I've seen a thread on this subject years ago, but I thought I'd ask this modern crowd

I usually produce in Am, Dm, and Gm.

I can't write a song in a Major key because it always sounds too... happy. Major keys remind me too much of the "Sound of Music." Blegh.

Par example (I'm from Canada, so naturaly I only say "for example" in French):

Try this arp on the piano or whatever,
C - D# - G - _ | C - D# - G - _ | C - D# - G - _ | C - D# - G# - _
(note that's a G# on the end)

Nice right?


Now try:
C - E - G - _ | C - E - G - _ | C - E - G - _ | C - E - A - _

Ugh, disgusting. The hills are alive my friends, the hills are alive.

___________________

Help create the ultimate music tutorial source.

djglacial.com

i'll be honest with you dude. I'v played piano since i was 6 and have always been in to making music. I haven't got a clue what keys i produce in. I make alot of electro / tech-house and i just go with what sounds right... You don't need to know the inns and out as long as it sounds how you want it to sound. I couldnt' tell you what key any of my tunes are in ... maybe i should learn... but then again its quite a nice feeling when havn't got a clue what key your in and it just seems to work,...

all the best

___________________
(-'¢ìtízê|\|'-)

I use the white ones alot, but the black ones sometimes are cool if im doing house

I usually start out working in C maj or A min, since it's most confortable to work with on the keyboard (no black keys), but I often play C min as well. Then, when I start creating patches for my instruments I transpose my notes up or down to make the sound sit better. e.g. If my bass goes too deep / subsonic I pitch up 2-3 semitones, and if my lead is too pearcing I may transpose down 1-2 semitones.

quote:

Originally posted by echosystm I use the white ones alot, but the black ones sometimes are cool if im doing house

Thats me too

Wow,

I wouldn't be aloof about musical knowlege. One thing I know is that since I actually started learning how music works, it's been alot easier to write melodies.

Today, I can write a melody in a couple minutes, when it might have taken me an hour to find something I was happy with a few years ago.

Thing for me is, I also plan on composing classical in the future, and doing music for movies etc, and I'm willing to bet there's no successful composer on the planet who doesn't know what key he's playing in.

Besides, I was playing in the same keys since I started, I just didn't know it.

If you want to find out, it's not that hard.

http://www.pianoworld.com/fun/vpc/piano_chords.htm


[edit]

Anyone try my little Major-Minor experiment?

___________________

Help create the ultimate music tutorial source.

djglacial.com

Last edited by djglacial on Mar-14-2006 at 15:18

because i'm now taking music courses at my uni as a braek from all the pre-med madness, i'm finally seriously learning music theory. honestly tho dude. theory has never helped me when it comes to writing melodies (although it helps me understand teh progression). it's helped me more for improv guitar work and solo-ing and stuff. everything i've written is in minor, i can't stand happy stuff

___________________

Oops i produce dubstep now.

NumberNin6 / Ethereal / Orana Project / Greenlight

quote:

Originally posted by EtherealSL because i'm now taking music courses at my uni as a braek from all the pre-med madness, i'm finally seriously learning music theory. honestly tho dude. theory has never helped me when it comes to writing melodies (although it helps me understand teh progression). it's helped me more for improv guitar work and solo-ing and stuff. everything i've written is in minor, i can't stand happy stuff

Ha, awesome. Yah, minor's the only way to go, unless you're DJ Sammy.


I'm surprised music theory doesn't help you write, though. I could see that when writing some kindof crazy acid track where the lead doens't follow chord progression, but in all other cases, I find practical theory really helpful.


One thing though, when someone says "Your melody doesn't sound 'right,'" you can put it into words if you know what you're talking about.

___________________

Help create the ultimate music tutorial source.

djglacial.com

quote:

Originally posted by citizeN i'll be honest with you dude. I'v played piano since i was 6 and have always been in to making music. I haven't got a clue what keys i produce in. I make alot of electro / tech-house and i just go with what sounds right... You don't need to know the inns and out as long as it sounds how you want it to sound. I couldnt' tell you what key any of my tunes are in ... maybe i should learn... but then again its quite a nice feeling when havn't got a clue what key your in and it just seems to work,... all the best

+1
ill like to learn more of music theory soon.

quote:

Originally posted by djglacial One thing though, when someone says "Your melody doesn't sound 'right,'" you can put it into words if you know what you're talking about.

agreed here, glacial. when discussing music, theory definately helps. it helps when you say, "you should add a melody that that follows I VI V... etc" instead "you shoudl add a melody that starts low and goes high and then down a little bit... but not too much and then sounds like doo doo doooo"

lol.


but when it comes to writing, i just listen to the melodies that come to my head, play them out on the guitar a bit and then write them down. theory helps me a bit with background harmonies and such, but for me, it's mainly just listneing to whats building in my mind.

___________________

Oops i produce dubstep now.

NumberNin6 / Ethereal / Orana Project / Greenlight

i couldnt answer you, i produce with anything that has "that feel" to it, i dont use any standard set feel, just an overall feel.

keys fabricate this feeling for you, i like to fabricate it with more than just one key or group of them.


Im all over the place

but youre right, majors are CHEESE!

___________________
Ride the bassline all night long

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WiKKid sKiLLz
i couldnt answer you, i produce with anything that has "that feel" to it, i dont use any standard set feel, just an overall feel.