For all the time that I've made trance I usually start by just playing random keys and hoping that eventually something sounds cool. What I'm wondering is if there are any common scales or progressions used in trance? Like I know in a blues I-IV-V is very common, is there something like that for trance? Are there any scales that sound good with trance?

A lot of trance uses standard minor scales. Some psy uses the Phrygian mode I think.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles A lot of trance uses standard minor scales. Some psy uses the Phrygian mode I think.

...and Dorian to an extent.

Some of the most common progressions that I hear in a lot of trance use the i, VI, and VII chords (in natural minor). It seems like the i-VI-VII progression in EDM is about the equivalent of the I-IV-V progression in blues/rock.

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ok cool, thanks.

Uplifting trance is my expertise and it generally uses major chords. Every note in a diatonic scale can be harmonically supported by major chords, so it's not hard to comfortably stay within a major tonality.

A lot of uplifting trance uses minor chords as the first chord of a progression, though. VI to I is very common, since they have two common notes.

A typical 8 bar progression for me with that could be VI-I-V-IV. It flows very nicely since most of the notes are shared between chords and it allows for some very nice bass patterns. Especially VI to I, as you can keep the third in the bass until you want some powerful movement, then you can lower the bass to the tonic for the I chord. That creates a very powerful uplifting sound if you do it correctly. This is a great example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D756-LDqDoM It's done quite a bit with trance, but not always with VI to I.

Though I generally think writing with a progression in mind is limiting. I always start with the melody and fill the harmonies in according to theory. If I start with underlying chords I think too much about what notes I can use melodically and it becomes more formulaic than expressive. At least that's how I see it.

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Originally posted by Kysora Every note in a diatonic scale can be harmonically supported by major chords, so it's not hard to comfortably stay within a major tonality... A typical 8 bar progression for me with that could be VI-I-V-IV.

That progression of major chords doesn't make much sense. First, there are no modes in which the VI, I, V, and IV chords are all major (not that you have to stick to the seven modes). Second, I don't think I've ever heard a progression similar to that in any form of trance (particularly not in uplifting trance). You're essentially talking about a progression (in Cmin) that would go:

Abmaj | Cmaj | Gmaj | Fmaj |

See any problems with the key? You're interchanging (and "resolving") chords that use Ab's (Abmaj) and A-naturals (Fmaj) and Eb's (Abmaj) and E-naturals (Cmin). Also, you're resolving upward by a minor third from one major chord to another twice (Ab to C; F to Ab) - not a strong progression at all. It's not that you couldn't use that progression, but in the context that you are saying that you use it, it probably wouldn't sound very good. Essentially, your progression is more like a Cmaj progression that starts with a VI borrowed from the parallel minor, but never really resolves. I guess I'll have to try it for myself when I get home....

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just stick with C. no major or minor, just C. Maybe a G sometimes.

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Originally posted by cryophonik I guess I'll have to try it for myself when I get home....

I just tried it and it sounds pretty strange...

Kind of interesting, though, sort of like something Orbital might use.

Here's a sample:

http://jbj.raceriv.com/stupid/weirdchords.mp3

I put some LFO on the pitch to give it a wonky Orbital touch.

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Originally posted by palm just stick with C. no major or minor, just C. Maybe a G sometimes.

Just the single note, C? Maybe you should do a dance version of Terry Riley's "In C":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjR4QYsa9nE

Where could I learn more about scales? (No Fish)

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Originally posted by DjWoody Where could I learn more about scales? (No Fish)

http://www.teoria.com/
http://cnx.org/content/col10208/latest/