Ray Harmony's Blog, page 30
June 1, 2017
5-Step Hack for Programming Creative Drums
Today on 3-Minute Theory: How to write unique drum patterns using the rhythm of the bass.
Check out this Hack Music Theory video/podcast if you want to learn how to program unique drums that stand out from the crowd, by using creative rhythms taken from the bass line. I'll guide you through 5 easy steps for achieving this, and you can also download the multitrack MIDI file from the example in this video/podcast (if you want to access all the notes and have a play around).
Hope you dig, and if you want more theory hacks, please download my Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF. Until next time, happy songwriting!
Ray Harmony – Victoria BC, Canada
Composer | Performer | Producer | Teacher
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
May 25, 2017
5 Steps for Writing Amazing Bass Lines
Today on 3-Minute Theory: How to write an amazing bass line (that's way better than all those boring bass lines we hear in the charts all the time) for your chord progression.
Check out this Hack Music Theory video/podcast if you want to learn how to write powerful, captivating and memorable bass lines under your chord progressions. I'll guide you through 5 easy steps for achieving this, and you can also download the multitrack MIDI file from the example in this video/podcast (if you want to access all the notes and have a play around).
Hope you dig, and if you want more theory hacks, please download my Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF. Until next time, happy songwriting!
Ray Harmony
Music Teacher
Victoria BC, Canada
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
May 19, 2017
Write HEAVY Bass Lines Using the Harmonic Minor Scale
Today on 3-Minute Theory: How to write HEAVY bass lines using the harmonic minor scale.
Check out this Hack Music Theory video/podcast if you're wanting to go heavier with your bass lines, and the natural minor scale (AKA Aeolian mode) just isn't giving you enough.
The harmonic minor scale is incredibly special (and ideal for heavy music!), because it has a rare three semitone interval between its sixth and seventh notes, which creates a huge amount of dissonance and tension, and therefore heaviness!
Lastly, you can download the multitrack MIDI file from the example in this video/podcast, if you want to access all the notes and have a play around.
Hope you dig, and if you want more theory hacks, please download my Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF. Until next time, happy songwriting!
Ray Harmony
Music Teacher
Victoria BC, Canada
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
May 11, 2017
Programming Unique Drums Using a Polymeter (5/16 over 4/4)
Today on 3-Minute Theory: How to make unique drum patterns that stand out from the crowd.
Check out this Hack Music Theory video/podcast if you're tired of boring drums and want to learn how to program interesting patterns instead, using polymeters (two or more time signatures playing simultaneously). In this lesson we do a pumping 5/16 over 4/4 groove!
Hope you dig, and if you want more theory hacks, please download my Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF. Until next time, happy songwriting!
Ray Harmony
Music Teacher
Victoria BC, Canada
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
May 4, 2017
How to Write Epic EDM Bass Drops in 7 Steps
Today on 3-Minute Theory: How to write an epic EDM bass drop in 7 steps!
If you’re an EDM producer, there’s nothing worse than giving your audience an epic build on the snare drum, then following that with a bass drop that consist of one note. No! Your audience deserves better, so let’s do this...
But first, click the cube pic below if you want to download the PDF bundle for this lesson, which includes:
7-page neatly structured step-by-step PDF guide, with MIDI screenshots Multitrack MIDI file, allowing you to access all the notes in the example Mixed WAV file (listen at 3:36 in Video/Podcast) to showcase the example's final version
[image error]
Alright, so we’re at 90 bpm, which is a mega groovy tempo and one of my favourites. Bass drops are all about bass and drums, so we’ve got those tracks set up and ready to go. We’re gonna do a two-bar (AKA two-measure) bass drop, so it doesn’t get boring.
