How to describe music/lute- or fluteplay?

[Considerate_]

Hello fellow BG'ers

I've been RPing a bard for quite a while, but when looking back on my career I must admit I feel like I'm omitting a lot of the music and focusing more on the lyrics etc.

I tend to toss in an emote like

*Putting the mouthpiece of her lute to her lips, she produces a melancholy tune that fills the quiet night air*

or

*producing a cheerful note, as she plucks the strings of her lute and breaks into song*

Some times the emotes have been longer, some times even shorter. But in general I'd really like to elaborate on my emotes in this regard, and I wondered if any of you had some good advice for how to explain the sound/feel of music in writing?

[Deathgrowl]

You could describe the intensity, tempo (upbeat, downbeat, flowing, etc...), key (minor, major, diminished, augumented, etc...) and general mood of the song/melody. If your character is playing a lute, you can also describe whether she is playing notes, arpeggios or chords, and eventually how the arpeggios and chords are being played.

Personally, I think lyrics are more important in the RP environment, and that you simply emote the general mood.

[Considerate_]

I agree with lyrics being the most important part, but after having focused on the text for almost 3½ years, I figured it might be a good idea to try and broaden my horizon a little.

Very good advice those - if you don't mind, I'd really enjoy some examples too

[Valefort]

It's such a frustrating topic for me

The way I usually emote playing flute is by describing the variations in the rythm, the breaking points of the song and general tone but it only goes so far :

*marking the rythm with his foot he begins to play a slow and discrete tune*

*the rythm picks up as the song goes on, the tune quickly turning into an upbeat jig*

I try to add some color by emoting small things such as closing eyes for concentration, twinkling eyes, bobbing head, creases at the corner of your eyes (since you can't laugh while playing flute !) etc .. emotions that reflect directly the tone and ambiance of the tune.

*he closes his eyes as he plays a particularly quick and intricate part, musical notes ricocheting off each other*

The pace at which you emote those things is particularly tricky, depends on the public's attention ! Hope that helps a little bit

[ArtOfNight]

I don't generally play bards and I'm not very familiar with the nuts and bolts of musical composition (i.e. I still don't really understand what a "flat" is) but you could try using formatting to make it more vivid. Colored text, italics, bolds, underlines. That sort of thing.

[Considerate_]

Definetely help, thank you for the input! Keep it coming if you've got more to add.

[c2k]

(i.e. I still don't really understand what a "flat" is)

Its the opposite of a "sharp". Flat and sharp denote pitch.

In attempt to make an analogy, sharps and flats in music are similar to sharps and flats in knives/cutlery. The sharper a blade, the more fine of a cut it makes. The higher the pitch, the sharper it sounds.

[Simian]

*Plays flute?*

[Rainbow Prism]

I try to not use professional musical terminology, for ease of typing and comprehension on both sides of RP. The worst thing that can happen is when the other player has no idea what you just typed.

Try to capture other actions of character. Surely he is not standing like robot when he plays? He can sway in tact, tap his foot, flourish with swift movements of hands and so on.

[DM Nilbog]

What really helps me is visuals google a few videos take out and notepad and in place of listening to the music take notes of the actions they have while playing it will help you out a ton. for example look at how each different player goes the motions while playing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2AoWiqSmxA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gScBzmKXTE

Hope that helps.