Any Melody Can Be Awesome - Ben Levin

Any melody can be awesome with the right chords and rhythm... as far as I can tell. It's a theory I'll always be testing, and I hope you test it too!
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[@michaeloliverio7019]

I love how this method takes the pressure off the composer to create a new melody. The music already exists, it just needs to be understood and contextualised.

[@punksterbass]

"I'm just not that happy" #relatable

[@fleshman4joe]

same hahahaha *sobs*

[@arthurmee]

Me too.

[@PaulDavids]

Wonderful!

[@BenLevin]

Thanks Paul, I really like your song in pi!

[@isheetfromaswhole3657]

Paul Davids Mundane, Moonlight sonata, and a begining idea. Aka...boring. Moonlight sonata is not boring but this aping is because it represents a starting point. Why did he not finish the piece? I will assume the reason. BORING!!!!!!

[@isheetfromaswhole3657]

gooby pls you think these two individuals are geniuses? Hahahaha!!!!! Thankyou for the laugh!!!! You do not listen to classical or you are very, very casual with using genius as a compliment!!!!!

[@ShortMan_123]

@@isheetfromaswhole3657excuse me?..

[@GuyNamedSean]

The end result to me feels like I’m finding my way out of a dense storm on the seas. I’m not safe yet, but I can see the sunlight beginning to peak out.

[@ajadrew]

You've explained it so effectively with your end result sounding gorgeous...

[@epiczeven6378]

Wow... That was amazing. Inspiring video, you turned a weird ass melody to a beautiful piece.

[@Oweng40000]

You’re like music bob Ross

[@marhobane3040]

In the body of a very tired Frank Zappa.

[@savourymilkman8147]

A Jewish frank zappa

[@JimDooley]

Damnit. I'm trying to get some work done, but I can't pass this video up. Any melody? really? I have to watch.

[@cameodamaneo]

What was your conclusion from this video?

[@jasonsteves734]

+1

[@fryingwiththeantidote2486]

you weak fuck, you would’ve known this already if u payed attention while u were in shoenberg class at primary school. dickweed.

[@fryingwiththeantidote2486]

I didnt watch this video btw, cus i took notes in shoenberg class, i just sensed some dumb shit from this corner of the internet.

[@thecactus7950]

@@fryingwiththeantidote2486 Schoenberg class in primary school?

[@Nyuu3]

Whoa. I wasn't even that sceptical in the first place, but the finished product was still FAR above my expectations.

[@EclecticSceptic]

Yeah same, turned out really well. Could be a song in its own right.

[@FernieCanto]

You can take a 12 tone row and make it "beautiful" through tonality. Or you can see the 12 tone row as beautiful for what it is.

[@bigPianist99]

wolzly1 Can you justify your statement?

[@wolzly1]

Can you discredit it?

[@bigPianist99]

wolzly1 Sort of. I think a 12-tone-row can indeed be a beauty of its own, since even a sequence of notes or some intervals can create emotion. And if something is emotional, it can be considered beautiful, scary, sad - you name it. Beauty has nothing to do with the complexity and/or origin of a piece. Sure, a c#-minor impromptú can be beautiful, just as beautiful as Ligeti's Lux Aeterna - or Arvo Pärt's Credo? The point I am trying to make here is that judging modern compositional techniques to be "hipster bullshit" is just as stupid as calling classical pieces outdated and old-fashioned. A proper musician should altercate each and every style and genre of music and - even if he dislikes it - at the very least appreciate the effort and the intention of the composer. My opinion.

[@wolzly1]

I said post-modernist for a reason, not hipster. And I didn't say bullshit though you can stretch my use of language into more inflammatory regions if that helps you make your argument (I don't think it does). You are making my argument while you try to oppose it: "at the very least appreciate the effort and the intention of the composer". I do. 12 randomly chosen (or nature-inspired, or whatever) tones does not constitute intent.

[@bigPianist99]

wolzly1 I did not quote you, but bring up a general opinion that seems to refuse anything post-classical or consider it unintentional and what not. And according to your comment you also represent that opinion - correct me if I'm wrong. I don't know though why a twelve tone row should be unintentional. For one, the notes are arranged according to strict rules. And other than that, there are certainly reasons why composers pick certain notes over others. Sure, some chose to pick them randomly, but try to get a twelve tone row to actually sound melodic and *beautiful*! It actually takes a lot of effort, understanding and intention. So there's that...

[@zachgalsky]

Imagine going in for a colonoscopy only to have the honor of Dr. Ben Levin showing up

[@jackpepperpwb]

Wha- er... no, no thank you.

[@yonisemel6933]

#relatablw

[@MawcDrums]

And he introduces himself as "Fake Dr. Levin" and lets you know that it's Wanky Wednesday.

