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#827568 11/05/24 03:00 AM
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Common chord connections in C major.

C-G/B-Am-C/G-F...
I found out that he wasn't actually using 135 in C
C becomes 1235
Am is not 613, Am has become 6515,
F also becomes 4515
Therefore. I found that as long as he keeps the bass constant, but changes in other notes, it also sounds good.

[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]


Then I made some attempts. A simple chord progression
C-Am-F-G, I used to remember this 135-613-461-572

Then I made some attempts. A simple chord progression
C-Am-F-G, I used to remember this 135-613-461-572

However, today, only the bass remained unchanged, the bass was still C-Am-F-G, and other notes were changed in C major.
Just like this picture, I found it to be very pleasant to listen to.
[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

So, I have come to a conclusion. Before, remember chord progressions, remember chord BASS progressions, and try other notes more to find better chords?

Is my way of thinking correct?


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I'm afraid that I don't think in numbers and number patterns, so I am not much help.

I learned music theory and practice, and if I need to play an Ebm9 chord, I just know exactly what notes to play without counting intervals. You should practice like that too. But I somehow guess you are more focused here on how the bass interacts with the tonic chords.

I see a Gsus4 in bar 4, which could also be interpreted as a Csus2, depending on other parts of the chords structures. In your case, highly likely to be a Gsus4 because of the basic 1-6-4-5 chord sequence you have used.

Now, sorry, what was the question?


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I'm not sure I understand the question, but I'll try...

What your piano-roll image shows along the bottom is a "walking bass" line, so here I think bass is the boss and that's not uncommon.

BiaB can usually be persuaded to do that by putting the slash option into the chords, though frustratingly BiaB does not honour the slash note if it's the root of the chord, so C/C and Am/A do not guarantee C and A respectively as the bass note

Writing the chords as you have in the piano-roill may be the best you can do.

You could try clicking on the Bass track description in the mixer, then Track Settings, then choose a "simple arrangement" option.

You could, of course, set the Bass track to MIDI, edit it directly to get the notes you want and freeze it.

Last edited by Gordon Scott; 11/05/24 06:03 AM.

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Hi SBM,

Johan Sebastian Bach also thought that bass was boss.

You've actually discovered something quite similar to a system of music instructions that Bach used to use when creating songs. He would often use what is called a "figured bass." This process involves constructing a bass line and then assembling chords above the bass notes (which is pretty much what you have done). Bach's number system was different from yours. He used the intervals above the given bass note and the performer was free to choose whatever octave the interval was played in (in other words, C to E is the interval of a third, and the E could as close as possible to the C or in any octave above it. Bach still treated that as a third.)


Below is an image of a figured bass at the site shown in the link.
https://mymusictheory.com/figured-bass/q2-realising-a-figured-bass/

[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

Bach would then use this information to extemporise or write some music (extemporise means to improvise).

By following some basic principles, this bass line could lead to something like below...

[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

Interpretting this music composition...

  • 1) the bass note G has notes that are a 3rd and a 5th above it (the 3rd and 5th are understood) --- that is, G-B-D (a root position G chord, G)
  • 2) the bass note B has notes that are a 3rd and a 6th above it (the 3rd is understood) -- namely B-D-G (a first inversion G chord, G/B)
  • 3) the third bass note has the understood 3rd and 5th above it -- D-F#-A (a root position D chord, D)
  • etc.


--Noel

P.S. While this is not what you wanted to know, I thought you might appreciate knowing that you are in the company of the great musicians with the approach that you are using.


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Originally Posted by AudioTrack
Now, sorry, what was the question?

To play a chord, you just need to hold down the notes of the chord. That's true. But there is also a question of note order.

For example, in C major, I can play 1 135, or 1 351, or 1 513, or even 1 125

Finally, my conclusion is that as long as the left hand is 1, the right hand can try more notes. So it's OK as long as the BASS is right, right?

I want to know if this understanding is correct. If I get the answer right, it will help me use some VST plug-ins.


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Originally Posted by Gordon Scott
I'm not sure I understand the question, but I'll try...

