7 Modern Arranging Techniques

[@Mohamed-qu7ju]

I like how Adam treats contemporary music trends/traditions(808's, autotune, sidechaining) with respect and uses them as inspiration instead of writing them off as junk like a lot of musicians do. I wish everyone in the industry had your openness and respect for music. May the Jazz Gods bless you (P.S.Could you do a video covering rhythmic patterns/claves in South African music, specifically in Gqom I think you would find it interesting and I would appreciate an outside opinion on our music since most people outside of Africa don't listen to it.)

[@TheRealMutttastic]

Hey, I've heard of gqom recently, but know virtually nothing about it other than the name. Do you have any recommendations for where to start with the genre?

[@Mohamed-qu7ju]

@@TheRealMutttastic Try listening to dj maphorisa or distruction boyz

[@MrFlippicat]

Rick Beato: Everything sounded much better way back when people actually had to play their instruments Adam Neely: *yeets his arrangements into Ableton*

[@JimijaymesProductions]

@@MrFlippicat Rick beato: feel, rythmn, emotion on performance Adam Neely: harmonisation, arrangement, production techniques Of course both cover each other's areas but I think Adam can look at modern songs as they have lots of interesting arrangement and songwriting techniques but often performance wise relies on production over emotive performance.

[@djsjdh-hoahdi]

Oliver Wattles Rick beato also thinks his fancy gold cables make a perceptible difference. He is smart and skilled but also clearly a pompous dismissive hairy nipple sometimes. Just in case anyone wants analysis on the cables thing: www.google.com/amp/s/www.soundguys.com/cable-myths-reviving-the-coathanger-test-23553/amp/

[@Semitotal]

"Generational timbres" is a really interesting concept. I dig it.

[@crnkmnky]

I haven't heard the full arrangement yet, but I think the deepest vocal layer could've been left off. Perhaps it was _meant_ to sound monstrous… indeed a "generational timbre." That said, blanket hatred of autotune is like blind hatred of compression or overdrive on a guitar.

[@sale9667]

crnkmnky imo overdrive and compression arent effects you are able to whack on to mask up lack of technical ability

[@crnkmnky]

@@sale9667 I would disagree. How about delay/reverb and chorus effects?

[@InXLsisDeo]

@@crnkmnky I don't think autotne adds anything over a good olde vocoder A vocoder sounds better, but it requires playing a keyboard at the same time.

[@InXLsisDeo]

@@sale9667 here autotune is used as an artistic effect, not to correct voice pitch.

[@dotmavriq]

One of very few KZbin creators that absolutely never ever let down. Loved the song, loved this video. This KZbinr slaps Thank you Neely.

[@rangamsarmah2061]

Autotune is like CGI; you love it only when it's totally intentionally noticable or absolutely perfectly disguised and realistic.

[@beni6445]

I think the complete opposite. Autotune for me is best as a vocal effect, not as a pitch correction device, when it is really noticeable and the whole vocal just floats away and as robotic as possible.

[@noahmay7708]

@@calebmccardell7030 This.

[@AlbornozVEVO]

So, a sort of "vocal valley of the uncanny" is to be avoided.

[@ochaze1]

Best analogy I think Ive ever read lol

[@spicecrop]

Autotune sucks no matter how it's used.

[@TheRyanator36910]

1. Sidechain Emulation 0:19 2. Unusual Modal Mixture 2:10 3. This Chord 3:53 4. String Quartet 5:18 5. 808's 6:38 6. Autotune 7:35 7. 12/8 syncopation 9:14

[@jiyukim]

🙃

[@NateTheKang]

When you think Adam's normal then he reminds you he's just like you 6:34

[@AnnaKhomichkoPianist]

Nate Kang I liked that moment haha 😂

[@InXLsisDeo]

@The Stammering Dunce What do you mean by "acquainted" ?

[@InXLsisDeo]

@The Stammering Dunce ah, i didn't know she studied music, i remember her saying she started a PhD in philosophy. Interesting that they both went on being successful youtubers.

[@BryanWLepore]

Is there a link to that PATREON! metal video?

[@MrMapacheco]

Watch Adam Neely slowly progress towards becoming djent Jacob Collier

[@AlexK-jp9nc]

It's like a slow decent into madness but with jazzy chord progressions

[@alvarengaaustin]

Djentcob Neellier

[@fudgesauce]

@@alvarengaaustin -- you pulled a muscle on that one

[@haha-ju3pj]

already happened with exigence to some extent. not quite as many crunchy chords but some

[@MrMapacheco]

@@haha-ju3pj not enough half sharps yet

[@GrayMM]

7:44 IMHO with a degree in linguistics, the reaction may be less to autotune than that formants were shifted around. People are more familiar with blaming autotune, but formants are so key to perception of speech that people are very sensitive to any weirdness there. F2 correlates to "frontness" and F1 correlates, weirdly, to "lowness". If you drop F1 the vowel sounds higher (dress -> driss) , and if you drop F2 the vowel sounds farther back (dress -> dross). When you drop both, words sound both high (closed mouth) and backed (low tongue). Those usually don't happen together. The weirdness of comes from F1 being *inversely* related with vowel height.

