/8? I hear it as the latter, as I hear the “ONE” coming around every 6 eighth notes, not every three notes. The piano does play a typical waltz accompaniment, but the drums are definitely playing a pattern more close to 6/8 or 12/8 than 3/4. If you look at sheet music, more often than not, you’ll find it notated as 3/4.
Actually, I didn’t realize that these were considered gray areas or even controversial. I assumed there would be a ‘correct’ answer, there would be some unambiguous rules to apply, even if I didn’t agree with them. And I see there are even “No true musician…” arguments.
Well, I can go with my gut then. Unfortunately my gut tells me different things from one day to the next. Bad diet, I guess.
You’ve been really helpful. I believe we can consider this subject closed. I thank you again.
Once again, not a problem. Music notation is not an exact science. There are general conventions, and you begin to recognize them and see the point of them the more you play (or actively listen). Playing from sheet music also helps internalize these conventions. And, even then, there can be a lot of disagreement. You should see some of the “name that chord” arguments that go around. (Quickly, a combination of notes played together can have a wild variety of different names, depending on their harmonic context. Sometimes this context is ambiguous, and different listeners interpret the role of the chord differently, and will name it differently.)
