10 Ways To Add ENERGY To BORING Chords

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MY GEAR:
DAW (Music making software): Logic Pro and Ableton Live
Studio monitors (speakers): Yamaha HS8's
Headphones: Audeze LCD X (open back)
Camera: Canon 80d
Computer: Mac Studio with M2 Ultra chip and 2 TB hardrive
Midi controller (keyboard): Komplete Kontrol 61
Interface: Scarlett Clarett 2 pre
Desk: a cheap one from ikea
Chair: also a cheap one from ikea
My favorite plugins that I use the most:
XFER Serum
Sylenth 1
Nexus 3
Kontakt
RC 20
Valhalla Shimmer
Valhalla Vintage Verb
Shaperbox 3
XFER OTT
Fab Filter Saturn 2
Fab Filter Pro C 2
Arturia Pigments
Baby Audio Comeback Kid
Output Thermal and Portal
LABS Soft Piano
Hardware that I use behind the scenes but not in videos:
Elektron Octatrack (my fav)
Elektron Digitakt
Korg Minilogue XD

[@atefxf]

I reeeally appreciate that you use multiple DAW's so all of us have a part in the video that we understand well! :D _Thanks!

[@chryzproduction9627]

Yeah I agree

[@atefxf]

@@chryzproduction9627 yeah right

[@pstudioDOTtk]

Funny, I find it distracting. I don't care which DAW he is using, but having to readjust to a new layout each time he switches software distracts me from what is important. Understanding the concept he is trying to explain.

[@hanes5689]

pls tell me what vst/plugin hes using for the chords and basses

[@datutturugang666]

logic gang!

[@santanu29]

FL Studio shortcuts Shift + Up/Down - Move selected note(s) by one semitone. Ctrl + Up/Down - Move selected note(s) by one octave.

[@adityakulkarni923]

Ctrl + Left Click drag : select the notes u want to Ctrl + B : Paste in next bar

[@navcubed]

I actually didn't know the second one for the longest time, thank you

[@HumblePupp]

i can say as someone who has spend the last nearly 3 years using youtube to learn how to make music, this is probably the most useful video ive watched. ive realised people like intricate melodies but people (artists) LOVE simple chords. i struggle with making simple chords because i feel cheap, i feel like i havent done enough and this video is full of ways we can do more to our chords in the sense of creativity while leaving it simple and open enough for artists to find inspiration and not have to compete with the track to be heard. thank you alex.

[@TheSCPStudio]

As someone who also struggles with over complicating things for the sake of not feeling cheap, I gotta say the best work I’ve done comes from layering multiple simple parts. The chords can be simple, the melody can be simple, the bass can be simple… but if you add all of them together, that creates the complexity you desire. Remember, simple is key in music.

[@MrRyyi]

@@TheSCPStudio And that's a huge relief! Coming up with complex chord progressions to elicit specific emotions is way harder (at least to me) than using all the tools at our desposal.

[@W1ntumn]

i couldnt agree more

[@2ndRodeo_Keziah]

Same.😎👍

[@sambarvada]

What’s your artist name

[@darius7383]

Mans really doesn't like cheese

[@kieranstephenson3187]

These are really useful tips! I can already think of at least one or two I can use in my own chord progression I started working on a few days ago. Quick and easy to grasp, love it!

[@555atU]

I like videos like this. It's a nice demonstration of simple "ingredients" you can add to make a riff more interesting. Nice job!

[@hanes5689]

pls tell me what vst/plugin hes using for the chords and basses

[@chxbbofficial]

@@hanes5689 Mostly sylenth from what I could tell

[@pantsdraws]

Thank you so much for getting to the point! It's always great having people who just explain what they need to say rather than a bunch of exposition that no one cares about. Great video!

[@RobertGunni]

That last tip... Stellar! I feel like that one isn't addressed well enough in Music Production. I would definitely like to see more on the matching of synths and chord's inherent emotional qualities

[@Piterotul]

Nice tips, well complemented by the mastery of ur Daw’s control, so fast!. I use pro tools and I need to check my old notes to remember how to automatize the cut off like u 😄

[@devdelirium6359]

One extra tip: Add extra notes, dissonances etc to make them more full.

[@saricubra2867]

I always use chord extensions if possible, but for that, you need basic knowledge on chord scales.

[@Commander_Grub]

@@saricubra2867 Absolutely. But if you're into really dissonant stuff, playing in-between notes may be necessary.