[@Mouscat5]

This really helps me understand why the dropped formants give such an "unnatural" sound. At least for me, it's hard to even make a vowel sound with the mouth shape you described. Neato!

[@36inc]

Neat theory but the fact is autotune is hated blindly because people imagine music to require abundant skill and they veiw this one technology as cheating that skill. Its bunk of course that alien monster sound is fantastic

[@el7284]

@@36inc or probably that some of us genuinely find it discomfiting. Not everyone likes to jump on a bandwagon, hunny

[@36inc]

@@el7284 you will need more than a refusal to accept it for me to believe what youre saying- itd be far too convenient. Oh no Im not a music snob it just is the one item in the entire effects library that sucks. bullshit.

[@36inc]

@@frdyfzbar Its different if you bother to discriminate and like it in other songs where its used well. but I will never buy that one effect especially a versatile one like pitch correction is universally bad no matter how its used. but lets be real most people who say they hate autotune are just blaming it fo ruining music. and you know why I think that is valid too.

[@shmoequey2038]

The sidechain effect with the sax goes so well it’s so cool seeing that outside computer produced music with no pedals or anything just technique

[@twirlincurtis]

"Autotune is bad" I say, playing a fretted instrument

[@MouldySoul]

This comment made me giggle! Well done!

[@DraconianEmpath]

wait. you don't autotune your fretted instrument??

[@nochthitus9397]

True temperament frets, yo...

[@noahmay7708]

You have revealed me. a piano player, for a fraud

[@AishawithanEye]

The autotune here is bad because is just sounds bad. It's a bad choice. However, I also don't like how your singer is singing like she's trapped in a squeaky cage, so maybe that's why you added it. Even still, her squeaky singing is better than how you applied autotune to it. Bleh!

[@eric33190]

if u aren't pissing people off with your music choices then whats even the point

[@henryrichard7619]

ericoliphant if you aren’t offending people, someone’s going to be offended about it

[@greenatom]

The only point of music is pleasure and/or communication. Pissing people off is a lousy goal.

[@crnkmnky]

@@greenatom some people derive pleasure from exploring new sonic territory. if their communication offends _no one,_ it probably wasn't anything novel.

[@illwittd]

greenatom then how did 69 get so famous so fast?

[@BlockDefender]

​@@crnkmnky Okay but being too "exploratory" is a novelty.

[@IOxyrinchus]

Adam, He’s *S I C C* He plays Bass without a *P I C C* But most importantly, he can play the *L I C C*

[@kubaj8397]

But he also arrange *T H I C C*

[@SLDDPiano]

I like to think that a hundred years from now, when people teach jazz, they will teach about the importance of a certain lick that changed the world. The lick that helped to bridge the meme community with the jazz community thus making jazz popular and cool in the internet age. All thanks to some seven notes....

[@ethanthiele9284]

And above all it makes him E P I C C

[@saulo4302]

Puro roro roroow, ro-roow Sorry.

[@jukesjointOG]

And all those things together definitely do the TRICC??

[@zanovran2569]

Bro, every time he says "vibe" the amount of "laid-back"edness and pure chill just amplifies to beyond what any etherial chamber choir or xenharmonic lo-fi hip hop tunes could give me. This is a man who passed his vibe check without needing to get his vibe checked. Keep up the vibes, my dude.

[@Mr.Nichan]

That just makes me wonder what if anything he's written for vibes.

[@michaelandrewnewell]

I cannot get over how sick your arrangements are, man. Brilliant.

[@markknoop777]

This is one of the most interesting videos I've watched on recording techniques and music theory. Really appreciate the insight.

[@pantoleonantonio9653]

i've learned to respect, learn and sometimes even enjoy genres outside of classical, BECAUSE of sir neely. thank you for being a good influencer

[@turtlezinthesky]

2:18 Spicy dies irae With a picardy third, the madman

[@luizalves8071]

What is a dies irae?

[@turtlezinthesky]

@@luizalves8071 old gregorian chant that's been referenced so frequently in classical and film composition to represent death, that it's essentially become the death motif.

[@tomahawkkid2444]

I'm waiting for Sideways to show up now.