[@BenLevin]

We can make that happen!

[@tjprosper7704]

@@BenLevin Legend

[@AimeeNolte]

What a great idea and so well-executed! Maybe someday we can take your crusty music ears and pair them with my ginormous ones and make a 24 tone row with microtones. 🤔😝

[@BenLevin]

I'd be down to work with you anytime, Aimee!

[@juanchis.investigadorsonoro]

@@BenLevin Aimee is everywhere. I'd love to mix whatever you work on. Since I have no music skill I sit on the other side of the desk. :)

[@ThatViolaKid]

That would be so funnnnn

[@jonathantruesdale1707]

How many micro tones are there in a whole step?

[@johnhetherton9005]

@@jonathantruesdale1707 four, if you mean quartertones. like, there are two per semitone

[@boarderking133]

That better be on the the next bent knee record. That was beautiful.

[@gejugfeguug5623]

For someone like me who was really against using atonal concepts such as 12 tone rows in music, this really opened my mind to the possibilities. I always thought 12 tone rows sounded bad because all of the atonal music i have checked out so far have been jarringly dissonant and basically unlistenable for me. This actually sounds tonal in the context of the chords that you chose, but more importantly it sounds really beautiful. I was skeptical that this would turn out good but im glad that you proved me wrong. Keep up the great work ben.

[@ggauche3465]

A listen to some late Stravinsky will cure that. e.g. Variations for Orchestra or Movements for Piano and Orchestra

[@gejugfeguug5623]

Graeme Gerrard thanks for the recommendations. Stravinsky is amazing.

[@ggauche3465]

Neo-classicism or serialism, he is an amazing composer and orchestrator.

[@gejugfeguug5623]

Graeme Gerrard i checked out those 2 pieces u recommended just now and yeah its not for me. Just sounded like insolent noise. I do love stravinsky though. The firebird is one of my favorite songs ever.

[@ggauche3465]

I would have described Mozart's 40th in the same way when I first heard it! I have listened to these and other late Stravinsky pieces a lot over the past 50 years. To me they are breathtaking. We're all different.

[@Anatolat]

I used to use exactly these techniques in my compositions. Some weird things to try in addition: -use functional harmony for your chord progression. The contrast between atonal melody and tonal harmony can be so unexpected -use the 12-tone row as a bass line, and explore different chord qualities. The odd root motion can have surprising effects - for added limitation, take two 12-tone rows (maybe one is a retrograde, inversion, or retrograde inversion of the other - avoid strict transposition, though). Put one as melody, and the other as root motion. Try to find some chord qualities that work

[@matcoddy6097]

also Imitation, etc.,

[@jobiy1999]

I watched a video interview of Jacob Collier recently. In it he theorizes that the harmony of chords can be anything as long as each note has good motion. This video reminded me of that video :)

[@arceom07]

this thing sounds like my homeboy Debussy

[@creatief_met_kaas]

I thought the same thing :O

[@MisterDoctorBaconman]

The techniques and methods he played with were in a similar vein, just not quite as abrasive as a 12tr (for the most part)

[@matcoddy6097]

I've always found Debussy's music hard to follow when analyzing it, etc., but pleasant to listen to.

[@beng2617]

uhh not really?

[@seanmolloy9297]

A Debussy fern, sitting beside a dark Satie.

[@normantepeltu]

This is one of the best composition tools I've ever had explained. Can't wait to try it out!

[@noveltyaccount11]

whenever i am working with a melody that frustrates me, i revisit this video. cannot express how much this has helped me.

[@armadaparade2503]

This is the best education on harmony I think I've ever received. Thank you Ben.

[@BenLevin]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@quizbrennan1939]

Dude people like you are what brings music alive.

[@attuneu]

My current favourite video on music ever. Thankyou

[@instrumentenfreak]

I just love lydian chords

[@zachgalsky]

Very true

[@cstubbssubs7746]

how do ya play that

[@bigPianist99]

The most modern sounding voicing in my opinion. Beautiful!

[@vmdp8790]

instrumentenfreak Thelonius monk

[@AlanNess]

This is inspiring for a music noob like me to hopefully create some magic in music in the future

[@ABCD27814]

Possibly one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard in my life. Genius. Ben you are incredible. Thank you.

[@TheJimmyp427]

That last chord hits so hard

[@paullim1843]

Wow that constellation was truely a thing of beauty

[@jonathanbain2722]

Why ya gotta be so brilliant my guy? Thanks for sharing the good stuff doc

[@daisyrushton1574]

bloody hell that sounds incredible!