[@adam872]

Yes, exactly

[@johnfollis2357]

May I also suggest peppering your chord progressions with Augmented and Diminished Chords? I honestly feel that EDM music does not get hardly any of those chords if at all. Perhaps in terms of diminished chords, There may be at least two or three at the most in techno EDM pieces that comes to mind. Two of them come from the Streets of Rage Soundtracks, but the most prominent techno piece that comes to mind is Anaconda by Wolfgang Gartner. And the chords in that song are F minor7, BFlat sus4sus2, BFlat major over C, DFlat major over EFlat, and E diminished7. And then back to F minor7. I love that chord progression so much because you go through the first three chords, but then it just sits on that DFlat major over EFlat for a couple more seconds, and that is what makes so powerful when that E diminished7 just hits you in the face and ears, quickly bringing you back to the F minor7 tonic chord. Here is a link to the song. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3aoh42cqNyBnbc Now as for techno pieces with augmented chords, there really isn't any in general. However, I did a cover from the Streets of Rage 5 Remake OST. And in particular, I covered the Mona Lisa track. But it is actually the Boss music in the game (at least one of them if I am correct.) Now that is one of the other techno pieces that come to mind that is diminished for sure. And they use the Diminished Scale of course. In my cover, I augmented the heck out of it instead. And I used nothing but the Whole Tone Scale. So check it out from the following link and enjoy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qojKiJWqfZajqqM&pp=ygUaYXVnbWVudGVkIGxpc2Egam9obiBmb2xsaXM%3D

[@joshh.5314]

This is one of the most helpful music tip videos I've watched in a long time. Thanks!

[@simpdown1404]

Can you do a video explaining how the different harmonic rhythms coincide with different chord progressions? Almost like pairing the best rhythms with the best progressions.

[@AlexRome]

interesting. Yea I can look into this.

[@simpdown1404]

@@AlexRome Awesome!!!

[@danielbenjaminmusic2920]

This is actually one of the things that define us as individuals: how long we are willing to hang on a tension chord before resolving it. Some artists can't handle tension for more than a few moments, and their progressions will pass through tension chords quickly. Other artists will hang on tension chords and pass through resolution chords quickly. I'm not sure it's clear how that's an answer to your question, except to say that most people prefer progressions where tension chords aren't played for very long, creating faster rhythmic movement.

[@simpdown1404]

@@danielbenjaminmusic2920 Thanks for your advice! I’m looking for a harmonic rhythm breakdown similar to the chord progression charts showing which emotion the chords communicate. Kinda trying to learn the rules (if any) before I break them for creativity sake. Any additional info would be appreciated tremendously.

[@danielbenjaminmusic2920]

@@simpdown1404 In that case you may be seeking a specific answer to a question that doesn't have a specific answer.

[@goonner80]

What a great gift from you! Thank you and merry xmas Alex.

[@jamukas1]

Really cool video thanks for sharing it. It's very enjoyable to watch to the point straight away well done! 😊

[@bzb333]

solid and quality video, superb explanations , clear cut and straight to the point. very much appreciated!

[@Akezevibez]

This was well put together.👏 Thank you 🥂

[@ryanmora3334]

Your videos are literally more helpful than anything I've found on the tube. I appreciate you so very much my brother man.

[@raccabeatz201]

Great advice! I'll sure take this knowledge with me into making my beats. 🎶💯🎶

[@l-cityrecordsaju7282]

thanks a lot bro this really spiced up my previous ideas and helps to create uniqueness wow love this tutorial 😁😁

[@andysandell4070]

I appreciate the advice keep it up. I'm trying to learn without paying for a whole masterclass course so this is wonderful!

[@L0ki1983]

cool video, found this things out by myself in FL4 plenty years ago, this study in this video took my around 5 years ^^ keep on going, cool stuff

[@ill0nelyguyli952]

Very good and helpful video!! Thank you for the advices!!

[@binniesandhu3983]

Hey Alex. I must be among the late ones to stumble upon your channel. Excellent straight to the point information and I can tell that your intentions are to really share all the little details you have picked up over the years

[@milqgames1992]

What a great lesson on how to get better at chords! Many thanks!

[@e-l-t2279]

Thank you for making this video! Some awesome tips I'm going to try out!

[@user-iw9ww7xo6v]

I am currently taking other courses such as music theory, etc… & your stuff is amazing man. Wow!! Love your approach & guidance.

[@klikitzsmith8416]

that was solid, thanks. Not just invert or make rhythms but much more deeper

[@Phuktup3]

Damn bro, I can just feel the passion you have for this stuff. I’m brand new to making music and very overwhelming but to see how excited you get and how knowledgeable you are - it makes very extremely easy to watch and learn. The songs are so good and effortless on your part. Thank you.

