Minor Scale and Chords

Last class I had you record a 1-4-5 Chord progression in the key of C Major.  Lets review how we were able to do that.

First we learned the formula for the Major Scale using whole and half steps.  Starting with C and using the formula to figure out the rest of the keys in the scale.

Formula for a Major scale:
1 - 1 - 1/2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1/2

Once we learned the notes in the scale we were able to find the 1st, 4th and 5th note in the scale.  In the key of C Major that would be C, F and G.


Today we are going to learn about Minor Keys.  Just like with the Major Scale there is a formula that goes with the Minor scale as well. 

Using what we know about Whole steps and Half Steps we can figure out a Minor scale by using the following formula.

Formula for minor scale:
1 - 1/2 - 1 - 1 - 1/2 - 1 - 1


So lets figure out the notes of the c minor scale.

Now that we know the notes of the C Minor Scale we can figure out the 1-4-5 chord progression.   First lets number each note in the scale:
C -  D - Eb - F  - G - Ab - Bb - C
1 -  2  -  3  - 4  - 5  -  6  -  7  -  1

To play a chord you play every other note in the scale.
This is what a c minor 1 chord looks like:

 
The c minor 1-4-5 chord progression would look like this:

 For you Assignment today I would like to hear you use these chords in a 4 bar loop in Reason.



1. Create a Mixer
2. Create a Redrum
3. Make a 32 or 64 step drum beat
4. Copy pattern to track for 4 bars (L on 1 and R on 5)


5. Create an NN19 Sampler 
6. Load a Piano, Organ, Strings or Guitar Sound
7. Practice playing c minor, f minor and g minor chords
8. Now Record 4 bars using these chords
9. Edit and quantize your recording to make it as clean as possible
10. Save as (yourname)_cminor