How To Write Orchestral Music - Creating Great Melodies & Countermelodies By Ear

[@AlexMoukala]

As usual if you want to learn even more about every aspect of how to compose great Orchestral Music, check out: The Evenant Cinematic Music Course -> goo.gl/Cmbvhj The rest of my Orchestral Tutorials -> goo.gl/uGb39c

[@yasha12isreal]

Alex Moukala what vst do you use?

[@vinaykumar2311]

Great tutorial bro.keep it bro, love from India

[@marcelinoknight429]

what daw are you using for these orchestrations?

[@drummer20249]

Alex, will you be doing lessons again soon?

[@maytefernandez6190]

Please please please in spanish

[@djfull4442]

1:17 this "bad melody" is totally something Shostakovich would write. but it takes INSANELY good harmony to make it work ^^

[@claytonr.young-music912]

I want to salvage it and make something wonderful. You know what? That’s going to be my next piece.

[@mistadude]

@@claytonr.young-music912 how did it go?

[@claytonr.young-music912]

@@mistadude I kind of forgot about. I might try it again though. I've been getting into jazz lately, and maybe it will work in a jazz context.

[@BiuCypher]

@@claytonr.young-music912 what now

[@rajanon7113]

lol

[@mimmkey]

It may be a basic idea, but teaching it is a completely different story. And as always you made it extremely clear and easy to understand. Well done and thank you for your knowledge, experience, and expertise.

[@chrismcluvn6138]

That I agree

[@Amaroq64]

>Countermelodies Oh, neat! It's like a duet, but with instruments.

[@AlexMoukala]

Exactly

[@marvinschluckauf6783]

@mark heyne they are two different things.

[@aidenhall559]

All of your videos are GOLD!

[@anunderdog574]

someone took the Hans Zimmer class! Props.

[@AlexMoukala]

Haha, I actually didn't take that one yet. I keep delaying it for some reason, but eventually I will!

[@vinaykumar2311]

I have those master class with hans zimmer

[@johnhill762]

Alex... your way of communicating the elements of music... even certain approaches to music... is super intuitive, whereas most who try definitely fail to put these things in terms that make sense. Bravo.

[@RaV3nn]

Because of you I’ve made more improvements in making music in a single week than I did an entire year

[@lifewhyz]

I owe you so much. Thank you for everything you've uploaded over the years. I hope to repay you somehow one day.

[@ElAboghandi]

The last tip you gave of imagining new elements, progressions or patterns, is what I’ve been doing since I was 6 years old. I just started composing this year and thanks to that, I’ve been improving amazingly fast. Great advice bro 👏🏻👏🏻

[@ShaneKeizer]

"Melodies are sentences" well said.

[@shackerbenashoor4005]

i am a complete music noob, but these melodies + counter melodies remind me of Ocarina of time music when Link learns a new song from Sheik and they start playing together. best example for counter melodies ever!

[@FreeFoxRagu]

21:21 I do sing countermelodies on my own while listening to music since I was kid I think. It just always comes automaticaly xD Then hopefuly this will help me to slowly become a composer :)

[@yuulian4776]

You should really use this gift!

[@FreeFoxRagu]

@@yuulian4776 I appreciate your support

[@StratosKokkaliaroglou]

5 people where talking to their friend and then skipped over to bananas.

[@nicc9798]

now 10 people did it too

[@abishekraju8787]

@@nicc9798 Another guy decided to join in....

[@yusuf_kizilkaya]

@@abishekraju8787 and another...

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

AND THEN THE GYM!

[@joshuagillette12]

wtf are talking about

[@ShamStalin]

Most interesting topic in any compositions :]

[@AlexMoukala]

And when you think of it, it's always the simplest melodies that account for the best pieces of music.

[@DreymaComposer]

2:05 This sounds almost exactly like Guild Wars 2's "Sea of sorrows" by Jeremy Soule

[@kanehooper00]

Cool, I'm famous. This was recorded for me :)

[@AlexMoukala]

Enjoy your fame man. :D Hope this helped you out more than the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star example, haha!

