What an odd question...

Does it matter?

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One always has to remember these days where the garbage pail is, because it's so easy to make sounds, and to put sounds together into something that appears to be music, but it's just as hard as it always was to make good music.
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I typically produce in the key that the bassline falls under.

For instance... let's say that I'm working with a bass synthesizer patch that sounds great in the epic-trance harmonic: C#, D#, F... Well, the rest of the leads and such will follow that scale simply because the bass patch sounded the best in that range.

It's not as hard as it looks, and it doesn't really make it a decision. For me, it's all about the scope of sound -- not some magical musical key that's gonna make Beethoven cry.

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Audio-s

quote:

Originally posted by Four_On_Four-er I typically produce in the key that the bassline falls under. For instance... let's say that I'm working with a bass synthesizer patch that sounds great in the epic-trance harmonic: C#, D#, F... Well, the rest of the leads and such will follow that scale simply because the bass patch sounded the best in that range. It's not as hard as it looks, and it doesn't really make it a decision. For me, it's all about the scope of sound -- not some magical musical key that's gonna make Beethoven cry.

Ha, well, I don't know if you directed that at anybody in particular, but now that we're getting serious...

It's really just a matter of convenience for me. I couldn't care less what key I write in, but I just start my bass on D E G or A all the time, and choose keys accordingly.

Like I said, I've been using that same keys since before I knew what keys were. I just got used to them and find it easy to write in them.

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quote:

Originally posted by djglacial Ha, well, I don't know if you directed that at anybody in particular, but now that we're getting serious... It's really just a matter of convenience for me. I couldn't care less what key I write in, but I just start my bass on D E G or A all the time, and choose keys accordingly. Like I said, I've been using that same keys since before I knew what keys were. I just got used to them and find it easy to write in them.

I meant no hard feelings at anyone in particular (haven't even read all the posts). I was proudly trumpetting my ability to be ignorant about musical-keys because of the way I resolve my bassline. I have no formal training in chords, scales, or musical theory...

BUT, I do typically follow some minor key lead-wise... so I'll echo your original post in that manner.

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Audio-s

quote:

Originally posted by Four_On_Four-er I meant no hard feelings at anyone in particular (haven't even read all the posts). I was proudly trumpetting my ability to be ignorant about musical-keys because of the way I resolve my bassline. I have no formal training in chords, scales, or musical theory... BUT, I do typically follow some minor key lead-wise... so I'll echo your original post in that manner.

I just find I can't write in major, using the tonic as, well, a tonic, so I opt to go minor. I just find major scales to be too happy sounding.

It's probably the same reason I can't write "catchy" leads. Vocals, maybe, but when I write something I end up getting stuck in my head, I hate it. I've said before, I can't listen to Black Eyed Pees because of that (not that they're any good anyway, but that's for another thread... if for anything.)

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Yeah most of the times major keys tend to be cheesy/happy. I guess we here are all like minor fans. In fact, I haven't made a song in major for such a long time that I even forgot what a major song sounds like. But anyways. I usually try to throw something out on the keyboard and once the melody is done I slide it up and down the keyboard to see in which key it sounds fuller and more appropriate. You guys do that?

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Coming from a guitarist background, keys would be easy as picking a fret. Moving on to keyboards still get a lot of milage out of playing white keys only but in different modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian)

Ionian in C is plain old Cmajor, Dorian in D is all the notes of CMajor but the root note is D instead of C. Heres a good link to explain more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_mode

and the rest comes form the circle of fifths.

I.e. Staring from C it has no sharps of flats, G is up a Fifth from C and has one sharp. D is up a 5th from G and has 2 sharps, etc. Flats are calculated by going the other way

I got piano lessons when I was a kid and I played the guitar for 5 years when I was at School so I knew a bit about music theory when I first started producing my own stuff, so most of it was in A minor cause it make thingsa easier not having to worry about sharpes or flats,
The thing is a few months ago, I started a tune that just happened to sound better when it was in F sharp minor, which basically uses every single black key. Now, just about every tune I make seems to be in this key. The only thing is that I've got a m-audio radium49 keyboard and I'm sure that when I play it the black keys seem to have a far higher velocity than the white keys.
As far as music theory goes. It probably is helpful to have some knowledge, but I still play by ear most of the time and I think that most people who do have a decent knowledge of the theory without necesarrily being aware of it.

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Also like progressive house, Just for a change!!

Been thinking about producing more in Eb Minor too, just luv the sound of a pentatonic scale (blues or eastern melodies)

If my main synth plays the notes D{sharp}, C{sharp}, C, B, etc how the hell do I play my bass line to match this? My Kick is in C?