THE MOD METHOD with VESPERS SONG STRUCTURE In this Module Reverse - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE MOD METHOD with VESPERS

SONG STRUCTURE

In this Module • Reverse engineering hit songs • Discovering your winning formula • Using an energy heat map

Song Structure Terminology • Song terminology: • Verse, chorus, pre, bridge • Electronic terminology: • Intro, breakdown, build, drop, A-section, B-section, outro

Reverse Engineering Hit Songs • How do we do this? Examples: • Flume - Holdin’ On • Pre, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, chorus, outro • Chainsmokers - Rozes • Intro, verse, verse, verse, pre, chorus, alt chorus, chorus, verse, pre, chorus, chorus

Example • Shay Esposito - How Does it Feel (Vespers remix) • Intro, verse 1, verse 2, pre, chorus 1, alt-chorus, verse 3, pre, chorus 2, alt-chorus, outro

Discover Your Winning Formula • Example: Jazz musicians - transcribing solos • Make a catalog of song structures • Use markers in your project

The Energy Heat Map • An issue with a lot of amateur songs is their energy level doesn’t have any dynamic range / pulse / eb and fl ow to it • Too much of a good thing • Map not only structure, but energy

Review • Song structure terminology: Songs, electronic tracks • Reverse engineering hit songs • Practical example of how to learn song structure • Discovering your winning formula • The energy heat map

COMPOSITION

In This Module • Caveat: The context is electronic & electronic-oriented pop music • Where to start • How to write chord progressions • How to write melodies • When and how to write drums

Taking Your Song Concept & Telling a Story • Choose your keys / modes / feelings

What Comes First? • Harmony, melody or drums fi rst? • Approach 1: Harmony, then melody. • Approach 2: Melody, then harmony. • Then drums.

Chord Progressions: Where to Start • Compose using a piano or piano instrument • If harmonizing a melody, paste in and mute the MIDI • Start on the tonic (otherwise, you’re just in a mode of something else)

Chord Progression Checklist • If you’re not modulating keys between sections, the use a thinner chord progression alternating with a thicker chord progression • Use inversions, voice leading, & make sure common note is in same place in the chord • Search for chords with common notes by going up thirds and fourths • Use passing chords / sus chords • Keep the number of voices consistent • Check when looped

How to Write Better Chord Progressions • Harmonic rhythm • Major and minor chords in major and minor scales • Greater harmonic depth • Add 9 chords, add 11 chords, 7th chords, 9th chords

Open Chords • Drop the chord root down into the left hand • Gives you more fl exibility in the right hand

The White Note Hack • Compose in whatever mode has all the white notes • Then transpose after

A Couple of Examples of Common Progressions • I, V, vi, IV (CM, GM, Am, FM) - plagal cadence. 35% of pop music. • I, vi, IV, V (CM, Am, FM, GM) - Justin Bieber Baby

Remixing a Chord Progression • Shay Esposito - How Does it Feel • Key: Dm • Original chords: Dm (i), BbM (VI), FM (III) • Inverted: Dm, BbM/D, FM/C

Remixing a Chord Progression • Open the chords: • Split out roots into the left hand. • Keep a playable, fl uid right hand. • New chords: Dm9, BbM9, FM9, G7sus4

Writing Melodies: Where to Start • Copy in & mute MIDI from the chord progression • Pentatonic scale (1, 3, 4, 5, 7) • Blues scale (1, 3, 4, b5, 5, 7)

How to Write Melodies • Bass as a melody: LJ Beat • Checklist: • Avoid or break up 4ths and 5ths • Change your input to change your output • Extract Melody to MIDI and analyze • Avoid notes (as passing, not sustained) • Decorations: Grace notes, trills, pitch bends

Writing Better Melodies • Harmonic & non-harmonic notes • Motif hunting • What is a motif? • Semi-tone movements are rare, use them!

Synths to Respond Better to MIDI • It starts with patch design • Vibrato • FM or aftertouch modulation • Pitch bends

How and When to Write Drums • Drums fi rst or drums after? • Example: Shay Esposito - How Does it Feel (Vespers remix) • Half time feel at the chorus • Treat drums & bass as the same section • Sync up drums with your harmonic rhythm

Breaking the Rules • You Must First Learn the Rules Before You Break Them • Harmonic minor

Review • Telling your musical story • What comes fi rst, melody, harmony, drums? • Where to start & how to write better chord progressions • Open chords, the white note hack • A few common chord progressions • Remixing a chord progression • Where to start & how to write better melodies • Breaking up 4ths and 5th, avoid notes, motif hunting, decorations • Harmonic & non-harmonic notes, semi-tone movements • Pentatonic & blues scales • Getting synths to respond more realistically to MIDI • How and when to write drums • Breaking the rules