Tunings/Key(This if for my homework)

[Laethyn]

Okay, not too sure if this is the right spot to ask this(sub-forum I mean), but I need some help.

I'm doing homework for college, and I have to compose an original, 16 measure long song. The genre that I chose was Metal, so I want to play the guitar I'm going to record with in Drop C(6-string guitar, not bass), but I need to know exactly what key it is. I'm sure this is a really stupid question, but I don't know much of anything about music theory and the such quite yet. I have to record using my MIDI keyboard, and choose a key, and play 3 note chords, but I need to know exactly what key Drop C is. Whether it's just standard C in a lower octave, or whatever.
Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I just did a little more reading and it says Drop C is an alternative tuning to Drop D with at least one string tuned down to C. With that being said, Drop D would work for what I need to do, but I still don't know what the Drop part of the Drop tuning would mean. Whether I would play whatever I'm writing on my keyboard in D with like, a -2 octave, or whatever.

Thanks again.

 

[5544]

Tuning of the instrument doesn't dictate what key you are playing in, the notes used does.

 

[beaglesandbass]

If you were to tune a guitar CGCFAD, and then play each open string, those notes are in the major keys of C and F.

But like it's been said, the tuning you're in does not dictate the key you're playing.

 

[Laethyn]

Thanks for the response guys.
Basically what I have to do is write 2 different sections, both 8 measures a piece, and whatever I write has to be in a minor key. I really have no idea what I'm doing. Lol

 

[beaglesandbass]

Just google "key of xx" and you'll be able to find out what notes are used in that key

 

[ShredderMaximus]

Okay, not too sure if this is the right spot to ask this(sub-forum I mean), but I need some help.

I'm doing homework for college, and I have to compose an original, 16 measure long song. The genre that I chose was Metal, so I want to play the guitar I'm going to record with in Drop C(6-string guitar, not bass), but I need to know exactly what key it is. I'm sure this is a really stupid question, but I don't know much of anything about music theory and the such quite yet. I have to record using my MIDI keyboard, and choose a key, and play 3 note chords, but I need to know exactly what key Drop C is. Whether it's just standard C in a lower octave, or whatever.
Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I just did a little more reading and it says Drop C is an alternative tuning to Drop D with at least one string tuned down to C. With that being said, Drop D would work for what I need to do, but I still don't know what the Drop part of the Drop tuning would mean. Whether I would play whatever I'm writing on my keyboard in D with like, a -2 octave, or whatever.

Thanks again.

What the "drop" in drop tuning is referring to is lowering the pitch of the lowest string. For example, the typical E standard tuning on a 4 string bass would be:
E
A
D
G
With E being the lowest sounding string.

In a drop D tuning, you lower the tuning of the E string 1 full step down to a D (E--->Eb/D#--->D) while leaving the rest of the strings alone. Drop C is the exact same concept, but instead of starting at an E standard tuning, you're starting at a D standard tuning, as in:
D
G
C
F
Two steps below D is your C (D--->Db/C#--->C), giving you:
C
G
C
F

This is a popular tuning in guitar as it gives you access to a couple lower notes compared to you standard tuning, but also makes power chords (Root + 5th scale tone played together) easier on the lower string since you can play them with one finger (called a barre chord).

Hope this clarifies things for you a bit, we were all beginners at one point. I'd honestly recommend sticking to a standard tuning while you're first starting out as it makes things a lot easier and symmetrical. Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[5544]

Thanks for the response guys.
Basically what I have to do is write 2 different sections, both 8 measures a piece, and whatever I write has to be in a minor key. I really have no idea what I'm doing. Lol

If you don't know what you are doing, then instead of asking other people to do your work, you should be studying harder.

 

[Mushroo]

I am concerned that your teacher is giving homework without teaching you the skills to complete the assignment. Do they have "office hours" you can go and get some help?

As mentioned above, you can play all 12 of the major keys and all 12 of the minor keys in any tuning.

