Jump to content
HAPPY NEW YEAR, TO ALL OUR HARMONY CENTRAL FORUMITES AND GUESTS!! ×

Hey Ano


Flanger

Recommended Posts

  • Members
Posted

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
Posted

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
Posted

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...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...