[Jongpil Yun]

Try to assign 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, and B to the notes of the chromatic scale, take strings of numbers (e, pi, angles in radians converted to degrees), convert them to base 12, and play it.

Also:

0 = 16th note
1 = 8th note
2 = Quarter note
3 = Half note
4 = Whole note
5 = 16th note rest
6 = 8th note rest
x = 16th note triplet?

There should be some way to nicely map a string of numbers in some base into a rhythm. Then it would work like this: Choose one string of numbers (sqrt 2, lets say), ignore the decimal place to turn it into an integer, plug it into a converter, and what pops out is the sequence of notes you play. In this case, 9 digits of sqrt(2) turns into 3B441090. In the key of C (1=C), that'd be... D B D# D# C A G# A. Then get another string of numbers (e, I guess), get 8 digits of that in base whatever for your rhythm mapping, and viola, you have a phrase.

I'm too lazy to do any kind of real rhythm mapping right now though. A good idea for anyone who wants to try would be to ignore more than one rest in a row.

[metalmonster]

sweet thread . far more interesting than i thought . i keep on reading all of this !

[Snoop]

thx, very nice thread!
The most useful is S-O's ideas!
Any more tips? :p

[S-O]

Amazon.com: Thesaurus Of Scales And Melodic Patterns (Text): Nicolas Slonimsky: Books

This book is flat out awesome.

It divides the octave up into equal parts to create new scales. Then using interpolation and other techniques, creates variations.

These can sound robotic, think Buckethead, or help you get a wall of sound, think John Coltrane, or that way out there sound, think Allan Holdsworth.

Obviously not my idea, but taking these ideas within and creating songs is what the book is for. I composed a song that was supposed to represent HP Lovecraft's character, Cthulu, who's meer image could drive a man insane, the ideas within were useful in getting the chaotic mind boggling concept of Cthulu's exsistance.

Composing with the ideas can create amazing sounds. Frank Zappa used the book, so did John Adams (not that john Adams...)

Best ~$20 I ever spent on a musical book.

Then go buy (find) a Real Book, they are books filled with leadsheets to Jazz Standards. Try creating songs using the leadsheets. Don't worry, it's not cheating :P The majority of Jazz standards are just Show tunes that have been changed up a bit harmonically (and show tunes were already pretty harmonically rich)

Since the type of sound I hear in my head is a Frank Zappa and Miles Davis meets Charlie Parker and John Coltrane meets Meshuggah and Fear Factory meets Cynic and Atheist meets Rusty Cooley and Steve Vai. The ideas and books I have mentioned help me reach the sound I hear in my head. I have not quite reached it yet, but the dots are starting to connect.