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Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
there are only 4 specified notes in a 7th chord, the 1,3,5,7 of the scale
so if it had to be strictly derived from only those 3 chords the harmonic environment would be
e f# g a a# b d d#
which is an interesting sort of extended blues scale in E
but i think its simpler to just say write a song/music using only those 3 chords, and people will have a bit of freedom in extended melodies from those chords
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
I now have a 'main section' and an 'alternate section' roughed out and need to come up with an arrangement - my biggest problem may be keeping it under 2 minutes. Maybe I should have set the tempo quicker than 110bpm - I could have fitted in more bars. I might even be able to squeeze in an Eminor pentatonic solo on a fade out.
Interesting challenge.
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
I started off with a guitar and a pen and paper, jotted down the chords, the notes within them and tried to see if I could find any convenient links between them. Very early I came up with a sort of repeated figure/sequence based around a kind of blues scale pattern - this ended up being slightly simplified and used as an underlying sequence (kind of like a repeating synth arpeggio but I did it on guitar). I also played around with various inversions of the chords and tried to find a nice chord progression with some sense of movement - I ended up using my looper to play the repeated sequence and found a chord pattern that went well over the top.
I used the looper quite a lot to play around with ideas for a melody over this sequence/chord progression using just the notes from the three chords. I was initially using an ebow for this - I find it useful to limit my 'speed' and focus on strong melody. I also worked out a bassline (still using my guitar and looper) that worked with the chord progression. So eventually I had a sequence/chords/ bassline/top melody and this was my 'main' section.
Then, going back to just the sequence, I worked out an 'alternate' section with a different chord sequence (actually just a different inversion of an Esus4) and a different bassline (based around an E - in the main section the bass is playing an A under the Esus4) and another melodic idea.
So I had a main groove idea and an alternate section to add a bit of variety, all worked out on guitar and looper with ideas recorded onto a minidisc so I wouldn't forget them - I find it much easier be creative away from the computer.
The next stage was to find a drum groove on Addictive Drums that would suit and then record the various parts of the main groove onto Cubase, just as 1 or 2 bar loops. I love layering up guitars and so added a complimentary guitar line playing the chord sequence. So, I had a drum part, a bassline (played on guitar still), two guitar parts playing versions of the chord progression and a main melody (as clean guitar rather than ebow). This is where I was at last night.
I have just finished another session on the computer. I've basically done the same again with the 'alternate' section laid down as short 1 or 2 bar loops. I then cut&pasted and moved stuff about and worked out a short arrangement. I have an intro, a build into the main melody which plays through twice (16 bars, I think) and then a change into the alternate section, which I think I'll fade out on with a bit of a guitar solo - and I'm pretty much bang on 2 minutes!
So I've now got a rough recording of the arrangement, all played on guitar and cut&pasted from short snippets. The plan now is to re-record all those parts as continuous takes with a bass and various tones to suit, maybe do a bit more editing on the drum parts (which I find mind-numbingly slow and laborious work) and then finally mix it all down to stereo.
I hope that all makes some kind of sense.
Play them wearing a thong and see what you get.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Silk or PVC?