I use a midi controller to get a certain chord progression going then I play around with inversions of the chords on the piano roll. You can get great results playing around with it!

Hey guys! Wanted to start a thread regarding scales so im gonna start by showing some of the basics that I know.


Scales

  Scales actually have a basic formula. You just need to count Whole steps and half steps. Once you memorize this you can get any basic scale just by knowing the tonic.

 Here are the formulas for the basic scales:

  (R meaning root/tonic/first note in scale , W meaning whole step, H meaning half step)

 Major Scale: R, W, W, H, W, W, W, H
 Natural Minor Scale: R, W, H, W, W, H, W, W
 Harmonic Minor Scale: R, W, H, W, W, H, 1 1/2, H   (notice the step and a half)
 Melodic Minor Scale: going up is: R, W, H, W, W, W, W, H
 going down is: R, W, W, H, W, W, H, W

      Examples:
     
      C MAJOR


       


     
      A MINOR (Natural)


     



       If we use harmonic minor on A minor the only difference would be the raised G to G# because we needed to add an extra half step up.

       If we used melodic minor on A Minor the difference would be F being F# and G being G# because instead of going a half step we go a whole step then from F# a whole step would be to G#. Going back down the scale results in a natural or basic A minor scale.

If this helped you let me know! would really like to expound on this topic and maybe add chords and modes into the thread!


EDIT: Feel free to message or comment if you have questions!
                 EDIT: Some people might get confused with the term Root so added Tonic/first note of scale

Do: Go back to your old tracks after while to see your progress! Really helpful when you think your skills are stuck.

Don't: do not abandon your unfinished tracks. They must have had potential for you to start working on them.

Played around with 100bpm and got this song out. Dont really know what genre it is but please let me know what you guys think!