Members Flanger Posted September 8, 2003 Members Posted September 8, 2003 How do you write the key signature for something that's written in a mode? I finally got a little midi keyboard controller so I decided to play around with some notation software. I had avoided this in the past because entering notes with mouseclicks leads to insanity. Anyway, I decided to notate some simple metal piece, because powerchords are easy and it's a good place to start. I got the bass going on this E to F rhythmic pattern and then had the rhythm guitar doing something similar, but in a way to give it an out-of-kilter feel. Then I added a melody with the lead guitar, and after I sat back, replayed what I had done and written, I realized I had just written everything in E Phrygian. And it's starting to sound cool! It's not really metal anymore, but I think I'll keep working on it, instead of dumping it, like I had planned before I started writing. Should I make the key signature E minor and write in the extra flats or is there a way to indicate a mode?
Members edeltorus Posted September 8, 2003 Members Posted September 8, 2003 Good question.. and honestly I don't have an answer for it, I would put the song into a-minor. That's easier to read and enharmonical the same as e-phrygian. Also playing bits of e-phrygian is not uncommon on stuff written in a-minor. Nils
Members riffdaddy Posted September 9, 2003 Members Posted September 9, 2003 There are two methods of thinking on this. If you're playing something that is truly modal and not tonal (this means getting rid of those V-I cadences--for the most part), you should definitely give this one an empty key signature. If it has a tonal bend to it, you could go either way. If there really isn't an F# in the whole piece, I would advise nixing the key signature. BTW, this isn't the key of A minor. This is the key of E phrygian. You wouldn't start a piece in B minor and tell the rest of the band that you're in the key of D...
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