Easy BIG Cinematic Chords like Hans Zimmer 🎼 Orchestration

Welcome producers & friends. Today I will teach you how to make those big hollywood cinematic chords. You will learn about orchestrating chord notes from a very basic piano progression. Learn how to beef up those small triad chords into wonderful, dramatic and epic scores like Hans Zimmer and the big guys over in Hollywood. Enjoy!
Watch the sequel episode here:
Easy Cinematic Music like John Williams 🎼 Orchestration
• Easy Cinematic Music l...
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// Mattias Holmgren
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#musictheory #cinematic #musicproduction
CONTENTS
00:00 Intro
00:40 Chords
01:57 Re-arrange the notes
02:15 Double the root (bass) notes
02:43 Add cello bass notes 8va below
03:02 ...even deeper bass
03:13 Voice leading
04:40 Orchestration rules.
04:51 Double the root note
05:04 Double the fifth
05:12 Do not double the third!
06:05 Avoid closed voicing in the low end / bass
06:23 Strings - replace the piano
07:00 Expression
07:47 Modwheel - dynamics expression
08:00 Epic Female Choirs melody
09:55 Alternative melody
10:14 Epic Male Choirs (chords)
11:25 FINAL RESULT
11:38 Summary and ending notes
12:22 How do you make epic music?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

The sequel episode is out - Easy Cinematic Music like John Williams 🎼 Orchestration kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5XOYmSDrbyVp9U

[@mobeltass]

Great video! My favorite trick for creating "epicness" is to have the melody and bass go in opposite directions, so when the melody goes up the bass goes down and vice versa. It really creates both interesting tension and smoothness at the same time, in my opinion.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Great tip! Yeah counter movement is awesome! Thanks! 🌞

[@GoaWay4Sanity]

*I hear what you are saying and I do agree but I just don’t see it: can you explain with a (4) chord progression?*

[@mobeltass]

@@GoaWay4Sanity A bit hard to explain but if you want to go from, say, C to F, you can either go up 3 or down 4 steps. Same for the next chord, whichever it is. And if the melody and bass goes in different directions (which I've now know is called "counter movement") it sounds...better, generally. A good example in my opinion is Pachelbel's canon in D (a.k.a. "See you when you get there" for us who grew up in the 90's), that goes D-A-Bm-F#m, G-D-G-A. If you listen to it you hear that whenever the chords go up the bass goes down.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah its important to study and learn various composing techniques. The more tools you have, the better suited you are for any writing situation. 🎉🥁

[@ivansoto9723]

@@mobeltass Pretty sure your describing first species counterpoint, which is something I just recently learned.

[@NightCityTunes]

it's too rare to find good videos like this

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Oh, thank you. Yeah its super hard to reach an audience through the KZbin noise. Glad you found my videos. ☀️Please share them with your friends. 🙏🥳🥁

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Enjoy the FULL VIDEO. Please let me know what you think about the episode! Happy watch! Welcome producers & friends. Today I will teach you how to make those big hollywood cinematic chords. You will learn about orchestrating chord notes from a very basic piano progression. Learn how to beef up those small triad chords into wonderful, dramatic and epic scores like Hans Zimmer and the big guys over in Hollywood. Enjoy!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

CONTENTS 00:00 Intro 00:40 Chords 01:57 Re-arrange the notes 02:15 Double the root (bass) notes 02:43 Add cello bass notes 8va below 03:02 ...even deeper bass 03:13 Voice leading 04:40 Orchestration rules. 04:51 Double the root note 05:04 Double the fifth 05:12 Do not double the third! 06:05 Avoid closed voicing in the low end / bass 06:23 Strings - replace the piano 07:00 Expression 07:47 Modwheel - dynamics expression 08:00 Epic Female Choirs melody 09:55 Alternative melody 10:14 Epic Male Choirs (chords) 11:25 FINAL RESULT 11:38 Summary and ending notes 12:22 How do you make epic music?

