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Help with music theory!
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| DJ HARN |
I know this topic must have been raised a ,illion times before, and maybe someone can help to just direct me to a good topic or link that already exists. I've tried doing a quick search, but I've not found exactly what I'm looking for. I would like to nkow when making melodies for trance music, what notes work well together, and do people tend to write the chords first then the melodies etc. What order should things be done, is there a rule about this or is it just subjective opinion??
And please no sarcastic answers, I'm here to learn, not to be shot down. |
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| Richard Butler |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ HARN
I would like to nkow when making melodies for trance music, what notes work well together |
My advice for what its worth (not much!) is too note that of the thousands of releases each week, most fall away to nothing, so it seems a reasonable approach to just do your thang using your gut n ears as you go.
I'd avoid rules and templates if I were you.
As an aside I find most big trancers to be lame and cheesemeister now - why do people follow one another like sheep - ffs do your own thing people!!
:D |
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| Kysora |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ HARN
I would like to nkow when making melodies for trance music, what notes work well together |
It's really not that simple.
When I create a melody I always start with a chord progression, the thing that makes melodies "work" is how they fit into the chords played under them. So, generally it's a good idea to start with a progression.
There's really no good way to explain how to write melodies, if you understand theory you kind of have an inate understanding of what you're doing that really can't be summed up in just an explanation. If you don't know theory, people seem to get pretty far with the "whatever sounds good" principle, and that too just comes from experience. Work at it and it'll eventually come, but don't look for a cookie-cutter method of creating melodies. There isn't one, and there really never should be one. |
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| IceColdWater |
Do you play a musical instrument? It really helps if you can play one , like the piano or the guitar.
Usually I start with the melody first , then write the chords to accompany it. But it doesn't matter which one comes first , most importantly is that you are comfortable with working either ways. |
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| floyd741 |
If you want to learn theory (as it helps with writing basically every type of music in existence) you can try checking out www.musictheory.net for some basic lessons. I haven't used the site much (except for the matrix generator) but I noticed they do have a section for lessons.
As far as writing music I find that for me the best way is to start with a chord progression then to lead that with a melody. So yes, it really is a matter of what works for you.
Anyway, if you decide to learn theory please remember that the rules are there to guide, not to constrain. I can't tell you how many times people on this board have bashed music theory because they think it will hinder their creativity or some other such stupidity. |
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| owien |
the best wy to learn music theory is the fun way that meens finding ya favorate patchs synth preset and go to the midi/piano roll in your daw.
try hiting key notes and spacing them apart then find the othr notes of the chords ect.
basicly just play ;) i will up load one of my midis if you want so you can get a better idea |
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| theterran |
I know what helps me out alot is getting down a bunch of solid harmony's first. Then the melody will typically come out on it's own.
The other thing, especially with arpeggiated lines, is to set down your root notes first, in whatever rhythm, then fill in the gaps. (hard to explain this sorry :()
I'm sure alot of it is subjective like you said. (I've come to realize that music is pretty much a subjective artform)
I come from a background of playing the Cello and being the harmony all of the time, so I have an easier time starting there. |
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| novastorm |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kysora
If you don't know theory, people seem to get pretty far with the "whatever sounds good" principle, and that too just comes from experience. Work at it and it'll eventually come, but don't look for a cookie-cutter method of creating melodies. There isn't one, and there really never should be one. |
+1
I very much fall into the category of people who don't know theory, but after listening to trance religiously for 13 years now I just know a strong melody/progression when I hear it. Usually those who know theory and those who don't will still agree when a melody really works, it just takes more trial and error to get there for someone who doesn't know theory. I think for trance music a trained ear is more important than a trained mind... of course it'd be great to have both ;) |
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| Villan881 |
My first post here so be gentle with me;)
When I write tracks for whatever genre I am writing for, I first of all start with a BPM (beats Per Minute) decision before moving onto a chord progression together with a synth sound that grabs me.
There are chord maps for different keys on the Internet that show you what choices of chords you can play after a particular chord. After getting a "vibe" going, I will mess around with the arpeggiators to see what patterns work best and what don't.
When I am happy with that, I will then bring in the kicks; I have templates in my DAW that cover all the genres I write music for, so for trance I have hundreds of sample kicks ready and waiting that I can audition very quickly, find one I like and then load it into my drum synth to be triggered from a step sequencer, all within my DAW.
Other percussion will be bought in here; snares and claps, cymbals all of which I have easily on tap ready to audition and bring into the mix.
After that its onto the bass; for this I will "noodle" around with bass parts from my keyboard whilst playing back my chord progression loop. Either that or I will audition loops to use or give me inspiration.
It's only then that I might start thinking about the melody; it kind of suggests itself - I don't know how else to explain it!
I then load fx and noises and when I feel I have all the parts of the sound jigsaw loaded, I can then concentrate on the arrangement.
If all of this sounds nice and smooth, it isn't like that at all.:(
Writing is an iterative process; I have missed all sorts of stuff here about EQ, Compression, reverb,(splash), delay (spin),levels, mastering etc. and they all have their place in the development of your track.
As far as theory is concerned, understanding what root notes are and how scales are made up will get you a long way; knowing basic chord shapes and what the notes pattern on a keyboard are will also be a great help. If you know where "C" is on a keyboard pattern, you can easily work out what all the other notes are;)
I hope this helps you and sorry if I went on a bit much. |
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