Dubstepforum.com

I hear a lot about sounds themselves and how to make them, but how do you go about making a nice note progression for a main synth?
I usually just fuck around on the keys till something sounds good, but is there a better way? Certain scales or chords?
I'm referring to something like this

borrowed wrote:I usually just fuck around on the keys till something sounds good

I think that is the best way

A lot of it has to do with the sound you have also, better sounding sound with make your progression sound better.

tbunreal wrote:A lot of it has to do with the sound you have also, better sounding sound with make your progression sound better.

Is that why I have this song in my head everyday of my life...

If you google a bit and find some info on basic music theory, such as chord progressions and shit, you can get a grasp on that and then you'll find melodies much easier to write. Look into jazz and stuff (although there is a lot to learn here) and just think about the progressions, then write your melody around those chords.

For example, I'm in the key of C - no sharps no flats - and my chord progression is C - F - G - C, the chords are CEG, FAC, GBD, CEG, (a chord is built up a root note, a third [can be major or minor, major is 4 semitones, minor is 3] and then the fifth, although more complex chords incorporate more intervals) so my melody will be based around those notes and the notes of the scale C major.. Once you learn about scales and keys and what notes are in those scales you'll quickly get an ear for what works. Harmonic minor scale is very moody and eastern sounding, good one for dubstep. Most dubstep is minor, so learn a minor scale and then you can apply that across any key, as the distance between the notes will be the same no matter what.

My explanation is pretty basic, but you'll find loooooads of free, in-depth information on the web.

Bitta research and a bit of practice and you'll get the hang of it. Although I'm not the most amazing composer, once you know what you're doing you can come up with cool stuff. Messing around on the keys without thinking and just going for what sounds nice is always good too, but knowing the rules makes breaking them easier.

3za wrote:

borrowed wrote:I usually just fuck around on the keys till something sounds good

I think that is the best way

If you understand scales and chord progression, you can knock out a winning melody in seconds.

thanks for bringing that song to my attention op, it's sick as fuck

glottis5 wrote:thanks for bringing that song to my attention op, it's sick as fuck

Yep someone posted another Skeamz track on this forum and I've just been rinsing all of his tunes since. Man makes dozens of crazy beats.

Just go up and down the pentatonic scale. Instant win.