[@ASclassical]

This is the beauty of music, you went from having nothing to something unique and wonderful. And a very good practice to gain confidence and ability composing! Thanks

[@notyetskeletal4809]

I wrote the notes on paper, pu them in a ball, shook the ball, picked them out of a ball at random, stuck them to a page and made it work. It was a fun create your own jig saw puzzle. You decide what the picture looks like. I felt like once it was done I needed to turn it into a sprawling epic song so I wrote the chords down and spent my Sunday doing other things instead.

[@ideitbawxproductions1880]

I could never figure out how to get a 12-tone row to sound like anything other than chaos... this has definitely opened my eyes to the possibilities

[@freudsbreakfast4060]

This is phenomenally creative. Very satisfying and obscurely enlightening

[@bundr]

The title didn't lie!! That was AWESOME!! Subscribed!!

[@japas]

Your logic (as well as with the rhytmic indian singing thingy) has really expanded the way I compose. Thank you thank you thank you!!

[@JamesJones-zt2yx]

How neat. It's a tone row, but not the sound I'd always associated with them. The way you used what in math they'd call a locally tonal neighborhood in the tone row is seriously cool!

[@nuxapower]

I know this video is old but suddenly i wanted to harmonize a twelve tone row and this helped me out a lot! Thank you ben

[@brandonmains8958]

Your videos are so sick! Love the clash of art with music you do.

[@exeromusic]

Thank you for this epic demonstration

[@cshirle3]

1) Adam Neely sent me. 2) I love your Nickelodeon-style graphics. 3) Thanks for the beautiful music.

[@ericgill5069]

Ben, having recently discovered you via Samurai, I have been obsessively watching your videos and I just want to tell you that your ideas for practicing and writting music are the most intresting, useful, creative and inspiring thar I have ever seen/heard. I am a trained musician, and studied at Berklee, and in my opinion, your exercises aren't simply out of the box, they kick the box across the room and then smash it to oblivion. I want to thank you for sharing your incredle outlook and methods with the world.

[@brandobin]

I gotta say you are hands down the best music educator I've found on the entirety of the internet. Every video knocks up my muse with new ideas thanks Ben!

[@jungxophr9014]

EVERY video I watch from you gets me to write a new song with an inspiring new perspective. You're a true muse, thank you. This piece is absolutely beautiful!

[@yamashitacoversbyjulianroel]

I wrote a song using this technique and it sounds completely different to all the other stuff I ever wrote. Thanks, Ben!

[@nschul4]

Beautiful results at the end

[@olic9461]

Ben's crusty music ears are my hopes and aspirations

[@rzk_audio]

God damn. You made strides in rpoving your thepry here. I didn't care for the original row on its own - but with the chords, it's absolutely beautiful

[@adrian5b]

The result was mesmerizing… I love you, Ben.

[@TheNormalUniverse]

I loved the constellation metaphor

[@neveratrivers]

Very good!! Simple and beautiful.

[@fudgesauce]

Doh! A missed opportunity. Ben, I was hoping you were going to invite your musically talented subscribers to take the same tone row you selected and have them submit their own treatments of it.

[@jarodnewman5535]

Just do it anyway!

[@threenplustwo9105]

Do it with a different row

[@threenplustwo9105]

Just clarifying, I meant that Ben Levin should challenge his subscribers (or anyone that stumbles on the video, for that matter) to harmonise a 12-tone row.

[@Misa_Susaki]

I mean, he did. At the end. No submissions or prize, just go out there and experiment for yourself!

[@camerontetz2011]

Would have been better with a game attached to it. People like games.

[@ajibanezharvey]

I love this video and I use the same technique in some compositions of my own, I was really excited to see you do it this way as well. I also like the Ron jarzombec 3, 4 note diminished chords idea too, he has a great video on this well. It sounds awesome in Blotted Science!!

[@elistewart8665]

wow this is just beautiful

[@frooshante]

wonderfully done, Mr. Levin. i think i speak for a great lot of us when i say we'd enjoy a piece that develops this melody even further! with real strings!

[@lordapophis93]

Ben, I love your videos because I feel like I relate to your personality and I love it that. Makes it easier for me to put myself out there too.

[@matthewlind3102]

It's like engineering a song. This makes sense to my brain

[@RohannvanRensburg]

I've seen like two of your videos and I auto-hit like on this one as soon as I opened it. You've provided me with more creative inspiration in ~15 mins than many channels have in months.

[@christopherspoelstra1096]

The way you create music is absolutely inspiring!

[@Joshua-sp1kd]

I just had this realization yesterday :’)

[@mikeleffler6051]

Super inspiring! I bet one could determine "a key" that this piece is in. Probably could be interpreted to be in various keys. Part of me likes the freedom of not needing to define it to a key. Another part of me thinks it could be useful for certain purposes, like for remembering the piece and playing it again. Maybe also for connecting with each chord in the key which could support general musicality.

