So instead, listen to this:
I wrote this before the age of Pony, but decided to revive it in order to explain stuff.
You see, a lot of people have either been very confused at the idea of music that sounds nice with no key, or have just given me a bewildered look whenever I mention it...
SO, the piece above has a tonal center...I think it's either F or G...it kind of wobbles about between the two...
But there's no key at all! And the piece doesn't follow the traditional ideas of a key signature and all that implies much either. This is because it follows the conventions of Pandiatonicism instead!
(note, it's not quite Pandiatonicism, as it still has a tonal center!)
But what is Pandiatonicism? Well, Wikipedia says:
"Pandiatonicism refers to the technique of using the diatonic (as opposed to the chromatic) scale without the limitations of functional tonality."
Which is pretty spot on, it's tonal music without the limitations of tonality!
But how does that work? Well, anything you remember from any theory lessons you had kind of don't count anymore...
Does the chord progression go I V? It can do! It could go I vii if you wanted! It could go IV vii I as well! Whatever you want, you're no longer bound by the rules of tonality!
What about chords themselves? The usual 1 3 5? So, C E G? You can if you want! But what about 1 3 4 5 6? aka C E F G A? Again, you can if you want!
Of course, using traditional chords and structures kind of defeats the purpose of pandiatonicism: to make something new!
So instead, think of Pandiatonicism as taking the notes of a key and using them completely against the ideals of the key! So don't use them with I being the dominant tonal center, don't use the I V chord progression everywhere and don't use typical chords too often! Make things more interesting!
This is what pandiatonic composers did! They wrote this, what is affectionately termed, "White Note Music" and made interesting and unconventional chords and progressions that still sounded nice because they stuck to the diatonic (white keys) notes, rather than the chromatic (all keys) ones!
Why don't you give it a go? Write something using nothing but white notes BUT do not use any typical chord progressions! And maybe use some more interesting chords!
Here are some far superior examples of pandiatonicism:
Gorecki - "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" - Movement I
Copland - Simple Gifts from "Appalachian Spring"
Stravinsky - Petrushka (Senator Myth will be pleased!)
I might write a more in depth guide later, considering I spent 2 weeks on the bloody stuff in Western Art Music...
But here's a taster!
PLEASE BARE IN MIND that I am half asleep when writing this, so if it doesn't make sense, say so and I'll write it all better when I reawaken!
