A couple of questions about the C natural minor scale

[maddox]

Hey guys, first of I need to say i know nothing about music theory I am a dj/producer and I make house/trance music. Usually I will get a scale on a piano chart of 8 notes.com and then just play with those notes on my midi keyboard and make melodies and bass lines that sound well together. Now I have a few questions, first of I noticed that some notes in the scale don't all sound well togeher it's like they need to have a certain note played before them to make them sound in key for example in my new tune I'm writing it in C minor now the notes D and D# seem to be an example. In the melodies I'm writing these notes can sometimes sound awesome in particular D but other times just sound awful. What's all this about? Next question, I have a Melodie playing and I'm wanting to put some nice lush chords underneath I thought about just following the melodies notes with chords but this can sound a bit boring so I was wondering how do I go about making a really nice chord sequence that will go well with a Melodie? And my final question is sometimes when I have different things on the go like a baseline, pads, melodies etc it seems that certain chords or melodies played together give this amazing sound like real emotion wether uplifting or blue now for me it's just random if I'm lucky I can punch in some notes and different progression get these really nice harmonies going but what is this said effect I'm talking about and how do I get it to not be random but just know which notes go well together to get these great sounds? Also is there a website which has all the chords that can be used in c minor on like a piano diagram? I can't read music and just saying something like the chords of C minor are c c# d etc won't help me because I need to see what notes on the piano make up these chords. All help greatly appreciated!

[stevebob]

I have no direct answers to your questions, as I couldn't begin to advise anyone about the theory behind chord progressions or guidelines for harmonizing melodies.

As you mention 8notes.com, I wondered if you're also aware of these sites as well:

Chord House Piano Room:  https://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/piano/

Pocket Piano Chord Name Finder:  https://www.gootar.com/piano/

I'm not sure how they differ in functionality from 8notes.com, but I've found them to be fun and useful reference tools.  Perhaps you will too while you await more knowledgeable responses.

[oxy60]

Wow, that is quite a question. Other then get 17 years of musical training there may be a mechanical solution to your problem. On a keyboard I sold recently, it had midi in/out and a display showing the notes on a musical staff with the letter names. It also would auto harmonize or play the chord that went with a bass note played (in split mode). And.. a ton of other features for midi/house composers. All the big names make them in a variety of prices. Mine cost new less than US$200.00. (for a piano player it is a disaster with the touch of an organ and only 60 notes)

A friend has 4 of those keyboards in his studio plus a house machine of US$1000.00+ with all the patches mixers, etc. In my area house has become very popular..

On this forum, most (?) of us know very complex harmony that took years to learn. So we can't be of much help to you.