The Chord Thread (Rate My Chords)

[Nine Volt]

Hey guys. Lemme get right into this:

We have a 'Rate My Wubs' thread, so I figured I'd make something for the less dubstep oriented among us and make a kind of 'rate my chords' style thing.

Basically the idea is to post a short clip of chords you made and to have others give tips or critique on them. Seven put it well:

- This is a thread where you can get response and feedback for your choice of chords within a chord progression, the chord progression itself and how they fit with the vibe or timbre of a song, or part of it. How well they interact and how to improve it. If you're lucky, perhaps also some explanation of why, all in the mathematical sense that is music theory.

So yeah, better lay down some rules:

1. Don't just drop something here and leave. Please give feedback to other people before posting your own stuff.

2. No number ratings please. They can inspire too much butthurt.

3. Be constructive with your criticism.

So yeah.

To get us started, I'll just drop this here:
http://soundcloud.com/nine-volt/rate-my-chords

3 chords. There ya go. All of them were made in under 5 minutes.

[Seven]

I'm going to break the rules right away. What do you mean by chords, and what do you expect to get posted? You basically put a whole song up here, so is that what this is too? Feedback on the chords in a full song / snippets of the song? Or is simple notes for interesting chord progressions?

I
V
IV

Done. Contributed. I'm sure this thread will die quickly if we do this, but it might not too. Clarification. Just to ensure the thread stays alive.

[Nine Volt]

I'm going to break the rules right away. What do you mean by chords, and what do you expect to get posted? You basically put a whole song up here, so is that what this is too? Feedback on the chords in a full song / snippets of the song? Or is simple notes for interesting chord progressions?

I
V
IV

Done. Contributed. I'm sure this thread will die quickly if we do this, but it might not too. Clarification. Just to ensure the thread stays alive.

Feedback on chords of a song. Chords. Anyone who knows jack shit about theory should know what chords are.

That's three chords up there. Not a song, three separate chord progressions.

I suppose a more accurate term would be rate my chord progressions. Sorry to tell you, but I V IV is not interesting. You know the rate my wubs thread. Think that for chords.

Keep on helping out if you want to, or we could let this thread die. Your choice.

[Seven]

A reply which came forwards as a tad rude, but I forgive him as those were never his intentions

I personally take notes (sorry for being unclear and almost inviting misunderstandings on that one) of my draft-stage chord progressions for my songs, and that in letter-based form. (Not sure of the proper name)

I know I V IV isn't interesting. Of course it's not, but I took it as an example. (Semi-sarcastic with hint of humour. At least I thought it was funny) It is a chord progression, but obviously not what you want in the thread. (a chord progression, which by the way can be, and is the base of many songs). Now, if you don't clarify, that's amongst the things you'll get.

Well, I think that I've got a pretty good picture now. I'll try to put it in words the best I can.

- a thread where you can get response and feedback for your choice of chords within a chord progression, the chord progression itself and how they fit with the vibe or timbre of a song, or part of it. How well they interact and how to improve it. If you're lucky, perhaps also some explanation of why, all in the mathematical sense that is music theory.

The "Rate My Wubs" thread is about how well a dubstep (or similar) "drop" (quote, since it's not technically a drop if standing on its own) works, and fairly easy to understand and contribute to. This was a bit more vague (to me), and I wasn't quite sure how we were to present the chords. The I V IV form and C G F form won't contribute much, but is still an effective way or presenting. Now, that's perhaps the main thing that confused me. (and its not the way this thread's going to work)

I'm just trying to avoid confusion, though I seem to do more damage than good at the moment. I will try to contribute once I get back on my computer.

[Nine Volt]

I'm sorry for my rudeness, I was just pissed off at the moment.

And yes, your description of it works well and I will in fact be quoting it in the OP. I really do appreciate that you're helping, and you're most certainly not doing damage to anything.

So once again, sorry for my rather uncalled for rudeness.

[Kopachris]

I'm liking this idea! Regarding the snippet you posted, I agree with what the other commenters have said. I think the first section is by far my favorite, and it seems to work well as an introduction--somber in tone, but increasing in tension.

[Nine Volt]

Funny thing is, the first section was the one I worked the least on
It's also the most recent, might have something to do with it

[TranquilHooves]

Lol, depending on what key, you can do a LOT with I-V-IV.
Inversions, dropping one of the notes an octave, and just fiddling around with it can really make a difference.

