Recording Challenge #3 (Write a song in the ' Raga None' Scale)

[SweetDan]

Also, now that we've driven everyone else away, what dastardly deeds are we gonna plan that we can't allow anyone else to know of?

[vomitHatSteve]

Also, now that we've driven everyone else away, what dastardly deeds are we gonna plan that we can't allow anyone else to know of?

S*** it's the fuzz! Cheeze it!

[WhiskeyJack]

Harry Potter convention?

Close.


My attempt at hoity toity literary reference.

[liv_rong]

I didn’t read all of this yet, but I sure as shit don’t know anything about no music theory to be able to pull this off lol

[Tadpui]

[mention]JD01[/mention] do you see what you've done to me? I've had to put gaffer's tape on all of the keys that I'm allowed to play. This is how much of a pianist I am

P1122397.JPG

[JD01]

LOL - Excellent.
I have my idea down - just haven't had time to sit down and get the arrangement sorted yet. I'll get there though.

[JD01]

I didn’t read all of this yet, but I sure as shit don’t know anything about no music theory to be able to pull this off lol

You don't really need to know much Liv, just follow the instructions.

[Greg_L]

Raga None.PNG

Raga None.PNG

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this stupid thing. I'm trying to understand it instead of just following the dots.

I see a 1. I see a 4. I see a 5. I know those. I can make any song out of those three notes.

I also see, going from bottom up, the 1, #2, 4, 5, #6, 1, #9, 11, 5, #6, 1, #9...them's the same notes you'd find in any ol blues rock solo.

So if any of that is true, what makes this so weird?

[JD01]

Raga None.PNG

Raga None.PNG

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this stupid thing. I'm trying to understand it instead of just following the dots.

I see a 1. I see a 4. I see a 5. I know those. I can make any song out of those three notes.

I also see, going from bottom up, the 1, #2, 4, 5, #6, 1, #9, 11, 5, #6, 1, #9...them's the same notes you'd find in any ol blues rock solo.

So if any of that is true, what makes this so weird?

Curious thing here is that on your 1 you can build either a major or minor chord.
On 4 you can't build either - but you can get away with a powerchord.
On 5 you can't easily build any sort of "normal" triad.

[Greg_L]

Curious thing here is that on your 1 you can build either a major or minor chord.
On 4 you can't build either - but you can get away with a powerchord.
On 5 you can't easily build any sort of "normal" triad.

Ok, but why/why not? Why can't I just play whatever using those notes?

[JD01]

Curious thing here is that on your 1 you can build either a major or minor chord.
On 4 you can't build either - but you can get away with a powerchord.
On 5 you can't easily build any sort of "normal" triad.

Ok, but why/why not? Why can't I just play whatever using those notes?

So, if you 1 chord is A major - A, C# and E
Your 4 chord would be D Major and your 5 chord would be E Major - so far, so good - you know this.

However, the correct notes aren't present in the scale to build a D Major or E Major.

[Greg_L]

So, if you 1 chord is A major - A, C# and E
Your 4 chord would be D Major and your 5 chord would be E Major - so far, so good - you know this.

However, the correct notes aren't present in the scale to build a D Major or E Major.

Oh I think I see. So you can literally only use the dots in the scale. The A major (1) is there no problem. The D (4) could be a 1-4-1-11- barre powerchord, and the E (5) can't really be anything because the dots don't let you do anything that sounds good with that note.

So...what if I made the 4 my "1", and used the 4, #6, 1 as my "1-4-5" and just did it with dumb ol two-note powerchords? I know that's dumbed down and simplified, but that technically fits in the scale, right?

[JD01]

So...what if I made the 4 my "1", and used the 4, #6, 1 as my "1-4-5" and just did it with dumb ol two-note powerchords? I know that's dumbed down and simplified, but that technically fits in the scale, right?

Yeah, that's exactly right.
What you'll find though is that when you put a riff over it you end up using notes that you wouldn't normally expect.

[Greg_L]

Yeah, that's exactly right.
What you'll find though is that when you put a riff over it you end up using notes that you wouldn't normally expect.

Ok I think I got it now. I know what to do. Thanks.

[JD01]

Yeah, that's exactly right.
What you'll find though is that when you put a riff over it you end up using notes that you wouldn't normally expect.

Ok I think I got it now. I know what to do. Thanks.

Cool - hopefully you'll come up with something that you wouldn't ordinarily think of.
If you do simplify it as much as you can with a few power chords and a riff, careful if you put a vocal melody on it, if you naturally end using the major scale for your vocal melody it'll sound well weird.

[Greg_L]

Cool - hopefully you'll come up with something that you wouldn't ordinarily think of.
If you do simplify it as much as you can with a few power chords and a riff, careful if you put a vocal melody on it, if you naturally end using the major scale for your vocal melody it'll sound well weird.

I think I've figured out a way to use this as minimally as allowed by law and still fit within the rules and still have it sound like everything else I always do.

[Lt. Bob]

OK.
1 = A Major but you can also use A Minor, Maj7, 7, min 7 or sus 4
2 = C Major - not much else available here.
3 = C# minor, or minor with a major 7th.
4 = D5 (powerchord) or a Sus2.
5 = E 3rd only, no 5th.
6 = G5 (powerchord) Sus2 or Sus4.
7 = G# Not a lot here either, 3rd only (no 5th), a tritone or a #5

Try and pop a riff over it using the scale.

Uhhhhhh.....what? No I think I'm out.

those chords are the scale degrees ..... the chord that fits in each step of that scale he wants you to use

[Greg_L]

those chords are the scale degrees ..... the chord that fits in each step of that scale he wants you to use

No, I aint doing it like that.

[vomitHatSteve]

So, if you 1 chord is A major - A, C# and E
Your 4 chord would be D Major and your 5 chord would be E Major - so far, so good - you know this.

However, the correct notes aren't present in the scale to build a D Major or E Major.

Oh I think I see. So you can literally only use the dots in the scale. The A major (1) is there no problem. The D (4) could be a 1-4-1-11- barre powerchord, and the E (5) can't really be anything because the dots don't let you do anything that sounds good with that note.

So...what if I made the 4 my "1", and used the 4, #6, 1 as my "1-4-5" and just did it with dumb ol two-note powerchords? I know that's dumbed down and simplified, but that technically fits in the scale, right?

honestly, if you're doing power-chords, you have a few more options than the standard major/minor scale offers.
Your 3rd and 7th chords can be from the major or minor scale; take your pick.
The only additional restriction is that you don't get the 2nd or 5th chord.

[JD01]

haha, and there was me thinking this would be a fun challenge!
[mention]Greg_L[/mention] did you ever listened to my Challenge #2 song in the end?