[Unofficial] Musical Roleplay Guide

[CosmicWhaleShark 2488]

-Roleplaying Music and Song-

An unofficial guide by wardog4445

 

 
Hello there, this guide will be simple enough. Just going to cover various instruments, styles of poetry and song, and the musical process.
 
-Table of Contents-
 
1. Instruments
 
2. Example emotes
 
3. Styles of poetry and song
 
 
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1. -Instruments-
 
Now, I am sure you know the various groupings of instruments. Strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, etc. Within this timeframe, which is from my perspective a hybrid of renaissance and feudal medieval times, there would be generally any kind of instrument besides brass. That being said, you do not have too many modern instruments either. Therefore, here is a list of generally acceptable instruments, from my perspective, for you to roleplay using.
 
(I'm certainly not going to get to every instrument. These are just MY OWN UNOFFICIAL LISTS of the seemingly most popular or most practical to use.)
 

-The Lute-

 

 
 
Ah... The lute. My favorite instrument of this general era. Here is a snip it from wikipedia. The lute is used in a great variety of instrumental music from the Medievalto the late Baroque eras and was the most important instrument for secular music in the Renaissance.It is also an accompanying instrument, especially in vocal works, often realizing a basso continuo or playing a written-out accompaniment. The player of a lute is called a lutenist, lutanist, "lewtist" or lutist, and a maker of lutes (or any string instrument) is referred to as a luthier.
 

-The Harp-

 

 

 

This is pretty straightforward. You solely pluck and strum with it. They're annoying as hell to tune, and a fair bit more fragile than other instruments.
 
 

-The Fiddle-

 

 

 
This as well is rather self-explanatory. If you understand the basics of a violin or viola, then you can adequately roleplay the use of a medieval fiddle. It is not pictured here, but a bow is used to play this instrument. (The only pictures I found with bows were lame child ones.)
 

 

-The Viol-

 

 

 

It is your medieval day cello. If you can play, or you know how to play the cello, then you can roleplay playing a viol just fine.
 
-Wind Instruments-
 

-The Gemshorn-

 

 
Wiki- Modern gemshorns are often made of the horns of domesticated cattle, because they are readily available, and their use prevents endangering wild species. The hollow horn has tone holes down the front, like a recorder or clarinet. The pointed end of the horn is left intact, and serves as the bottom of the instrument. A fipple plug, usually of wood, is fitted into the wide end of the instrument, with a recorder type voicing window on the front of the horn, for tone production.
 

-The Flute-

 

You guys know what a flute is. Don't sing if you're RPing playing it, naturally.
 

-The Bagpipe-

 

 

 

Oh yes, this dreadful  yet beautiful thing was around back then. Ehow with the terminology and method for which this is played. - Although many variations in construction were used, common to all bagpipes were a wind bag diaphragm made of sheepskin, a wooden blow pipe for filling the bag with air, and a wood chanter (similar to a simple flute) with which the piper would use to finger notes. The sound would emit by the open end of the chanter and by one or more drone pipes attached to the bag. It is the constant drone note and use of the air bag that distinguishes the bagpipe from other woodwinds and helps produce its distinctive sound.
 
Basically, you constantly blow air into the bag, and then you squeeze the bag with your arm to play it. Fingering the notes like you would a flute or recorder. I am unaware of how this thing stays in tune, if you can even call what it emits an on-key note.
 
 

 
2. -Example Emotes-
 
-Tuning-
Everything must stay in tune. With strings you have tuning pegs to tighten and release tension upon the string. With flutes you adjust the length in which the air travels through the instrument. How do you find out if you're in tune? Well, you play, of course. In modern days, we have fancy electronic tuners and such, so it's a bit difficult to understand how they got their base pitch back then. Just roleplay how you would go about tuning today, turning the pegs and twisting the flute so it's just slightly shorter than before. Don't worry about accurate pitch, I'm sure others won't complain. That is, if they aren't actually listening. 
 
-Scales-
From my own experiences, whenever I have my cello out and I'm not playing anything specific, I will idly play scales. They are good practice and if your character is just starting out, or just isn't doing anything in particular.

 
-Accidents-
Things happen to a worn down instrument. Strings break, pegs snap off, pipe bags tear. Roleplay these if you feel like having something different for once. It will also add to the versatility of your environment. Trust me when I say that nothing is more annoying than when something goes wrong in the middle of a song. Roleplay this frustration.
 
 
3. Styles of Poetry and Song
-Those that fancy themselves bards should probably pay attention to this section.-
 
1. Sonnets. -A versatile form of poetry of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter.- Ehow has delivered the brief explanations.
 
English Sonnets-Three quatrains of alternating rhyme "ABAB CDCD EFEF". Probably the easiest to write, as it is simply thinking of an alternative rhyme for that specific quatrain.
 
Italian Sonnets- An Italian sonnet consists of two sections. The first part is an octave, or eight lines, with an "ABBA ABBA" rhyming pattern. Depending on the style, the closing typically is a "CDC CDC" or a "CDC DCD". Most certainly a more challenging piece to write.
 
Spenserian Sonnets- This sonnet consists of three Sicilian quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyming scheme "ABAB BCBC CDCD EE".
 
2. Ballads. -The basic form for ballads is iambic heptameter (seven sets of unstressed, stressed syllables per line), in sets of four, with ABAB rhyming per each set.-
 
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That's all I've got for right now. This isn't to try and restrict anyone. This is my attempt to help those who RP music. Perhaps give them new ideas or remind them of certain aspects that they do not currently roleplay, etc. 

[CosmicWhaleShark 2488]

-Emote Help Things-

 

Use this, ♬ , when RPing singing. It looks cool.

 

Example

 

"♬ Hot cross buns, hot cross buns ♬"

 

Also a side note, I had pictures for all the instruments, but the image extensions were not allowed. Sorry. 

[Shorsand 2006]

Is there an alt-key combination for using that so one wouldn't have to copy-paste it constantly?

[CosmicWhaleShark 2488]

Not that I can tell, if you can find one, that would be awesome :P

[DelaneyG 1279]

Bueno.

[Ryski 32]

Is there an alt-key combination for using that so one wouldn't have to copy-paste it constantly?

Use the numpad and hold alt+14

If you don't ahve a numpad do fn+alt+14

 

♫ Tada!

 

EDIT: Here's a general guide to these characters:

[Lvke 1000]

ಠ_ರೃ    Like a sir! 

[Telanir 6975]

Also a side note, I had pictures for all the instruments, but the image extensions were not allowed. Sorry. 

 

Hah! I see what you did there.

 

Aside from this, very unique and creative guide. This is a one of a kind guide, never seen one of these before.

Excellent work!

[Crayfishchris 751]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.