STEP 1: DRUMS
We’re gonna start with the drums, so let’s get the snare in on the back beats, which are beats 2 and 4 of each bar. Then we’re gonna get the kick in on beat 1 of both bars. This is James Brown’s “the one” technique, where the rhythm section (i.e. bass & drums) locks in on the 1st beat of every bar, but then they can do whatever they want for the rest of each bar. This method keeps the groove going and makes it danceable, too. Next, we put in the hi-hats on every quarter note, except in the beginning of the 2nd bar, where we spice it up by adding a hi-hat on the 1+ (pronounced “one and”), which gives the pattern some movement. On that note (excuse the pun), eighth notes are counted as: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +.
Now, this is the important bit, we’re gonna do some syncopation on the kick. We’re gonna add in a kick drum on the 2+, which gives it a funky syncopated groove. Then in the second bar we’ll do the same thing, i.e. a kick on the 2+, but this time with an extra syncopated kick just before it, on the 2e (pronounced “two ee”, and represents the very next sixteenth note after beat 2). Also, let’s add a kick on the 3+, which will give extra momentum into the very last snare drum. By the way, sixteenth notes are counted as: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a. Drums are done!
[image error]Figure 1: Drum pattern for our bass drop, where C2 is the kick, E2 is the snare, and G♯2 is the hi-hat
STEP 2: SCALE
Oooh yeah, you know what time it is now? It’s bass o’clock! So let’s get to it. We’re going to use the blues scale, but you can use any scale for a bass drop. I like the blues scale because it’s super funky. To get the blues scale, just start on any note (this will be your root note), then go three semitones up, then go two semitones up, then go one semitone up, then go another one semitone up, then go three semitones up and you’re done. If you wanna learn more about writing bass lines using the blues scale, please download my Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF, the link is below.
RevolutionHarmony.com/Books
[image error]Figure 2: F♯ Blues scale (F♯, A, B, C, C♯, E), which we’re going to use to write our bass drop
STEP 3: KICKS
Talking about low, we’re using F♯ as our root note because it’s nice and low, good for EDM, and here’s the F♯ Blues scale: F♯, A, B, C, C♯, E (the spelling is 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7). So, now we just map out the kick drum pattern in our bass track, using our root note, F♯.
[image error]Figure 3: Kick drum pattern programmed in the bass track, using the root note (i.e. F♯)
This is the starting point for our bass line. After this, we just move these “kick notes” to other notes in the scale. I’m hearing the last three notes being that funky trio of notes I’m always talking about (i.e. 1, ♭3, ♭7), which is a characteristic element of funk and many other genre’s groovy bass lines. We should keep those notes on “the one” in both bars on F♯ (the root note) for extra punch. Then let’s move the other bass note in bar one (on beat 2+) up to A, i.e. the ♭3.
[image error]Figure 4: “Kick notes” moved to other notes in the blues scale (i.e. the funky trio of notes: 1, ♭3, ♭7)
STEP 4: MOTIFS
Now we literally just fill in the gaps, so let’s start from the beginning. We can go up from the root to the ♭5, then up to the 5, down to the 4, back up to the ♭5 again, and end this little run on the ♭3. This is a great little motif that makes the most of the blues scale, and its “blue note” (i.e. the ♭5). When writing for bass, before we get to the fancy synth sounds, we want to be totally focused on writing a great melody, and part of this is hunting for great motifs to repeat. Reusing a great motif will create both familiarity and structure to your melody, while also making it catchy. So, let’s repeat that exact motif (♭5→5→4→♭5→♭3), starting on beat 3+ this time. But, you see those last three notes of that motif that are now over beat 4, let’s do some magic on ‘em!
STEP 5: TRIPLETS
Change the MIDI grid to eighth notes triplets, because every good bass drop needs some “wub wub wub” triplets, right? So, we’re gonna adjust their timing to fit the triplet grid, and now we have that same 4→♭5→♭3 (i.e. B→C→A) motif repeated, but in triplets the second time around, which gives the illusion of the bass line slowing down. Wub wub wub!!!
