Loved the A Beginner’s Guide To Music Theory - Scales.
But I have problems programing good sounding piano chords. How do I pick out the right tones from each scale?
Doing a song in A#-minor at the moment.
You can try do some research yourself . Usually try to use the root of the track in whenever key your bass is and experiment with others keys.
If anyone uses Max for Live, there is an interesting MIDI effect called the ‘Schwartzenator’ which basically makes your root note fit into a predefined scale. So you can solo completely in key, and create chords from simple one note keys. Pretty nifty!
[quote]osc1 (03/04/2010)[hr]Loved the A Beginner’s Guide To Music Theory - Scales.
But I have problems programing good sounding piano chords. How do I pick out the right tones from each scale?
Doing a song in A#-minor at the moment.
[/quote]
Sa haven’t quite covered chords as yet and I doubt things will really fall into place for you until chords are covered. Still there’s nothing stopping you exploring them in the meanwhile.
You mentioned you are working in A#minor (Bb minor)
If you use the link below you’ll get the basic chords for that scale.
[url]http://www.guitar-chords.org.uk/chords-key-b-flat-minor.html[/url]
The natural minor generates the following chords.
A#min,B#dim,C#maj,D#min,E#min,F#maj,G#maj.
Every scale has an associated chordscale so the link i provided above should serve as a very good formula to kickstart your exploration into chord progressions.
[url=http://www.sonicacademy.com/Producer/Course/?contentId=2576]http://www.sonicacademy.com/Producer/Course/?contentId=2576[/url]
Video 14 … just discovered it recently, a true gem for instant inspiration that stays within the root scale.
I’ve started using this to reference scales and chords. A very good reference point http://www.music.shanemcdonald.org/chordmap/
By pure luck I have just finished the chapter on chords in Music Theory for Computer Musicians and then did some research on a few websites and now think I have the jist of it - but like anything it will take some practise and some ear training.
I would rec.the book though as for me anyway it has opened a lot of ideas
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Theory-Computer-Musicians-Michael-Hewitt/dp/1598635034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270741334&sr=8-1
[quote]slender (08/04/2010)[hr]
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Theory-Computer-Musicians-Michael-Hewitt/dp/1598635034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270741334&sr=8-1 [/quote]
I have this sat on my self at home. Key meaning to open it! This is what I struggle with; perhaps this is the incentive to open it up!! Thanks.
[quote]d’ coak (08/04/2010)[hr][quote]slender (08/04/2010)[hr]
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Theory-Computer-Musicians-Michael-Hewitt/dp/1598635034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270741334&sr=8-1 [/quote]
I have this sat on my self at home. Key meaning to open it! This is what I struggle with; perhaps this is the incentive to open it up!! Thanks.[/quote]
Well if you have any problems with any concepts - drop me a pm and I will be happy to try and help
[quote]closey1200 (08/04/2010)[hr]I’ve started using this to reference scales and chords. A very good reference point http://www.music.shanemcdonald.org/chordmap/[/quote]
Certainly a nice collection of chords for reference purposes albeit incomplete compared to chordhouse.
[url]http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/piano/[/url]
I suppose it comes down to a simple choice of whether you want to own every chord known to man or if you want to understand what chords consistently work well together and understand the mechanics of why they do. Chord families, key centre and tonality.
My advice for what its worth is to first start out with a limited set of chords that work well together, that’s why I provided the link for osc1 in that it clearly shows what primary and secondary chords belong to each key, melody creation thereafter is greatly simplified.
One of the biggest disadvantages of having a huge database of unrelated chords to pick from is the temptation to either use too many chords within your compositions or use chords that don’t suggest or point to a key centre. Key centre is essential for a lot of mainstream music where predictability plays a big part in establishing the feel good factor.
I concede some superb tunes have been constructed using the random hit and hope approach but its unlikely to yield consistent results without an awful lot of trial and error or luck.
If in doubt use the simple I-IV-V or the I-vi-IV-V formula 
thanks for this info Krome!
I don’t Know if you have this one (Scale and Chord) many combination a very nice addon to ableton live own…
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And for advanced in theory :
BUY THIS BOOK it’s really useful