Do chords slow down dance music(perception wise)?

[tipsch]

I think your friend just means that perception of chords is less easy (received less easily or slower) to an average dance-audience. A chord simply literally has more going on than a single note. I guess arpeggiation a chord may speed up err. perception a bit. Does this make sense at all? Unfortunately I happen to believe he is right.

[A.M. Gold]

I use chords all the time in my dance music, but I often use a "trance gate" to break them up rhythmically (BTW, I don't do trance ).

I do breaks, so will I need a breaks gate?

Try this one:

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1185.html

Don't know how relevant it is to your needs but I use it all the time. It just chops up the chord with little stops and starts and can be easily programmed to do various rhythmic patterns. You can also set the wet/dry mix of the gating effect. They have a "swing" control too but it is grayed out and I don't know if they will ever enable that feature.

[mistertoast]

I've heard claims that anything that sounds like a blues progression will give the perception of slowness, but that unexpected progressions in minor keys (especially in short bursts after a pedal point) will really get people moving. I suspect that it's going to really depend on the music at hand.

In these days of rock-steady timing, don't forget that you can speed up the bpm and slow it down any time you want. Some of the most infectious songs are really "sloppy" in timing, as a result of great bass players and drummers with great natural "feels" for how to get people moving. Anyone who plays live while watching people dance has a chance to learn how to excite people.

I think swing is very important. It's the difference between a drum machine and a sex machine.

[ozmoz2008]

...I think swing is very important. It's the difference between a drum machine and a sex machine.

That's a cool quote. You should take this as your sig.

[mistertoast]

Haha. Sure, why not. Now I just have to figure out how to make my sig. Test. Test.

[ozmoz2008]

Haha. Sure, why not. Now I just have to figure out how to make my sig. Test. Test.

+1 Totally cool!

[breakmixer]

I use chords all the time in my dance music, but I often use a "trance gate" to break them up rhythmically (BTW, I don't do trance ).

I do breaks, so will I need a breaks gate?

Try this one:

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1185.html

Don't know how relevant it is to your needs but I use it all the time. It just chops up the chord with little stops and starts and can be easily programmed to do various rhythmic patterns. You can also set the wet/dry mix of the gating effect. They have a "swing" control too but it is grayed out and I don't know if they will ever enable that feature.

just downloaded, thanks

[AuthenticDan]

(My brother interviewed a lot of disco-era black session players. Interestingly, some of them saw the anti-disco movement as anti-ethnic, anti-black racism.)

Most certainly was, probably anti-homosexual as well. The way disco was killed off in the States was despicable and has gone unpunished. The radio stations only play classic rock here...

There is no justice in this world.

[mistertoast]

(My brother interviewed a lot of disco-era black session players. Interestingly, some of them saw the anti-disco movement as anti-ethnic, anti-black racism.)

Most certainly was, probably anti-homosexual as well. The way disco was killed off in the States was despicable and has gone unpunished. The radio stations only play classic rock here...

There is no justice in this world.

Yeah, radio is horrible. But Internet radio is great.

[djriddle]

I have a friend who never puts chords in his music, when I asked why, he says it gives the feeling of slowing down, I don't agree! We make(or I try to lol) Nu Skool Breaks, what's your opinion?

he is totally insane. any one factor can "slow down" the music, there's no reason to isolate chords as the slowing factor. maybe he doesn't like using chords that are held for a long time? in which case, it's a note-length problem, not a chord problem.

[scavenger8]

I have a friend who never puts chords in his music, when I asked why, he says it gives the feeling of slowing down, I don't agree! We make(or I try to lol) Nu Skool Breaks, what's your opinion?

he is totally insane. any one factor can "slow down" the music, there's no reason to isolate chords as the slowing factor. maybe he doesn't like using chords that are held for a long time? in which case, it's a note-length problem, not a chord problem.

yeah what djriddle said; The length of the notes and also the note plaacement can have an effect. rather you place them on the beat or slightly behind or forward.some things pushing some things pulling. thicker sounds like chords and bass,kicks are going to have a more noticable effect.Interplay. Also swing and tempo come into the equation if you whant to get right into the phenomena.Jazz musicians are experts at exploiting this to add another dimension to music.individually pulling the beat back or pushing it forward cool dynamic effects.

[jancivil]

In classical music, jazz music, harmonic musics, there is concept known as harmonic rhythm.

IE: how often the harmony moves, which is really to say moves forward, or propels the momentum.

chords in harmonic musics tend to push the music forward.

any analysis of dance music from the swing era will show this.

to say that 'chords' retard dance momentum is... retarded. someone saying this doesn't know too many chords, I'd say, or what to do with what they might understand.

[cosmicdawn]

Chords are important. Choose the wrong chords and your song is dull. It won't affect the tempo of your track, but I guess most people will classify a song with uplifting chords as faster than a song with dull chords.

Smooth jazz chords will possibly make your track more mellow, and thus slower in peoples opinion.

It's also important how you play your chords. The voicing, the rhythm you play etc. A BIG pad sound playing chords straight on the beat can take away energy from your track. Gating or sidechained compression with the kick can help. Also playing the chords a little early on the beat will give your track more energy.

And you don't have to play all the notes of the chord. Try for example an F in the bass, and F and C in the chord (open chord or power chord)and let the melody decide if this is in a minor or major key. Or try G# and C and let the bass play the root (F)

[Foxwolfen]

Chords are good. Over use of chords is bad. Chords can drive any pads or fills (as they lend significant auditory interest), but should not necessarily drive the main melody. It can perceptually slow down music as the listener is forced to ascertain the fundamentals.

From a purely physical perspective, yes playing a chord (unless it is an arpeggio) is usually much slower. This is just physics. It takes more time to move your whole hand than it does to walk your fingers down a progression (for keyboards at least).

[Shabdahbriah]

Chords are important. Choose the wrong chords and your song is dull. It won't affect the tempo of your track, but I guess most people will classify a song with uplifting chords as faster than a song with dull chords.

I would agree with this "perceptually". The "bad chord" gets your attention in a "WTF?" way, because it is distracting, and subsequently "slows" your momentum (vibe).

Where-as a "good chord" will attract your attention in a positive way, that draws you deeper into the groove.

[2c]

(as a former "dancoholic")