Ableton Tutorial: What Makes A Song "Catchy"? (Glitch Hop, Chord Progression, Musical Theory)

What makes a song catchy? In this video we look at ways to write a song so that it sounds catchy using a circular chord progression. The basic idea is that the end of the phrase resolves and leads into the beginning again and this engages the listener and leaves them wanting more. The same circular idea can be applied to the melody and lyrics.
★ SLYNK ★
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[@Slynk]

I actually finished this song - kzbin.info/www/bejne/boiqcnd_jayDb5I

[@alexanderamos9961]

a tip: watch series on Flixzone. I've been using it for watching a lot of movies these days.

[@heatherik431]

@Alexander Amos yup, been using InstaFlixxer for years myself :)

[@geralddamien4887]

@Alexander Amos Yea, been using instaflixxer for years myself =)

[@lianbenton9174]

@Alexander Amos Yup, I have been using InstaFlixxer for months myself :)

[@areslyle395]

@Alexander Amos Definitely, I have been using instaflixxer for since november myself =)

[@LouisBurgessComedy]

I don't think this video gets enough props for your ideas on song theory. The idea of creating tension within melody to create it's addictiveness I think is spot-on and super profound. Every song I've listened to since watching this video follows the idea of 'not providing resolution' as a means of keeping interest. I think you've actually cracked the code of what makes a song work on a basic level. If you combine this with the idea of a chorus providing that root note as a 'pay off' i.e. satisfying chorus, you get a complete thesis on song psychology.

[@djl1on641]

"this funky ass music, you know it don't stop!" *immediately stops*

[@IDontReadReplies42069]

step 1: write chords and melody Step 2: Produce entire song

[@strikeee01]

I strongly recommend to open a new live set and go along with him, it's really fun, inspiring and super easy to understand. Thank you Slynk!

[@Slynk]

+strikeee01 Thanks bud :)

[@303fumo]

You're a natural at the KZbin Tutorial game. These are gold.

[@Slynk]

+MrFumowitz Thankyou so much. I put a lot of effort into my tutorials. I'm glad you enjoy them.

[@tverdyznaqs]

Huh, this is kind of unconventional ways to come up with chord progressions! Very useful tutorial!

[@Slynk]

+ZzzesChannel Thanks!

[@ElMoShApPiNeSs]

Jesus Christ that was amazing.

[@Slynk]

Thanks :)

[@Phantom914]

I re watched this video because I forgot I watched it, and I remembered the lead melody instantly after like a year of not hearing it LOL

[@Leopoldus7]

What? The video and the knowledge aquired from it or the earplugs exploding my brain when the first kick from the intro animation hits? PS: Funny how Jesus Christ is laying down there under BigFatCock..

[@tvd-theremedy2515]

That melody sounds amazing. Everything does, but that melody is fire.

[@Rufusdos]

I swear my bank had this playing while I was on hold.

[@MournX]

god damn man! honstly kind of blown away when you came back from trying to expand on the initial melody some- proper work skills and explanation, respects

[@Apuravsingh88]

Been binging on your channel for the past 8 hours or so. Watch some, move to live and create some, have a coffee and come right back. Your sound is so dope. Big ups Slynk!

[@Slynk]

Thanks man! Glad you like the videos

[@JK28310]

Thanks for this. Video sparked my creativity instantly 💪

[@jjoker0110]

Love what you did with it in the example

[@cloz37]

Also using the fold button will only make the desired notes visible

[@HamHavoc]

I use this fold technique personally and its a great tip. Also notice tho he made the second cord a major and if he would have folded the notes he wouldn't have got the option to do that. Just want people to be aware of that.

[@thomasicekeys]

AWESOME tutorial. Really inspiring!

[@Slynk]

+Thomas Eisfeld Thanks :)

[@dagrith]

thanks for the tutorial mang! I really appreciate it

[@Slynk]

+Dagrith My pleasure bud. I'm glad you appreciate my hard work here :)

[@jaykdorazio796]

Sounds amazing too !

[@vishalsnayak]

thank you slynk for this video.

[@daveb8795]

Wow! This is so dope. Thank you!!

[@AntandraMusic]

Nice jam. Dig the chords and vibrato leads. Good tip for creating tension in your melody as well. And that beat.

[@chip92014]

Superb. You know how to create life!

[@andrewstephenson8840]

Hey bud. Massive thanks for these tutorials! Your channel has really opened things up to me as you put even the most complicated things in a perfectly understandable video, time and time again. Keep it up man, big up Slynk!

[@Slynk]

+Andrew Stephenson thanks for your nice comment man! I appreciate it :)

[@andrewstephenson8840]

No need for thanks here mate :) I've been watching them a while. The ones I don't fully grasp have my chrome production bookmarks folder chock a block with your vids for when I'm, if ever, at that stage of production xD Any chance I can pick your brain over me maybe getting a midi keyboard btw? Lol sorry!