[@lifewhyz]

​@@AlexMoukala If you haven't heard of it, you should check out Twinkle Twinkle Death Star. Great composition. Humorous. But totally impressive (especially considering it was nearly all improvised)

[@MsFlyingCake]

I see Kane, I know it is a different Kane, but I upvote anyway.

[@ryantavan2688]

The best ever tutorial about how to write melodies. Thanks a lot, Alex. I loved it

[@royfgreen]

easily the most interesting, easy to follow, and informative music tutorials I've watched on here. and I've watched a lot. thank you

[@HealingNews]

Awesome class! Keep up the great work, bro, while we musically and through rhythm change the World to a more harmonizing and peaceful existence!

[@BulkySplash169]

Great explanations, and very helpful tips for melodies in general - not just orchestral music. Thx!

[@paulg3388]

Another fascinating and incredibly helpful Video thank you Alex. I am in the process of writing something along these lines with a lovely horn for the main melody with the string behind it, and this Video has really helped me. Awesome stuff as expected !!

[@JoshuaMorgan]

This video really did a great job stripping down these concepts and explaining them clearly. It's also encouraging to me to see that I'm already doing a couple of the things you suggested and the new stuff helped me see things a little differently. Thanks for putting this together!

[@chammi_desu]

Hey, I do that thing too. Pretending to create harmonies in songs where that tune/riff does not exist. Interesting. ^_^I joined this channel late, and I'm so glad that I have found this channel.

[@kobitimmons9157]

Alex you make excellent videos. Very helpful and easy to understand. Please keep it coming!!😉

[@833time]

I made a few songs for an animated movie that I am currently working on in the works called, "The KZbin Movie". 1 song I did is a motivation song called "The Start of Freedom & Justice", which is a song about finding the light & encouragement to become a true legacy.

[@ambientdave]

Great video Alex,very informative. I use the Scale Highlighting feature, since FL Studio 12 (now 12.5) As I am not a dedicated keyboard player,but this feature really helps with making sure everything is in Key and of course scale and I am learning in the process,he,he

[@otv88]

Great video Alex; super helpful. Love the idea at the end of listening to songs and filling in your own counter melodies. Thanks.

[@keaduladrum2622]

Wow this is amazing you really know what you do I would like to be lectured by you man you genius

[@noflus1]

Wow, amazing lessons, very clear instructions- like a perfect melody! Thank you!!

[@FateofTheFallenOFCL]

I'm excited to watch this. Thank you so much for your context Alex! ❤️

[@AneruthRengarajen]

So much info..Thank you so much.. If possible, please do a video on how to convert potentially good ideas into implementation

[@AlexMoukala]

That's something we all struggle with in the beginning, but it starts to come naturally with time and practice.

[@AneruthRengarajen]

Alex Moukala : Thank you so much sir! Really appreciate you doing this for us.

[@iammyprofilepic1177]

You are a hero without cape my guyyyy. Keep up the goood videossss !

[@kellybmackenzie]

I'm learning so much from your tutorials, thank you so much again, you're helping a lot!!!

[@PappaHaleySpelar]

Thanks for this tutorial, gold content, so helpful!

[@Snipersounds]

Alex! You are a REALLLY good music teacher! These videos are so addictive! Thank you!

[@devincallen1257]

Dude thank you for these videos, SUPER HELPFUL!!

[@GaruBeats]

Great class!

[@gianlucasoriani1]

You're young but a great music teacher Thanks for your valuable advices(sorry bad english i'm italian)

[@axxl_axl7947]

beautiful melody

[@roba1562]

Just found your channel Alex, great content, thanks a lot!

[@frankgeppert7698]

Thanks for this easy to follow tutorial!

[@dadadrew]

Great stuff! Thank you!

[@SOIBand]

You are helping so much! Thank you very much, This is the best things on youtube.