[@shammerHammer]

​@@turtlezinthesky Thats true, but just to add: It pretty much always was the "death motif". Basically it is part of any requiem, so a mess for the dead. Ir basically tells of the day of judgment. What we are talking about here is the tiny little melody you hear in the organ at that time stamp. Thats just the melody of it.

[@jgrocket]

The D E T H L I C C

[@awabqureshi814]

I loved it thanks Adam I love how this was a collaboration of all the side characters on this channel

[@onetouchtwo]

Awab Qureshi Agreed. Adam’s circle of collaborators is actually one of my favorite things about this channel.

[@SatchmoBronson]

Oh, you mean the Adam Neely Cinematic Universe?

[@DavidDiMuzio]

Thanks for sharing 🤘

[@okolekahuna3862]

Nice arrangement. Your ending gave me goose bumps.

[@lavaande]

okay wow! about the sidechain: I thought like "okay adam edited the recording .... thats new?!" but the sheet music requiring it amazes me heavyly :D

[@MichaelPuterbaugh]

Maybe most softsynths don't support polyphonic aftertouch but most live wind players do!

[@daxterquiny]

+

[@noreaction1]

4:06 “cruchy”

[@joeycummings8423]

Need cruchy merch now

[@krstfrye]

@@mal2ksc cruchy

[@loganfinn2728]

@@mal2ksc cruchy

[@SuffyANX]

@@mal2ksc cruchy

[@kylepotter5357]

@@mal2ksc cruchy

[@Kapin05]

Adam: *uses autotune and other vocal effects carefully to create a more interesting vocal timbre* Comments section: Wait, that's illegal

[@groovemoustache]

A classic example of people being sheeple. None of them care about the actual sound, it's just about repeating something to be part of a specific social circle - musical elitists.

[@Beegpapijimbo]

It really seems like generally people don't have a good understanding of auto tune. T-Pain is the best example for me, he has an amazing soulful voice but chose to use auto tune for the effect. You still have to be a competent singer to begin with for autotune to not sound like trash afterwards

[@aislingoda6026]

@@groovemoustache To some extent I think that part of it is an immediate jump to decry something you believe is wrong. People do it with spelling a lot too. I've noticed a few times when I write something like 'I'm gunna go', 'I need to practise', or 'I'm going to enrol in...', people are quick to jump to *enroll or *practice me, clearly without even looking up to check if there is another way. It's people with a mindset that there's a right way and a wrong way, and by offering their correction or dismissal of the other way, they feel superior in some way.

[@paavoilves5416]

@@Beegpapijimbo Well, I don't consider myself a competent singer BUT I do agree that you must be at least an ok singer as autotune tunes to the nearest note in the scale. It is amazing how people still have this grudge against autotune as an effect.

[@arcaneminded]

I just don't like being raped in the ear. Apparently that makes me sheeple, says the guy parroting what the youtube influencer says.

[@LTGuitarist]

The string quartet point might sound like a throw-away but he's dead right. I love writing for 4-piece strings, then sampling the F out of them. Sounds dope every time.

[@guitarplayer1994]

I find myself coming back to video over and over again because of the wholesome interaction between your drummer and your guitarist. " What does that pedal do?" puts a pretzel on the pedal, "Would you say it gives you that crunch?" Such amazing players and so wholesome!

[@kkyehh]

can't wait for "autotune NOPE close tab :)" to become the new "make sure the synths and vocals are in the same key"

[@pixelator9002]

This isn't important but I got the 69th like on this comment

[@toyuyn]

I think many people think that autotune is a crutch, to help those who'd otherwise sing off-tune. While it can be used for that, I think those same people ignore that autotune can give genuinely interesting effects to vocals, changing the style and mood of the music.

[@reillywalker195]

It's also used just to save time. It's rare to get a perfect vocal in one take in the recording studio, but Autotune can reduce the number of takes needed to get something usable.

[@Sk0lzky]

Is that guy in 5:45 actually Italian or has "legato" influenced the rest of the sentence in this way? :D

[@justincarrasco3680]

best comment

[@ermannoantonucci8690]

He sounds so italian

[@stefmethaudsw]

Sk0lzkiy in classical music we still use the italian words, like legato, staccato, and so on

[@Sk0lzky]

I know, I've classical education. I mean that he had a pretty Italian accent throughout the whole sentence, not just when saying the word (most people don't even pronounce legato like that)

[@DarkSideofSynth]

My thoughts exactly! And I'm Italian ;) Great mind think alike.