[@keenanpulz880]

dude, slynk is the SHIT. These videos are engaging, interesting, and entertaining as FUCK

[@fumiko6491]

Your workflow is sooo smooth. I hope I can get my ideas out as quickly as you can some day.

[@Slynk]

Thanks! Keep practicing and learn the shortcut keys if you want to get faster :)

[@juanchis.investigadorsonoro]

I just saw you are on Mixcloud. On my way to check it out. Nice video. :)

[@br0k3nf1ng3rmusic]

Came out sick!

[@bhavyakukkar]

omg the intro is the same melody

[@Garthritis]

I think it is called the Anacrusis or a pickup note, ending a phrase with what seems to be the beginning of the next phrase. This is used in other ways as well of course. Good stuff! Subscribed. Thank you!

[@ElMoShApPiNeSs]

An anacrusis is just a half bar before the song actually starts

[@Garthritis]

A song would start at the anacrusis as that would be bar 1 and may also be within musical phrases like in Happy Birthday for example. Though after reading a bit on this technique I am not totally convinced that this is exactly the technique in action but more so an adaptation. When the vocal edits come in is a good example. Have a nice day.

[@ElMoShApPiNeSs]

The bar count starts at the first full bar. That's what I meant. *You* have a good day.

[@vaskater07]

"I might've gone a little bit overboard with this idea, but I was having fun so...fuck it." Lmao. right on brother. fresh tune.

[@Slynk]

+vaskater07 haha!

[@spacey_jones]

Awesome! Thanks dude!

[@maximosgoulakos5582]

Wouldn't this be F major though? It sounds more like F major because it resolves to the F rather than the D. Idk I might just be talking out my ass...

[@christopantz]

You're right. F major and D minor are relative keys, meaning they use the same scale but have different tonality.

[@ProjectsinPoo]

nah it's way more like C major. F, G, C (root chord) then the D, to lead back up to the F.

[@maximosgoulakos5582]

It could be either one. the last E chord fits more in the scale of C major, but the song feels like it's based around F. Theoretically the chord progression doesn't make much sense in either scale, it just sounds good. It wouldn't make sense in C major because you would have a "I - ii - iii" chord progression which never happens, but at the same time if it was in F major, that last vii chord should be diminished. But it's not, sooooooo... it doesn't even really matter.

[@DJallreds]

That's funny to see this comment after I posted. J Kellan I agree with you. Sounds like F Lydian with no Bb and all. It's pretty strongly in F according to my ears.

[@thefig8832]

one of the best tuts

[@lee0477]

you seriously make me feel silly with some of these videos.. class act

[@danielhuguninjr6498]

that beat at the end shocked me dude! nice work

[@hellfirelx]

Really nice look into quick sketching....and then expanding :)

[@tacosandsex]

love that you're sharing the knowledge. keep it up man great video!

[@metri0n]

my dawgggg comin through with such a great tutorial! thanks slynk

[@XJDesigns1]

Melody, Chord Progression & Texture are the mains I look for

[@jackbailey619]

your a legend slynk! really love your tutorials and of course your music! really hoping you come do some gigs in aus soon :p

[@Slynk]

Thanks bud. I hope I can make it back to Australia early next year :)

[@tSambee]

Amazing! best tutorials i've seen.

[@Slynk]

Thanks for watching :)

[@InterWarp]

instantly subscribed when I heard the talk box... god damn that was nice. reminds me of The Fat Rat mixed with Daft Punk

[@fuzzjohn]

Alright dude you gotta do a tutorial about that bassline you ended up with!

[@Albertmars32]

+fuzzjohn i know right lol

[@Slynk]

+fuzzjohn Haha! Maybe in another video. :)

[@fuzzjohn]

sweet, gonna hold you to it!

[@Slynk]

I've finished recording it. I'll put it out tomorrow or Wednesday. Thanks for the suggestion :)

[@Slynk]

Get excited! :D It's a 45min tutorial.

[@TheRickysee]

Very well done. I would make a hipper comment. But I'm too blown away. Can't think of anything except. Wow. Very well done.

[@janks7192]

thank you simon

[@ABunnyVTuber]

"Today we'll just do some simple work" proceeds to make a fire-af song

[@AnguzBeef]

Definitely glad i subbed

[@yokohama_al]

Impressive stuff @Slynk Inspiring

[@Slynk]

Thanks for watching :)

[@MythicalCerberusHead]

Incredible

[@pitarra35]

Cool song. Started trying for Dminor and ended up in Fmajor

[@benbork9835]

dude this sounds INSANE

[@quantum_psi]

Sooooooooo freaking sick!!! Can you do a macro tutorial?