[@sol3cito33]

Great tutorial, well explained! Thank you!

[@Dracstar]

Super helpful for a beginner. Thank you!

[@musicenvelope8119]

Ah, that’s a new one for me. Singing counter melodies, good tip.

[@kuoskae]

This Video helps me a lot! Thank you. I need to tell my story now! :)

[@EfisioCross]

Why are you so awesome

[@scoretosettle6568]

Lol

[@tonythebunny8699]

Thank you so much . You really helped me . god bless you

[@aLoudSi1ence]

Awesome as usual...

[@vocalizingdreams]

You are incredible and I’m very glad I found your channel! I would definitely be interested in taking lessons with you at some point

[@music_lover2211]

Which plugin did you use for strings?

[@shawnsiya4132]

5:00 This chord progression in the first bar sounds like NF's song: "Time."

[@stevedonson1593]

yes, it does

[@Jck_Lrkn]

Even if we both break down tonight...

[@d0tghost]

funny how I got one of ur ads on your video (btw great stuff, I learned a lot!)

[@skyfire3498]

hell yeah its 12.41 midnight and im watching your videos

[@AlexMoukala]

:D

[@l.d.williams7880]

Alex Moukala is this metropolis ark?

[@skyfire3498]

L.D. williams yes brother he mostly uses metropolis ark libraries ark 1 for epic sound and ark 2 for bit smooth relax type sound

[@AlexMoukala]

Oh, no I actually don't have Metropolis Ark 2 yet. :P In this example, I used Cinematic Strings 2.

[@Str8representing]

Fantastic lesson. Thanks a lot!

[@arunrawat3142]

Thank you so much Alex.

[@pedrocatoira2695]

THANK YOU ❤

[@johnhill762]

Excellent tutorial.

[@arunhs5844]

awesome great insights, thanks a lot for your tutorials, it is of great help :)

[@BSEpicM]

Thank you Alex for all your great Videos, there is alot to learn:-)!

[@nicc9798]

thank you very much alex helped me a lot

[@peekpen]

wow. comprehensive but definitely not boring.

[@Reaperdarkhorse]

Great videos and tips, like your style

[@ragulvelukanth]

love yeww man yu are awesme thanx fr the tutorial ... please continue this :)

[@CalmingTune]

Perfect explanation, Alex, also clear examples, but could've been clearer if we use piano just for this one.

[@VocalEdgeTV]

So great! Subbed

[@OliKember]

Super helpful, thanks!

[@yigitalpdikmen331]

Really nice tips for countermelodies :)

[@marcus_ohreallyus]

So the counter melody should be able to "hand off" notes to the top line melody... And vice versa. Is that correct?

[@Ahmad-Mounir44]

Alex, I am very curious to ask you, how could you compose orchestral pieces without touching notation? I mean how do you write counterpoints, countermelodies, and Divisi by ear without notation? ... I believe orchestral composition is the most hardest classical type of composition that is being taught academically.

[@AlexMoukala]

You can find many videos where you can see how I compose entire pieces from scratch on this channel

[@goodguygary397]

Hi Alex, great tutorial. I have a question, what do you think of using Omnisphere 2 together with CS2 ensemble or it would be too much? Thank you and have a great day.

[@RichardBoyer]

Very Interesting and important to know when writing music

[@cjkalandek996]

Any tips on writing leitmotifs for a character? Like, how to find that perfect sound that expresses that character through music?

[@TerenceKearns]

5:00 thats the first time I've seen a chord progression layed down with connecting notes. I dunno why I had this idea that a chord progression just had to be contiguous.

[@HaharuRecords]

So, for intense if you have a lyrics you wanted to compose music for it, what will you compose first: melody (tune) or the chords and everythings that supports the melody?

[@Audim0n0mer]

Hi What strings do you use? All my strings just sound edgy, either too high or too low. I use string section and brass.

[@maleficparagon4169]

Audim0n0mer I believe it’s Cinematic Strings 2!

