c - minor, is this the hardest key to compose in?

[BASSDRIVE]

Just use you ears and fingers. f**k all the theory.

Is that what you do?

Yeah, what's wrong with that? I don't worry about what key I am in. I do what I do.

Good stuff. I love listening to the kind of music created by the kind of talent that can ignore the rules, f**k the theory and still create something awesome.

Where can I hear your stuff?

Well, I have no myspace or soundclick. But I do have some stuff posted up on zshare links. I only been doing it for a few years, but I think my ears have developed, A LOT. I mean A LOT, no joke. I make Hiphop/RnB by the way (also a bit of electronica stuff like Trance, House, Hardstyle, Drum N Bass), all original stuff me playing the keys, no sampled melodies. I still need to work on improvising a bit as some of my stuff sounds repetitive, but I think my "ears" are pretty good for only doing for so little of time. I think I can work on the improvising more, but I just get lazy to tell you the truth. Well, I guess I just taught myself. I ain't got nothing against theory, I just think it causes confusion sometimes. I personally have ADD or something when it comes to that stuff. lol I think it's better to just go out and practice and let your ears be the ultimate judgement. I'll rather practice on the keys, than read. I a little of both won't do you harm of course.


My beats (not neccessarily complete songs)

Trance style of beat - http://www.zshare.net/audio/29784644e5dd33/

Some uptempo-ish modern style of Hiphop/RnB - http://www.zshare.net/audio/28087003404a50/ (not neccessarily my cup of tea, but whatever, I still made it, lol.)

More classic Hiphop sound - http://www.zshare.net/audio/28533002183258/

Intellectual sounding HipHop beat - http://www.zshare.net/audio/312602576e5243/

Some Funky Sounding Hiphop (one of my favorites, so chilled out) - http://www.zshare.net/audio/3833420f62334d/

I am in no ways trying to brag. I still want to get A LOT better. But I think I have pretty good ears, for not doing it too long.

To me it all sounds good, in key. It's just music, whether I followed any theory guideline or not.

[nuffink]

Thanks, I'll give it a listen sometime.

[Cordelia]

Well, BASSDRIVE, I haven't listened yet, but props to you for being the first guy (I've ever seen) in the history of KvR to actually post a link to his music when asked to back up his bark.

[BASSDRIVE]

Thanks, I'll give it a listen sometime.

Thanks. Please give some feedback.


One thing I do really want to improve though are my basslines. I find basslines the hardest to do of anything for some reason. Maybe because it takes the most rhythm or something.

[BASSDRIVE]

Thanks, I'll give it a listen sometime.

Thanks. Please give some feedback.

How can I do that? If I tell you something is out of key or a particular note needs to go up or down by a semitone or that you'd be better off using the dorian rather than the aolian over a particular minor chord, it's going to mean nothing to you.

I could give you some bland bullshit about your beats being dope, but it'd be nonsense.

That's why theory is important so that musicians can communicate real, concrete ideas to one another.

True, but alls I want to know is if it sounds good, "does it sound musical?" Will it work for the particular genre I'm making it for,etc...? I want to hear judgements on the sound. Does that piano fit well, do the strings fit well, is that guitar nice, etc.... Do you feel the vibe, does the piano or strings put you in a trancy mind state, does the sound create a picture for you,etc...

Yeah you could probably give me some theory ideas (if I knew what they meant), but if that was the case, I personally would feel like it's not my idea then. If you tell me to do something at a certain key, use a different scale, move this note up/down,etc... then I'll feel like it's not mine, it's YOURS. I ain't going to feel proud of that. I guess I'm being stubborn, but in that case, I wouldn't want to hear technical suggestions like that. Remember it's MY music, not anyone elses. I'll do what I think sounds right to ME. If I had a partner in this, then yeah I wouldn't mind the technical comments because my partner and I would be doing that, but I don't have a partner. It's only me, only my hobby. You get what I'm trying to say? So my stuff is still critiqueable, I just want to know if you like the beat or not, simple as that. Will it work? If it works, that's good enough for me. I'm sure you heard plenty of songs from your favorite artists where your like, "that's a good song, I like the piano, I like the guitar, or whatever.." That's exactly what I want to hear.You don't have to tell me to move this note here or there, etc... because that'll completely change my song to something else I didn't have in mind. I guess your theories can create different variations, but I personally don't care for different variations, once I create a beat, that's it. What you hear, that's exactly how I want it to sound.

[nuffink]

Thanks, I'll give it a listen sometime.

Thanks. Please give some feedback.

How can I do that? If I tell you something is out of key or a particular note needs to go up or down by a semitone or that you'd be better off using the dorian rather than the aolian over a particular minor chord, it's going to mean nothing to you.

I could give you some bland bullshit about your beats being dope, but it'd be nonsense.

That's why theory is important so that musicians can communicate real, concrete ideas to one another.

True, but alls I want to know is if it sounds good, "does it sound musical?" Will it work for the particular genre I'm making it for,etc...? I want to hear judgements on the sound. Does that piano fit well, do the strings fit well, is that guitar nice, etc....

Yeah you could probably give me some theory ideas (if I knew what they meant), but if that was the case, I personally would feel like it's not my idea then. If you tell me to do something at a certain key, use a different scale, move this note up/down,etc... then I'll feel like it's not mine, it's YOURS. I ain't going to feel proud of that. I guess I'm being stubborn, but in that case, I wouldn't want to hear technical suggestions like that. Remember it's MY music, not anyone elses. I'll do what I think sounds right to ME. If I had a partner in this, then yeah I wouldn't mind the technical comments because my partner and I would be doing that, but I don't have a partner. It's only me, only my hobby.

