Find out the note of a rhythm element

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1

Hi,



Sorry for my bad english. As I’m not very good when it comes to ask or explain things related to the music, i uploaded a few samples on my personal ftp so you better understand what i ask.



I have no problem to find out the note of a piano sample. But… it’s very hard for me to determine the note of a rhythm element (kick, snare, hi-hat, …). They are often very short samples and i can’t hear the “melodic part” into them… so, i’m unable to determine on which note they are recorded.



Kick

Rim

Snare



On these samples, it’s really a pain for me to find the note. When i transpose them, i obviously can hear they sound different… but i’m still unable to find out on which note they are playing… and i would like to play them at the same note than my bassline because i recently found out that it sounds a lot better and more harmonic…



Is there an easy way to determine the note of a sample, even a rhythm sample ?



Any advices ?

2

To better “illustrate” what i am talking about, i recorded these two mp3. There is a very simple bassline and a snare coming from the microtonic VST.



C on the bass and E on the snare



C on the bass and C on the snare



I prefer the second one… just because the snare is on the same note of the bass. It sounds better to my ear.



I wish i could find easily the note for every sample (melodic or rhythmic)… but i don’t know how to do that and that’s what i’m asking in this post ! :wink:

3

You can try using a frequency analyser.  If you use the one in Ableton when you mouse over the peak it tells you the frequency as well as the note.

4

[quote]rcorbo (21/04/2010)[hr]You can try using a frequency analyser. If you use the one in Ableton when you mouse over the peak it tells you the frequency as well as the note.[/quote]



Thats what I love about Ableton I learn something new everyday - cheers for the tip :smiley:

5

Thanks a lot. I will try this ! :slight_smile:



I know this is probably a knowledge you have to learn with music theory but i wonder if there are some guidelines on this :



When you are producing a track (techno, house, electro, electro-house progressive, …), do you have to transpose all your rhythm elements to the same note of your melody root note ? Maybe not every rhythm elements ? How is it done generally ?

6

I tend to just do it buy ear… if a clap or snare sounds better tuned a bit then great i have never looked for the actual note except maybe on long kicks or toms.



close your eyes and turn the pitch control!