[image error]Figure 5: The 4→♭5→♭3 motif repeated as triplets the second time around (please note, this grid is in triplets)
STEP 6: VARIATION
Put the MIDI grid back to ‘sixteenth’ and ‘straight’, and we’re ready for the second half of our bass drop. From the root on “the one” of our second bar, let’s go up to the ♭5 again, like we did in the beginning, but a sixteenth note later this time, for variation (too much repetition gets boring real quick, so use your second bar to write a melody that flows from the first bar, but is completely fresh and alive with variation). Also, this gives us a really cool descending line ♭5→♭3→1, then we can do a little sequence of that starting on the ♭3, so we get ♭3→1→♭7. We’re now at the lowest part of the melody (i.e. E), so let’s climb our way up again, by reversing the ♭5→♭3→1 motif, which gives us 1→♭3→♭5. Finally, I’m just going to return to the first bar, and add a ♭3 in between those two repeated motifs for variation and extra flow, and we’re done!
[image error]Figure 6: Final bass line, before separating it out onto different tracks with different synths
STEP 7: SPREAD
Now that we have a great melody, it’s time to add some sonic sugar in the way of tasty synths. So have some fun chopping this bass line up into segments, and spreading ‘em out over a bunch of different tracks with a bunch of different synth sounds, and you get this (listen at 3:36 in Video/Podcast):
[image error]Figure 7: Final bass line chopped up and separated out over five different synth, to add sonic texture
NEED MORE HELP? If you need more help writing bass lines, read the Melody Checklist in my Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF, it’s the ultimate hack for writing great melodies.
Ray Harmony
Music Teacher
Victoria BC, Canada
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
April 27, 2017
3 Hacks for EDM Bass Lines & Kick Drums
Using a combination of syncopation, phrasing, and octaves, you can write melodically and rhythmically captivating EDM bass lines, which do not interfere with the kick drum.
Before we get into our MIDI example, let’s first define those terms. Syncopation is accenting an off-beat, phrasing is where the music breathes, and an octave is the same note just a higher or lower pitched version. Also, please note that the problem of bass notes and kick drums being played together is only a problem in some EDM subgenres. This is due to their massive synthesized bass and kick sounds, which need their own individual space in the mix. Most other genres, especially the ones that use live instruments, approach bass and drums in an opposite way. The bassist and drummer are referred to as the rhythm section, and the ultimate rhythm section plays so tightly together that they become one, with many bass notes landing on kicks.
The godfather of groove, James Brown, knew the importance of “the one”, i.e. the first beat of a bar. He demanded that every bar has a bass note and kick played together on the one. The rhythm section could do whatever they wanted for the rest of each bar, but on the one, they had to lock in. This balance between locking in on the one and then using syncopation for the rest of the bar, is what gives funk its groove. So, if James Brown was an EDM producer, he would definitely play the kick and bass together on the one. And, as it’s impossible to argue with James Brown’s superior ability to make people dance, we should probably borrow his technique for Electronic Dance Music, too. This means you’ll need to use LFOtool on the one, so you can play both the bass and the kick together, but then you can put your LFOtool away for the rest of the bar.
For our MIDI example, we’ve just used the most common drum pattern, the four on the floor. However, the following bass hacks will work for any drum pattern you have. Also, we wrote the funky bass line of this example in the F♯ Blues scale, so the notes of our scale are: F♯, A, B, C, C♯, E. And the scale spelling is: 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7. To learn our hacks for writing bass lines in the Blues scale, please download our Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF. Here’s our starting bass line:
[image error]Figure 1: Our original EDM bass line (in F♯ Blues scale), which is currently interfering with the kick drum
Now let’s get started. Copy and paste your kick pattern into your bass track, then mute those kick notes. This will show you what beats you need to avoid in your bass line. There are three bass hacks you can use to avoid kicks, and they often work best when used together, so don’t be shy.
[image error]Figure 2: Kick drum pattern copied into bass track and muted (dark notes on C3 in above MIDI)
Hack 1: Syncopation
Move the beginnings of all your bass notes that are currently landing on kicks. You can start these notes earlier or later, whichever sounds best for each bass note. If you start a note earlier, though, you’ll obviously need to shorten the note before it. This creates a syncopated rhythm, which adds unpredictable excitement to your groove. Here’s what we did:
[image error]Figure 3: Notes that have been shortened and lengthened to avoid kicks (highlighted in above MIDI)
Hack 2: Phrasing
For all your bass notes that start before a kick drum but then continue sounding over it, you can shorten them to stop on the kick instead. You can also do this anywhere else you feel a musical breath would enliven your bass line. This hack creates phrases, which inject life into your bass line, as the melody is now breathing.
