9 CINEMATIC Chord Patterns You Should 100% STEAL.

[@d_lydian]

Thanks ❤️ 1:47 There is a mistake, F should be IV

[@KevinKuschel]

Sorry, yes!

[@arpeggioblues5924]

Correct... however the progression ( Am | Em | G | F ) is incorrect as described, defining it as ( i v VII IV) when the correct way, it must be : ( i -- v -- bVII -- bVI) you always build your modes and chords when they are outside of the key/mode you're in by comparing them against the Tonic is from the Major key.... if you are in Am, the G is not VII , it is bVII because VII is G# relative to Am .. G is the bVII because the interval from A to G is a minor 7th, bVII, and VII is a major 7th G#)..

[@zachhoy]

@@arpeggioblues5924 this is why music theory kinda sucks lol

[@ВсадникАпокалипсиса-я9е]

@@KevinKuschel 7:52 This is what you asked for, heavy is the croooooooown!!! :)

[@aholder4471]

​@@arpeggioblues5924I disagree. The lower case i is what denotes that we are referencing a minor scale and therefore also the tonic would be the first note of the minor scale and all the chords would be built from that note. A minor is the relative minor of C major and if I see i and we are playing in A minor then i-III-VII-iv would be Am-C-G-Dm. Why would we want to make it more complicated by requiring it to be referenced to the Major scale when it's not a major scale progression? I don't see the usefulness in doing this. If I'm wrong then I am going to rewrite music theory so that it makes more sense and doesn't do things for no reason. I mean I can see a reason for a double flat or for a natural note or even for a c flat instead of just a natural b but I can't see forcing us to reference the major scale tonic for every progression. I mean there are what, 7 modes to choose from? And only one of those are the Major mode.

[@leylaford1787]

I love how you break down the impact these chord progressions make on the emotional level. Music makes us feel a certain way, but we can't always tell why. This is very helpful.

[@AaronM-m4x]

Incredible. I’ve never wanted to take notes watching other videos but this one made me dust off my notebook

[@Trentstone121]

Just copy paste. No need for a notebook. Look at the great songs you can "write" by just writing the same thing someone else already wrote! "But there's only twelve notes!" Ah. The mating call of the uncreative.

[@TayWoode]

Haha same! I love having a note book to jot stuff down, so much better

[@Dragon_YTube]

THOSE EXAMPLES YOU MADE FOR THE PROGRESSIONS ARE SO GOOD

[@jimrogers7425]

Great video! I always love videos about the ways to convey emotions via particular chord progressions. You did very well. Cheers!

[@CavyWheek]

I love this video Kevin! We can learn a lot from soundtracks about creating emotions in music. And your "quick mockups," as you call them, sound damned epic. I love this stuff!

[@NothingToSeeHereNope]

Thank you for this! I’ve always had a strength in working with chords, guide tone lines, and melodies to convey emotion. Over the years, I’ve written thousands of different arrangements. While I could intuitively create these by feeling them out, hearing your interpretation amplified my understanding and broadened my perspective. I was aware of the method and understood its importance, but your ability to formulate and explain it so gracefully, instantly enhanced the organization of my thoughts and ideas. This will allow me to approach my work with greater intention and clarity. Once again, thank you for the video. Your words have helped me move from what I saw in myself as an unorganized, free-flowing approach to one that feels more deliberate and structured. I now understand these concepts with more certainty, which I see as being an incredibly valuable tool to what I am trying to accomplish. Once again thank you 🙏

[@jeremiahalexander5513]

I love cinematic and musical scores. I like to write rock and metal and often use cinematic techniques in order to flesh out the story and create immersion. These techniques are going to be awesome in my stuff. Great video!

[@devansh2447]

First, just wanted to say that I am a new viewer and am absolutely loving what I'm seeing A request- could you cover techniques for scoring horror and for creating sounds for fear? Would be fasxinating if you could.

[@johnbarros1]

Thank you for the lesson bro! Can’t wait for the next one!!!

[@oliverjames5601]

Well done here! simple and elegant composure. Great video style.

[@micwarren21]

I appreciate the time the work you put it into this demo

[@UXMetalVTuber]

This is so useful! Taking notes ✍🏼

[@The_artist_called_The_Engineer]

Brilliant video you have probably given be the basis for my next twenty tracks 😀👍

[@PaulO-xo2sw]

This guy is cool. Extremely competent and able to explain and demonstrate at a basic level. Outstanding work. HIGHLY recommended.