[@afrohop]

Objectively, this was explained extremely well with great concise detail. I personally love the song. I would go so far to say you can win people over through your mindfulness and intentional musical choices. There are many artists I like simply because they are executing their music at a high level. “If it’s good it’s good” *also I like it 🤘🏽

[@INADRM]

I never even thought about manual side-chaining while playing. Thanks for the idea!

[@gcal8263]

the inclusion of autotune is really great in my opinion especially when it's used to create weird textural qualities like how kanye and tpain does it, similar to the arrangement

[@turkeypedal]

Thing is, to people who don't like it, they can't hear those qualities, same as people who don't like a particular food can't taste how you made it differently. If cilantro tastes like soap to you and overpowers the dish, it doesn't matter what else you put in it.

[@JT-hs6hc]

@@turkeypedal that doesn't make much sense as an analogy, does it? Do you rlly think ppl are chemically hardwired to like some sounds and dislike others?

[@Stephenkortheuer]

For the record, when I heard that autotune, I was like, "damn, Adam, this tune slaps."

[@NZsaltz]

Same! I was feeling fine about the song up until that point, and then the autotune hit and I was blown away. I think that the 808 syncopation helped with that too.

[@benjaminmarks8765]

Davie504 would like to know your location

[@nuberiffic]

Really? I heard the autotune and turned the song off. I still can't get the whole way through this piece - it just sounds bad.

[@nuberiffic]

@@erisse3503 Why? What's that got to do with me thinking it sounds bad?

[@kevinsundelin8639]

So did I, I think it went in a cool direction and was an interesting style change.

[@yuvalne]

That dies irae in "death of melody"... I see what you did there.

[@michanowak7060]

it literally killed me

[@fcleffox]

It was dies irae and the lick.... GENIUS!

[@grofinet]

In the end everybody dies irae.

[@zxp3ct3r41]

Stupid nerds

[@MooImABunny]

Oh shit I didn't notice that. Brilliant.

[@sunspotj]

Commenters: AUTOTUNE HAET LEEV BAI Adam: So my music made you... feel something? Interesting....

[@ElijahRock92]

I didn't know people hated the autotune that much. It made sense for it to go along with the melodic kick drums. That chorus still caught me COMPLETELY off guard, regardless. I do appreciate you breaking down your arrangement and the reasoning behind your work. A second listen of the arrangement is in order. I think I will appreciate it more.

[@TheDigitalrunner]

I have watched the whole video and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@FlowersInHisHair]

I read your comment and clicked Like.

[@StanislovasRiska]

Mr. Josh Bailey is a national treasure, putting his classical percussion skills to good use - DJAZZ

[@fallen1102]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE KEEP DOING THIS! THAT ARRANGEMENT IS AMAZINGLY EPIC! And I'm not just saying that because I've listened to it over 50 times...

[@celestialmonkey]

10:27 I love this kind of shit so much. Syncopated heavy guitar and horns

[@JorgeLTE]

Ever heard of "Thank you scientist"? I think that you may find that band interesting

[@celestialmonkey]

@@JorgeLTE Yup, big fan of them already. My favorite example is Calabi Yau by Tesseract

[@GryptpypeThynne]

SO glad to the see the 2nd of the triplet being used more. It's hit a lot (as is the 2nd of 4, the 'e' 16th of the beat) in modern cuban, afro-cuban, and other african diaspora music, and to me it's one of the funkiest of subdivisions!

[@tapashalister2250]

I feel like 'T H I C C Arranging Techniques (for modern large ensemble)' is going to be the name of a music textbook in 30 years when the millenials start flooding achedimia

[@innumerable_meanings]

ok boomer

[@ryuukatamura]

*zoomers

[@donjuan3296]

Aren't millinials getting out of academia by now?

[@lcali7496]

And the kids will say "ok millennial" because the memes of our generation are old-ass dad jokes to them.

[@martinmaguire-music6692]

The generation *after* the millennial is currently in academia. Adam Neely is a millennial. It's ok though, the name is a bit confusing because it sounds like it means people *born* around 2000 but it means people who were born between 80 and 95.. ish... But even then, people born around 2000 are in academia. Fuck I'm gettin' old...

[@Legendary682]

I love how this channel has changed. keep doing you man

[@kais-music]

how do you mean?

[@Legendary682]

@@kais-music The concept of his channel hasn't changed however the style and formatting of the videos have changed and I find them more enjoyable to watch. (it hasn't happened in this video alone it has been going on for a while and only put this out there now)

[@malcelinho]

I like my arrangements like I like my partners...

[@chase4557]

...non-existent?

[@danielnodland4072]

...under 18?

[@pokemonpasta]

hol up

[@malcelinho]

@@chase4557 LMAO I did not think that would be a possible response

[@abelton20]

With 12/8 syncopation

[@NC17z]

Adam, You're killing me! You are making theory that I was being taught 35 years ago (and couldn't grasp) is making sense now...You ROCK!