[@detlefkrystofiak3838]

Hello Matthias, thank you very much for this video. I have never seen such a good and understandable explanation when it comes to turning a piano scatch into a nice rich orchestral sound.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Greetz Detlef, happy to hear you enjoy my content and presentation. I've been educating for quite some time now, trying to improve on the way I present, and I'm glad to hear the points come across in this clip. Orchestral composition and arranging is close to heart, love it! So many colors to work with... so many paintings to paint!

[@yashodhanpawar]

This video deserves millions of view. Thanks Mattias for detailed step by step explanation with intuitive video editing and sharing reference links.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks a million Yashodhan, welcome onboard my channel! 🎉🌱🍿🙏😄

[@nomad1517]

Hands down one of the best Bitwig master out there.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Oh I don’t know about that. But flad u enjoy the video my friend! 👌🥁🎉😄

[@humblemai2211]

Great teacher always

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks, appreciate the feedback! 🙏🍿😃☕️🥁

[@humblemai2211]

Please make more tutorial like this...thanks

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Here is the next episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5XOYmSDrbyVp9U 🍿 More is coming! 😉💫

[@stephenogrady7583]

Very good tutorial. I learned something helpful.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Wonderful 🎉🚀😄☕️

[@MattiasHolmgren]

If you like my Cinematic Chords video you might like❤ this one too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaarpZyEbs2LmZo

[@Bashanvibe]

I really appreciate how you showed both sides the piano side and drawing in

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah not everybody is skilled with piano / keyboard playing so I thought about showing both ways so anybody can follow along! Thanks! 🍿🌞

[@MattiasHolmgren]

BREAKING NEWS! Enroll my Logic Pro for Beginners Course 👉 bit.ly/3yYtSDI

[@kathleen7849]

Thank you. I really appreciate how you patiently broke it down into simple bites for beginners like me.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Wonderful Kathleen, appreciate the kind feedback. I think its super fun to share these small tips and techniques. 🙏🎉😄🥁

[@RogerioValgode]

Best practical video I found until now about easy orchestration! This is gold to me. thank you so much for sharing.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Wonderful, thanks! 🙏💎😄

[@LeiChat]

Loving your content. Thank you. Especially enjoyed the video production in this one with the split shot format.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks happy to hear you enjoy the format. I will make more episodes in similar approach then. ☀️🍿🎻🥁🥳☕️

[@ivansoto9723]

5:38 This actually helps me a lot. I'm more from a Jazz and RnB background so my first instinct is to omit fifths and to even just use the root in the bass. Basically to omit anything harmonically redundant. So it makes sense why I had no clue how to get 'this' sound.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Wonderful, I'm making some sequal episodes to this one which will be out soon ;)

[@SaloLoyo]

AMAZING video!!!!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks Salo 😄🙏💎

[@robertfieldsjr.5919]

Very good thank you so much

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Awesome, glad u enjoy my little orchestration clip!

[@pedromanuelmorenolara745]

Magnífico tutorial. Muchas gracias.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

You are welcome my friend! 🥁💎☕️☀️👌

[@juanrojas7505]

Gracias, Maestro!! I always learn something new in your channel. Thanks for your amazing content and I hope your channel keeps on stacking more views. 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thank you sooo much Juan! I'm working hard on the content!🙏🍿🌞☕😃

[@stephencampbell7427]

Thanks so much for all the detailed information. Very well done. I am trying out these concepts tonight.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Happy to inspire Stephen! ☕️🥁🥳 Thanks for writing!

[@shahere_art]

Amazing, Thank you

[@MattiasHolmgren]

You are Welcome! 😋

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hey guys, My LOGIC PRO Course will soon launch 👉 store.morningdewmedia.com/

[@octanehead]

Great video Mattias! Thanks for the inspiration! 🎉

[@MattiasHolmgren]

My pleasure Carl!!

