KVR Audio

benjamind · Post by **benjamind** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:33 am

This is such a mystical yet mesmerising song, and I still can't really figure out what the scale and chords are.

Is there anyone out there who could tell me what they are? If so I'd be so appreciative.

aallvor · Post by **aallvor** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:07 am

Basinski himself maybe?

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:18 am

benjamind wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:33 am I still can't really figure out what the scale and chords are.

How long have you been trying? What have you got so far? What's your best attempt to describe what's going on in there in letters & numbers?

aallvor wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:07 am Basinski himself maybe?

You must be kidding. Try it for yourself, wise guy:

Should be relatively easy peasy... There's only twelve notes, and here just a handful are used.

Gamma-UT · Post by **Gamma-UT** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:53 am

aallvor wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:07 am Basinski himself maybe?

Possibly not, at least not from memory. I read an interview with him: the original fragment came from a really old tape loop that he and an assistant then went to work on in Ableton Live.

The issue the OP is having is probably due to that fact: I don't think it's anywhere near 440Hz tuning even if it started there.

I would guess that the core of it is a chord like Cm6 (arpeggios around that sixth tend to be good for evoking raindrops and waterfalls any day of the week).

Etienne1973 · Post by **Etienne1973** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:45 pm

Aeolian (natural minor) modal vibe throughout the whole track.

Scale: 1 2/9 b3 4/11 5 b6/b13 b7

benjamind · Post by **benjamind** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 7:42 am

I've tried to work out what it is. It sounds like natural minor (as in Cm6 chords) or harmonic minor (as in Cm9).
It sounds like it's based in the key of F.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 9:02 am

benjamind wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 7:42 am It sounds like it's based in the key of F.

I'd say it's Bee Flat (5 semitones lower) regardless of the F droning all over the piece.

What about the notes you hear? Can you pick out some arps?

Etienne1973 · Post by **Etienne1973** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:02 pm

Fine Tune: -20 Cents (Ballpark 440Hz)

Key Center: Bb Natural Minor (Aeolian Mode)

Scale: bb c db eb f gb ab

Chords/Arps: [: Gbmaj7/#11 | Bbminadd9 :]

fairlyclose · Post by **fairlyclose** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:15 pm

even though you can analyse a piece like this in terms of key and chords, I prefer to think of this sort of work as being about sets of notes ie less structured and without as strong a reference to old style harmonic theory

benjamind · Post by **benjamind** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 5:14 am

fairlyclose wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:15 pm even though you can analyse a piece like this in terms of key and chords, I prefer to think of this sort of work as being about sets of notes ie less structured and without as strong a reference to old style harmonic theory

Which is why I find it rather enjoyable. The overall set of notes selected here gives the piece a rather dark/sad feeling overall, but as someone who suffers from chronic depression it's a good fit.

A lot of his other works also strike a resonant chord with me. His work really is amazing when you consider the work he put into it and all those old tapes, trying to get the most out of them before they inevitably disintegrated altogether. In fact, he has an entire album based on tape disintegration loops.

Brittlestem · Post by **Brittlestem** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 8:06 am

Etienne1973 wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:02 pm Chords/Arps: [: Gbmaj7/#11 | Bbminadd9 :]

That's it, spot on.

If you want to have a go at another Basinski, I'd love to know how in 92982.3 it's always on the edge of resolving but never does, with just 2 chords.
It's an instant altered mental state whenever I listen to it. Trippy.

William Basinski - Cascade: Scale and Chords?