Terrific. Then I'm sure "Just use you ears and fingers. f**k all the theory." will work just fine for you.

You'll also see how it might not be the most useful advice on a forum dedicated to music theory.

[BASSDRIVE]

Thanks, I'll give it a listen sometime.

Thanks. Please give some feedback.

How can I do that? If I tell you something is out of key or a particular note needs to go up or down by a semitone or that you'd be better off using the dorian rather than the aolian over a particular minor chord, it's going to mean nothing to you.

I could give you some bland bullshit about your beats being dope, but it'd be nonsense.

That's why theory is important so that musicians can communicate real, concrete ideas to one another.

True, but alls I want to know is if it sounds good, "does it sound musical?" Will it work for the particular genre I'm making it for,etc...? I want to hear judgements on the sound. Does that piano fit well, do the strings fit well, is that guitar nice, etc....

Yeah you could probably give me some theory ideas (if I knew what they meant), but if that was the case, I personally would feel like it's not my idea then. If you tell me to do something at a certain key, use a different scale, move this note up/down,etc... then I'll feel like it's not mine, it's YOURS. I ain't going to feel proud of that. I guess I'm being stubborn, but in that case, I wouldn't want to hear technical suggestions like that. Remember it's MY music, not anyone elses. I'll do what I think sounds right to ME. If I had a partner in this, then yeah I wouldn't mind the technical comments because my partner and I would be doing that, but I don't have a partner. It's only me, only my hobby.

Terrific. Then I'm sure "Just use you ears and fingers. f**k all the theory." will work just fine for you.

You'll also see how it might not be the most useful advice on a forum dedicated to music theory.

Why didn't you just say that to begin with? I guess your thinking I'm hi-jacking the thread with my anti-theory comment. My bad, I didn't actually mean "f**k theory," I just got hyped up in the moment if you know what I mean. That's just the only suggestion, I have when people are struggling with theory so much. In that case, my only suggestion, is practice and try to improve your ears instead. Reading can only get you so far, you still have to ultimately execute the sound out of your fingers/mouths, and out of the sound modules or instruments your using. It's all just "theory" anyways, no one is right or wrong.

[Lord Snarebottom]

Just use you ears and fingers. f**k all the theory.

Is that what you do?

Theory is what the rest of you do to figure out what those gifted with genius have done without it.

[beboop]

I guess it's an agree to differ topic

Back to ST, pink torpedoes at the ready...

DSP

well, sure, we can agree to disagree, that's fine. But, at some point, you might read my post again and see if perhaps there's something to what I posted. When I say "there is no key of D# major", I'm not expressing an opinion. I'm just stating a mundane, uncontroversial fact of the major/minor key system. You're confusing the names of notes with the names of keys, and the properties of different intonation systems with double sharps and double flats.

I'm not posting to, like, chastise you or anything I'm just pointing out something basic that you're probably going to want to clarify for yourself if you pursue 'music theory'.

St. Hubbins (patron saint of quality footwear)

[nuffink]

Just use you ears and fingers. f**k all the theory.

Is that what you do?

Theory is what the rest of you do to figure out what those gifted with genius have done without it.

Yeah, I saw this piece of genius from you earlier...

[flame suit on]Maybe instead of wasting the world's time using someone else's progressions, you could do some experimenting and come up with something original, something that says, "I'm not just a loser who wants to 'make' music". I wish there were a nicer way to say that, but IMO there's already all too much molly coddling patronizing everyone to encourage them to do something for which they are entirely unsuitable for. The world is full of that kind of noise already, in my less than humble opinion. If you haven't got a mind to do some experimenting to find your own voice, then don't speak, for you haven't got a mind, and you're nothing more than a glorified parrot. It is the responsibility of an artist to help raise the consciousness of their audience.

Good luck with your experiments. I look forward to hearing them.

You haven't got a f**king clue. Genius.

[Lord Snarebottom]

You haven't got a f**king clue. Genius.

How would YOU know?

[nuffink]

You haven't got a f**king clue. Genius.

How would YOU know?

Just a guess.

[BASSDRIVE]

More than theory, I'm most intrigued with how people put sounds together. For example, using a guitar inconjunction with a piano, along with strings, an electric bass, flute, electric rhodes piano, sax,etc...etc... That's what intrigues me the most and what I care about the most, I want to know what sounds BEST with what for that particular melody, vibe, or genre. So I guess I'm more intrigued with the theory of "sound." How one sound affects another or how it sounds for the particular vibe I'm trying to achieve. For example, if something like "Moonlight Sonata" was originally played with a synth lead, it just wouldn't be the same, it wouldn't give the same vibe that the piano's sound does.

[hibidy]

try D# major for a change

I think you meant D♭ minor, that should be way easier to write in than C# minor

[johnny2johnny]

Just use you ears and fingers. f**k all the theory.

Is that what you do?

Theory is what the rest of you do to figure out what those gifted with genius have done without it.

I will just take a dive right into this piece of ignorance...

Mozart, Hendix, Chopan, Satriani, Via, Beethoven, and the list can go on forever, but I figure three gifted contemporaries, and three gifted classicals,

all students of theory...