[@xzchc]

I love the "imitate sidechaining" part, because this ducking effect, that most people associate with sidechaining, is quite often imitated as well in electronic music these days. Lots of producers don't actually sidechain anymore, but rather use tools like LFO Tool or volume automation than the classic sidechaining a compressor.

[@slowmo56]

Loving these videos. The reharmonized tracks are fantastic, and hearing the theory(Theory) behind it makes it so much more enjoyable.

[@brettsuydam]

On the autotune hate: Attempting to please everyone pleases no one.

[@martinmaguire-music6692]

"Baby can't you see ... you're my fantasy ... " - The Most Wanted Song

[@wizdomdahero]

I love use of "Hey!!!" at the end of each bar in the chorus

[@1fareast14]

Oh, least fav part of the piece for me. Agree that something should go there, just not those samples

[@joskun]

Dear Adam, I really appreciate you going into a musical exploration with no boundaries.That being said, people will ALWAYS neetpic about EVERYTHING and I know as an artist/music creator that those comments about the autotune bothered you on some levels. Know that people will appreciate you more when you don't try to please everybody and go with what you love. I actually love that you did that because Kate sang clean too and that part created a nuance in the vocal and I love the track for the way all the genres fused and flowed so well together. I love what you do man and don't ever change for ANYBODY. I think it's time to be a patreon soon! Thank you so much for creating contents Adam Neely!!!

[@bighugejake]

The fusion of pop with metal lately is really getting me ready.

[@josep43767]

9:00 I like this effect with autotune because it almost gives the impression that there is 2 different singers with very different voices collaborating

[@Aut0mati0n]

Hey question, when you record these arrangements, which section of the orchestra do you start with, and what are people listening to when they're recording for their parts?

[@cian.horgan]

Oooh yeah also curious about this cheers

[@Jkdrs]

Yess, interested!

[@votch2798]

music production student here! generally, when dealing with large ensembles, the best place to start is with drums. the point of a drumkit has always been to keep the rhythm for the rest of the musicians, and this usually stays the same when recording music. (also, drummers are usually used to playing to a click anyway) another way to record is to have a demo track ready and mute out things that are being recorded (i personally use this method to first record a drumkit and then the rest). that being said, you can start with practically any instrument and simply let them play to a click track, but from my experience, some people have difficulties keeping rhythm this way, resulting in a provisional midi drumkit anyway.

[@SatchmoBronson]

If it's anything like most multitrack recordings, he started with drums. On his "Hello" reharmonization they recorded drums and I think keys in one room, horns and strings in the other, and played live to get that nice "live" feeling but still have *some* separation allowing easier editing. On a recording THIS massive I assume he started with drums and built it out from there. I'm an amateur musician and recorded an album last year. We started with drums but I played along with the guitarist playing through DI (direct input) to get a somewhat more organic feeling. The guitar was re-recorded later, though.

[@alessandrorumbo490]

Sometimes it takes so little to get that VIBE (3:43), but without a solid background in music it's a shot in the dark. I love your videos for these little gifts

[@nicholasconklin9586]

808s played on that keyboard totally smash. I agree, i hope to see more!

[@DirkRadloff]

Great tips, I love string-quartet myself and realize it by programming the cello with VSL and playing the upper three parts live.

[@bergh070]

Guitarists use insane pedals to completely alter the sound: everybody happy Vocalists use autotune: Oh mY gOD whAt is THIs CrAp

[@SatchmoBronson]

Yeah, great comparison! There are guitarists out there who are using a dozen or more pedals and people aren't up in arms about that.

[@only4crap]

probably because: 1 - they don't all sound exactly the same (no new use of autotune has been created in a long time) 2 - the guitar is not so upfront in modern mixes, so it doesn't get old that fast in the song I have nothing against autotune per se (love me some Daft Punk), but it's been overused for almost 20 years now, and usually in the exact same way

[@user-no7oj8ud8b]

@@only4crap Cher, Daft Punk, Britney, T Pain, Bon Iver, Frank Ocean, etc etc. Lots of unique uses over the last 20 years

[@nuberiffic]

Because guitar pedals add to the sound. Autotune subtracts from it. And yeah, do something cool with autotune to completely alter the sound; that's cool. But that's not what's happening here. But the actual sound of autotune is just painful to hear for a lot of people.

[@eliasstukos170]

That's (in my opinion) because the majority of people relate to the vocals when they listen to a song and don't really care much for anything else. Autotune to me is the equivalent of chorus pedals on guitars. They were impressive back then but nowadays they sound dated and boring.