[@pattocetamol]

Great video dude. Really inspired me to try this out. Great choice of chords

[@scottkunghadrengsen2604]

This is fantastic. For years I have been looking for a harmonic practice similar to my melodic one(Raga de Jour)where I make up a scale based on the intervals that feel best to me that day. I love how the melody here is a given and the harmony is given the weight of expressing the spontaneous inner landscape, thanks..

[@danielrc14]

The result was actually fucking beautiful.

[@dclarkmusic]

You ought to make this a full track! Gorgeous.

[@jacktraveller8290]

this is perfect for something I'm writing that's a bit atonal that I've been stuck with the harmony for. Thanks Ben!

[@martinjstephens]

Awesome work! As you point out at the start, the rhythm is also super helpful as it adds a tonne of expression.

[@jeremyy22]

I love your lessons, and have been watching them for years now. I like this approach, but I would like to see how you would approach the same tone row, but with the strict rules of serialism being used for the harmonies too. Amazing lesson as always! Great inspiration!

[@sunloveone]

Amazing... the end result was unexpectedly beautiful sounding!

[@meatymatmart]

The exact type of inspiration I needed today. This channel has helped me for so long, thanks!

[@Thomzbeta]

Beautiful

[@crumb5756]

I need to get onto this level of music theory. Wow, absolutely beautiful. I think Ben must have some good taste to boot

[@opuitska]

Incredible video, mind blowing

[@namanh8547]

It sounds so beautiful .

[@Setri123]

this is plain beauty

[@WizardOfArc]

I've tried using rhythm as a way of making tone rows sound tonal... longer on chord/key tones and shorter on ones that didn't fit. Looks and sounds like your approach is much better.

[@matcoddy6097]

+Azi Crawford Schoenberg would do the opposite of you, trying to make it sound less tonal, by using SHORTER tones on notes that seemed to imply key/chords, etc.,

[@nookers]

You make me happy, Ben. Just the words you use.

[@raydolfmitler7049]

Very, very cool lesson

[@brunocatapluft]

Thumbs up for the metaphor of the constellation!!!

[@dorianclini]

The cat with the sideburns at 1:57 just killed me

[@Batvolt]

Nice job! This was one of the most interesting videos I 've ever seen. You explained it easy to understand and I want to write a tone row boat that will chug down some paddle wheel world I've never heard before.

[@thecosmicartist3060]

this is a really cool video. very insightful to music theory

[@themuffinman751]

Yeah, that was awesome. Great stuff!

[@IsothermeMusic]

Ben, that B #11 chord is gorgeous. Nice movement.

[@sammiller9855]

I love your videos, bro! I love it when chromatic melodies sound as beautiful as diatonic ones, which is what you have done.

[@adamboof6769]

You are such a genius dude!

[@paulski7307]

"Soul crushing beauty" 😂😂 You're amazing and I love what you made of that row. Like a more mature version of something off an early muse album. Keep it up man, great work!

[@liquidamusica]

Holy shit. That was really clarifying, I really needed to learn that specific kind of work process. Thanks a lot Ben! You're the man!

[@henriquecastilho9941]

you are awesome, Ben

[@davidsimpson2560]

That was hauntingly beautiful.

[@calebneff5777]

Honestly, that was one of the most moving pieces of music I’ve ever heard.

[@AnujPoudel017]

Damn. Is it just my ear?? It gave me intense musical tensions. Well the tension thing had to happen, but it was just more than I expected. Nice one. Will try getting one piece done.

[@Philrc]

I might have a go. You make all this stuff look easy...

[@SamChaneyProductions]

I've been really digging into non-functional and pseudo-functional harmony recently and trying to figure out how to force myself to create a composition that employed it, and lo! This is the perfect exercise to release me from my functional harmony cage!

[@BryanDenham]

I just have to tell you , i so much enjoy your videos. you inspire me to want to learn , its exciting when i make the smallest of progress , and your videos are a refreshing look at music theory, id love to have a one on one lesson with you.

[@mezzafinook]

ben! thank you for all the wonderful lessons and your humilty for sharing all of your knowledge with us :)

[@blackgemstone801]

Dude, you care! I haven't seen such passion in a while, great vid

[@diegoherrera2139]

this is fantastic, you´re fantastic

[@vidsantoro]

I can't believe you gave this away for free. Salute

[@Bills_Place]

Stop reading my mind, Ben. A singer I work with recently gave me a vocal melody and asked me to come up with the chords to fit. I sent him a mostly major version, a dark minor one, and a jazz one that got way out there for the third option. Of course, we went with #4 which is totally different at a faster tempo, because there is no "wrong" when it's your own music. Great vid, and a stellar example that shows even the weirdest melody can find a home.

[@najeesimmons6648]

Great exercise!