KVR Audio

JulianVeloso · Post by **JulianVeloso** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:42 am

From what i understand about the circle of fifths is that if i'm playing in the key of C, i've only got 3 major chords on that same key, but i've heard songs that play at the key of C and i can notice more than 3 types of chords being played...anyone care to explain?

JulianVeloso · Post by **JulianVeloso** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:00 am

I've got this melody..

It goes A-C-F-C-G-A-D-C-F

http://www22.zippyshare.com/v/97227519/file.html

I will only be able to play those 3 chords to accompany it?

No_Use · Post by **No_Use** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:06 am

If you stay strictly in the key of C major, true, you only have three major chords, C,F,G. But since you can build chords from any note of the scale you can also use the other notes as root notes which would give you minor chords and one diminished chord, the B).Using these chords you still stay in the key of C major.
http://www.guitar-chords.org.uk/chords-key-c.html

No_Use · Post by **No_Use** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:28 am

By the way, since your melody starts and goes back to A, you could possibly use A minor (natural) which has the same notes as C major, just the A as tonal center instead of C.

http://www.guitar-chords.org.uk/chords-key-a-minor.html

elnn · Post by **elnn** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:59 am

if you want to approach the chords more theoretically, then this loop sound more like D Dorian, not C ionian (major), nor A aeolian (minor), thus chord functions are changed (Dmin is not a ii chord, but a i chord, or a tonic, tonal centre, if you will, instead).

but no, you're not limited to 3 chords, not at all (you don't have to use only major chords, 'cause if you do, it'll often be boring as hell). remember, there are 1) inversions; 2) every note is included in three chords, provided we use only triads (e.g. A is included in Dmin, F and Amin chords). if 7ths are used, four chords. and then add inversions - even more possibilities. 3) if 7ths are used - tensions. depending on the context, an A will sound great with G chord playing in the comp. as well as C chord. as well as basically any other chord (just context dependent)

sjm · Post by **sjm** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:57 pm

Here are some other C F and G chords that only use the notes in C major:
Csus2, Csus4, C6, Cmaj7, Cadd9
Fsus2, F6, Fadd9, Fmaj7
Gsus2, Gsus4, G7, G6, Gadd9

Nanakai · Post by **Nanakai** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 1:21 pm

JulianVeloso wrote:From what i understand about the circle of fifths is that if i'm playing in the key of C, i've only got 3 major chords on that same key, but i've heard songs that play at the key of C and i can notice more than 3 types of chords being played...anyone care to explain?

Tonal harmony is not a prescription.

Bobbotov · Post by **Bobbotov** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:23 pm

It would be interesting to have different people create tracks of their own interpretations for setting chords to this simple passage. Could be a KVR monthly contest basis.

elnn · Post by **elnn** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:46 pm

Bobbotov wrote:It would be interesting to have different people create tracks of their own interpretations for setting chords to this simple passage. Could be a KVR monthly contest basis.

+1. also, quite progressive I believe - many can't be arsed with practicing harmony, this would be a nice push for those : )

Bobbotov · Post by **Bobbotov** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:49 pm

elnn wrote:
Bobbotov wrote:It would be interesting to have different people create tracks of their own interpretations for setting chords to this simple passage. Could be a KVR monthly contest basis.
+1. also, quite progressive I believe - many can't be arsed with practicing harmony, this would be a nice push for those : )

Yeah, I think it would be a real eye opener for those who are stuck at a rudimentary level of understanding of chords, voicing and progressions. I can think of a couple of variations from most basic to more complex.

Nanakai · Post by **Nanakai** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 9:04 pm

Bobbotov wrote:It would be interesting to have different people create tracks of their own interpretations for setting chords to this simple passage. Could be a KVR monthly contest basis.

That would be interesting, but what are we setting chords to? The I, IV and V?

Some helpful links for the beginner:

http://audio.tutsplus.com/resources/the ... f-harmony/
http://audio.tutsplus.com/articles/gene ... -use-them/
http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/com ... -cadences/
http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mus ... s-piano-1/

elnn · Post by **elnn** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:41 pm

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/15577386/da%20loop.wav sorry, needed to have a bit of fun with that little loop

but here's an example of what you do with it harmonically. so no, you're not limited to 3 chords : )

gabebrunogarza1021 · Post by **gabebrunogarza1021** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:40 pm

These are just a few of the scale/key combos that you can experiment with against this melody line.

Aeolian D, G, A
Dorian C, D, G
Ionian C, F, A#
Locrian E, A, B
Lydian D#, F, A#
Major C, F, A#
Mixolydian C, F, G
Phrygian D, E, A

So filtering thru customized Logic 9 Environment Macros, I experiment with one scale/key to come up with this while still playing the original melody.

lockheart · Post by **lockheart** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:28 am

JulianVeloso · Post by **JulianVeloso** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 2:43 am

gabebrunogarza1021 wrote:These are just a few of the scale/key combos that you can experiment with against this melody line.

Aeolian D, G, A
Dorian C, D, G
Ionian C, F, A#
Locrian E, A, B
Lydian D#, F, A#
Major C, F, A#
Mixolydian C, F, G
Phrygian D, E, A

So filtering thru customized Logic 9 Environment Macros, I experiment with one scale/key to come up with this while still playing the original melody.

Thanks a lot for this!

Stupid question, but hey i'm just learning..