NebI can’t find a way to search the forum posts. Apologies if this has been covered before…
How do you change key during a song?
I’m using G# | Bbm | F# | Db for intro/verse/chorus.
I chose G#m (which is the same as the key of B?) as the key for that, although I think it borrows chords from Bm.
When I was putting this part together in EZkeys, all the midi patterns I tried sounded OK.
Then the riff starts to use different chords such as A | F#m | F6 | E7. I *think* this is a key change to A/F#m. Whilst working on this section in EZkeys, many of the midi patterns I’m substituting (‘use browser midi’) now sound wrong and off, unless I stick to the basic ones with far less embellishments and arpeggios.
I think that is because it’s changed key to A, but G#m is still the chosen key for the whole song?
Can I tell EZKeys that a section of a song has a different key?
It seems strange that I can’t just apply a key to a section of midi in the timeline.
Maybe I need to work out how to play the key-changed part in G#m, and transpose that section up to A? That sounds difficult!
Thanks.
Beginner-level Guitarist/Drummer/Mixer. EZD2|3 / EZKeys1|2 / EZMix3.
Desktop - Ryzen 5 4650G @ 3.7GHz | 16Gb DDR4 | 1TB SSD | Win10 Pro.
Reaper | Roland Rubix 4x4 interface | Arturia Minilab II controller.
NebOK, so the best key for the piece turns out to be Bm I think, so stating the most appropriate key helps, I think.
To get my question answered, it is best to forget about the above example though. That’s turned out to be a distraction.
Basically, does EZKeys ‘handle’ key changes within a song?
If not, what are the consequences of changing key away from the stated key?
Eg. Does it affect the musicality of features like ‘smart transpose’, ‘use browser midi’, and ‘paste midi’? In what way are they affected?
Does it affect the function/usefulness of the circle of fifths tool, if the chords you’re working on aren’t in the stated key?
If there are problems with key changes, perhaps is would be better to only construct sections which have the same key in the track area and then export them, rather than try to construct the whole song?
Thanks.
Beginner-level Guitarist/Drummer/Mixer. EZD2|3 / EZKeys1|2 / EZMix3.
Desktop - Ryzen 5 4650G @ 3.7GHz | 16Gb DDR4 | 1TB SSD | Win10 Pro.
Reaper | Roland Rubix 4x4 interface | Arturia Minilab II controller.
Henrik EkblomWhen you set the key of a song, the chord circle will adjust so that the select chord is at the top. If you want to change the key for a section of a song, select all the Song Parts on the song track, right click on one of them and select Properties. In there you can transpose the selected blocks to another key.
Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack
NebThanks for your reply.
> In there you can transpose the selected blocks to another key.
So that means that for that section, the circle of fifths tool will not have the key at the top? I can still use it for figuring out chords though, right?
Do any other features rely on the ‘stated key’ to function properly, or does it literally just orientate the circle of fifths tool? For instance, if I transpose a section as suggested, and then apply the ‘use browser midi’ setting to it, will EZKeys be drawing notes from the stated key, or the transposed key that the section is now in?
Also, is there any difference between ‘use browser midi’ and ‘copy -> paste midi’?
Thanks.
Beginner-level Guitarist/Drummer/Mixer. EZD2|3 / EZKeys1|2 / EZMix3.
Desktop - Ryzen 5 4650G @ 3.7GHz | 16Gb DDR4 | 1TB SSD | Win10 Pro.
Reaper | Roland Rubix 4x4 interface | Arturia Minilab II controller.
Henrik Ekblom> In there you can transpose the selected blocks to another key. So that means that for that section, the circle of fifths tool will not have the key at the top? I can still use it for figuring out chords though, right?
Exactly, it will rotate so the selected key for the changed block(s) will be on top.
Do any other features rely on the ‘stated key’ to function properly, or does it literally just orientate the circle of fifths tool? For instance, if I transpose a section as suggested, and then apply the ‘use browser midi’ setting to it, will EZKeys be drawing notes from the stated key, or the transposed key that the section is now in?
Changing key for some blocks will set the circle of fifths to show the key on top. Some other subtle changes are also applied, such as it can make certain notes fit better into the selected key. When you use Use Browser MIDI it will play the chord that printed on the track, disregarding the main key of that song.
Also, is there any difference between ‘use browser midi’ and ‘copy -> paste midi’?
Basically no. User Browser MIDI is just a quick way to test several sequential grooves from the browser, instead of having to click copy, then paste, every time!
Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack
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