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Help with what Key to play in

D

DriveThruEmoKid

Mar 24, 2003
44
0
Manahawkin, NJ ( The Jersey shore, near Long Beach
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#1
I didnt know where to put this so i put it here..

My band wants to make an emotional, slow, depressing i guess you could say song, to dedicate to three of my good friends who were recently killed in a car crash.. I can't figure out what chords to use or even what key to play in, and am having a writers block.. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated..

PS. we play in Drop D and want this song to really hit you, if you know what i mean.
 
#2
Moved to General Instruction, where you'll more likely get results.

My take on it: Play in D Minor. It's the saddest of all keys.
 
#6
I agree about D Minor being a good key to play in. I also agree on playing from the heart, however.

It's a delicate area, writing songs for loved ones who have passed. IMO You could have a vast knowledge of theory, and yet, forget it all when your emotions take over. If that were me, I'd ride on those emotions after I've found my starter point.

Listen to some songs that would relate to what you're going through and analyze those, see what key those are in, etc.
 
#8
D-minor is pretty bood if yoy want a sad song althoug A-minor is just as good if not better in my opinion.

Use a lote of open strings in your picking and dont overplay the bassline, use long sustaining notes. Writing a sad slow song on bass is probably harder than writing a faster one since you have to pay more attention to what notes to use since they will be sounding longer.
 
#9
I dont get it. There is no sonic difference between one minor key and another other than where the scale starts. Same intervals. Dm is the same as Cm but a whole step apart. Same with any scale. If overall pitch matters and lower seems more depressing then E minor is the way to go or on a 5 string use low B minor.
 
#10
Guess some folks here do not know the complete "Spinal Tap" script by heart. The advice given above to play in D minor and turn amps to 11 are taken right out of the quintessential rock satire "Spinal Tap." In other words, that advice is just a joke. Surprisingly, no one has suggested that the song be recorded and packaged with a solid black cover.:D :D
 
#13
BASSHENGE

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Make sure the Key is right for your vocals if you have lyrics!

;) Treena
 
#15
My take on it: Play in D Minor. It's the saddest of all keys.
Click to expand...

Indeed "Lick my love pump" is in D minor I believe :D


My advice would be to start simple, a simple two or three note riff - keep it slow and do just as stephanie says, just sit down on your own, play and see what comes out.

Sorry to hear about your friends. Personally, last time something tragic happened like that to someone in my life I couldnt play anything whatsoever to encapsulate my feelings. It tok me time to make sense (not that I ever did really) of it before I could play anything "sad" or "happy" as it happens.
 

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