quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 Forgive me for asking but isn't the tonic when one key is exactly the same as an other.

The tonic is just the name for the first note in the scale of any given key. Each degree in a scale has a name and the tonic is the name for the bottom note, which happens to be the one that the key is named after, (pretty much the same as the root). Hope that makes sense.

When mixing 2 keys that are the same, I call that a 'keymatch' (that's just a neologism of my own though hehe).

quote:

What I do is mix two different keys to make a chord with the basslines. All be it a very simple chord (E5 aka powerchord) for example.

If you did a -3 on easymix, that would be a minor 3rd. Cool chord to work with in trance

Aye, use it all the time.

Cheers
Nem

___________________
https://www.mixcloud.com/Calvin_Karass/

Hopefully someone can help me here...

OK, I've been mixing harmonically for a month or so now, keying tracks is no probs, and I understand which keys will mix into other keys, but how exactly should I use this to compose a set?

I heard Oakie chatting about being able to control the dancefloor, changing keys at a certain time to make the place explode. How? Should I begin with a string of tunes in one key, then change the key with a phat stomper of a tune?
After that do I revert back to a Cm, Cm, Cm, Cm, then churn out a crazy Gm tune?

Has anyone found certain key progressions work well as a build up? Perhaps chord progressions?

I've been playing around with this for a while, and certainly since mixing harmonically my sets have improved no end, but I sometimes feel like I could be missing out on some potential with shifting keys.

As ever, any help much appreciated.

Hopefully someone can help me here...

OK, I've been mixing harmonically for a month or so now, keying tracks is no probs, and I understand which keys will mix into other keys, but how exactly should I use this to compose a set?

I heard Oakie chatting about being able to control the dancefloor, changing keys at a certain time to make the place explode. How? Should I begin with a string of tunes in one key, then change the key with a phat stomper of a tune?
After that do I revert back to a Cm, Cm, Cm, Cm, then churn out a crazy Gm tune?

Has anyone found certain key progressions work well as a build up? Perhaps chord progressions?

I've been playing around with this for a while, and certainly since mixing harmonically my sets have improved no end, but I sometimes feel like I could be missing out on some potential with shifting keys.

As ever, any help much appreciated.

Hopefully someone can help me here...

OK, I've been mixing harmonically for a month or so now, keying tracks is no probs, and I understand which keys will mix into other keys, but how exactly should I use this to compose a set?

I heard Oakie chatting about being able to control the dancefloor, changing keys at a certain time to make the place explode. How? Should I begin with a string of tunes in one key, then change the key with a phat stomper of a tune?
After that do I revert back to a Cm, Cm, Cm, Cm, then churn out a crazy Gm tune?

Has anyone found certain key progressions work well as a build up? Perhaps chord progressions?

I've been playing around with this for a while, and certainly since mixing harmonically my sets have improved no end, but I sometimes feel like I could be missing out on some potential with shifting keys.

As ever, any help much appreciated.

The type of mix that Oakie is talking about is primarily the key lift mix but it’s not a mix that you can do all the time or it does get a little old. But it’s not just about mixing in a certain way, there is a lot to be said for knowing when a specific tune will do the job and that comes from reading the crowd.

The way I do it is as follows:
When I start my set I will usually possibly mix a few tracks in the same key just to establish a flow and to find my own pace even given the dance floor some time to adjust to my style. I will make sure that they are good tunes that will establish a solid groove.
After this I will start changing the key but still keeping it to stuff that is compatible in terms of complementing keys.
When people are starting to look as if they are settled in and getting used to my groove I like to surprise them so then I will look to do a mix where I lift the key (i.e. 5a to 12a). These two tunes can’t run at the same time musically so you have to do a quicker style mix where you just literally swap bass in a drum roll or similar and kill the outgoing tune quickly. Sometimes you will find tunes that do this pretty will all by themselves and that makes them ideal.
You still have to remember that this ties in with reading the crowd too but if you do this mix with the right tune you can have double the impact compared to just playing the right tune at the right time.
This type of mixing can actually make a relatively flat tune selection seem better than it is which is especially helpful if you are the warm up guy.

Cheers
Nem

___________________
https://www.mixcloud.com/Calvin_Karass/

sup,

ok kids i've read a little bit on harmonic mixing a little while ago and couldn't make sense of it but now i've just read the last few pages in this thread and keyed all my tunes(used mixshares database, i think a couple might be wrong but i'll check 'em).

so far ive got mixing into these keys work well:
-3
-1
+1
+4
+7
and that +7 needs to be a quick transistion as it musically doesnt mix and +/- 6% pitch changes the key by one.

is this correct and is all this going by keycodes??

now i kinda understand that but i know absolutely nothing about musical theory eg. keys, chords so im just gonna wing it. so now i am ready to try it out.

btw does anyone know of a decent bpm calculator eg. type in X bpm and Y bpm and tells difference in % between X & Y?

thanx for all the info fellas,
i'll tell ya's how i go and post a mix asap. looking forward to seeing how well i can do this.

peace
-sonykc

(this thread is a bit of a mess but worth the read, lol, im probably adding to the mess, )

Basically any keys that are next to each other on the wheel will mix nicely. The keys that are next to each other have similar key signatures, so there isn't much that can clash.

As for the others that you mention, they can work but you have to be a little more careful. +7 and is a semitone rise, which can work really well as a cut, but could sound horrendous if the actual harmonies (the meat of the tune, with chords and melodies etc) were layered. -3 and +4 involves creating a chord out of 2 basslines, but again might sound quite off if the harmonies were layered.

Yup, its a good idea to check all keys yourself, even if just so as you have this ability and understand what a key actually is!

oh ok kool,
i've catalogued all my vinyls in orders and tried to work out a set. heres one possibillity;

SONYX TRANCE SET 1

1. armin van buuren feat. jan vayne - serenity
(signum remix) 136.0bpm 8A
2. ernesto vs bastian - dark side of the moon
(marc van linden remix) 137.0bpm 8A -
3. e-craig - call it a day (quick mix-before melody)
(212 pm mix) 137.6bpm 12A +4
4. above & beyond - no one on earth
(original mix) 138.0bpm 1A +1
5. armas - angels & demons (quick mix-before melody)
(carl b remix) 138.0bpm 10A -3
6. fire & ice - let there be light
(primer OR original mix) 138.0bpm 11A +1
7. energy 52 - cafe del mar (quick mix-before melody)
(marco v remix) 139.2bpm 8A -3
8. hiver and hammer - fusion 2006 (quick mix-use percs)
(original mix) 139.6bpm 12A +2
9. wonders - the morning after (quick mix-use percs)
(octagen's night before remix) 139.8bpm 2A +2
10. andy b - acceleration (quick mix-before melody)
(acceleration) 140.0bpm 6A +4
11. system f - out of the blue
(system f 5am mix) 142.5bpm 6A -

lol, my collection is very limited atm but is this heading along the right way?

-sonykc

I would stick with the Easymix System rule of plus or minus one keycode.

yeah its just that dont have that many records so the chance of the next vinyl being either +1 or -1 is a slim possibility, thanx anyway guys. i understand most of this