Chords and scales?

[Jimmyprice]

I know its a stupid question because you can obviously use all scales in production but which ones do u think are most fundamental and which ones do you use most in your own production??

[UKRuss]

Chords are simply harmonised scales, so don't get too caught up in that. Most dance and rock will use minor keys. Occaisionally happier genres will use major keys.

Simple as that really.

Within the context of those you will get a lot of use of pentatonic scales and occaisional modal vamping.

But generally, minor all the way.

[antarktika]

I would suggest using only C maj. all the time!

[LeifonMars]

Depends on the instrument I'm composing, how the instrument is tuned, samples I use, the range of the vocalist I collaborate, room acoustics, the wax build up in my ears.

[rbmonosylabik]

It really depends on how you look at your harmony and how deep you want to go, but I'd start by learning how the major scale's diatonic chords functions and how they can be used to create tension and release, specially why the chord movements IV-V-I and ii-V-I work so well in giving resolution. From there you can start digging into chord substitutions (substituting a chord for another diatonic chord with similar function), modulations (moving to a different tonality), inflections (not sure about the term translation, briefly suggesting a different tonality), borrowing chords from other tonalities, for example if you're writing in minor, using a V7 chord instead of vm7 to get the sense of tension and release of the major scale. You can go really deep with that, but once you do you'll start to see ways to break out of your scale and see the non diatonic notes as interesting places you can skillfully go to, not as forbidden.

[deanc2000]

But remember that if you want to use V7 instead of vm7, you must use either harmonic minor or melodic minor. Not the natural minor.

Big rule: Whichever chord you use in your progression, you must use the scale that that chord is from to find your melody notes.


Hope this helps (don't you hate when people end their post's this way?).


D.

[leedsquietman]

C major or A minor, then you can avoid using the # keys (I almost referred to this as the 'black' keys but then realized some people could misconstrue me as a racist )

KISS - keep it simple stupid

Some of Live's presets even have m7 chords just from pressing 1 key (the root note), so the Am7 Dm7 Em7 with some 'phat' juno/sawtooth stab like combo - perfect for house music !

[crumhorn]

Pentatonic is the most fundamental scale in most contemporary music.

The black keys are right there, under your fingers. The key of C is for people who study music.

[AceLuby]

I would suggest using only C maj. all the time!

Pfff... doesn't hold a candle to A minor

[rbmonosylabik]

The black keys are right there, under your fingers. The key of C is for people who study music.

Just ask Stevie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE

[crumhorn]

The black keys are right there, under your fingers. The key of C is for people who study music.

Just ask Stevie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE

That was like a refreshing blast of fresh air. Wonderful (pun not intended).