[@cesarlebourg3100]

Try bbc orchestre, by spitfire. U can Take a little survey and then u get It for free after 2 weeks, or u can buy It and get It right after

[@purplebunny7220]

12:05

[@purplebunny7220]

5:01

[@ExtendedSpace]

In the piano Roll Control "Rom" you have Dynamics showing. But i cant find that in my Fl Studio And its updated :/ Is it the same as Volume? Oo

[@alsweezy2046]

You're a very good teacher.. I've been trying to find a way of allowimg my counter melody breath without clashing with my original melody each time I tried it either I choose the counter melody and just remove it. Thank you bro

[@rafaelhernandez5550]

Nice tutorial, what kind the strings are you using? Thanks

[@neil5495]

My question is After creating a beautiful melody and counter melody that harmonises beautifully with the chord progression how do we continue it all the way to the main theme and backend of the trailer?

[@temstrance]

Your strings are brutal!

[@MsFlyingCake]

Do you prefer starting with melody or chord progression?

[@TheZombinator1]

That other person to who the melody sounds weird and directionless is yourself in the next day when you listen what you wrote the day before lol. Its weird how sometimes it sounds fine when you are watching it happen step by step in your daw, but later with fresh ears you notice how its not so good.

[@CloudtheCommander]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, I hope it helps me out! Tell me, do these tips and tricks also work for if you’re trying to compose an angry sounding, fast paced battle theme?

[@rodrigogarcia4779]

Hello alex first of all thank you each video, I learn a lot of your videos but I find it difficult, could you make a video tutorial composing from scratch an orchestra epica of cinematic teaching the basics? thanks again :)

[@edjackson2597]

what are those ascending and descending lines kinda.. from the third track?

[@melimusiclessons]

Your tutorials are amazing ! Would love to collab on a song one day . I write for sync

[@EfisioCross]

bananas😂 awesome bro 🙏🏼

[@capraise]

Great video, I think it's the best way to follow your ears with what sounds good instead of worrying about rules (if you don't know them, the problem doesn't exist ^^). But I think, if you would take the four bars of your bad melody, repeated and treated it like your one bar good motif, maybe it could also be turned into an appealing melody :). But I get your idea of course. And maybe I'm also already contaminated with contemporary music ^^

[@AlexMoukala]

Maybe. Although, if you want to nail it right, that's definitely some advanced shit right there haha. Definitely not something I'd advise beginners nor intermediates to mess around with.

[@capraise]

Alex Moukala You're probably right haha ^^

[@bobdull3148]

This gose for all songs

[@Hadrian_Shullai]

Thanks man!

[@gusteeno]

Hey Alex! I'm curious why you have two of every string patch from the same library? In this example you used two string ensemble patches and I'm wondering why you didn't just include the low bass notes from string ensemble #2 in the string ensemble #1 part? Thank you in advance!

[@SeFu2006]

I think so he can have individual control over the octaves.

[@int3533]

Were the violas and cello playing in unison?

[@AlexMoukala]

The cello was playing one octave lower. :) Just like the 2nd violins were playing an octave higher than the 1st violins. I lowered the volume both on cellos & 2nd vlns tho.

[@mathiaskaced9062]

what are the crayon like drawings we can see on top of tracks ?

[@YUNAsLoveT]

Wow, actually was doing the same naturally with singing along, just didn't know what I'm doing

[@mareDBS]

Hello Alex In 3:03 I see that you have template for orchestration. Standard orchestra lineup say that 1st violin section have 18 players. How it counts in midi orchestration? Your have only two first violin in your template. So that two violins replace 18 players or? I hope you understand my question. Thanks for tutorial.

[@AlexMoukala]

I personally don't really precisely count instruments in my virtual orchestrations that way. I tend to keep things evenly balanced like I often mention, but at the same time I don't really stress about realism to those levels as I do love the "unreal" huge sound you can get with libraries.