Ableton Forum

Im new to producing and need some help on Music theory.

Im have some Midi files I'd like to work with but need to know what key.

They are labelled Em7_G_Gsus4_D

This will be obvious to you guys but im struggling to find some guidance, especially when trying to match say a bass loop.

None if us know anything about theory here. We just push buttons until things sound good.

The best I can do for you is tell you that those are chords E minor 7th, G, G suspended 4th. You can actually see and listen to them here---> http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/gsus4.asp

G - D - Em7 would be key of G (wouldn't worry too much about the rogue sus4)

They belong to the key of D as well.

Those chords can be mixed and matched a few ways with a different starting point and a different key.

Could be the Key of G, D or Em depending on how you want to build your melody and supporting bass lines.

For some theory do some research on Scale Tone Chords. Basically start by matching a key scale to the scale tone chords built from that scale. Then butcher it to suit.

I highly recommend The Complete Idiots Guide to Music Theory

With the Gsus4 in the mix I would be going with D. I - ii (m7) - IV - IV (sus4) as a possible progression. That would be D - Em7 - G - Gsus4

Or

In the key of G. I - I (sus4) - vi (m7) - V. Although its more common to find the D with a sus4 in this progression. That would be something like G - Gsus4 - Em7 - D

Or

You usually don't start with a minor 7th ( up to you though) but you could also easily use the scale tone chords of Em for a I - iii - iii (sus4) - vii. That would be Em7 - G - Gsus4 - D

I'd always opt for the minor key unless it's country music, major keys are much rarer nowadays. I opt for Em as the key here.

The 7s and sus4s etc. are just extensions or removals of tones form the base chord. So your progression is really just Em G D.

For bass line then, you could go a static line on E, or follow the chord tones E G D...as two very basic examples.

Em7 seemed a strange chord for a guitarist to start on but on a keyboard Em7 played as a triad is the same as G second inversion so my guess was that it started with a bit of noodling probably in G, but as we can see it is hard to know for sure without seeing or hearing the melody and even then open to interpretation....No C or Am in the progression so unlikely to be Em?

A fair point. We need to hear the chown.

I wouldn't have an issue with Em7 as my opening chord on guitar, but it have to be in context as you say.

On the other hand, Gmaj/Em, two modes of the same thing really.

see, I told you no one knows anything about theory here!

Depends what inversions are used - posting the chord names does really help fitting a baseline - also whether piano or guitar chords can make quite a difference.

Quite simply need to hear them and get a feel for the intent etc.

That sequence of chords can result in several very drastically different feeling progressions depending upon what inversions are played. At least two obvious baselines comes to mind (neither of which include obvious chord root notes). Depends alot on the style of music too.

My guess in the em7 has the 5th dropped, so probably has a G base. The G probably then suits a E base, the Gsus4 might then then suit a F, the D is just plain cheesy, but running through an too A in the base might make it more interesting and lead nicely back to a G. That might also suggest sneaking in a Fm7.

Anyway - thats kind of what I hear in my head when given those chords and no context, could see it coming out of old motown maybe soul band doing something at about 90bpm. Guess these days that makes it highly abusabe for hip/hop, r&b.