[@captchagod64]

absolutely packed with good information and presented clearly, thank you

[@maximizeyourbrain-power9451]

This is where i was struggling. Thank you Boss for explaining this in detail. Thank you again.

[@GSTBY]

Awesome video! This one is really helpful to me. I did the wrong thing and started avoiding chords because I couldn’t figure out why my chords sounded cheesy af. Thanks for making me more interested in exploring chords again!

[@RobertGunni]

Something else you can also do is use seventh chords which utilize 4 notes instead of 3. It adds more room for tweaking the overall chord, whether it is the 1st, 3rd, 5th, or 7th note being played (such as lengthening one and shortening the other or whatever you want to do tbh).

[@w.7258]

awesome stuff as always Alex, Merry Christmas to all the producer community!

[@Jarheadbeana]

Appreciate this video a lot, as a new producer with no musical background this opened my eyes as beginner thanks heaps got my sub

[@sebastiendupiche1086]

Thank you so so much, man!🙏🏾 Those tricks really help

[@OscarWildYT]

Awesome!! I’m wishing to start producing again and have more inspiration in my chord patterns!! You gained a sub :)

[@777MaxRz]

U deserve so much more praise man I’ve been looking for a vid like this for a while

[@yngbenzie7467]

I've been looking for a tutorial like this for a long time! Thank you very much!

[@davecreelman]

Neat and looks straightforward. Thanks.

[@geovannip.c.8377]

Best Chord Video I've Ever Seen 😮😎🥵 I have been watching many videos about music for years, but thanks to your channel in a few months I have learned much more 🙇🙏💯

[@prytzofficial]

Your videos really inspire me a lot sir...thank you so much

[@tomaszmazurek64]

Those are all really good options. Even if someone is already familiar with various chord tricks, it is a very cool thing to have a video with so many of them, so you can think "huh, I haven't used this one in a while, let's try it in the current song".

[@reaper060670]

Hey Alex man.. I've only begun my journey learning this stuff even though I love music all my life. I have recently got a Midi Lx25+ NEKTAR. It's the cheapest version but it'll be fine for me while I'm learning. I love ur videos man. U actually slow stuff down and explain it so noobs like me can understand it better bro. Very much appreciated. Respect and hello from 🇮🇪 IRELAND 🇮🇪

[@a.p.6124]

Amazing video man! Thank you so much!

[@EstrellasCompartidas]

This video is pure gold...Thank you man... I'm trying to make my own music to my videos, something simple and this kind of materials helps me a lot... Again, thank you...❤🥰

[@shooke1425]

Awesome vid, a gold mine of tips - just gotta remember to use em now...

[@manz_music]

Man you always have a way to make me more motivated to make more good music thank you

[@LaziestBassist]

Awesome and helpful video man! Thank you!

[@isailugo7783]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏 You are a wonderful teacher.

[@thereseclairecreates]

Thank you so much! This sparked ideas and helped a lot!

[@dulla8469]

i love it when i go to watch videos like these and then discover that i actually learned alot through the years that ive been doing some of these stuff and know what they're called

[@kotikimusic498]

Thanks man, some advices I found very useful!

[@jazznotes3802]

This is actually a really awesome video, thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@ronizedd8372]

Great video. I’m gonna implement these tricks. Pretty cool.

[@alexanderperisteris8163]

Love this! Thank you for sharing

[@Alex_PS]

At 5:25 is that a released song? That lyric, that voice, that beat is fantastic!

[@disajdowjoij2oi1jijioej12oiej]

thank you for switching between daws it makes it easier for me to understand when you do for some reason

[@Overxpossed]

Great tutorial mate; thank you very much!

[@winkerface2332]

He makes creating music look so easy and I love it

[@phoenixyt124]

Such a nice video. Really great and actually helpful.

[@feiton4653]

This is exactly what i needed bro thank you so much!!!

[@crazygooner3398]

Amazing tips! Loved it!

[@JeromeTrumanClubb]

Great job bro. Very helpful and a Great techer. Thanks

[@edmmaster5224]

I really loved the voice-changing stuff. It made my chords sound full.

[@icebox9203]

You make things look so easy. OMG. Too good

[@skypirate4806]

Great sounds, and love all your tips. Thank you. 👍👍👍

[@aardvark_04]

Thanks for this! I've been struggling with making my chords for a while.

[@prod.r4k45h1]

Simple and straight to the point. Very good.

