Scales

Ok, cool, thanks! I’ll check it out. :slight_smile:

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Ak or A4 ?
Transpose is different with mini keys Multi Map mode, but you can use them to record.

Check @cuckoomusic Multi Map Tutorial.

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haarm

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Cheers! It’s the analog four. I’m getting one in a couple of days. :slight_smile:

It would be so amazing if the A4 would let you define a user scale by allowing adjustments in cents for each note, for proper non-Western intonation.

I’d definitely cave in and get one.

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The common major scale actually has seven modes which translate into other scales in other keys.
The major scale in one key is actually 6 other scales if played with a different root note.
The notes used are the same notes, but give a different musical relation depending on what root key they are played over.
G major consists of the same notes as E minor for example, they sound happy when played over a G, but sad when played over an E. The other modes have different favors, G major notes played over a D note is D mixolydian and has sort of an “epic” flavor…

For example, the G major(Ionian) scale consists of the exact same notes as:
A Dorian
B Phrygian
C Lydian
D Mixolydian
E Aolian
F# Locrian

So by setting the arp to G major you get G major, assuming the root of the key your playing is actually G.
With the same G major setting, playing in a root note of A will give you the Dorian mode(scale), playing with a root note of D would give you the Mixolydian mode(scale), etc…

So any of the seven modes can be used not by selecting the scale, but rather changing the root key of the arp setting, while playing in a different root key…

Hope this makes sense, at some point maybe I’ll find or make a chart…
This goes for OT too…
:grinning:

Edit: Link to chart: Scales

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Awesome summing up @Open_Mike, I’d never explored changing root notes before… will definitely look into that now!

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Eventually I’ll make a chart or something, only 7 out of the 12 possible root notes will end up conforming to a mode in a certain key, you have to know which ones.
The G major example will work for the other keys/scales I listed…

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Have used various modes quite a bit in the past, this will make working with (my favourites) Dorian and Mixolydian easier

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My favs as well!

Yeah, throws in a more exotic sound/vibe, kind of unsettling/suspenseful without being atonal. It doesn’t always work out, but can help avoid obvious musical tropes…

Hah, nice, did not know that. That means I’ve probably been working with all kinds of weird scales on my modular, as I always just tune the first oscillator to any random note and then every other oscillator to that note, ignoring the root note used on the quantizer. Mixolydian has been a fave of mine as well! I need to explore that when I get the A4. Thanks heaps! :slight_smile: A chart would be awesome!

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Dorian most of the time, Pentatonic Minor Ethiopian, Mixolidian, Harmonic Minor, Aeolian…

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Dorian is great!
Aeolian my most used, obviously :slight_smile:

Phrygian - Aphex Twin :wink:

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What’s this?

I think there are a number of Ethiopian scales …

You’re right, I wasn’t precise. I’m refering to Tezeta Minor, known as Hirajoshi too.

A B C E F, for example.

Mulatu Astatke in Broken Flowers.

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i got a kordbot … so

na naana na na

Nice :grinning: a pentatonic minor.

I don’t have an A4, but can’t one basically tune via plocking pitch bend to each voice independently? That means means the A4 is programable as a four-voice microtonal synth with a resolution of 0-127? I don’t know how this would interact with the A4 major/minor scale setting, but the key to these scale flavours, it seems (mainly drawing on my experience with Turkish classical music) is the space between the notes. Thus the need for very fine pitch adjustments for some individual notes. A Greek musician is going to play in the Phrygian mode quite differently than a Turkish player playing Kurdi makam (Turkish equivalent to Phrygian). Theoretically with plocks, any scale is possible on the A4.

Maybe is miss something but how would you play them ?
One different midi channels per voice.
I’m not sure it would work properly with poly either.

Doable with Multi Map with tuned sounds in Sound Pool.

If p locking fine pitch adjustments to the note trigs isn’t satisfactory, I’m not sure. If you mean playing via an external keyboard, I guess the keyboard would need to send pitch bend on individual channels.