Chords that are not possible?

[breakmixer]

Right, here is my problem, I bought a sample loop cd and it had a nice chord progression, but I thought the last chord was not the best, so I tried to replay it and found the first chord, but could not for the life of me find the second chord in the progression, was this just down to inexperience or is it actually possible that I cannot find the chord through maybe detuning of the original sounds in the loop or something, this has me puzzled, not the first time I have came across this mystery chord problem?

PS I only play by ear, though occasionally use my fingers!

[Meffy]

This won't be helpful, but had the same problem, and he usually played by ear... but not this time.

"What kinda piano is this? No apostrophe!"

[breakmixer]

This won't be helpful, but had the same problem, and he usually played by ear... but not this time.

"What kinda piano is this? No apostrophe!"

lol, that sums me up looking for the lost chords, especially at the end of the tune, bum notes coming at ya, what a funny song! Good job we can sequence these days!

[mistertoast]

Right, here is my problem, I bought a sample loop cd and it had a nice chord progression, but I thought the last chord was not the best, so I tried to replay it and found the first chord, but could not for the life of me find the second chord in the progression, was this just down to inexperience or is it actually possible that I cannot find the chord through maybe detuning of the original sounds in the loop or something, this has me puzzled, not the first time I have came across this mystery chord problem?

PS I only play by ear, though occasionally use my fingers!

[hao nao]

It is rumored that some of Steely Dan's chords are not possible.

[wrench45us]

it has been a long time since I had that feeling that all things were possible

[james0tucson]

Right, here is my problem, I bought a sample loop cd and it had a nice chord progression, but I thought the last chord was not the best, so I tried to replay it and found the first chord, but could not for the life of me find the second chord in the progression, was this just down to inexperience or is it actually possible that I cannot find the chord through maybe detuning of the original sounds in the loop or something, this has me puzzled, not the first time I have came across this mystery chord problem?

PS I only play by ear, though occasionally use my fingers!

It's hard to answer a question like this, since we can have little sense of it from only your description, which is vague.

The only advice I can give you is:

Every chord has as many inversions as it has notes.

When you're figuring out things by ear, or when you're voicing music on an instrument, you should keep that in mind.

Can you figure out a bass line that works against the chord progression?

How about a sequence of high notes that works against it?

Either or both of those exercises will be a good start, and might give you some insight into what chord you're looking for.

[psenior]

Post a link to the sample loop so I can give it a listen.

[breakmixer]

Post a link to the sample loop so I can give it a listen.

I don't know how to do that, can I hum it to you?

[breakmixer]

Right, here is my problem, I bought a sample loop cd and it had a nice chord progression, but I thought the last chord was not the best, so I tried to replay it and found the first chord, but could not for the life of me find the second chord in the progression, was this just down to inexperience or is it actually possible that I cannot find the chord through maybe detuning of the original sounds in the loop or something, this has me puzzled, not the first time I have came across this mystery chord problem?

PS I only play by ear, though occasionally use my fingers!

It's hard to answer a question like this, since we can have little sense of it from only your description, which is vague.

The only advice I can give you is:

Every chord has as many inversions as it has notes.

When you're figuring out things by ear, or when you're voicing music on an instrument, you should keep that in mind.

Can you figure out a bass line that works against the chord progression?

How about a sequence of high notes that works against it?

Either or both of those exercises will be a good start, and might give you some insight into what chord you're looking for.

Basically I cannot find the chord at all, and I thought it may be down to detuning of the synth used, but if I do try and emulate chords from a popular song I always find it hard, yet If I find a nice chrord myself I manage to always build a nice progression and find the sounds in my mind that should or can follow, just sometimes I think that chord is not possible, is this down to detuning on the original???!!!

[kajiotaku]

Try running it through an audio to MIDI program.

[breakmixer]

Try running it through an audio to MIDI program.

Didn't know that existed, that's cheating, obviously can't do chords in a whole tune though? I'm checking it out though - coz I like cheating!

[Meffy]

Might not do any good, but you could try contacting the maker of the loops and asking. Email is fast and essentially free.

[psenior]

Maybe these tips will help you figure out the chord. I usually try to pick out the correct bass note first. After that, I play a major or minor 3rd to determine that quality of the sound. From there, everything usually falls into place quickly.

Sometimes, I can't quite make out the bass note and I have to work from the highest note of the chord down, which is tougher to do. If you focus on humming one harmony note and keep trying to guess it you eventually will via process of elimination since there are only 12 different notes.

It seems like you know the other chords in the chord sequence, so they are probably giving you many clues as to what the mystery chord should be by telling you what key you are in and/or what common chord progression you are playing.

If the keyboard sound is detuned, you may have to detune your keyboard as well until you are in the ballpark.

I didn't know how to post music clips on the internet until recently when another poster here told me how. I have cut and pasted his instructions below:

psenior: please, upload it on some free server, so I can hear what you're saying. Try www.turboupload.com, for instant and no-annoying-register upload. Or some of these servers:

http://www.2shared.com/
http://www.fileden.com/
http://www.box.net/
http://soundcloud.com/
http://www.mediafire.com/

[breakmixer]

Maybe these tips will help you figure out the chord. I usually try to pick out the correct bass note first. After that, I play a major or minor 3rd to determine that quality of the sound. From there, everything usually falls into place quickly.

Sometimes, I can't quite make out the bass note and I have to work from the highest note of the chord down, which is tougher to do. If you focus on humming one harmony note and keep trying to guess it you eventually will via process of elimination since there are only 12 different notes.

It seems like you know the other chords in the chord sequence, so they are probably giving you many clues as to what the mystery chord should be by telling you what key you are in and/or what common chord progression you are playing.

If the keyboard sound is detuned, you may have to detune your keyboard as well until you are in the ballpark.

I didn't know how to post music clips on the internet until recently when another poster here told me how. I have cut and pasted his instructions below:

psenior: please, upload it on some free server, so I can hear what you're saying. Try www.turboupload.com, for instant and no-annoying-register upload. Or some of these servers:

http://www.2shared.com/
http://www.fileden.com/
http://www.box.net/
http://soundcloud.com/
http://www.mediafire.com/

Thanks I've got a dvd to watch about music theory so will watch that because I don't understand the theory or the terms, cheers