MPC5000 reviews, bug reports and fellow user support on the most recent standalone, hardware MPC from Akai
By Onkobu Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:50 am
It's quite easy (to find a melody) if add some random factor. I assigned an external synth to the MPC and just hit the pads. Due to their GM drum layout (Sir, General Midi, Sir) it's obviously sort of random playing. I also wrote some program to act as a keyboard trainer [1]. The most important thing is a Circle of Fifths with moving chord triangle and the upcoming 0.0.3 release will include chord tables and Tonnetz (sort of note grid) renderings. So it's easy to pick a note and move your finger across a sort of map along all those funky notes and chords.
For basic training one hint: try to make your melody in major C and transpose later (only press white keys). For funky chords press one key and move up 3 or 4 keys, go on stacking such steps.

I'll have a look at "all those" synth presets and beats at weekend and post some more of my own.

[1] http://sourceforge.net/projects/jpianotrain