[image error]Figure 4: Notes that have been shortened to create phrasing (highlighted in above MIDI)
Hack 3: Octaves
Lastly, there will almost certainly be some notes that you don’t want to shorten in order to avoid kicks. For these notes, move them an octave or two higher, so they’re out of the frequency range of the kick. Feel free to move any other notes an octave higher too, to even out the amount of low and high notes, resulting in a more balanced bass line. Also, if any of these high notes are long, you can split them and move the extra one an octave down. This last hack creates a huge range to your bass line, which thrills your listeners with its wildness. And with that, we’re done. James Brown is happy, and we’ve got a kick-ass EDM bass line that does not interfere with the kick!
[image error]Figure 5: Notes that have been moved an octave higher* to avoid kick frequency (highlighted in above MIDI)
*The highlighted C♯ and C that are an octave lower, were cut and moved back down from the high C♯ and C
So that’s our answer! Thanks for watching, and if you’d like more EDM music theory hacks like this, please download our Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF. Do you feel a little bit smarter now than you did a few minutes ago? Then “like” and subscribe so we can do it all again next week! And if you have a question you’d like us to answer here on Hack Music Theory Q&A, then please join our community at Patreon.com/RevolutionHarmony
Kate Harmony
Music Teacher
Victoria BC, Canada
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
April 20, 2017
How to Program Realistic MIDI Chord Progressions
Today on 3-Minute Theory: How to make your programmed MIDI chord progressions sound like a real live human played them on a real live instrument.
The first thing we need to do is understand what makes something sound programmed, and what makes something sound realistic and live. The main difference is fluidity. Computers and robots do things mechanically; humans do things fluidly. We have a much more fluid result from an instrument when there’s a human playing it. So, I’m going to show you how to hack fluidity, and make your programmed MIDI chord progressions sound like a human played them.
Here’s our chord progression that we previously wrote using the white-note hack in D Dorian: Dm → Am → Em → Gmaj. By the way, if you didn’t watch the videos before this one in the series, please check ‘em out so you can learn the hacks we used to make this chord progression look and sound like this:
[image error]Figure 1: A well-composed chord progression in every way, but it could certainly sound more realistic than it does
When producers program MIDI chords they often draw them in with their mouse straight into their DAW’s piano roll, resulting in block chords, where all the notes of the chord are played together at the same time. This is exactly what makes their chord progressions sound programmed and robotic. We’re going to inject some fluidity now, with this arpeggio hack. Arpeggios are broken chords, so instead of playing all the notes of the chord at the same time, you play them one at a time. For example, you can hit the chord’s bottom note first, then the middle note, and then finish the arpeggio with the top note. You still get the same chord, just one note at a time, so it sounds melodic.
Arpeggios give us a melodic approach to harmony, which is awesome, but the one downside is that when you play a chord one note at a time, you lose the impact of a block chord where all the notes hit together. So what you want to do, is find a balance between block chords and arpeggios.
For this chord progression, I’m definitely hearing a strong start, so we’ll begin with a block chord but then we can break it up into an arpeggio afterwards. I’m going to split the Dm, so the first part of the chord can be the block, and the second part can be the arpeggio. For the arpeggio, we can start on the low note, then move to the middle note, and finish on the high note. As you’ll notice, that’s already given us a little motif: a block chord followed by an arpeggio, is something we can do again on the other chords.
[image error]Figure 2: Dm block chord followed by Dm arpeggio, creating a motif that we can reuse over the other chords
So, we can go ahead and split each chord up, as we know that they’ll all be starting with a block chord followed by an arpeggio.
