Key?

[Calamus_Dash]

This is a bit of a random question, but this just popped into my head earlier.
When you guys compose, what criteria do you use when picking a key? To be honest, I usually just pick whatever key I feel like playing in on my keyboard, then keep it in that key when I move it to FL studio. Is this a bad idea?

[Mox]

I never start writing in a major key. But sometimes I end up there.

I think picking a random key is the way to go. I've heard some artists say that certain keys have these instrinic emotions and feelings they conjure up, but I think you can get away with any genre in any key.

[Dr_Dissonance]

KEYS??? BAH!!!

[X-Trav]

KEYS??? BAH!!!

Yeah... "bah"... (Please put a key next time I remix you.)


I don't think about keys often, usually I make the melody and then figure out what key it's in. With enough accidentals you don't really need a key, I often just use keys to keep the music structured. Most commonly I use Ab Major, due to the fact that some of my favorite piano pieces are written in that key, and it sounds pretty. (Think Jupiter by Gustav Holst.)

[bartekko]

While I never think of a key in the beginning, I almost always end up in A minor, for some reason.

[Andy Feelin]

Use only white keys = forever A minor / C major

[Interrobang Pie]

Key. Change. Obligatory.

When remixing a song I often try to identify what key it's in so I know what I can work with.

When I'm composing, I don't care about keys. I often end up choosing C or G minor though.

Major keys suck.

[Mox]

Key. Change. Obligatory.

When remixing a song I often try to identify what key it's in so I know what I can work with.

When I'm composing, I don't care about keys. I often end up choosing C or G minor though.

Major keys suck.

A man after my own heart.

[Versilaryan]

KEYS??? BAH!!!

^

[Calamus_Dash]

KEYS??? BAH!!!

oh man i should have expected that. still LOLed though.

[VScratch]

I usually just start with playing a random melody or bassline on my keyboard, and if I decide to use it that's the key the song will at least start in.

[2clop]

E flat major is generally agreed to sound heroic. So, whenever I need a heroic or epic piece, I use E flat major. For everything else, there's C major/A minor

[Kragt]

Like most I write mostly in white keys. (Or a few of the simpler black key strutures.) Tho no matter what key I write in (I experiment with the melody and pattern then find the key) It is always a minor key. XD

Then again if I have learned anything from Dissonance.. its that you dont need a key if you got enough accidentals. >>

But sweet tip 2clop.. anypony else have other tips like that? Id love to hear what other intrinsic properties other keys have. ^^

[bartekko]

I think that a minor key sounds more adult/serious than a major key.

[Kragt]

It sounds more complicated to me. More interesting. But usually never happier. This is my beef with me writing only in Minor keys... it's hard to write something that feels blissful or happy.Maybe I just havnt figured out the trick to doing it yet but that is my current thought on the issue.

[Versilaryan]

For the most part, if it's classical, I'll be /really/ picky about the key and the feel the key generates. Otherwise, it's what makes the instruments sound best (IE, so I sing in my mid-high range, or that dubstep line is low enough to be dirty but not muddy, etc.)

Usually, if it's classical, though, fuck the key. =D

On the issue of minor/major, I find that it's actually more difficult to write in major keys, especially in heavier genres, without having it sound corny. So naturally, I've been pushing myself to write more in major.

[Kragt]

In your experience, what keys do what effects if you dont mind sparing some time to explain. ^^; Id love to hear your thoughts on that issue.

[Versilaryan]

I dunno. It really does depend on the music, the ranges of the instruments playing it, where you're modulating to/from, etc. I'll agree with 2clop up there and say that Eb major sounds heroic. F major sounds triumphant. C major is the "mother earth key", to quote David Maslanka -- interpret that as you will.

Of course, D minor is the saddest of all keys. (I had to say that. xP)

When you change keys, adding sharps usually makes the piece sound brighter, while adding flats makes the piece sound... well, more laid-back. Of course, don't also forget to account that higher = brighter...

[Kragt]

Sweet... >> This may explain why everything I write is so depressing since my fav key is D Harmonic Minor (All white keys but not A minor, with D as tonic.)

XD

^^ Thank you very much for your input.

Edit: What does everypony think of D major?

Just curious.

[2clop]

Sweet... >> This may explain why everything I write is so depressing since my fav key is D Harmonic Minor (All white keys but not A minor, with D as tonic.)

I may be brain-farting here, but doesn't D minor have a Bb? And harmonic minor adds an extra black key while ascending (to D E F G A Bb C# D). D melodic minor would only have one black key while ascending (the Bb would become B, the C would become sharped) and one black key while descending (Bb, C natural), and D natural minor would only have one black key all the time (Bb).

[Calamus_Dash]

Sweet... >> This may explain why everything I write is so depressing since my fav key is D Harmonic Minor (All white keys but not A minor, with D as tonic.)

I may be brain-farting here, but doesn't D minor have a Bb? And harmonic minor adds an extra black key while ascending (to D E F G A Bb C# D). D melodic minor would only have one black key while ascending (the Bb would become B, the C would become sharped) and one black key while descending (Bb, C natural), and D natural minor would only have one black key all the time (Bb).

I had to go over to my computer to find out
D minor has a Bb, and harmonic D minor would have a Db too. You might be thinking of the Dorian mode, which (IIRC) is all white keys with D as the tonic

[Dr_Dissonance]

Db

C#

But yes, D Dorian is D to D on all whites!

[Kragt]

Thank you for correcting me all. XD Must have hard a brain fart myself when I was writing that.