[@faru-music]

Great video. Imho your best so far 💪

[@igorzonta]

wow!! thanks for this man

[@PaPawGOT]

I think I am going to start saving up for the course. It seems the closest thing for what I want to make and I like your enthusiasm. I like/love fantasy and adventure soundtracks but not totally epic per say. I want the movement of epic but the subtle sounds of the instruments as well. Such as walking into a mysterious forest glade with a little foreboding but changes to elation as you realize that it is magical with many mysterious things around you. Then you realize that you are in danger and need to move on. That would be the epic part I suppose. Hard to explain and one of the reasons I think your course may fit. I love to imagine a scene in my head and try to find the sounds that fit. Some times it is purely orchestral and sometimes hybrid. All that I have made is OK but amateurish at best. It has the foundations but my orchestration skills are severely lacking. I have the equipment and libraries but, I lack the skill sets and need to invest in myself more. Hundreds of hours pouring over videos and books have helped but lacks structure. I learned how to play the guitar and violin which lead me down this path when making backing tracks. You never know where life will take you sometimes.

[@fldrummerman]

What a great class in music theory.....brilliant. I'll have to watch 9 more times.

[@thur937]

Your videos are so so good. Your channel started giving me ideas of vsts and daws to use, but these last videos are really inspiring in an artistic way. Great work. ❤

[@KevinKuschel]

Thank you! Super great to hear that you appreciate this direction.

[@emwave100]

Could you make a video on song structure, maybe how to put together intro, choruses, verses, bridges, outros, etc. and how to transition between them. Thanks

[@billbusen]

You might want to do a video on voice leading, which was doing a lot of the heavy lifting on the emotions that were communicated. Sometimes, if I get the emotional tenor of the voice leading right, the harmony naturally follows.

[@N-JKoordt]

Good work - very interesting. 🙂

[@godlaydying]

17:31: You have Ab and Bb, in C Major, as VI and VII, but they should be bVI and bVII.

[@KevinKuschel]

Yes, absolutely! 🙏

[@peterheroux8239]

Thanks young man. I will no longer feel 'guilty' for taking chord progressions from anyone if they fit my song.

[@Trentstone121]

😂 why should you? If Hollywood has no problem stealing music and calling it original, why shouldn't you? Right? You could write the next smells like teen spirit if you just use the same chords!

[@kokobeatz7222]

There’s only 12 notes. You really only have so much you can do.

[@Blueskyuk]

Only just discovered your channel - your videos are so informative - thank you. Hope your move goes well.

[@jeffgarrison7056]

YES!!!!!!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS VIDEO!!!!!!!! The Emotional Response to invoked by the mounting perplexity of a myriad of uniquely crafted authentically for the characters that had built up throughout the film, to and through the pinnacle of a fever pitch of intensity, up to the point of a cacophony to an utterly chaotic crescendo climax of nearly gut-wrenchimg visceral dissonance dangling off of the edge of the abyss, suddenly all is lost in the unthinkable calamity and absolute insanity as the hero falls to certain unaliving, but at the last moment the absolutely absurd and utterly impossible series of events somehow shifts from never happening into a strike of dumb luck and undying determination when nearly all was lost, one by one each impossible feat somehow threads the needle from a million miles away with lightning speed, and the first, second, third, and so on at each and every turn falls right into place in a rapid fire succession to save the hero at the very last moment empowering the hero to destroy the ultimate evil villain in the most epic display of legendary poetic justice... the movie goers explode in cheers and joyful gllee in exclamation, stirred to the verge of tears of valiant elation... all of which is why I LOVE Cinematic Music and always with!!!!!!!! My Amazingly Brilliant Classical Guitarist Father and the great Soundtrack Composer of my youth, John Williams made this Rock/Pop/Classical Instrumental Guitarist and Rock/R&B/Pop Vocalist and Songwriter into a fan of phenomenally great music!!!!!!!!

[@david-6448]

Amazing video. Very inspiring. Do you think it's too late to get into composing at 23? Music production feels like this dream that I've only discovered later in life, previously struggling to find something that I would truly like. But there are all these people that started as kids and spend years and years learning, and it feels unachievable now. Also when you're an introverted person, and from what I understand one of the most important things is contacts and acquaintances - which is very challenging when you're introverted and anxious. Do you think that it's setting yourself an impossible task to accomplish?

[@KevinKuschel]

23 is not too late 🔥

[@garyargyle4523]

Can someone explain the reason to me why some musicians purposely refer to something like Am - G as i - VII when it's actually i - bVII? What could the possible advantage be of labeling it that way?

[@Chuang26]

Good question

[@michaelchildress7956]

This was a common question when i taught AP music theory. In a minor key, the 7th scale degree is lowered (or flat), and the chord on that scale degree is major. So when it is shown as VII, it is assumed to be a major chord on the lowered (or flat) 7th scale degree. If lowercase numerals are used (vii), it is assumed the 7th scale degree is not lowered, and the chord on that degree is diminished. If a minor is i, then G major would be VII because the key of a minor has a G natural instead of its G# in A major so the idea of flat 7, or G natural is already accounted for with VII. Hope that makes sense. Easier to show on a staff!