[@Kapin05]

I think hating autotune is one of those natural assumptions a lot of people learn as a kid and don't really think too much about. For a long time, I had an unreasonable distaste for it as well, before I actually thought about it and tried to consider the positives only to find that, like with all musical elements, it's an effect that takes a lot of care to get right and can be used effectively to make very interesting music. Nowadays I don't hate autotune, but I still dislike the way it's commonly used without attention, as it _can_ have a negative impact if you just slap on a preset without much thought. With careful intent, it can be amazing. Without, it can be shallow and uninteresting. That sums up most musical elements, really. In conclusion, most people simply don't _want_ to consider the depth and potential of autotune and dismiss it instinctively, possibly as a result of deep-seated biases and previous underwhelming experiences.

[@drumsforever101]

I've watched enough Sideways to finally be able to pick up the Dies Irae at 2:19

[@luizalves8071]

What is a dies irae? I'm seeing people talk about this in this comment section but I'm completely lost in its meaning

[@v0Xx60]

@@luizalves8071 it's a sequence that's been used for a looooong time to denote "death". It's exceedingly common in film.

[@noviatoria2436]

b3-2-b3-1

[@storm14k]

Hell man this doesn't even feel like pop. Feels like some good old school say late 90's tip of the 00s R&B. Excellent work.

[@jakelaroche2762]

Thankful neely didnt go full meme and still teaches us all something. Glad you do what you do, adam

[@HyperManic1000]

Oooohhhh I love those ”cruchy!” chords!

[@duchi882]

Honestly That Music Video deserves more than a Million views

[@sam-kk5do]

this guy could be the whole damn orchestra.

[@HenryMartinez08]

I explained to a coworker how I thought you used sidechaining as an influence for the brass section before I saw this video. I'm glad I'm right, but I'm even happier you leveraged acoustic instruments to create that effect.

[@JMnyJohns]

Damn, that singer can crush it. Fun as always AN, thx.

[@JoeJoeBearr]

Really like that fact that you synced the audio to the flashing red light @1:40, my OCD thanks you!

[@calebjohnson4954]

4:03 CRUCHY!

[@reme7903]

it's always cool to see more about these projects, thanks Adam!

[@MTSstudiosmedia]

Hey! Long time watcher, first time commenter here. I tried to I write a long comment about what I use for rhythmic solfege in compound meters, but I think KZbin swallowed it. Sorry if I'm double posting, but here goes: The program I was in for music education was wind instrument focused so they used a counting method called the Eastman System (which has more consonants in it's counts--I'm assuming to encourage development of strong articulation). They use 1 ta TE ta for 16ths instead of the more common 1 e & a, which I don't really use much anymore since it seems really uncommon. BUT I like what they use for compound meters. The use LA LI for the 2nd and 3rd triplets. So 12/8 goes 1 la li 2 la li 3 la li 4 la li. It even goes up to the 16th note: 1 ta LA ta LI ta 2 ta LA ta LI ta ETC. I haven't found anything I like better for teaching people how to count and accurately feel compound rhythms (6/8, 9/8, 12/8 etc). I've also seen people use IZ A for triplets, but I use that for forced triplets (and stick with LA LI for native triplets). So in 4/4 I could go 1 & 2 & 3 IZ A 4 & to count a FORCED triplet on 3. Introducing 2 ways to count triplets also makes it so you can stack them to count things like 12/8 16th note shuffles. I use 1 iz a LA iz a LI iz a for teaching people how to subdivide by 9 without losing where the bar is. I use Drunk by Sungazer as one of my demo songs to count against for that. :D Anyway, I haven't thought I've ever had anything to contribute before, so it's really exciting to have something that's hopefully a little constructive to share. I use ideas from your videos with my students ALL THE TIME. I share videos with them too if I think they're in a good place to get something out of it, but I've also been psyched to see some of them come in and try to share you with me. I love what you're doing for music education on KZbin.

[@dwat3r]

Hey Adam! I think the track is awesome! I think people hate autotune becuase it was introduced by singers who cannot sing pitch-correctly. I think vocals also can have effects, we're not in the 19th century anymore. I think this autotune sounds great, especially with the panned layering you've applied.

[@LemakiMusik]

7:52 I can only speak for myself, but I actually hate the sound of this talk box even more than autotune. Same thing with Daft Punk's Around the World and the like. I know "hate" is a strong word, but I think it fits how visceral my reaction is to that "robot sound": it is actually really uncomfortable for me for some reason. Might be something to do with the uncanny valley, but with human voice, which is weird because I'm not much sensitive to that phenomenon with animation or robots. I'd like to know if I'm alone there.