[@amoghsapre6]

This tutorial is Amazing!!!!

[@outzie6182]

Really nice video!

[@majorpulse6389]

This is really cool, thank you for sharing!

[@vazard3888]

dang. thats an awesome tension

[@MinersHardcoreNL]

i didnt like the chords really much in the beginning but the melody was amazing they fit together, but i wanted to say that you nailed it when you made it into small song!

[@Slynk]

Thanks! Yeah I think taking a simple chord progression and doing it in a complex way can create a very nice effect.

[@MicahTheExecutioner]

super good detail to this. helped me a lot. thanks for the vid, liked

[@DJGrazba]

in serum's matrix you have to write in 1st to get one semitone and to be able to write values go to the settings you'll find a checkbox for this setting :) !

[@AdikMusicOfficialTM]

NICE TUTORIAL . KEEP IT UP !

[@cocoafreak7]

That was AMAZING!

[@jaykdorazio796]

You're the man dude you make it so simple to learn

[@SquakeC]

dude, u rock big thanks!

[@bhavyakukkar]

omg i totally knew the video would show how to make a song catchy, coz the music from the intro is still stuck in my head lol

[@jacobbowles9515]

Thank You!

[@jacobtw1818]

fucking hell that few hours later version is DOPE AF

[@jasperfriesel9500]

great video man, plus you seem like a really nice dude

[@melatiro5]

14:00 duck passing in the background lol

[@etlnibn6690]

This is so good, I hope you realise this is high quality content

[@sedat4151]

Very cool, Slynk, thanks so much for sharing! :D

[@fre1253]

look whats you did just to a tutorial! veryyyy coool

[@lil-link]

very nice!

[@BUGHAKARASTA]

thanks so nice!!

[@HankScorpio94]

Another great tutorial. Thanks mate :)

[@j.carlat]

great thanks

[@jesswah82]

Nice tutorial dude!

[@Slynk]

+Jesswah Thanks. Trying to teach what I know about music theory while learning it better myself.

[@JadeReedbeats]

you rock. thanks

[@VideoGuinness]

Hope you release that, quick question how did you go about making the bass chops?

[@Slynk]

+VideoGuinness I have a big bank of bass one shots samples sorted in folders by key. I just dragged them in and arranged them.

[@Deadle100]

That was a good tutorial

[@jpstellaer]

Ur awesome dude

[@frankeemore]

calling the shots!

[@Myntian]

I almost clicked out of this video until I heard the melody lol nice job

[@brenthollingworth9473]

Hey Slynk!! Can you make a tutorial that covers how you did the chopped up bass parts and glitchy vibe during the drop?!!

[@Slynk]

I already did. Search my channel for the chopped up bassline video.

[@bornyhitch1975]

slynks glasses = catchy AF :Dd

[@squarebizgaming]

Great job overall!

[@ericpham9780]

That's a great track dude!!

[@Jsoundz]

dope

[@MrJonesdj]

muito bom, sensacional!! thaks!!!

[@Gorflaxsack]

great job buddy

[@Slynk]

Cheers homie.

[@bigdawgg1994]

This felt so good, Slynk. Superb work. You from NZ?

[@Slynk]

I'm from Australia mate.

[@funkahontas]

To everyone that is interested in chords and chord progressions you should totally read "Music Theory : The TL;DR Version" Is really easy to read it if you don't have any musical background and it says everything about chords and chord mixture and all of that. It also includes melodies, rhythm and all you need to know about music theory, it's an awesome book.

[@Slynk]

+Ruben Ramos Thanks for the comment. I will check that out.

[@funkahontas]

Yeah,the chord mixture part of the book is simply mind blowing and it sounds so good to use it!.

[@Slynk]

+Ruben Ramos I had a quick look through it. I really appreciate you recommending me this book. It's simple and to the point. I love the examples as well. Thanks.

[@bobbyjamesramsey4860]

Totally catchy.

[@shitij1208]

you can pitch it c major to any to like adfg bu pitching it up if u dont know music theory

[@evelic]

Holy shit that track, i wasn't expecting a track.

[@SamC_182]

This really is catchy

[@bublledodo]

Sounds so Tekken !!!

[@drtyslzy]

Cool, thank you!

[@imattjolley]

why do I love this song?

[@TM4rtin17]

the synth sounds like some shit out of sonic the hedgehog

[@TheGreatestBits]

which is a good thing!!

[@guitarnotsopro]

I lost it when he said youve got to dance around the d note

[@guitarnotsopro]

+Slynk my mum can play a d chord without even touching a d note bruv :P

[@Slynk]

I bet she can.

[@maxyax111]

Are you thinking of developing this idea into a full song? please do, i would 100% buy