What your piano-roll image shows along the bottom is a "walking bass" line, so here I think bass is the boss and that's not uncommon.

BiaB can usually be persuaded to do that by putting the slash option into the chords, though frustratingly BiaB does not honour the slash note if it's the root of the chord, so C/C and Am/A do not guarantee C and A respectively as the bass note

Writing the chords as you have in the piano-roill may be the best you can do.

You could try clicking on the Bass track description in the mixer, then Track Settings, then choose a "simple arrangement" option.

You could, of course, set the Bass track to MIDI, edit it directly to get the notes you want and freeze it.


Thanks for your reply. I didn't ask a BIAB question.
I asked how to play various chords with the left and right hands. Because I don't know how to play a real instrument.

I found something interesting in other software. If the left-hand bass still keeps the chord progression, the left hand changes, it will make everything sound more beautiful and popular.


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Originally Posted by Noel96
P.S. While this is not what you wanted to know, I thought you might appreciate knowing that you are in the company of the great musicians with the approach that you are using.

Thank you for providing me with this information. I need to learn more.
This is how everything happened to me.

I don't know how to play any musical instrument, and I only know a little bit of music theory, or I can say I memorized some chord progressions. I have always strictly followed the chord progressions I memorized to create some music. In fact, it's not called creation. I think chord progressions are a kind of musical language that allows me to communicate with these music software and music plug-ins. Especially on BIAB, I input chord progressions and play music.


A few days ago, when I was using the NI guitar plug-in, I changed some common chord progressions. My approach is that the BASS is still strictly in accordance with the chord progression, and I made some changes to other notes.

For example, C - Am- F-G, I used to input the left hand BASS is C, A, F, G
The right hand is 135, 613, 461, 572

Now it has become. The left hand is still C A F G, and the right hand is 125, 125, 125, 125

Just like the picture:
[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

This is the chord progression I entered on my NI guitar. I think it sounds better.
I exported the audio. Download it here.
https://ufile.io/bmctazlr

If this is correct, then I can boldly try to tune the inner notes on the root note without changing the root note, and many nice chords will appear.


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Originally Posted by swingbabymix
Originally Posted by AudioTrack
Now, sorry, what was the question?

To play a chord, you just need to hold down the notes of the chord. That's true. But there is also a question of note order.

For example, in C major, I can play 1 135, or 1 351, or 1 513, or even 1 125

Finally, my conclusion is that as long as the left hand is 1, the right hand can try more notes. So it's OK as long as the BASS is right, right?

I want to know if this understanding is correct. If I get the answer right, it will help me use some VST plug-ins.

You can play any bass note. Although it usually is, it doesn't always have to be the root note (the 1) of the chord.

Sometimes, it is a very different note that is used to create tension before resolving.

Note in this song, the chord in Bar 2 is a AbM7 with a Bb in the bass, which then resolves into an Eb chord
[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

Here is another, where a G bass note is played over a set of F chords:
[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

So (simplistically speaking) the left hand is 'usually' 1, but it does not have to be.

Last edited by AudioTrack; 11/05/24 06:10 PM.

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Originally Posted by AudioTrack
So (simplistically speaking) the left hand is 'usually' 1, but it does not have to be.

thanks!


Yes. I know that the root note is not necessarily the lowest note.
C/G is G, G/B is B, etc.

What I am asking is that the left hand is determined and the right hand can be more casual. There will be some better notes.


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Originally Posted by swingbabymix
What I am asking is that the left hand is determined and the right hand can be more casual. There will be some better notes.
Yes, music is based on creativity. There is no single 'Rule' that states what notes must be played.


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Originally Posted by swingbabymix
For example, C - Am- F-G, I used to input the left hand BASS is C, A, F, G
The right hand is 135, 613, 461, 572

Now it has become. The left hand is still C A F G, and the right hand is 125, 125, 125, 125

Just like the picture:
[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

This is the chord progression I entered on my NI guitar. I think it sounds better.
I exported the audio. Download it here.
https://ufile.io/bmctazlr

If this is correct, then I can boldly try to tune the inner notes on the root note without changing the root note, and many nice chords will appear.

