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TranceAddict Forums > DJing / Production / Promotion > DJ Booth > Tracks with wonky key signatures

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displaced
Senior tranceaddict

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: in traffic

Tracks with wonky key signatures

I usually figure key signatures out by ear even though it takes FOREVER, cuz programs like Rapid Evolution are off a third of the time when i compare results against my ear and I end up listening through it anyways. And it doesn't detect key changes very well either.

anywho, I was categorizing AvB - Tuvan, and the original and Gareth Emery versions were fairly straight forward (harmonic Cm), but the Andy Blueman remix has me stumped. The melody line uses (assuming its in Cm like the others) major 3rds, (E, not Eb) and maintains the harmonic minor characteristics on the 6th and 7th. Moving it down a fifth to Fm creates its own problems, and its definitely not Gm, so I'm thinking of calling it C major and pigeonholing it.

I've been sitting on this track for like 30 minutes thinking wtf, is there some rule I've forgotten... Have you ever come across tracks that you just couldn't categorize into a key? Oh and if you know what key the Andy Blueman remix is in, please do share.

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Sep-25-2009 05:37 United States

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DJ_Rafnel
Microbrew Addict

Registered: Jul 2009
Location: South Sterling, PA

I CAN tell you that the bassline is Cm for the Andy Blueman remix.

What i cant tell you is the melody or whatever, and anything to technical. Honestly, the main thing you should worry about is the bassline when it comes to keying out songs. If the bassline works, then the rest of the song will 99 percent of the time.

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Sep-26-2009 02:16 United States

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Nemesis44
ZZZZZzzzzzz.....

Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Brighton

I have got that down as a Cm too.
The scale it uses seems to be built around a middle eastern influence so might be messing with what you already know.

Cheers
Nem

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Sep-28-2009 16:27 United Kingdom

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displaced
Senior tranceaddict

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: in traffic

thanks. sometimes high school music theory gets you only so far, or at least from what i can recall...

btw, are you guys tuning by ear or using mixedinkey, re, or a combination?

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Oct-01-2009 03:35 United States

DJ_Rafnel
Microbrew Addict

Registered: Jul 2009
Location: South Sterling, PA

I key it out by ear unless its listed on the cd or the release somewhere. As for the BPM, i usually stick to the display on the CDJ1000.

When it comes to keying it out quickly, i use a flash piano online haha.

If i have Ableton Live open ill use that. Flash Piano is way to much fun though.

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Current Releases:
Wayde Rafnel & Dave Correa - Derailed [Spinnin]
Wayde Rafnel - Struggle [Vibrate Sounds]

Email for promo/press contact

Oct-01-2009 04:36 United States

displaced
Senior tranceaddict

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: in traffic

ic. musical typing makes me want to paint my top keys black, so that i actually hit keys that correspond to a piano key. but i suppose it gets the job done.

speaking of flash and music,

http://www.dothedaft.com/idaft/

i get a kick playing around w/ it.

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Oct-01-2009 05:00 United States

DJ_Rafnel
Microbrew Addict

Registered: Jul 2009
Location: South Sterling, PA

HAhah that thing is awesome. Someone needs to make more of those.

___________________
Current Releases:
Wayde Rafnel & Dave Correa - Derailed [Spinnin]
Wayde Rafnel - Struggle [Vibrate Sounds]

Email for promo/press contact

Oct-01-2009 05:18 United States

RichieV
Supreme tranceaddict

Registered: Aug 2003
Location:

it is both in c minor and c major.

Oct-01-2009 14:02 United States

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Nightshift
...Ninja Business...

Registered: Oct 2005
Location: Sacramento, California

Yeah this track is switching between C minor and major at certain points.

But the bassline is Cminor.

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quote:
Originally posted by meriter
Your primary focus should be making good music. That's all. No one gives a shit how you do it. And the people that do are fags.

Last edited by Nightshift on Oct-01-2009 at 15:38

Oct-01-2009 15:09 United States

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Nemesis44
ZZZZZzzzzzz.....

Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Brighton

A bit of pitch axis theory going on in there, but yeah bassline is in Cm, and unless you intend on mixing something over the main hook/breakdown you would probably be fine with sticking it down as Cm.

As for matching keys, I usually sit down with my guitar and just playing scales.
Some keys I can recognise by ear without having to play any instrument along with them, but not all.

I never use software to identify keys.

Cheers
Nem

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Oct-01-2009 20:25 United Kingdom

TranceAddict Forums > DJing / Production / Promotion > DJ Booth > Tracks with wonky key signatures

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