I find it really hard to mix harmonically and still think 2/3 tracks ahead even though I can beatmatch really quickly ... however I haven't been mixing harmonically 'that' long, and I only remember the keys by memory for a couple of tracks .. but there are a few mixes that I remember were really good and were obviously in key so i don't need to look..
Is it still possible to mix harmonically and think a few tracks ahead? If any of you guys can, does it take aaages to get to that stage?


Also when flippin' thru ur records/cds/mp3s or whatever, do you guys

a) look for a tune that you think would go well (similiar style/sound etc), then check to see if it will go down harmonically; or

b) look through for a tune that is in key and about the same bpm first off (sometimes I do this if its taking me too long to find a song, after a lot of bad guesses)

Personally I prefer (A) since I ussually want a constant progression in my set rather than a monotonous, fabulous harmonic display...

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Check My Music

I have all of my vinyl keyed/bpm'd, as well as all of the mp3s (burned to CD) I purchased at beatport.com. I have my tunes arranged by genre & then by key. I use the camelot method (numeric system for keys). Check out their page. They assign a numeric number to a specific key. For example, Aminor = 8A (# = the numeric value of the key & the letter A designates a minor key, B designates a major key (rare)). For your next track you can play a song in the same key, 8A Aminor (root key), or a perfect 4th (Dminor, 7A on camelot), or a perfect 5th (9A on camelot). Do you see the pattern? If you are in 8A, look for a 7x, 8x, or 9x song for your next track.

While mixing harmonically (99% of the time), I try to plan somewhat. Usually, if I'm in one key, and I want to play a song that's a few keys away, I try to build up to that song. For instance, if I'm in the key of Aminor (8A using camelot) and I want to play a song in Gbminor (11A), I try to find a few tracks that are between those two...such as Am (8A) -> Em (9A) -> Bm (10A) -> and finally into Gbm (11A) (all are perfect 5ths).

I highly recommend checking out that camelot site. Its a great way to key/organize your tunes.

I also use final scratch (@ home mostly). That is great for organizing my tunes by genre & then harmonically. I can display the track title, artist & comments for the song. In my comments field, I put the Camelot #, the key (redundant, I know), the bpm. I usually sort my collection by commment, so that gives me an idea of what songs will fit next harmonically.

Most of the time I plan and build where I am going with the mixes but sometimes you just get a feel for what the crowd seems to be reacting to so you try and go with that.

I know my record box so well that I have to say that I don't really think about it too much. Just seem to feel what comes next, and in time you will know what the crowd needs.

I also make sure to mix in key though as that is still the best way to work the crowd providing you do it right.

Cheers
Nem

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i have all my records arranged by the 'camelot sysytem' too i spose. so if i want to get to a certain track, then yes, ill plan out what needs to be played to get there, but if i dont have anthing in mind of what i want next, i look at my options, which is usually anywhere from 3-20 songs. but of course the number of tracks that you have as options are all dependent on your record size collection...

*edit* so basically what the above people said too

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Unity in Diversity-

Yeah the camelot site is great .. I don't use the 8A etc system I just made a table of the Key, then the 7 compatiable (to some extent) keys..

Ok so it looks like most guys who posted who mix harmonically don't 'guess' a song first, they go to the spot in their crate with the compatiable keys. I'm not trying to be critical here sinceyou guys know way more than me i just wanna know wats right and wrong, but doesn't that make you feel like its a bit too non-creative if instead of picking from your whole crate, you have the in-key tracks already grouped .. i know its time-saving, but dont you think this kinda takes the creativity away? Btw as i mentioned before i'm not trying to attack you guys in any way.. I am a newcomer to harmonic mixing so to speak.

i'm new to it too but this is the way i look at it:

before i was baiscally harmonic mixing the hard way. i would do trial and error if i did not have a feeling for what i wanted to mix into the current track. But, if i did have a feeling for the next track, i would usually be correct. Unless the beats were too far apart or it happened to be a sour key.

Now it is still a creative process. I do not have to use trial and error when i cannot think of a track to play next. Moreover, the "feeling tracks" are the same as they would have been before keying them out; but now they end up being in the proper section of my bag or crate. Sometimes, I have noticed that i see records that i would not thought of if I did not know the key. Thus making me more creative...

Also now, if i feel for a track to spin and i notice that it will not work due to key/bpm i think twice. This saves me time and allows me to be more creative with my mixing. Not to metion it gives me more time to enjoy the music.

cheers...

Last edited by xmotleyx on Jul-15-2004 at 14:39

I don't really need to keep track of anything, I can usually hear in my head what track will fit with what. Of course it's a bit difficult if you're playing a bunch of new tracks you've just got but they all fit into place sooner or later.

All that categorisation and planning sounds weird to me.

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Latest releases:
Endless Cycles [Capital Heaven]
The Charlatan [Morphosis]

Nowhere in my message did i say i plan a set. I never plan a set EVER!!!

quote:

Originally posted by xmotleyx Nowhere in my message did i say i plan a set. I never plan a set EVER!!!

Who said you did?

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Latest releases:
Endless Cycles [Capital Heaven]
The Charlatan [Morphosis]

Hi...
What u call harmonic??
Sometimes ppl said that the key/bassline of the song must be the same... But from what i heard..
i guess there is no need to have the same bassline/key... as long as this two song sound like one... Try Rio Klien - Fearless with Agnelli Nelson - holding onto nothing.. i beatmacth them n play around with the vocal when there is chance... it heard so harmonic, it heard like one song...

Correct me if im wrong... Peace

quote:

Originally posted by Nou Im going to assume that Nems harmonic list is in the Camelot system?

It's in both Chromatic (Real music theory) and Camelot.

Cheers
Nem

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