[@MaybeLoveHate]

Even more magnificent with the choir and melody : )

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks MLH, the choirs does the trick. Fools anyone. lol, nah, but you always hear the human character (choir) in most epic pieces. At least in the climax...always. Love it! It's the final spice to sparkle on top of the arrangement. ;)

[@YourMomsSideDude]

I've learned much more from this video than what you intended to teach. Thank you.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hidden agenda, 😂 thats the intention of my content! Happy to hear you enjoy my content! 🎻☕️🥳🥁🍿

[@TechPithan]

Thanks a lot. Really useful video!!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Superb! Happy to inspire with some chords and melodies! 🙏🎉

[@400amgm]

thank you for the video! gotta love your content!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Happy to inspire!😁🥁

[@arjenarend7755]

Great video and good to see how you arrange the notes of your chords..... thanks for your effort

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Glad it was helpful Arjen! Yeah it's a good practise in any music to re-arrange the notes for smooth voice leading. It instantly sounds...smoother. ;) THanks for the watch!

[@StephanieSante]

Really well done. Thank you Mattias.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks Steph, so glad u enjoy my content! ☕️☀️🥳

[@travislee9662]

Wow first video I’ve seen of yours…SUBSCRIBED!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Welcome aboard Travis! Thanks for subscribing. Hope you'll like my other content too! 🙏🍿😃

[@denisburkatsky2436]

great explanation! I learned smth :)

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joostvanbunnik7646]

Nice tut

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks ☕️

[@sanjaycolaco]

Thanks Mattias for this easy to understand video on fattening the harmony. Your videos are clear and easy to understand. And yes, I have already subscribed. Have a Blessed day!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks Sanjay, very warm words! Glad to hear you enjoy my content. Keep any comments, questions and feedback coming! 👍🥳☀️☕️🥁🌱💎 thx for the sub!!

[@minisynthmaniac]

Amazingly valuable tutorial!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks Mallardo! 🙏 My film scoring series contain similar tips! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6fQd3dtrapojJo

[@soundscapejourneys-wileymonroe]

Thank you very much Mattias! I plan on applying these really good techniques in some of my orchestral jams

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Wonderful, happy to inspire! 🙏🥁😄🎉

[@mupicap7927]

In my Newbie ear, Zimmer was kind of pop music simple and effective John W. Kind of Jazz music. 😊

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Very much so. Quite descriptive from a zoomed out perspective. ✌️🥁😄

[@ronaldcelano4263]

Great video!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Glad you enjoyed it Ronald!

[@santiagogomezmejia4365]

Nice vídeo! Thanks

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks for writing Santiago. 🙏 happy to hear you like my cinematic chords video! 💎

[@eddaley7911]

Great input!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks Ed! ☕️☀️

[@PhyllisienneBrincat]

Thank you

[@MattiasHolmgren]

You're welcome! Happy to hear you enjoyed my little clip Phyllisienne!

[@babyfacelokito2469]

Wow this is epic man. Subcribed

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Awesome, thx! Lemme know what you think of my other videos!

[@PJ-ee5mc]

As I begin my journey into orchestration this video (after the dozens upon dozens that I have viewed thus far) is undoubtedly most valuable. This is a wonderful presentation that should be required viewing for ANY music lover. Thank you 100 times, Mattais!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Wow, thank you PJ! I'm so glad this video is starting to get viral, I'm gonna produce more in the series! Love back! 🍿☕🙏🌞

[@PJ-ee5mc]

@@MattiasHolmgren- Thank you, Mattias. We must be on different DAWs :) I can't find a way to double the size of my chords as easily as you did here without the notes overlapping! I wonder if Logic has this feature. I have tried everything... I think!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah you can definitely do this in Logic. I do it all the time. Logic Pro is my main DAW too 👌😃🥁

[@PJ-ee5mc]

@@MattiasHolmgren Good news! Now all I have to do is figure out how to do it :) By the way, I went through your video today with a young guy that I have been teaching some of my old guitar licks to and we recreated your entire lesson with brilliant results using my Abbey Road One library and Spitfire's Choir. There is a great lesson there. You have a couple of new fans.

