Pad Question

[joecc]

Hi,
Something that's bugging me, say if you have a chord sequence, played on a synth/piano. Cmaj/Dminor/Gmajor,/Cmaj. no big deal, but
what if you introduce a pad or backing sound, what notes would it play, C/D/G/C just like a bass. It would hardly play full chords again, tone cluster?

-regard,s
joe

[Ogg Vorbis]

Hi,
Something that's bugging me, say if you have a chord sequence, played on a synth/piano. Cmaj/Dminor/Gmajor,/Cmaj. no big deal, but
what if you introduce a pad or backing sound, what notes would it play, C/D/G/C just like a bass. It would hardly play full chords again, tone cluster?

-regard,s
joe

Try it both ways and ask yourself, "which sounds better for this track?"

I don't think music theory is a set of procedures.

[tapper mike]

A lot depends on the pad. Some pads are several instruments in unison and octave and in tune with each other. Some pads are multiple instruments in 5ths and finally some pads are multiple instruments with slight detuning applied to them.

Many Pads are specifically used when you want an ambiguous chord sound without forming the chord. More ambiguous then power chords. It defeats the purpose of a chord like sounding thing that really isn't a chord to build a chord from that.

You may have a great pad and a great song but the pad may be wrong for the song or the context you are using it for. There are techniques arrangers use for deciding what sound and how they will be used in context of the sound. But the first technique you should use is experimenting and then listening to your experiments. A secondary method is to listen intently to those who use pads and then make assessments about the sound in context and alone. Is the tone brash? Mellow? Gritty? Evolving? Spooky? How does the arranger/performer apply the character to the tone? Power riffs, soundscape background, melody or counter melody (counterpart). Pedal tone? Ostinato? Chord substitution?

[joecc]

Thanks for replies, I'm just reading them with interest...