5 Tips for Better Chords

[@InceyWincey]

A word about inversions. 2nd inversions, as in the first example given, are the least stable of the chord voicings because the interval between the bottom two voices is a 4th, which is a dissonance. If you listen to the chord progression after he revoices it then you may notice that the second chord sounds much more gritty and jarring than the other chords. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if that’s the kind of tone you’re going for (they’re quite popular in rock and metal) but if you want a smoother sound it is better to stick with root position or first inversion chords. Consider instead of revoicing the second chord, revoice the previous chord to a first inversion in the second half of the bar (put the third in the bass) to create smoother voice leading without adding any angry dissonances into your chords. Also if revoicing the chord doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to use passing notes in the bass instead. When you’ve already played the chord for half a bar, dropping or raising the bass note by a step creates extra tension and adds impetus for the upcoming chord change without changing the harmonic tempo of the song. A word about doubling notes. Doubling the root or the fifth is always a good option. Minor thirds are also good to double. As a general rule you should never double a major third because instead of filling out the rest of the chord it often sticks out and actually makes the chord sound thinner. Doubling sevenths and ninths is a matter of taste. A note on pedal point. Pedal point is almost always done on either the tonic or the fifth. It is a technique used to build tension. It’s like the baroque version of a build up. The tonic generally adds less tension and creates more of a sensation of resistance and pulling back and wanting to return. The fifth adds more tension and creates more of a sensation of pushing forward and wanting to resolve to the tonic. On movement. You can add movement to a single chord by using inversions. There are examples of songs that use only a single chord, just replacing the root with the 3rd, 5th, and perhaps a 7th. This creates a strange sensation of harmonic stability that is still somehow in motion. Consider this technique if you wish to have your music seem to be “moving in place” as it were. You can also use inversions to reverse the direction of harmonic motion. You can take a chord progression that is traditionally falling and revoice it into a rising progression. The harmonic motion will appear to be both upwards and downwards at the same time, as the listener will recognise the falling chord sequence, but hear it rising, and vice versa. This creates a similar sensation to the “moving in place” I mentioned previously, but instead of running on a flat treadmill, it would be more like running up or down an endless staircase. On automation. Yeah what he said 😂 If you play an instrument you can adjust the tone and dynamics of your chords by the way you play. You would never play a chord sequence perfectly flat, at the same dynamic all the way through. Like he said it sounds robotic. But there are other ways to achieve this too, by breaking the chords up. You can play the bass note on the downbeat and the rest of the chord on the upbeat. You can use arpeggios. You can let some of the notes ring while keeping the rest more staccato. This is perhaps the one area in which there electronic music is most lacking in comparison to traditional music. Rhythm guitarists can play a chord sequence in a thousand different ways before we even begin talking about dynamics or effects pedals or even picking techniques. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to experiment. Have fun with your chords. If you’re having fun, your listener will too. Much love M

[@danic.3760]

Adding pedal tones works better for predrop progressions, start with basic chords, then add one and in the buildup another, it makes all more rich and full. Nice video.

[@dr.mryansaldivard.c.8028]

Thank you Alex, I just found your channel and I am enjoying your tips.

[@LarsLentz]

I've got to say I just love your enthusiasm and great commentary while showing us all this magic - it makes me come back to watch your videos day after day!

[@KDL064]

Bro, I don't do EDM, but, I love your videos, love the way you pause and say, isn't that nice or beautiful or something, lol I'm learning a lot from you and just wanted to say thanks. And also to let you know that some of us who don't necessarily do your type of music still love your videos... GOD's Speeeeeeeed!

[@digimon916]

i just started to try to make music...especially edm, and that part about "good old days of edm" and mentioning avicii and chainsmokers...i trust u now man!! those were the days!! before the "hard" stuff when edm was about melodies and beauty.

[@theomen826]

Learned a lot from your videos. Thanks for all tips and tutorials 🙌

[@BeneathTheBrightSky]

Another thing I'd add is varying the chord length. I noticed you did it in the last example, and it works really well. Just changing the lengths of some standard chords can make them sound SO MUCH BETTER. I started doing this fairly recently and I think it's way better than just standard 1 bar chords. If you listen closely, all the best songs do this ;)

[@granttucker9006]

By length I assume you are referring to duration? If so there are several ways to change up chordal rhythm patterns to keep things fresh and lend another layer of flavor to a progression

[@Djvisumixdeesa]

Love Frome India ❤️🇮🇳

[@aj6761]

I absolutely love your content. What a time to be a new producer.

[@endoflevelboss]

What a time to be al...new producer 🤔

[@Fekzo_flp]

Amazing work to decrypt all’s things & secrets of compositions, thanks so much for your work As we said in 2014 on youtube : +1

[@LionEatsCats0034]

I’m new to producing and your videos are so helpful

[@Cavasee-A]

I’m soaking this all in👍🏼 thank you for sharing this. I really appreciate it. Much respect from Colorado.

[@ramonf.9217]

Amazing, don’t take so long brother. We love ur videos❤

[@AlexRome]

Sorry for the wait! Currently working to increase the output of my videos.