[@SergeGolikov]

Agree whole heartedly!

[@SimonMac]

Epic. Very easy to follow - thanks for this content!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks for the sweet feedback Simon! 🥁✌️😄☀️

[@SergeGolikov]

LIKED and SUBSCRIBED! You deserve every success, your teaching style and production quality is EPIC! Thank you🍷

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Welcome aboard Sergei. Thanks for the kind words and the subscribe. 🙏☕😄 I'm just rolling out memberships here on my KZbin channel so people can support my channel and get exclusive perks - check it out here: kzbin.info/door/PI1x2iyASeNaeRYVSGXTqAjoin

[@DavidArgunetta]

Thanks Mattias, I use that metod all time.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Excellent David, it really improves the sound!

[@williamshaneblyth]

Legend!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Shane 👌🎉👑

[@huggosousa1064]

from angolan, your lesson today wos as amazing as the other day

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Wonderful to hear you got inspired by my little cinematic chord video Huggo! 🙏🍿🎉

[@Pimp-Master]

I just want to record The Outer Limits signature chord bash at the beginning of the show, which reminds me of "The Hard Days Night" chord.

[@MehulPandya11]

Thankyou Sir

[@MattiasHolmgren]

You are welcome Mehul! 😄☕

[@sangitaghosh8480]

Epic Tutorial ❤🙏

[@MattiasHolmgren]

You know it Sangita, when we go epic we do it full on! 🌞🎉👌😀

[@JayMitchellMusic]

Great vid! I’d love to see you continue this track to a finished project! Make it a series!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Great idea Jay. There are so many topics rolling but thats a good one. 🥁👌☀️thanks!

[@MBContentCoach]

Thanks for the video Mattias. I'm new to Bitwig and this is so much BETTER than Ableton. Glad these guys chose to go the right way!!!!!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Glad to have you onboard this musical ship! 🏴‍☠️🥁🥳

[@chrisrdgymnasticsmusicsports]

tnx for this..this is very great bro...Love from Oman..i am learning a lot from you

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Awesome, good to have you onboard. Love to hear what music concept videos the community like. Ill make more of these for sure! Thanks Chris! 🎹☀️📦🥁

[@TheBawss90]

Awesome, I didn't know about metropolis ark but I'll have to check it out now!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Great, the Ark series is a really powerful suite and they (Orchestral Tools) now offer them in a bundle which is nice! Thanks for writing Thomas!

[@DeeNimmin]

Fantastic video, thank you. How do you like those headphones? Those are the S4 mixing, correct?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hi Dee, its the Ollo Audio S4X headphones, i love em. Superb sound!

[@Antoine-dk5fs]

Super vidéo, merci Mattias, c'est vraiment très intéressant.👍👏👏👏👏

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Oh thank tou Antoine! More is coming and hope you like my previous episodes too! 🙏🥁😄☕️

[@Antoine-dk5fs]

@@MattiasHolmgren oui je suis fasciné par toutes ces techniques, je pourrais regarder tes vidéos pendant des heures 😁, merci encore 👍👏👏👏

[@milindborde1875]

NIC ONE

[@MattiasHolmgren]

THX!