[image error]Figure 3: Highlighted chords will remain as block chords, the notes afterwards will become arpeggios
Let’s get stuck into the Am chord now. After the block chord, we’ll start the arpeggio on the low note again, but this time we’re going straight up to the high note, because I want to start lifting the ear up towards that peak, the high C. To help the ear up there, I’m going to add a passing note, B (not in the chord), between the A and the C. To emphasize this movement, I’m going to pull back the chord under the passing note to create space for it. Then lastly, I’m going to glue the two E notes back together, to smooth the change from the block chord to the arpeggio.
[image error]Figure 4: Am block chord followed by Am arpeggio, with a passing note (i.e. B) leading up to the high C
Moving onto the Em now. This time we’ll start the arpeggio on the middle note, then we’ll go to the high note, then finish the arpeggio down on the low note.
[image error]Figure 5: Em block chord followed by Em arpeggio
Then for the Gmaj arpeggio, we’re going to use the same pattern and passing-note motif that we used for Am. So, we’re going to play the low note first, then we’re going straight up to the high note. Then, we can glue the next part together as the notes are all the same, which will smooth it out. Next, we pull the chord back again and add an exposed passing note, A (not in the chord), in that space, which leads up to the high B. Finally, we glue the two D notes together for extra flow, and we’re done! Have a listen at 3:42 in the video/podcast.
[image error]Figure 6: Gmaj block chord followed by Gmaj arpeggio, with a passing note (i.e. A) leading up to the high B
If you want to go deeper into writing more advanced chord progressions using the modes, please check out my Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF. Until next time, happy songwriting!
Ray :)
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
April 18, 2017
4 Hacks for Better Chord Progressions
Today on 3-Minute Theory: How to bring your chord progressions to life!
We’re still in D Dorian, and using the white-note hack, we previously wrote this chord progression: Dm → Am → Em → Gmaj. As you can see, we’ve also previously re-arranged some notes to make the chord changes nice and smooth (for more on these hacks, please watch/read How to Make a Chord Progression Flow Like a Pro). So, we’ve got our common notes in the same place within the chords as they change; everything is looking and sounding good. But, why does this chord progression still feel a bit lifeless? No problem, I’ve got four amazing hacks for you, which are going to bring all your chord progressions to life!
[image error]Figure 1: Well-written progression with rearranged notes to make chords flow, but still feels a bit lifeless
Hack 1: Change where the chords change
The first thing I want you to do, is put your MIDI grid into eighth notes (1/8). Now, play around with where the chords come in, because when chords change right on the beat exactly where you expect, it’s dull and boring. So, we’re going to move the Am to make it start earlier, and we’re going to do the same again in the second bar with the Gmaj. This results in the Dm being a bit shorter, the Am a bit longer, the Em a bit shorter, and the Gmaj a bit longer. Listen to how cool this already sounds, at 1:26 in the video/podcast.
[image error]Figure 2: The Am and Gmaj chords start earlier
Hack 2: Split some chords
Wherever you have a longer chord, like we do with Am, split it up, just chop that MIDI! This is the virtual equivalent of playing a real piano and hitting the same chord again. In this example, we’re gonna hit that Am three times: one long then two short. This gives us a rhythmic propulsion through those longer chords, which could otherwise be boring. We’ve got another long chord at the end, the Gmaj, so we’re gonna slice that one up too, giving us an extra hit on it. Listen to the huge difference this makes, at 2:07 in the video/podcast.
[image error]Figure 3: Longer chords (i.e. Am and Gmaj) split up to give rhythmic propulsion
Hack 3: Create movement where there is none
Now, wherever you have three or more hits on the same chord, rearrange the notes in the middle hit/hits. You can see our Am has three hits, so we can rearrange the notes of that middle hit. Let’s throw the bottom C up an octave. This hack will never affect the change into the chord, or the change out of the chord. All the common notes are still in the same place when the chords change, we’re just having a bit of fun within the longer chord itself. This creates movement where there is no movement, and that’s a really cool hack for injecting life into a longer chord. Listen to how that potentially boring longer chord (i.e. Am) has now been transformed into an awesome feature, at 3:02 in the video/podcast.
