I know chords have been used extensively through out traditional western music. But, how important are they in EDM. I notice most EDM songs don't have chords and when I try to implement chords, they sound horrible.

 

Actually the EDM (as in Progressive 2012 Dutch-Tech House marketed in the USA and now days worldwide as EDM) has chords most of the times. If you don't know chords music theory, just build a melody and insert a chord generator in your channel. Test with various chord types (thirds, 5-7-9s etc).

 

EDM songs does have chord progressions, but mostly in the intro/verse/breakdown kind of parts. The drop is usually the only part which sticks to a single chord/solo lead/intervals.(unless it's a progressive/pop-edm type of song which features chords in the chorus/drop too).
Just take any kind of EDM song for example, most of them have at least one region containing chord progressions.
If your EDM song would feature vocals as well, then you couldn't support them properly without chord progressions. It's something pretty essential.
But it's easier though. Just stick to a basic Amin-Fmaj-Cmaj-Gmaj progression and use it in all your productions and build some melodies around it if you don't know theory at all. Just invert the hell out of this chord progression and your songs won't sound that similar.

Good luck though, if there's any other question, let us know.

Cheers.

 

A lot of songs utilize static harmony as in there are no chord changes and interest is derived through melody and rhythm or unusual timbres. There are however also songs that do utilize them. For example chord progressions are a staple in the Trance genre. Depending on genre it can have a more or less prominent role but there will be variations.

 

and don't forget to choose the classic square bass sound and the classic nexus/sylenth1/massive- like detuned sawtooth LEAD sound, used in 10'000'000 tracks.

now: 10'000'012
in a few minutes : 10'000'150
in a few hours: 10'000'900
a few days later : 10'007'550
a couple of weeks later : 10'060'000

and still counting

 

Thanks everyone, I'm use to writing film music etc. The kind of chords I am use to writing would be something like a tertian chord on violin and have a harp playing melodies, generally chords like I III V or I IV V or I V I, stuff like that. I find that using a tertian for chord while having a melody played with another instrument/sound library over it doesn't sound very good for making happy hardcore/gabber/hardstyle etc.

Here is what I am trying to make.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9u8IAu-TMc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uw08EfTod0

I notice you really can't hear any tertian chords in there.

This is what I wrote so far.

http://soundcloud.com/jonathan-chon/gabber-sketch-unmixed

 

For harder genres that are Industrial related there is generally not much use of chords as intervals are more favored since we are looking for the opposite of trite and harmonious. I can recommend the Dance Music Production series of tutorials, they actually have one perfect for you called Hardstyle. If you have the funds I suggest you pick that up at his shop, it's worth every penny and it comes in a 3CD set. Then there's the Fundamentals series which focuses on music theory and other areas like drum programming:

Dance Music Production: Hardstyle 3CD

Dance Music Production Fundamentals Series

Rick's stuff is top notch and I highly recommend it. Then downloading some MIDI and dissecting it is another great tip. Best way to understand what's happening in my opinion by analysis of the tracks that are close to what you're trying to make. I haven't had much luck getting it for my favorite genre which is Industrial but yours is more popular so you might have better luck.

Established artists please share more MIDI or maybe make a video sometime for a quick tip or something. Or drop by the forums and let us know how you make your music, we'd really be interested in hearing from you guys. Don't be shy, we don't bite. *no*

 

I will second Rick Snowman! His Dance Music Manual is a great resource for discovering the nuances of EDM and plenty of established techniques. As far as chords go, I really can't see it not being used when the right sounds call for it, in other words, I think a song is better off with them than without regardless of genre.

 

Well it really depends on the specific genre you're talking about. With the current mainroom trend for example, the emphasis is on the beat and the energy rather than melody and feeling. With trance, progressive and other similar genres chords are extremely important. They dictate all the harmonies that follow and even the vocals later on if you were to add vocals. Coming up with unique chord progressions is pretty tough considering the amount of tracks being made and released but always play around and try and come up with something different. I always think of chords in terms of how a song makes me feel. Different chords portray different things like euphoria, happiness, sadness, victory, hope etc...So yes, they're very important.

 

consider that if in a one measure pattern you are using a one note bass line, and then you write a melody on it with a different sound, this is itself a chord progression, even if it is only 2 sound in one measure. this is the beauty of EDM, no classical rules.

 

worth to check the affected parts of the Academy of Electronic Music Hangouts too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K0MqQiRqCM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVEGCxQRkrE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvS9fWQPvos

playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoQXINSwuTGnG14U-t7TbzvVwJ1C0CbYC

 

Sonic Academy : Chords tutorial series also EDM based (real-world examples) and been upped to youtube :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnaSLgyxNBI&list=PL-E0bdwlFmTo72d4r_yMmcnZQl-dkcmTR

 

one chord : more than enough

two chords : you really pushing it

three chords : you are in jazz territory

 

Cords today tomorrow its leather patches for the elbows and the pipe comes out for the weekend

I would say yes there important, to get that thicker sound.

 

hahha

 

We don't need no chords in industrial! That is, if you do it *right*. And the sounds of factory machines are our singers and instruments! *yes*

But we're talking EDM here... so in EDM chords are important for that nice build up before chorus and during chorus. Not that you can be particularly creative there, though. Just go with the flow! Fuad said it all perfectly!

I would like to rant about using chords in industrial music, but not in this thread, obviously. *yes* So much crap these days is called Industrial, it makes me sick.

A little example of real Industrial... sorry, couldn't help it! No chord within sight. Afterwards you just wonder "what was that?" Sheer power of noise, mate...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXyBpV1tEHw

and to tackle needing chords for vocals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs-n-FQMeWM

@Pro Tools 10 Good one!

 

I am not trying to apply classical rules, but I like to do things different from everyone else. I notice everyone else is not using overlaying tertian harmonies over a melody, so I figure I do what everyone else isn't doing.

 

SineWave... Im billing you for new speakers.

 

One Reason

Funny thing that the album is called "Moment of Silence".

 

use ezeykeys to make chords then make hits get rich selling songs on itunes then buy big house and drop to audi V8 vroom vroom