[@mista8084]

6:28 I've been producing for nearly 20 years and I still don't take advantage of automation as much as I should! Out of all the tips you gave I personally found this one the most helpful! Of course I use SOME automation.. but mostly just for basic stuff like panning a lead back and forth, or automating the volume of an instrument or even something as simple as automating the mute on/off for a particular track etc. I just have never really taken a deep dive into the world of automation. Would love to see a video that just goes over all the awesome ways to use automation. Especially the more advanced ideas that you feel many of us have never though of or tried!

[@heavybism1]

Broooo that dnb tune!!!!! Love your work man.

[@Dekker_Music]

I love u man, u r the best, musician, producer, teacher. Simple person, sharing conocement, tips and tricks for expansive creativity. Love u from Colombia 🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴

[@paulotorres8733]

Awesome content, thanks a million!

[@GarrettAvery108]

Really nice value here. Excellent video.

[@JholemanFlores]

This is gold🔥🔥🔥 you just got yourself a new subscriber

[@NuwandaBoy]

Great vid about spicing up chOUrds. Lots of useful tips, appreciated.

[@DaveChimny]

Variation for Trick 4: I like to play the same chord "block" three times in a row to let the listener get into thinking, it's just some ordinary repetetive track ... and then the fourth block is completely different and nails it. Example: Am - C - G - F // Am - C - G - F // Am - C - G - F // Dm - F - C - G

[@WoockerSocket2]

Wow you must be a genius

[@MaNuLaToROfficial]

Nice great tip !!

[@DC-iy6hl]

@@WoockerSocket2 What is the point of this comment? Do you think you're a genius for trying to make someone else feel dumb? I mean... it's not even funny. If you're going to act rude, at least be funny!

[@rnbsteenstar]

Awesome tip!

[@aealtae9317]

thanks a lot man u really made a big difference in my production ☺️☺️

[@pranavkumar7621]

this helps a damn lot for beginner producers! Thanks for all these tips!

[@TheFaarf]

This was really helpful, thanks a lot!

[@Mlg2thomas]

So glad I came across this channel 🙏🏽

[@BizarreStorm]

I love how you switch between using FL and Logic. I use Logic and while a piano roll is always a piano roll, it feels good to see what you do in different DAW’s.

[@russangel]

Great presentation dude, I subscribed.

[@ninety3nav3]

Thanks Alex - great tips!

[@slomellos]

I have to say, you make the most helpful videos for the producers.

[@davidvartanan1170]

These ones are really helpful. Thak you!!!

[@Maladaptation_ThiesWrobel]

Wow👍🏻very very useful! Thanks a lot!

[@marcelospaiva]

amazing tips. very nice video and recommendations.

[@UncleCatfish]

this is my new fav channel ♥

[@MrDanielh3410]

Hey this was one of the most awesome vids Sir!! Noticed the F-min chord is used instead of the F## diminished chord - Chord of the key you are using. But I guess that's more advanced stuff about using chords outside a key - still sounds awesome tho

[@SimonMac]

This is fire 🔥! Thank you for this!

[@aleksfomenko5903]

Alex you are good guy.Mary Christmas to you!!!

[@envik5474]

Nice tips thank you a lot i will really User some of these ideas

[@palacio8288]

Thanks Alex, the truth is I don't know if this passion and this desire to create music would exist if I hadn't found you on my path. really thanks!

[@tylerbarr7205]

Less than 10 seconds and my new fucking GUY here. Straight nose dives into pure wisdom of epic proportions. I am truly blessed to have come across you. You are truly the least cheesy youtuber out there!!! Never even begged for a fucking like/follow. Which is exactly why you have mine. My guy, I fuckin love you, your soul & the willingness of your ability to share!!

[@tellnicklegit]

This was a great video!!! I made sure to hit that like button

[@hmoffu4223]

Thank you for the technical lesson man! New sub here!

[@banhunlanglyngdohnongbri2770]

I love this...Looking for more.

[@cristianstefanom.s.4660]

AMAZING CONTENT! SHARING IS CARING

[@juniorkaybee5453]

Thanks for this beautiful content, you are so amazing and there's a lot of improve on my music projects since I subscribed to ur channel...🔥🙌🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@Mr.Engine993]

On the last one, you can add emotion by playing it with real instruments. I know how to make things sound sadder or happier when playing on a real piano. I can't really explain how it's done, it's just experience. I think that would sound a bit more natural but your tip works for everyone not only instrument players so it's better in that sense.

[@Dea_Decay]

Love this! incredibly useful