[@basicinfo7582]

man you are doing epic service to mankind

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks, glad u like my content! 🙏👌💎

[@basicinfo7582]

@@MattiasHolmgren The quality of tutorial is much more amazing I have started to make my own youtube content for which I needed some bg music and i have zero knowledge of chords but know fl studio a little . I know the effort it takes to edit and upload a video like this. Thanks your channel is a big help .If you have time do put a video for content makers like us on how to process or record crisp voice like yours . In your case i am presuming its natural talent😃

[@gabrielirlanda]

A big fat thanks!, just a tip to keep it rolling!! when you are done and finished in E, instead of repeating and starting from A again you can do a transition a couple of times going to F and go on (F D E) and then start again in A. It sounds good and you can repeat the chord maybe forever. 😁

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks ;)

[@hireality]

Mycket bra video Mattias 👍

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Tackar, kul att inspirera med lite musikteori. 🎉

[@MoonWalkersbin]

very good explanation

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Glad you think so! Hope you like my other episodes too! 🍿🙏😀

[@MoonWalkersbin]

@@MattiasHolmgren i am sbuscribed already 🙂

[@MattiasHolmgren]

🙏🍿🥳

[@HaakvikKrona]

What a good explanation and beautiful dialect. You got a sub from me easy

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks, welcome 🙏

[@dafingaz]

Nice

[@MattiasHolmgren]

🙏 thanks

[@dafingaz]

@@MattiasHolmgren You're welcome! Thank you too!

[@GoaWay4Sanity]

*Am, F, Dm, E aka the Eminor chord, just add a flat(2)*

[@justenginkaptanoglu]

[@josephbutler8772]

Thanks, this was so helpful!! I love this approach of showing how to take some chords and make them bigger. I'm wondering if there are any techniques to make the chords even bigger? like is it ok in orchestral rules to double both the root and the fifth? Maybe drop the low notes into a third octave down?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hi Joseph, yes we only touched on ”the orchestral rules” in the video because they should only be treated as guides and Is the universal approach in traditional orchestral music, more specifically four part writing. Most commonly you use doubling of root, fifth when you have more colored notes in the following chords…like 7th chord. When you transition from a triad (3 note) to a more colored 7th chord (4 note) things become a bit more tricky and you need to do doubling in root, fifth etc between chords to get a smoother transition between the notes. Hehe, and so every note has ”somewhere to go” I didnt go to far into explaining these concepts but I hope to do so in upcoming episodes. Happy to hear you enjoy this video format. I had a blast! 🎻🥳🥁☕️

[@josephbutler8772]

@@MattiasHolmgren thanks for the informative reply. That makes perfect sense. I feel like I'm one step closer to achieving the kind of pads I'm after. Keeping the low notes sparse and not doubling the thirds are both such simple and helpful concepts to be aware of for that lush sound! BTW it was great that you started by playing those chords at the start. I would love to see more videos like this that take a really cool cinematic sound and then break it down into its core concepts.

[@bdatony]

Very very good video! But so strange that i learned all these tricks by my self when i heard about chord-inversions when i was young. I really didn't know that it was correct 🙂 Thank you for a really good explaining.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks Tony, yeah chord inversions is key to a smooth voice leading and professional sound. Glad you enjoyed the cinematic chords video!

[@twiglet2214]

I'm just learning composition and my teacher asked me to get someone to give me a colour,a feeling and a location as a prompt/theme for the music ( 4 bars ).It's a good start and worked well for me - restriction !

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah you dont need more to get started. Keep it simple at writing stage. 🥁😄

[@levosing7200]

I feel using higher voicing to create and release tension related to the chord below each degree could be a useful tool. Bringing tension and resolution within the chords is also more moving for the listener. Some say that some scales are more epics than others also. Good video anyway. simple and efficient.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Absolutely in classical pieces I like to ”selectively and to taste” use closed voicings (1-2 semitones apart) in the higher register which goes into resolution. Its very effective. I did that in the piano playing in the very beginning of the video when I played the soft piano live at the very last chord. Suspended chords are also awesome. Anything goes as long it fits the song at hand. 🎻🎹🥁🍿☕️🥳 Thanks for the kind feedback!

