Chord confusion

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I am working on a cover, Vangelis - Alpha

Tried my best but got stuck at the build up, then found a midi file.

A part of this is confusing me.

I don't seem to be able to find what chord this is? ( piece is in C# )

https://imgur.com/LJUPX77

Any thoughts on this? Is it a chord ? Or just allot of keys in scale ?

Looks like two stacked chords with a base note below it ?

The original, were this part starts at 1.44.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kK_HGNOo9A

As always learning allot from this, and getting even more respect for Vangelis. It sounds so simple, but its not simple at all.
Gps wrote:
Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:12 pm
Is it a chord ?
yes C#min
All the other notes are doublets to give more 'fullness' to the C#min

You find the 'naked' Cmin from 2. note from bottom.
Thats a C#
3 notes up
Thats a D
4 notes up
Thats a G#

Then he adds a helper note (bottom) to 'widen' the chord, and finally he repeats the whole C#min one octave up
Thank you :)

Now it starts to make sense.
Watching this vid, very interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNJnzRHU02g

Totally reminds me of were and how I got stuck. ( I as always refuse to copy past midi notes from a midi file I have )

I want to understand what is happening, and how this track builds up, is were I loos track every time.

Respect for Vangelis and I ones again manage to pick a damn hard track to cover. :(

Why do I keep dong that ? :P
Gps wrote:
Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:04 pm
and I ones again manage to pick a damn hard track to cover. :(

Why do I keep dong that ? :P
Probably because you like challenging yourself. :mrgreen:
I have not fully given up yet, been watching this vid, and it helps a little to understand what's happening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJnV3eYW1mY

But I am starting to think I am way in over my head. This could be to complicated for me unless I use the notes from a midi file, but were is the fun in that ?

I don't mind making something of my own, and then use a midi file to see if I am going in the right direction.

I don't have perfect pitch, so hearing a song does not give me the notes to play.

Maybe I should make notes op paper, while listening, with time stamps, and then see what I can do in lmms,

I do have a very good start with something of my own, but get confused every time at the build up.

How many tracks (instruments) to use is one problem I am having.
Funny how the midi file has something close to what I came up with myself.
Gps wrote:
Tue Jul 23, 2019 11:49 pm
I have not fully given up yet, been watching this vid, and it helps a little to understand what's happening.
Can you be more concise on what part you have trouble?
The build up is causing me grieve.

I have part of a midi file in the project I am am working on.

But I don't understand it, and refuse to just copy paste the notes.

I get confuses mostly on what synth plays what part. Probably need to work more structured, and make notes.

Maybe this makes it more clear ?

https://soundcloud.com/user586365033/alpha

When the drums start I get totally lost.
Found something. :)

At 1.35 into the track. I had made some thing wrong, trying to have that effect.

Its just allot of keys and then hold the key.

The midi file has this but I need to fine tune that.

That build of stacked notes starting after each other is too fast in the midi file. (first pic in this topic)

I changed the space from 4 steps at 1/64 grid to 5 steps. That seems to give me about the same speed as vangelis.

That part and my wrong interpretation , was causing most of the confusion. The speed in the midi file is not like in the version played by Vangelis.

Just before this part a drum kicks in. A big orchestral one.

I might use the Soundfond player for that boom. a timpani. The midi file uses 4 "notes" all at once.

Lets see were I get stuck next ;)
Gps wrote:
Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:12 pm
https://imgur.com/LJUPX77
Is it a chord ? Or just allot of keys in scale ?

Looks like two stacked chords with a base note below it ?
Exactly!
You are correct!

Here you first have
  • Two c#minor-cords, in 2 different octaves and one 'helper' g# note to give it depth
second one is a bit tricky, because he uses an Augmention aug-chord
He lifts (Augment) 3 note one up, inside scale!!!, and also has an aug-helper in the bass

third is
two+ " ½ " f#minor chords -in the topmost he omits the 3. note of the chord. He gets more bass, that way

fourth
almost like 1. so its a c#minor-cord, but now he adds g# twice, and top the chord off, with his scale-note c#