Here is a brief article about musical keys. Any music theory textbook will have more details. Key signature - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[lz4005]

If you don't know what you are doing, then instead of asking other people to do your work, you should be studying harder.

OP has a history of "interesting" threads.
This one is my favorite: Strings for Drop C 5-String

 

[Laethyn]

OP has a history of "interesting" threads.
This one is my favorite: Strings for Drop C 5-String

Why do you even bother looking at threads where people are asking for help, where they state that they have no idea what they're doing, if you're just going to be an *******?

Just google "key of xx" and you'll be able to find out what notes are used in that key

See, I tried that and just got a bunch of Ultimate-Guitar links that talk about the history of Drop C, and stuff like that.

I am concerned that your teacher is giving homework without teaching you the skills to complete the assignment. Do they have "office hours" you can go and get some help?

Well, I go to Full Sail online, and I haven't gotten to a class where we talk about this kind of stuff exactly. I could do this in standard tuning, but I wanted to kinda stray away from what everyone else was doing.

If you don't know what you are doing, then instead of asking other people to do your work, you should be studying harder.

I'm not asking for people to do my work, nor do I have the materials to study.

 

[Mushroo]

My advice is, spend a little less time being snarky on internet forums, and a little more time memorizing your 12 major scales and 12 minor scales. You are dead in the water moving forward as a musician until you learn your scales.

 

[matty1039]

Check out the Circle of Fifths. It will give you the notes for progressions based on your key. A I-IV-V in the key of C would be C-F-G.

And if you are just learning theory you should start with the blues and work your way to metal. You need a foundation before you can build a house.

 

[lz4005]

See, I tried that and just got a bunch of Ultimate-Guitar links that talk about the history of Drop C, and stuff like that.

Step 1: Learn the difference between a key and a tuning.

 

[MonetBass]

Step 1: Learn the difference between a key and a tuning.

Bingo. If you aren't sure what notes are used to create which chords, you're not going to get very far in writing a song. Like matty1039 said, that's your foundation. Know all keys and which notes comprise each of the chords within those keys.

 

[Woolber]

Well, I go to Full Sail online, and I haven't gotten to a class where we talk about this kind of stuff exactly. I could do this in standard tuning, but I wanted to kinda stray away from what everyone else was doing.

I have to ask. Why stray away from what others are doing if it leads you into an area of incompetence? Not being insulting, just factual. We are all incompetent until we're not.

Do you know what chords you are playing and what key you're in when you use standard tuning?

 

[lfmn16]

Based on your very basic questions you don't have sufficient background to do what you are trying to accomplish. It a sad fact that you need to learn to walk before you run.

Learn the basics first. It makes every thing that follows much easier.

 

[Will_White]

I have to ask. Why stray away from what others are doing if it leads you into an area of incompetence? Not being insulting, just factual. We are all incompetent until we're not.

Do you know what chords you are playing and what key you're in when you use standard tuning?

If you know the key and tuning in standard tuning then in Drop C all your chords and fingerings are two frets up on the fretboard for the top strings but 4 frets up on the bottom most string.

 

[Hamish MacCleod]

Start here and pay attention to what MalcolmAmos says:
How to get started?
I printed this out and it has been a huge help... coming back to playing after a 35 year hiatus.
Rondo

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

You need to write a song in E standard first.

Right now, please read on the following topics through basic google searches.

1. Major and Minor triads and Major and Minor scales.

2. Circle of fifths.

3. Time signatures.

You must understand at least the basics of these concepts before attempting to write a song for acadenic purposes. If you try to drop tune at this point, it will just add an unnecessary layer of complexity that will likely frustrate you and slow you down.

 

[Woolber]

If you know the key and tuning in standard tuning then in Drop C all your chords and fingerings are two frets up on the fretboard for the top strings but 4 frets up on the bottom most string.

Not what I asked.