Question About Scales And Chords

[derekeverett]

My musical theory background is not super strong, but I'm trying to learn more and understand more.

 

I'm playing around with some chords here and I think I have a progression that I like. I set out to try and write in the key of A.

 

The four chords I'm using for the verse part of this song are A, C, D7, & E7. When I consider the A major scale, it seems to me that the C should be sharped to make a 1-3-4-5 progression. Yet it sounds SO MUCH better to me without the C sharped. 

 

Does this mean I'm not actually in the key of A major anymore? As I type this I think I may have just answered my own question.. I'm in A minor now right? in A minor the C fits. 

 

Am I getting a grasp on this? Any input here would be appreciated. Thanks.

Edited August 8, 2013 by derekeverett

[snabbu]

My musical theory background is not super strong, but I'm trying to learn more and understand more.

 

I'm playing around with some chords here and I think I have a progression that I like. I set out to try and write in the key of A.

 

The four chords I'm using for the verse part of this song are A, C, D7, & E7. When I consider the A major scale, it seems to me that the C should be sharped to make a 1-3-4-5 progression. Yet it sounds SO MUCH better to me without the C shaped. 

 

Does this mean I'm not actually in the key of A major anymore? As I type this I think I may have just answered my own question.. I'm in A minor now right? in A minor the C fits. 

 

Am I getting a grasp on this? Any input here would be appreciated. Thanks.

There is this site that will help you a lot. But before I give you the link I would say to you trust your ears.

But go to this site print out a map and play with it. http://mugglinworks.com/chordmapsArchive/chartmaps.htm

Cheers

Gary

[derekeverett]

Thank you to both of you.

[macmanmatty]

you sure you aren't in key of "D" You have a  major flat 7th and a 2nd 7th along with a 5th and root 7th. All common chords in a key of "D" If the ending note on the E7th chord is a "D" then I'm willing to bet your in key of "D". If you were in key of Am the A  D and E chords should be Minor Not Major. 

Edited August 21, 2013 by macmanmatty

[derekeverett]

you sure you aren't in key of "D" You have a  major flat 7th and a 2nd 7th along with a 5th and root 7th. All common chords in a key of "D" If the ending note on the E7th chord is a "D" then I'm willing to bet your in key of "D". If you were in key of Am the A  D and E chords should be Minor Not Major. 

 

Key of D would have a C#, which is the very chord I decided I didn't like...

[macmanmatty]

Sorry But I don't think you can be in key of Am a without at least one Am chord (or any minor chord for that matter you have none) Also the notes G# F# C# (you have one on the A chord unless you mistyped and your A is minor not major) are not allowable (but they can be used in certain ways) in the key of Am which is ( A B C D E F G) and the relative minor to the Key of C.

Again I say key of D all the notes fit and a flat 7th is a very common note in lot of songs in any key. Also keys of D and A are hard to disgunish from because they key signatures are only off by one shrap.

Edited August 22, 2013 by macmanmatty

[derekeverett]

I don't think that's right, I don't believe you need an Am chord to be in the key of Am at all. 

[thepopeofpop]

If you were really in A minor then your first chord would not be A major!   But your first chord is A major.

 

But ... as far as chord sequences go you don't have to stick just to chords from the key you think you're in.   That's a pathway to predictability.   Go with whatever sounds good to your ears!   Also the way chords fit together has a lot to do with the melody you're singing or playing over them and the "voice leading" between chords.   Sometimes a supposedly "wrong" tone, in this case the "C" (instead) of the "C#", can be much more interesting.    

 

Here's one reason why:  

Your first chord is A ...  composed of   A,  C# and E 

Your second chord is C ... composed of   C  E  and G#

 

The chords have one tone in common:   E.    That makes the chord change already smoother than you think.   C is the "bIII" chord in A major.  You are thinking that you want to use the III chord, which would be C#m.

 

But  C#m   is composed   of   C#  E  and G#.    Now that chord contains two tones in common with the A chord.   Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but when you shift between chords that are almost the same the changes aren't always as interesting.  Try  playing  the chords as:

 

A   C#m  D7  E7 

 

does that work as well as

 

A  C  D7  E7

 

for you?   Also your D7 chord has a "C" in it as well ...  so, no reason why you can't have another chord with "C" in it.    You can have a lot of fun playing around with the 3rd tone in a scale ... is it minor, is it major?    Keep the listener on their toes, it's a classic songwriting trick.

Edited August 28, 2013 by thepopeofpop

[macmanmatty]

 

But  C#m   is composed   of   C#  E  and G.    Now that chord contains two tones in common with the A chord.   Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but when you shift between chords that are almost the same the changes aren't always as interesting.  Try  playing  the chords as:

 

 

Wrong there buddy a C#m is composed of a C#, E,  G#

 

C#, E, G make a C#dim

Edited August 28, 2013 by macmanmatty

[thepopeofpop]

Wrong there buddy a C#m is composed of a C#, E,  G#

 

C#, E, G make a C#dim

 

Yeah, G#.   I Mistyped that.   But, It doesn't alter the point that a C#m chord and an A chord share two tones:  C#  and E.