[@NevBe100]

I found that really interesting Alex. Thank you for explaining that to me in a more practical common sense way. It now makes more ..... well sense 😊 Cheers

[@prazrim5460]

Great video again.. whenever you have a video out i have atleast 2 tracks started. Thanks. I am always strugling with variation of chords to make track interesting, may be next video on that would be awesome.

[@LoriMorrisPaintings]

I’m really loving your channel!!! Thanks so much Alex!

[@KiddGin]

Love your enthusiasm man!

[@kristopherclark350]

golden tips, do have trouble deciding what to do with the chords so thanks 🙂

[@DailyCorvid]

You inspired me to go buy out a whole home studio and start learning how to make serious music, instead of just throwing lazy sequences together in MPC Beats. Love your work, there is something to be said for this level of commitment and passion. Major Kudos!

[@benjones6625]

Another sweet upload, thanks man, look forward to the next!

[@TEAMAGEPRODUCTIONS]

Your videos are so good, dude.

[@melsonlong]

Hi, thanks for your upload

[@princeandrew3348]

such a helpful video. Thanks, love the energy!

[@unity303]

I have only watched 2 of your videos and they are 💯 🔥 🔥 🔥. SUBBED

[@johnwebb4499]

I already played piano 3 years, and composed for 3 years, but you just leveled up my game. Now I'm basically you. 😂

[@ronnyb5890]

thanx Alex,always a joy to watch your videos,they are unique in the way you bring these musical compositions and convert them to something everyone can understand,cheers m8

[@darksidethc420]

great advice and very helpful thank you for these

[@0711RC]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[@shirazselemane5637]

YOU ARE GOOD BROTHER

[@Mrbird-pw2mg]

7:30 holy moly, he´s figured out dynamics

[@michaelmarkspersonal]

Excellent ideas!

[@not-on-pizza]

When you talk about adding a pedal tone at 3:15, the note that jumps out at me to use with that progression is an A#. Three of the chords already have it, and it's a 6th on the first chord (so not too clashy).

[@MikhalB]

I love your videos! very helpful information.

[@Mrbird-pw2mg]

Me spending a year learning voice leading rules, him: "There´s a big change between theese chords, lets make it smaller"

[@how3recordings]

Great, job

[@jaymetcalfe3137]

cool to see you come so far my brother. your numbers will duble in june. just a friend looking out 369. ;)

[@rysumner]

Would love a dedicated automation video

[@myriaddsystems]

THANKS!

[@didibergman2306]

Can you use automation on analogue synth tracks you've recorded? Great videos!

[@johnmccartney3819]

I've seen another video where they make fun of this technique being 'sold' to people. "PRO LEVEL CHORDS!"

[@jacknaunga7008]

Super🥰🎹🎶

[@eliosix]

I too love to play with the cutoff. I can spend hours just just listening to the effect 😂

[@animatedgame-nh9cx]

Cool

[@liminalmessaging]

Man I wish the automation was that streamlined in LMMS lol

[@wiredmedia5673]

🔥

[@andreacristaldo5586]

⭐✨❤

[@Stephhhhhhh-k2w]

Hey man

[@jurrrr1637]

With what kind of plugin can you make those slowly opening filters? (For free)

[@ronnyb5890]

every software synth or sampler has a cutt-off and resonance knob wich you can automate,get the free vital synth at vital audio,its a very powerful spectral synth where you can automate everything,i bought the pro version for 80$ then you also have more wavetables and text to wavetable,like i said,insanely powerful,cheers

[@jurrrr1637]

@@ronnyb5890 thx a lot!!

[@aleksandrmitelectromusic1142]

⚡⚡⚡

[@RPLAY7]

5:34 it sounds like some kpop song

[@outledd9933]

What is a tonic?

[@liamdonegan9042]

sparkling water with sugar and quinine

[@outledd9933]

@@liamdonegan9042 thats not what i meant but i'll admit that i laughed

[@djsan019]

Delicious

[@PYROtheNomad]

This guy looks a lot like a KZbinr named ItsJusta6

[@Wheatsilo]

I watch just to hear you say "chouawrds"

[@crepkey]

I really like your work and I am a huge fan of your knowledge but it is so frustrating that you never let your audience to listen to the basic note of a melody one more time when it reaches its basic chord, sound, or note again. Please stop the playing a bit later. THANK YOU

[@doknox]

I'm sorry, but programming chord progressions and drums does not make you a musician. It makes you a producer. Playing instruments makes you a musician. Nothing wrong with producing or anything but let's use the correct terms here before it becomes too blurred for anyone to remember what's real. This is production not musicianship. A musician is someone who plays an instrument in time, in real time.

[@AlexRome]

Lmao

[@f4nt4sk]

That was not special.

[@liamdonegan9042]

"A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music." he's composing music bro. he's a musician

[@dickrichard626]

Going up and down really doesn't affect the "emotion." It's what chords and scales you choose to play that creates different emotions... Now, modulating up or down feels different, modulating up Supposedly sounds refreshed and exciting while going down is not really as much. I don't know how else to describe it. 😂, but no one gets totally different emotional vibes simply from playing a single progression by going up or down with the chords of that progression... The emotions are all about the diatonic modes and other possible combinations. That said, playing in a lower regiser seems to lend itself to minor and dark vibes while the high-end major, but even that is not really true as something that must always done that way.