Tunings/Key(This if for my homework)

[gln1955]

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.

This. Why are you in a class that's asking you to compose when it obvious you know zero theory? This can not possibly go well. You need to understand what major and minor keys are and how and why they are used. You also need to be able to figure out what notes are where on your fretboard with any kind of tuning.

 

[InhumanResource]

I don't know what Full Sail is, but if they are asking you to compose a piece in a minor key and they haven't taught you about keys yet (let alone minor keys which are a bit more complicated) then I'm thinking you may want to find a new program.

 

[eee]

Eh, dude. You probably just need 2 or 3 flats to get that minor thing going.

Metal: I assume you are going to be using open strings in your riffs, because open strings = maximum heavy riffage. You're tuning to drop C, so I guess that means you're going to be using lots of open C string.

3 flats will put you in C minor. 2 Flats will give you a "lighter" minor sound.

Bam.

There's your shortcut.

The only rule in music: if it sounds good, it is good.

The other side of that coin: why not learn more? Why limit yourself? You have hundreds of years of music history to draw from, you might as well actually learn what the f*** you're talking about. It will help you figure out what you're trying to do.

 

[Fat Fingers]

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.

I agree with matty1039. Learn the circle of fifths. If you need a book, this one could work for you:

The Chord Wheel: The Ultimate Tool for All Musicians: Jim Fleser: 9780634021428: Amazon.com: Books

It has a transparent wheel on the cover that you can spin and it will show you all note relationships (degrees) in a given key.

 

[Will_White]

Not what I asked.

No, but it's related to what you said. I wasn't answering your question (I'm not the OP) but expanding on it.

 

[lz4005]

I wonder if he ever figured out what drop-C is.

 

[mellowinman]

If you tune your lowest string to C, and keep the rest of the tuning the same, you are in standard drop C. At this point, anything you write will be in the key of AbMinor. For every half step you ascend, you will actually be descending 7 steps, and then back up two. Even if you write in the key of E#Major, you will still be in AbMinor. This is because of the derivatives of chromatic delinquency. All scales will skip steps that annoy you, and you will need to be sure only to use words like "freep," "bleegitmit," and "blorp." Any other lyrics will move you into the aleatoric conundrum, from which there is no return.