[@theoutsiderjess1869]

​@@michaelchildress7956 Thank you because I hate when people dont explain the labels and changes

[@michaelchildress7956]

@ you bet!

[@fktrcfylhvtjyjiby]

oh gosh. so much sophisticated. g is the seventh step in the a-minor tonality. it's "g". it's not "g sharp". isn't it enough? ​@@michaelchildress7956

[@paullewis1637]

Very illuminating, thank you.

[@Kudaquashe]

Well explained and nice compositions

[@jaredkoziol7991]

Great Video! Need more like this

[@JohnDoe-fz7hz]

Incredible! Thanks for that I learned a lot. Have you ever tried the Dorian '4 in any progression? It would be awesome to hear your thoughts on that. Best Regards

[@rinnarhea]

This maybe a silly question but I'm new to this stuff... lets say I wanted to take one of these chord progressions and make a song with it, how would I determine what scale its in so I can match the rest of my sounds to be in the correct key with the chords? Thank you!

[@4511702]

your story and progress is very impressive and inspiring. I remember you mentioned in one of your videos that you studied/worked medicine before switch to music production and compposing within a few years. I'm wondering did you have musical background or did you play piano or any instrument before you switch and when you switched did you learn an instrument or just learned enough to be able to produce?

[@KevinKuschel]

Thanks! I've been playing keyboard/piano since childhood.

[@theScienceLabLive]

5:39 A Forest

[@stuntdouble777]

This was great. ❤❤

[@kayamusic5696]

Okay first of all this is amazing! Second of all i need to know what that vocal bending sound is at 09:59 it sounds amazing!

[@KevinKuschel]

@@kayamusic5696 Just a vocal patch from Elements Kepler (plus Blackhole reverb maybe). The bend is simply pitch bend wheel :)

[@kayamusic5696]

​@@KevinKuschel Amazing creativity with that pitch bend, fits perfectly.

[@CptBuckaroo]

You can hear that love progression in the aerith theme from final fantasy 7, if I'm not mistaken

[@photelegy]

7:52 Why is it "i - v - VII - V/VII" I'm confused about the 5th over 7 for the D-chord. I would have written it as "i - v - VII - IV". What is my reasoning error?

[@apurvhellstinger]

Thanks Kevin,

[@arpeggioblues5924]

I love these examples.. and if you studied classical music theory you must already know that the "D major" triad is NOT spelled "D Gb A" I see this all over U2B.. It's "D F# A" D can't be dominant, if there's a Gb as a leading tone to G.. when F# is the leading tone to G (G Major key), This understand is extremely important if you want to employ tools like "modal exchange" , pivot modulations, substitution chords, "negative harmony".. without a solid understanding of music theory, you can only find these progressions by accident rather than intentional.

[@KevinKuschel]

Unfortunately the program that I (and most other creators) use to display on-screen MIDI notes in real-time doesn’t seem to have options to set the key and therefore doesn’t show b and # dependent on context.

[@evrenhalavut9207]

Thank you Kevin!

[@leiocerayt]

18:56 *Attack of the Killer Queen vibes* Btw what sound libraries do you use?

[@KevinKuschel]

Those orchestral ones are mostly just Spitfire Symphony Orchestra + Nucleus. Chorus for choir.

[@leiocerayt]

@@KevinKuschel Thanks a lot 🙏

[@Basscouch]

A lot of my favorite electronic music is just complex remixes of old songs like twinkle twinkle little star. You would not realize it at first unless you break it down into these simple structures.

[@vinnie4v277]

Whats that vst or preset at 10:00 that choir in the background

[@DizzyKrissi]

Danke - sehr hiflreich! Guten Rutsch nach 2025

[@hehe629]

heyy where can I find this shirt

[@spinaldart5773]

There are at least 2 instances where you are showing the iv chord as V/VII chord. Can you explain why?

[@DouglasWagoner]

Because if the D resolved back down G it would be a secondary dominant. But it doesn’t resolve so I would just say that it was a IV chord. He did that for some other patterns so I am not sure why he didn’t this time. It is an unnecessary complication, I think.

[@ProdByYoungHope]

Im new here. Can you make orchestral NF type beat tutorial pleaseeee?🙏🙏🙏

[@lemon4ik_tv111]

The video is perfect

[@datadream_]

how come #3 considered to be in dorian mode when it could be ii-vi-I-V in G major?

[@DLM_DLM_DLM]

Short answer, because it's in a minor. In a full composition, there would be all kinds of cues from the composer (melody choices, etc.) that "a" is the tonic. Plus, a minor is this first chord, which is often a giveaway.

[@mfst100]

In pattern #3 is D-major really a V/VII, or is it a mistake??

