KVR Audio

jsrobinson · Post by **jsrobinson** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:57 am

Hi all,

I've tried DrPiano, and PianoChordTrainer, which didn't help much. DrPiano didn't actually work or have a tutorial mode, and didn't detect my keyboard, and PianoChordTrainer only plays sound if you click an icon -every single time- you want to hear something.

I'm learning trance music production and I've covered a lot of the logic behind music theory, but practicing scales and especially the chords versions of the scales is proving very hard for me.

There doesn't seem to be any consistent rhyme or reason when switching key on how to easily progress the harmonized chords of a scale.

I've used NutChords which shows the scale itself, but I'm looking for something with a visual cue to help learn my chords while practicing.

Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way but I thought a program like this would help if I can find one that works!!

Thanks for any advice

arbogast · Post by **arbogast** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:34 am

Perhaps not what you want to hear. But I think the best way to learn chords and scales is practising them on a physical keyboard.

manducator · Post by **manducator** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 9:38 am

Maybe something like this?

http://classic.musictheory.net/92

janiq · Post by **janiq** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 9:51 am

http://www.cognitone.com/products/nav/intro/page.stml

if you havent found that yet i would strongly advise you to check this link. i got a le version which is more than anough for me. no more worries about scales and stuff. download a demo and have a look if it suits your workflow.

tapper mike · Post by **tapper mike** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:31 am

arbogast wrote:Perhaps not what you want to hear. But I think the best way to learn chords and scales is practising them on a physical keyboard.

+1

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:16 pm

Yeah, you're looking for a crutch to help you take your first baby steps.

wrench45us · Post by **wrench45us** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:46 pm

for us types where nothing comes in a flash of intuition and insight, patience is something to be cultivated.

It takes a while for certain concepts and training and practice to sink in. Everything is expected to be instant delivery thanks to internet and amazon 2 day service in this age.
I used to buy music book after music book looking for some shortcut or the 'right approach for me' and I'd spend a week or two with a book and get antsy and switch to another. -- though truth to tell -- some books I kept coming back to again and again as I practiced and things began to fall into place.
Now trying to teach myself a new instrument, I bought a bunch of books, but I've settled in on 2 and have been working with one for over 6 weeks steady and things are starting to fall into place. The physical as well as the mental (I'm working through walking bass progressions) I could probably be with that book for a year before I absorbed all that was in there. I'm seeing a 3 year plan before I get to where I want to be.
I have a friend who at our advanced age is also learnihg a new instrumnent and she's working with a teacher and that teacher has told her that at early stages more practice doesn't mean more advancement on the instrument, it just means getting better at what little you know and understand. There's no avoiding that it takes time to build up competence and build up the physical and mental constructs.

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:46 pm

I'm really harping on this I know, but when I came to music theory information all laid out in front of me as it were, I had learned a whole lot of songs inside and out and the concepts did dawn on me in 'flashes of intuition'. Everyone seems so shy of trial and error these days...

unless you're a Mozart, it isn't something you should expect to happen quickly, whatever methodology you land on.

Looking for a chord trainer app