[image error]Figure 4: Rearranged notes of middle hit in longer chord (i.e. Am)
Hack 4: Add phrasing
The last hack is super quick and easy, we’re just going to add some phrasing. Phrasing is where the music breathes. The obvious place to add a phrase in this example is at the end, so I’m just going to pull in that Gmaj to leave a little space before we loop around to the beginning. The other great trick with phrasing is to put your MIDI grid into sixteenth notes (1/16), which gives you even more interesting options. I’m hearing those two short Am hits being even shorter and super punchy, so I’m going to shorten them both to sixteenth notes. This leaves a couple of rests (AKA musical breaths) in between them, and totally brings that little bit to life. And with that, we’re done, check out the final version at 3:37 in the video/podcast. It’s alive!
[image error]Figure 5: Short hits on Am are further shortened, and Gmaj is also shortened to create a rest before looping
If you want to go deeper into writing more advanced chord progressions using the modes, please check out my Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF. Until next time, happy songwriting!
Ray :)
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
April 13, 2017
How to Make a Chord Change Flow When There Is No Common Note
Today on 3-Minute Theory: How to make a chord change flow smoothly when you don’t have a common note.
We’re in D Dorian, and using the white-note hack we previously wrote this chord progression: Dm → Am → Em → Gmaj. Last time we learnt that a common note (i.e. the same note in two different chords) is what gives you a strong and flowing chord change. But, the common note needs to be in the same place within both those chords. So for example, from Dm to Am, we can see that the common note is A, now we just need it in the same place, so we grab the two notes above A in Am (i.e. C and E) and move them down an octave. Now we’ve got the common note, A, at the top of both of these chords, and this chord change will now sound nice and smooth!
However, if we go back in time to when we were writing this chord progression, and say we didn’t like the Em chord (our third chord in this progression), and we wanted to go directly to the last chord, Gmaj. This gives us an Am to Gmaj chord change, and as you can see, these chords do not share a common note. This issue happens all the time, and it occurs for a couple of reasons. First, we’re using triads, which are three-note chords (the most basic type of chord, and therefore the most popular chord in popular music due to its simplicity), and whenever you’re using triads and you move to the next triad up or down, you won’t have a common note. All the notes of the triad you’re on will go into the gaps in between the notes of the adjacent triad. So while adjacent triads will never give you a common note, there’s a really cool hack to not only solve this issue, but to turn it into an interesting feature and often a motif too, which you can then use elsewhere. Here’s the hack:
We need to literally hack up the middle note of either of these chords, in order to connect them. The first option is to hack up the chord we’re coming from, by shortening the end of its middle note, and then going to the middle note of the next chord early, before the chord change (e.g. in Am, we shorten C and go down to B early). Not only does this give you a common note, but it actually makes something awesome out of that otherwise abrupt chord change.
[image error]Figure 1: The middle note of Am (i.e. C) moves down to the middle note of Gmaj (i.e. B) before the chord change, creating a common note
The second option is to hack up the chord we’re going to, by starting its middle note later, and extending the middle note of the chord we’re coming from into the new chord, before resolving it to the usual middle note (e.g. in Gmaj, we shorten B and start on C instead, before resolving to B). And once again, we not only get a common note and a strong chord change, but a nice motif too.
[image error]Figure 2: The middle note of Am (i.e. C) extends into Gmaj, creating a common note, and then resolves to the usual middle note (i.e. B)
One caveat for this hack, though. Always tweak the adjacent triads in your chord progressions first, before you start moving around the notes of the other chords. This is because you want to tweak the middle notes of your adjacent triads, but it’s difficult to know what the middle notes are, after you’ve started moving all the notes around.
If you want to go deeper into writing chord progressions using the modes, please check out my Hack Music Theory for Songwriting & Producing PDF. Until next time, happy songwriting!