[@DruiiChannel]

I hate it too. Sounds too artificial and just UGLY. I hate both flat-pitched autotuned vocals and the artificially fast changes of the pitch. Otherwise I would like the song. That alone destroys it completely for me. Still there could be -2oct with lower speed, total retard sound so popular in pop-made-by-singers-and-rappers-that-cant-sing. (Not because they can't sing, it's because it sounds ugly). Then I would unsubscribe and block from recommending ever again.

[@juno980]

@@DruiiChannel hey dude how about laying off the vitriol for shit some time

[@LemakiMusik]

@@DruiiChannel Yeah damn bro, chill!

[@citizensnips2348]

I can’t stand it. It sounds so kitch and cliche. Even when Adam played the string part on keys it sounded awful to me until the strings played it. I think it’s the harmonics but I’m not sure. My ears are really sensitive, not trying to act superior, I just hear things other people don’t.

[@citizensnips2348]

Obviously there’s a psychological element too though. Whatever you associate it with can drive your opinion I suppose.

[@joshuaprentice7737]

Personally i loved the auto tune. It surprised me to hear it and i love when music does that. The song also married all these different genres together in a super interesting way. Well done Adam Neely.

[@blenjamin]

3:00 You can hear this kind of alternating modal mixture really strongly in the chorus of Kendrick Lamar's These Walls, very tasty harmony

[@Afro21Ninja]

This 👍👍👍

[@srdjanbabic8561]

As being one of those people who "hate" autotune, all I've gotta say is: THANK YOU FOR USING IT IN THIS ARRANGEMENT, IT'S SO FKNG POWERFUL. SORRY FOR ALL THE CAPS

[@player197SD]

Dont know what I like more about you .. your musical expertise or the fact that you're the memelord of jazz.

[@danstaaar]

I really dig the eerie auto tune vibe in the chorus! ... just wanted to let that here - negative feelings are much quicker put into a comment than positive ones... ;)

[@mordentDA]

Re/ Autotune - -- hmmph. There's a sort of "Uncanny Valley" effect that hits me with certain treatments, but not others... it's strange. It's almost as if I hear the tweaks TOO CLOSE to actual Singing it bothers me, whereas when it turns the voice into ... something else entirely, it just becomes another instrument in the arrangement. Also, if the treated vocal LOOPS, the trouble ( for MY ear ) goes away... dunno. But thanks for this vid in particular, Adam!

[@ascetix444]

It's kind of an acquired taste. I'm an electronic producer, so weird timbre is something I love a lot. But I can totally see how it might not be for everyone. You're respectful about it, too, and open to it. There are a lot of really cool artists that really play with vocal manipulation, musicians from Daft Punk to 100 Gecs and Fraxiom.

[@mitchhamburger6024]

The uncanny valley analogy is the best description I've heard. Perfectly encapsulates my experience listening to auto-tune

[@zacharygh]

I think the reason most people had such a negative reaction to the auto-tune segment (myself included) is that it felt so jarring compared to the rest of the arrangement. There was so much energy coming up to that point that the detuned sound of it held the rest of the arrangement back (for me at least).

[@nuberiffic]

But there was autotune right from the start of the song. I didn't even make it to the part that people are complaining about before I turned it off in disgust

[@Arsenicsquirrel]

Yup that's the point that it's jarring

[@kevinsundelin8639]

That was what made it good to me, the style change was cool and nice to listen to

[@freelookmode9837]

Most people?

[@siyam999333]

And..there it is, Thanks man. Been out of the music scene for more than 20 years then suddenly thrust into trying to make new ones. You've been a big help on that step. Again Thanks!

[@mazareen]

There are too many positive things I love about this video, and I could rant about them forever. But only one worth commenting about. I like auto tune, it can have a cool tone, add depth (and or width), and it's guaranteed to get a response from folks 😉😂. Keep up the great work!

[@Randinator]

10:27 Inferi made it into an Adam Neely video.

[@ark4b50]

I was so happy to see the shirt in the original video. Tyreek nails it too.

[@zanka53]

8:07 that yellow car is fine af tho

[@69UM24OSU12]

Are you doing a whole album of pop covers in your style of Jazz fusion? I would be very happy if you did.

[@jameswasil8961]

This is always such a great education for a person stuck in the sixties (me) and he always surrounds himself with others who are also incredibly talented.

[@ProdRex-iz8do]

plus this song stuck in my head with all the intricacies of the arrangement lmao(especially the auto tune harmonies!!)

[@jerbear97]

now i've just understood the use of a sidechain outside EDM

[@drewajv]

Re: rhythmic solfege When I learned 6/8, the teacher counted it "one lolly, two lolly". So, the "lol"?