[@girlslovedonuts8791]

I watch succession too much but this sounds like the intro

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks 🌱 yeah succession is lovely but never knew it sounded similar 😄🥳💎

[@eDrumsInANutshell]

Hi! Ha, I am a drummer and pretty proud that I got everything you said. 🙂 The company 8DIO has a very cool choir library for sale right now. Requiem Pro. I am still thinking of grabbing that ...

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks, drummer here too. 😂 yeah 8DIO has lovely sounds, I use insolidus and Lacrimosa. 👌😄🥁

[@Canqwertz1]

Great Video!🙌🏻 A „Making of“ of one of your Epic soundtracks would be very interessting

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks, all in due time. I will go through some tracks from Diabolical Lilith double album soon. 🎻☕️🥳

[@Canqwertz1]

@@MattiasHolmgren Hell Yeah💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 I have a question, is the m1 pro (8 or 10 cores) with 16gb of ram capable of running complex orchestral/hybrid music? I am considering buying one for my setup. I use Nucleus, Spitfire Albion, Native Instruments Symphony Series, Forzo, Heavyocity Gravity, Symphonic Destruction, Strings Quartett, Project Sam Symphobia 1. does the m1 pro with 16gb of ram is enough (with swap memory) or do you recommend going higher?

[@paulallenMacca]

Thanks for sharing this tutorial,to me it sounds a bit like part of a James Bond Movie maybe Skyfall.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Oh yeah, love the Skyfall film. 👌🍿you are welcome.

[@robertbaaij9682]

Hi Mattias, another great video from you, learned a lot today. What is that background music of this video?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks Robert, background music is always my own themes and songs. This video begins with my track ”Icarienna”. Its on most streaming platforms. Very happy with that song.

[@joni.sirvio8867]

its really easy. just get best samples and double the 5th :D

[@MattiasHolmgren]

😂🎉👌😄

[@axonathan]

Nice video, probably worth noting that rearranging the notes of the chords is also called chord inversions.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

You are right Nathan. We were indeed tossing the chords in 1st and 2nd inversions.🎻

[@Daddytang67]

Great content! Subscribed. What is the pad stylus you are using?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks. I am using a Wacom Intous because its ergonomic and easy on the body when you edit a lot. No going back to mouses after that. I did a few videos on why, one is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sH7ag5-pfLKUe8U

[@Daddytang67]

@@MattiasHolmgren Thanks. I am experiencing tennis elbow and need to make a change.

[@ctd_audio]

Great vid mate! Slightly off the topic of the video, but how do you find the Metropolis Ark libraries? And which is your fav/one to recommend if you don't have any of them? I have a few spitfire libraries (BBCSO, Albion Solstice/Tundra) but could do with an epic orchestral library with choirs! Ark 1 sounded fantastic in this.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hi Chris, Metropolis Ark sample library series is developed by Orchestral Tools. They recently released Ark 5 which is a library I covered a few weeks back. Metropolis, especiall Ark 1, is among the best when it comes to fff (fortissimo, as loud as possible). It's insanely impactful, Albion One is another alternative which I also use all over the place on my double album Diabolical Lilith. Ark 2 goes into smoother softer territory. I believe they have a bundle now for the whole collection, check on their website.

[@ctd_audio]

@@MattiasHolmgren Cheers, will check your vid out but sounds like Ark 1 fits the bill. Thanks for the info!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Awesome, give it a check! I'm thinking about doing a coverage of Metropolis Ark 1 in some upcoming video, it's a nice lib for "full on" epic music.