Ray :)
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
April 11, 2017
Become an Official Revolutionary Producer or Songwriter
Music education should be a human right. Anyone who wants to learn how music works, should have free access to education. That’s why we’re working around the clock to create the Hack Music Theory project, which consists of books, PDFs, two weekly YouTube lessons, blog posts and podcasts. We’re growing this into a full online college course!
But, to give you all this free teaching, we’re working over 120 hours a week between the two of us, as it takes way longer to create everything than we originally scheduled for. Planning, writing, filming, editing and proofing all this content is a full-time job for both of us, and then on top of that, we’re teaching one-to-one lessons after hours in order to pay the rent and eat. This is burning us out, and has landed us in an ethical dilemma, because apparently working for free isn’t a very sustainable business model, haha! Hey come on, do I look like a businessman?!
So, here’s our plan. There are two sides to music theory, the timeless and the trendy. The timeless is how the 12 notes of music work together, and learning this will empower you to make great songs. The trendy is all about what songwriting techniques are trending now, in the new releases from the top songwriters and producers. All our timeless theory hacks will always be free, that’s why we do this, but we’re now offering a rare opportunity to those of you who can afford a few bucks a month.
By becoming an official Revolutionary Producer or Songwriter, you gain exclusive access to our upcoming monthly Hack-A-Hit videos (not on YouTube) that reveal the hottest music theory trends, as well as our weekly videos (also not on YouTube) where we teach you the more advanced hacks we’re using in our own songs. All this could be yours if you call now. No wait, click now: Patreon.com/RevolutionHarmony
[image error]
Thank you sincerely for your time and support, we are beyond grateful to you!
Kate & Ray Harmony :)
Wooohooo!!! You're a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head over to your inbox now for your free download.
There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
“most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen” –DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder
We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.
DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK
/* Layout */
.ck_form {
/* divider image */
background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;
font-family: 'Assistant', light;
line-height: 1.5em;
overflow: hidden;
color: #000000;
font-size: 16px;
border-top: none;
border-top-color: #666666;
border-bottom: none;
border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
-moz-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
clear: both;
margin: 0px 0px;
}
.ck_form, .ck_form * {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#ck_subscribe_form {
clear: both;
}
/* Element Queries — uses JS */
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
width: 50%;
float: left;
padding: 5%;
}
.ck_form.ck_horizontal {
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: none;
}
.ck_form.ck_vertical {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
overflow: hidden;
}
/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */
@media all and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form {
background: #fff;
}
.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {
padding: 10%;
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.ck_form_content {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
}
}
/* Content */
.ck_form_content h3 {
margin: 0px 0px 0px;
font-size: 0px;
padding: 0px;
}
.ck_form_content p {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ck_image {
float: left;
margin-right: 5px;
}
/* Form fields */
.ck_errorArea {
display: none;
}
#ck_success_msg {
padding: 10px 10px 0px;
border: solid 1px #ddd;
background: #eee;
}
.ck_label {
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 40px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="email"] {
font-size: 16px;
padding: 14px 8px;
width: 100%;
border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */
margin-bottom: 5px;
height: auto;
}
.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #aaa;
}
.ck_checkbox {
padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.ck_checkbox input.optIn {
margin-left: -20px;
margin-top: 0;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {
margin-left: 4px;
}
.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {
display: inline;
}
.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {
width: 100%;
color: #fff;
margin: 10px 0px 0px;
padding: 14px 8px;
font-size: 18px;
background: #d74128;
-moz-border-radius: 4px;
-webkit-border-radius: 4px;
border-radius: 4px; /* border radius */
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
text-shadow: none;
}
.ck_form .ck_guarantee {
color: #626262;
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
padding: 5px 0px;
display: block;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by {
display: block;
color: #aaa;
}
.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {
display: block;
color: #444;
}
.ck_converted_content {
display: none;
padding: 5%;
background: #fff;
}
/* v6 */
.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {
padding: 0px 10px;
}
@media all and (max-width: 403px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 30px;
}
}
@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {
.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {
top: 57px;
}
}