[@whatskraken3886]

FINALLY! Someone else who learned it the same way I did It's 1-la-le 2-la-le etc, ofc

[@LB-vf2hm]

Well I for one loved the autotune / 808 segment. Easily my favorite part of the song.

[@mutee333]

That drum sound is sooo good!

[@kiliankraus]

idk why but adam neely describing sizechaining in such an academic way is the funniest thing to me

[@craigsbro22]

Are we to expect an entire EP/album of these kind of songs?

[@qwerty_and_azerty]

5:11 eargasm happening before our eyes

[@KizulEmeraldfire]

In regard to the auto-tune: I actually *don't* have a problem with Auto-Tune itself. Sure, it's become overused in recent years, but it lends an interesting synth-y effect to the vocals (or whatever other instrument to which you apply it), and I still really like listening to Eiffel 65's "Europop" album - which contains the (in)famous "Blue (Da Ba Dee)". What made me flinch and reflexively hit "Stop" was the *transposition* that you did to her vocals: transposing her voice down a few semitones gave it an unnatural distortion, and… yeah, I really didn't like it at all. *But:* that said, the *rest* of the song that I listened to was great, and she *does* sing very well - despite the distortion that, alas, my ears simply couldn't take. I suppose that it was too spicy for me. To make a food analogy: it's rather like someone you know and trust offering you a piece of chocolate, and when you take a bite of it you discover that it's got a fantastic flavor and it's delicious and creamy - but then soon after you take that first bite, you discover that you've been pranked, because the chocolate has habanero pepper in it, the heat of which just kicks in *suddenly.* It doesn't ruin the flavor of *chocolate in general,* but the experience of *that specific piece* of chocolate has been tainted/ruined for you. On the other hand: a lot of people actually *like* their chocolate spicy like that. It's just an acquired taste, and I've not yet acquired a taste for it. :)

[@GhostSamaritan]

Alterboy is another plugin often used to modify the formants (you get a similar sound as this one), and the plugin has become a meme in music producer circles because it's so overused in Pop music.

[@1UpsForLife]

it's not transposed though, listen again. the harmonics are just edited, like he was explaining in the video. as for the feel of it, i still agree that it sounds a bit odd to me. it just seems to be up to the taste of the listener as to whether they like it or not.

[@thibautzadina7013]

I made some research because I wasn't sure Blue da ba dee was sung through autotune and apparently it isn't but then re-read your comment and listened to other songs on the album and it seems like yeah even though they don't use it on Blue (where according to this video, it's more of a vocoder treatment kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpeXXnmAe76lnsk ), autotune does eem to be present on other tracks on Europop. I know I just get easily triggered by people that mix those two up so i got a little excited as I shoudln't have cause I didn't read your comment fully but I figured maybe I'm not the only one so I'm going to leave a comment :)

[@KizulEmeraldfire]

@@thibautzadina7013/videos Yeah - Move Your Body, The Edge, and My Console (some of my favorite songs on that album) are more "Auto-Tune"-y examples than Blue (Da Ba Dee) - but I figured that more people would be *familliar with* Blue (Da Ba Dee), so that's the one I named. :)

[@antonio-onism9814]

Not all people like trombones, not all people like autotune. It's not that big of a deal.

[@IanBeato]

I'm primarily an electronic producer, but maybe that's why I love that processed vocal sound 🤷‍♀️ gives me a super euphoric vibe

[@zerksepraga]

2.04 "I know that most people don't care about that...."" WELL, I CARE BRO... I see brilliance in that one you are refering to as "out of context." It really has a very cool, hooky ingredient. I want to know more of these. And i see how i can learn many things from your videos and expect there are more in them. Thank you so much...

[@karlthepagan]

9:06 It ain't easy bein' Neely.

[@hackjermans563]

People who didn't like the autotune are in their right to have that opinion. But damn, I personally found it spicy and pleasant 🔥

[@kylechauvette9121]

Wouldn’t the rhythmic solfege for triplets be “1-trip-let 2-trip-let” since the first note is on the downbeat?

[@crono303]

Interesting how the triplet subdivisions don't seem to be nearly as standardized as duple divisions. I learned with "1 and uh 2 and uh," when I was growing up, but nowadays use the Indian Konnakol syllables "Ta-ki-te"

[@arnlmndza]

Hey I am an unschooled musician/arranger, and i feel like liberated by your ideas here :) Kudos brother.

[@ChuloDavidcito]

Along with her beautiful voice, the autotune works great as a contrasting "voice".... most tasteful use of it anywhere! The harmony and rhythms are genius. All in all: a towering achievement!