This chord progression sounds great. You have an ostinato in your right hand while the bass changes with your left. With music, there are two basic kinds of harmony.


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Originally Posted by AudioTrack
Yes, music is based on creativity. There is no single 'Rule' that states what notes must be played.

yes! thank you!


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A couple of things that may be useful to know, if you don't already know them.

1) It's quite common for the bass to lead into the next chords, so for example in a simply progression C, F, G7,C the bass may play approach notes to the new chord, maybe D,E,F from the C to the F, or likely the Bb from the G7 back to the C. Approach notes are usually played towards the end of the bar to start a momentum towards the new chord.

2) A lot of traditional western music works around 'modes' also known as 'church modes', where the melody uses the notes of a scale, but the bass note defines the mode. The mode can give a very distinctly different feel to the melody. You'll certainly already know two, if not by name, because they're the major and the relative minor keys (Ionian and Aeolian), but there are five others: Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Myxolidian and Locrian (Locrian is very rarely used).

Wikipedia has an English page here
David Bennett explains in a video here


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Originally Posted by Gordon Scott
A couple of things that may be useful to know, if you don't already know them.

1) It's quite common for the bass to lead into the next chords, so for example in a simply progression C, F, G7,C the bass may play approach notes to the new chord, maybe D,E,F from the C to the F, or likely the Bb from the G7 back to the C. Approach notes are usually played towards the end of the bar to start a momentum towards the new chord.

2) A lot of traditional western music works around 'modes' also known as 'church modes', where the melody uses the notes of a scale, but the bass note defines the mode. The mode can give a very distinctly different feel to the melody. You'll certainly already know two, if not by name, because they're the major and the relative minor keys (Ionian and Aeolian), but there are five others: Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Myxolidian and Locrian (Locrian is very rarely used).

Wikipedia has an English page here
David Bennett explains in a video here
What Gordon says! Another useful source of info on modes and how to use them in songwriting is Jake Lizzio's YouTube channel "Signals Music Studio". Five years ago, he created a fantastic modal chart, which I purchased. I had it mounted on heavy poster board. It's one of the few things I brought with me when I moved to France from the U.S. It's now hanging on the wall in my home studio. Jake is fantastic. I've sub'd his YT channel for a long time. He's a great teacher. OK, he's a guitarist, and I'm a bassist, but I still get a ton of useful info from his videos.



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Last edited by TheMaartian; 11/07/24 05:37 AM.

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Originally Posted by TheMaartian
Another useful source of info on modes and how to use them in songwriting is Jake's YouTube channel "Signals Music Studio".
Ah yes ... I couldn't remember the other excellent video.
The chart has the whole-note and ha;f-note intervals, which is nice.

The one thing I sometimes find confusing is that sometime the modes are described with the bass note the same in all scales and sometimes they're described as the same scale over different bass notes. it's just how one presents or looks at them, but I always have to do a gear change.
The chart shows the version with the bass note alwats C.


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Originally Posted by Gordon Scott
Originally Posted by TheMaartian
Another useful source of info on modes and how to use them in songwriting is Jake Lizzio's YouTube channel "Signals Music Studio".
Ah yes ... I couldn't remember the other excellent video.
The chart has the whole-note and ha;f-note intervals, which is nice.

The one thing I sometimes find confusing is that sometime the modes are described with the bass note the same in all scales and sometimes they're described as the same scale over different bass notes. it's just how one presents or looks at them, but I always have to do a gear change.
The chart shows the version with the bass note alwats C.
I could wallpaper a wall with those charts if there was one for each of the 12 notes in the chromatic scale as the bass note. SOME work has to be left for the user. laugh

Last edited by TheMaartian; 11/07/24 05:38 AM.

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Originally Posted by TheMaartian
SOME work has to be left for the user. laugh
Aye laugh - I was just reflecting on the different approaches, not asking for many more charts.


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