I use Cubase for just about everything.
Here is an example of what I am talking about:
https://soundcloud.com/michael-render/arpeggio-sample
This is the same 4-chord arepeggio played in 4 different ways. The first
8 bars is just at a fixed volume. For the other 3 phrases I just altered
the dynamics.
>Should I create a melody before I make the chord progression?
Purely a personal choice. People work equally well doing melody first or
chords first.
Michael Render
On 11/10/2013 12:55 PM, Ben Lippincott wrote:
I was in a music theory class, so I know a few things. (I'm also a
percussionist/drummer) Are you saying I should vary dynamics more? I'm
not really sure how I can do that without wrecking my mixes. I just
need experience. Should I create a melody before I make the chord
progression?
On Sunday, November 10, 2013, Michael Render wrote:
Listen at about 35 secs in on Happy WubDub. The lower harmony and
the arpeggios are pulsing on 16th notes, making them very hard to
differentiate. And it makes a solid wall that competes with the
melody for your attention. You could change things so that not
every part is going full bore all the time. Thin out some rhythms
and use dynamics to emphasize parts in others. I am guessing that
if we looked at the source of those arpeggios, they are all the
same volume. Just by varying that, you could create far more
interesting runs.
Michael Render
On 11/10/2013 10:40 AM, Ben Lippincott wrote:
What do you mean by competing rhythms?
On Sun, Nov 10, 2013 at 9:18 AM, Michael Render
<[email protected]> wrote:
I don't think your melodies suck. I think you just
straightjacket yourself with your chord structures.
Take for example Mole Day 2 and Quirkiness. They both use a
simple C minor pattern of root, minor third and fourth.
Almost an arpeggio instead of chords. That leaves you almost
no wiggle room to move about. You are stuck in a very
claustrophobic box. Everything has to fit within a C minor
chord with a D major passing, resolving back to C minor.
In Happy WubDub you do use a more complex chord scheme. But
you arpeggiate the chords very tightly. No inversions. This
competes with any melodic phrase and again straightjackets
where you can go with the melody. Your rhythms also compete.
We also need surprise and tension/release. Even the most
repetitive techno/dubstep stuff adds change, whether just
bringing tracks in and out, dramatic filter sweeps or
stopping to drone on a beat or phrase.
My challenge to you would be:
Build richer chord structures with thought to tension/release
and use inversions to give yourself breathing room.
Let parts of you melody/harmony/chords have dramatically
different rhythms.
Don't constantly repeat small patterns. Mix it up and
surprise us.
I think you will find that if you give yourself enough room,
better melodies will flow.
Oh, and don't stop. Experience is the absolute best teacher.
Michael Render
Michael Render On 11/9/2013 10:48 PM, Ben Lippincott wrote:
Well, first off, I would like some tips. Here's my
soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/ben-lippincott/
I use FL Studio and Logic Pro X.
I really suck at writing melodies. :P
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Thanks!
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