[@galaxytheinter6332]

It always blows my mind to see, League of Legends mentioned in non related topics, like music. It really started as a nerdy Video game, which wasnt really for the Mainstream, but a niche group of hardcore gamer, and now we are here. Having it mentioned left and right, through Arcane, its Music, or the Game itself in some way or another. Still cant get my hear around it.

[@ronbaker6981]

2 1:43, it she’s F as VI. Shouldn’t it be IV?

[@KevinKuschel]

Yes, sorry!

[@doublehelix3952]

Helpful video / well presented, but a quick clarification . . What you are calling the first inversion (e.g., C E G) is the "root position"; the first inversion would be E G C; the second inversion would be G C E Onward!

[@KevinKuschel]

Yes C-E-G (the triad) is the root position, E-G-C first inversion, G-C-E second inversion.

[@Lynxa2003]

我的妈呀，老师你真的太厉害了，你这样的视频在我们国内视频软件上少见，要么就是要付费视频了

[@Kamy.GG.Official]

🔥🔥

[@jrc9648]

What DAW are you using?

[@KevinKuschel]

Studio One

[@DoctorMandible]

I'm an acoustic guitar singer songwriter and I watch videos like these for many of the same reasons as a composer. Just an FYI that I and perhaps others exist

[@leophoenix1452]

❤❤❤

[@PoliticallyHomelessCentrist]

Funny, I've never used any of these. I thought at least one or two of mine would be here.

[@Demoselim]

Hmm Megalovania 14:45

[@KevinKuschel]

Off... another absolute MONSTER video to edit. But it was tons of fun! Pattern #9 is definitely my favorite! Here's a cheat sheet for the patterns: docs.google.com/document/d/14oCxkl9AKAfnw5huh5mY_mj3yUMDoxmjhhv3mz1o0lk/edit?usp=sharing Hope these patterns will be helpful to you. Seriously, use these! :) Wishing you all happy holidays and a good end of the year. Love you!

[@5ammy13]

Thanks for the genorisity Kevin. Happy holidays to you too happy new year. Would it be possible to get a pdf cheatsheet with these progressions? No biggie, but if you created a cheat sheet for yourself for this video, would it be possible to share it?😊

[@KevinKuschel]

@@5ammy13 There you are: docs.google.com/document/d/14oCxkl9AKAfnw5huh5mY_mj3yUMDoxmjhhv3mz1o0lk/edit?usp=sharing

[@5ammy13]

@@KevinKuschel Splendid. Thank you so much

[@CavyWheek]

Thanks for the cheat sheet. Much appreciated!

[@bp-ik7lz]

Kevins orchestral recipes when

[@rpocc]

These chord progressions look deadly platitudinous, but maybe that’s the whole point of this industry: replacing true music and true images by symbols.

[@JarppaGuru]

2:15 not could it is

[@godlaydying]

i - v - VII - V/VII - you say that this would be Am Em G D, but wouldn't it be Am Em G E/G? Am Em G D would be i - v - VII - IV.

[@MattyJayThomas]

Camp

[@mikebedik3686]

Totally stolen. Thanks Kevin ;)

[@Kimzu.]

The fact that i dont understand a thing

[@UBe-hhger]

Gelispeltes ingliß macht mich echt fertig, 😂😂. Sisse isse se good fideo

[@riccello]

Stop teaching simpletons how to be simpler.

[@JarppaGuru]

who is first not use same patterns. lets make own LOL

[@duxoakende]

Good luck trying.

[@matthijshebly]

Coming up with new stuff is literally what composing is...

[@anglodutch8321]

Attaching labels like ' hopeful' and 'lonely' to a chord sequence is utter nonsense. Steal these all yuou want. It won't make your music any better. Be inventive ! Take risks !

[@SD-ff1je]

We describe human emotions through common language. The question becomes, is there consensus with a wider body of work in this field in this case?

[@duxoakende]

Then you're unaware of how these progressions are used and perceived by most listeners. The sociomusical context in which these progressions are heard has an impact on how they're perceived, and it's context that impacts how a song feels emotionally. These labels are not applied willy nilly and without literal decades of theory understanding their function and role in the west.

[@SD-ff1je]

Learning what has gone before enables you to later take risks as you suggest. Having accessed the literature on music and emotion for my PhD, I can say that there is truth here. However, these particular descriptors might be expressed with reference to the literature they emerged from. But, the creator is setting a level for a general audience who might not be heavilyinto music theory.

[@duxoakende]

@@SD-ff1je I hope you didn't think I was replying to you, KZbin is very deceiving when it comes to replies in comments and it's difficult to tell who is talking to whom. I agree with you wholly, and while music has no objective emotion to it, it is subjectively experienced depending on context and usage.

[@SD-ff1je]

​@duxoakende Have a happy New Year. I have written out all you show. I know that you will impact on my musical life and I thank you greatly for that. Thank you.

[@poetic_justice]

Are you really explaining what a key is?