andrushkiwt
Well-known member
Gave this a thought last night and wondered where everyone/anyone else stands on this.
Do you have a favorite key to write in? Do you find yourself gravitating toward one specific key? Minor or major, and why? I find myself working in Dmaj or minor a lot, mostly with dropped D. I find the chord combinations interesting and desperate sounding when you use the open D in different ways. Example, using open D underneath an F power chord on the 8th fret of A. I like having the option of going down low with the D string for thickness, or being able to play higher up the register but use not only one open string (D) but the combo (open D, A, and middle D). With those open strings on the bottom at your disposal, you can instantly make use of the higher strings for a full, 6-string chord, when you'd like. Power chords become more interesting (to my ears) on open D with some alteration of the higher strings...for example, 7-7-9-9 on D-A-D-G. The power chord of 7-7 becomes "suspended" in some way (probably not correct term) and is altered from what would otherwise be 7-7-7 for a normal, drop D power chord.
Anyways, clearly another slow day at work...what's your method/preference? Do you have a go-to key, or maybe just one you're most comfortable in? Does vocal range play a part in your choice? I typically write the vocal melody in my head long before i sing it aloud (which is usually recording time, to be honest). If i had more time to devote to music, i'd surely write, practice outloud, make changes, maybe transpose a step or two in some direction, and practice again before recording...but for now, it's write, record/practice simultaneously.
what about you?
Do you have a favorite key to write in? Do you find yourself gravitating toward one specific key? Minor or major, and why? I find myself working in Dmaj or minor a lot, mostly with dropped D. I find the chord combinations interesting and desperate sounding when you use the open D in different ways. Example, using open D underneath an F power chord on the 8th fret of A. I like having the option of going down low with the D string for thickness, or being able to play higher up the register but use not only one open string (D) but the combo (open D, A, and middle D). With those open strings on the bottom at your disposal, you can instantly make use of the higher strings for a full, 6-string chord, when you'd like. Power chords become more interesting (to my ears) on open D with some alteration of the higher strings...for example, 7-7-9-9 on D-A-D-G. The power chord of 7-7 becomes "suspended" in some way (probably not correct term) and is altered from what would otherwise be 7-7-7 for a normal, drop D power chord.
Anyways, clearly another slow day at work...what's your method/preference? Do you have a go-to key, or maybe just one you're most comfortable in? Does vocal range play a part in your choice? I typically write the vocal melody in my head long before i sing it aloud (which is usually recording time, to be honest). If i had more time to devote to music, i'd surely write, practice outloud, make changes, maybe transpose a step or two in some direction, and practice again before recording...but for now, it's write, record/practice simultaneously.
what about you?