[Nine Volt]

Fair enough. I didn't say you couldn't do much with it. Also, do you guys build your chords according (pun) to theory, or do you guys just throw stuff together and tweak it till it sounds good? I have a fairly good idea what notes will sound good, so I just throw three together then tweak them to get a good chord, typically 4-5 notes.

[SticktheFigure]

The past few things I've done have stuck to theory so closely that I dislike them.
I'm trying to work on songs now with unnatural or unsettling chord progressions and making them appealing.

[Kopachris]

The notes in here are
F1 - A1 - F2 - A2 - E3 - F3 - Gb3 - C4

http://soundcloud.com/kyoga-1/soundtest1

But the focus here was to test new sounds i'm testing.
I think it's going good so far, but I would love feedback

E3 - F3 - Gb3

wat.

Sounds good. I think the thread is more focused on chord progressions, though.

[TranquilHooves]

Oh yeah, I should probably put down a chord progression..

Eh,
Cmaj9-Emin1-Cmaj1

I honestly don't know how to notate chords, so if this makes no sense I'll just put
up the notes instead.

[Seven]

Cmaj9-Emin1-Cmaj1

I think that's just written as:

C9
Em
C

Might've misunderstood this. If that's the case, then sorry.

Can't really give much feedback right now. I'll edit once I get to my computer.

[LoreRD]

Here's a chord progression:

B E Gb Db

Using it in an upcoming track.

[Pewter Robot]

Then I graciously drop this in because I love it's chord progression!

Sounds like Pink Floyd. I love Pink Floyd.

[GhostXb]

Here's a chord progression:

B E Gb Db

Using it in an upcoming track.

@LoreRD: My pen and paper skills for music are next to non-existent so I wouldn't know what your were talking about unless I heard it.

@Kyoga: We all know your awesome at writing music, and your song 'Going it Alone' is no exception. I love it! Wish I had some actual critique, but I don't XD!

Here's some clips from a few song I'm working on. Its closer to a finished product, but if anyone hears anything off please tell! Sometimes I miss things. The second and third are written in B Lydian. The first is yeh good ol C Major.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/91737317/Rate%20My%20Chords.mp3

[NegaNote]

Might as well ask in here I guess.



Chord progression is D F#dim Adim Gm. It's in D Phrygian, that's why it seems weird

Anyway, does the chord progression fit?

[Nine Volt]

Sounds very Egyptian, I like it :3
Speaking of sound that snare sounds a bit too muted or muffled (in my opinion), like you took out too much high end. Other than that, good job :3

[Nine Volt]

https://soundcloud.com/nine-volt/rate-some-more-chords

[Pewter Robot]

https://soundcloud.com/nine-volt/rate-some-more-chords

This is more deadmau5 than deadmau5. The first one was Brazil and the fifth one was Strobe. The second one sounded cheesy and boring. The others can pass for a good song if you use a different type of instrument in stead of the same plucks from every other progressive house track. But right now they're uninteresting, and none of these clips are catchy or worth remembering.

Sorry for being rude. I don't want to be a tough critic.

[Nine Volt]

https://soundcloud.com/nine-volt/rate-some-more-chords

This is more deadmau5 than deadmau5. The first one was Brazil and the fifth one was Strobe. The second one sounded cheesy and boring. The others can pass for a good song if you use a different type of instrument in stead of the same plucks from every other progressive house track. But right now they're uninteresting, and none of these clips are catchy or worth remembering.

Sorry for being rude. I don't want to be a tough critic.

You're not being rude :3
I just used the same pluck for all of them because this is just a demo and IMO it's the best synth I had for demonstrating these types of chords :3
Also, I've never heard Brazil :3 I'll admit the fifth was based on the same style as Strobe, but unlike Strobe, the bass note is hitting every 3/16 notes instead of twice a measure.

And thanks :3

[NegaNote]

Well, you didn't exactly say whether the progression fits the song well or not, but thanks, Nine Volt :3

[TranquilHooves]

Yay, chords!

http://soundcloud.com/tranquil-hooves/chords-n-stuff

[NegaNote]

Ooh, that's actually a pretty nice chord progression. I love it

[TranquilHooves]

Yeah, I just wish my sound design was better xD