Show Posts
1
Composition/Arrangement/Theory / Some tips on writing chord melodies
« on: January 06, 2016, 05:37:35 am »
I'd like to share a few tips on writing chord melodies that some of you may find useful:
- Analyze successful tracks and save chords that you think sound good. Map these chords to individual keys in a tool such as Logic's chord memorizer or Xfer Cthulhu plugin. Play something on the keyboard until you come up with a catchy transition or progression.
- Try reversing successful chord progressions from other tracks. This might give you lots of creative ideas.
- When building layered stacks, use different instruments to play upper and lower harmonies. Using the same MIDI chords for all layers can muddy up the sound.
- While it's common to use the lower chord notes to play the bass, try changing up the bass notes - you will be surprised what this can do to the chords!
- The rhythmic structure of a chord melody is very important - make sure to play around until you find an interesting pattern.
- Play around with the bass melody (add extra note transitions, make some notes longer than the chords, play bass notes where the chords are not playing, etc). This will make it more interesting.
- When building layered supersaw stacks, getting the top end right is probably the hardest part (for me at least). Supersaws tend to be harsh in the high frequency domain, so cutting them off and adding white noise may help. Also, try adding a square layer - they tend to have a pleasant glow.
- Ambience is very important. Adding reverb and vocal fills in the background can make a huge difference. When using a background reverb, don't forget to process it (saturation and EQ helps it stand out and sit better in the mix). While the usual jumping reverb trick works very well, sometimes it's better to add a wide supersaw layer in the background with a long release. Reverbs tend to sound muddy.
- Increasing the velocity of the top notes may emphasize the lead melody. Alternatively, add a layer that only plays the topline melody. Try changing up the notes of the topline melody to make it sound more interesting.
- When building layered stacks, don't overdo it. Check every layer to make sure it improves the overall sound.
- Make sure to adjust the levels of individual layers. Sometimes a layer playing at a low volume can add texture and thickness, but can really mess up the mix if it's too loud.