[@ademozarslan]

🥳

[@craia25]

if you double the fith, you should not also take the fifh is the deep notes? ;-)

[@the_mr_brandon]

Clicked for the the Summit thumbnail . Got an ableton piano roll instead 😥

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Summit review and tutorial is in the next video. Don’t worry.all in due time. That one takes longer to prepare and shoot since the Novation Summit is such a beast. ☀️🥁☕️🍿

[@anthonyworthydaretodreammu2451]

HI Mattias...What's the name of the pad you are using to compose in your DAW?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hi, I am using a Wacom Intous Pro medium sized drawing tablet. Highly recommend it. You can check my gear with affiliate links at this page: www.morningdewmedia.com/resources-for-music-production-and-video/

[@obertscloud]

so breaking rules of theory here and progression, my music theory professor is screaming at you

[@jaydenfehr5571]

I'm still amazed that this man is using a touch pad!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

😂👌😄

[@robertsimondj]

Hi Mattias, I'm Robert from Hungary! What do you think about Artiria Minilab Mk2? Do you used it? Maybe have you got a vlog with it?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hey Robert, I do have a Arturia Keystep 37 which I use in many of my late videos (past year or so) but have no experience with a Minilab. ☕️ Do you use one yourself?

[@robertsimondj]

@@MattiasHolmgren I just ordered :) I heard good things about the company and Minilab as well. I love your videos, I recently found you, but I try to watch your older videos as well. Thank you for the fast answer :)

[@LeiChat]

Hi Mattias, the link to your Discord in this video description is not working for me, has it expired?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hey, odd, this Discord invite link should not expire: discord.gg/fkDw4uu

[@carsten7058]

Did you use the Am Scale? But I can not find Emajor in there, that you use? I find only Em? So does scale not matter in cinematic film score? I am a beginner, so maybe I am wrong. Best wishes to you!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yes, scale is always in the works. 😄 This is "A Dorian" scale. The chords are constructed from a minor scale, with a raised 6th (F becomes F#)

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Dorian is W,H,W,W,W,H,W (w = wholestep, h = halfstep) in A, that's: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G, A

[@marcelfrehse]

what exactly is "dynamic expression" in Bitwig ? you wrote an automation, but for what ? is it velocity, or volume ?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

CC1 - Modwheel (somwtimes CC11 - Expression). Expression is a parameter in a sampler / synth which controls the volume and intensity of an instrument. Not just volume, but intensity.

[@marcelfrehse]

@@MattiasHolmgren i see. thank you. because CC1 is Modulation (Vibrato) by default.

[@StepanTrnka]

Nice video, but I can't get one thing... Please, what does the note at 5:40 mean?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hi Stepan, it's an E (the root note of the E major chord) . In normal (root position) the E chord is E, G#, B. But I have the chord in 1st inversion, E is an octave up. So we have G#, B, E instead. At 5:40 we double that E (chord root note) and put it another octave up. In orchestration doubling of root and fifth is very common. One of the traditional "orchestration rules" is to not double the third, which is already such a strong note in a chord. Did that make any more sense? ;)

[@StepanTrnka]

@@MattiasHolmgren Thank you very much!

[@mikecodev]

I Really like your content Mattias! For those hobbyists like me that don't want to break their wallet (nor go the Sparrow way) Here is a list of free VSTs you can use to follow this tutorial: Full orchestra with strings of course: BCCSO Discover (free with a survey and a short waiting time, totally worth it imho!) Choir: LABS - Choir by Spitfire Audio And for piano there are several options: LABS - Soft piano by Spitfire Audio again Bigcat pianos Soundmagic Piano One Enjoy!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hey Mike, thanks happy to hear you enjoy my little channel and content! Great tips on those free libraries. I intend to do an episode on what libs I use and free / cheap alternatives.

[@mikecodev]

@@MattiasHolmgren That would be awesome! By the way, I use the same midi keyboard as yours, love it! I just wish I could deactivate the blinking lights on the octave buttons tho haha

[@iammikedaniels]

I see you're using a bamboo pad-like device as your mouse. What is it and how you like using that over a mouse?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hey Mike, Im using a Wacom Intous (multi touch enabled) tablet. Its very ergonomic, supports gestures and is very convenient for most editing tasks. Been working computers since 1990, In the past with mouse I started to get problem with shoulders, the famous tennis elbow, neck etc. So I started using a Wacom because it gives a more natural working position. Give it a try! 🥁😃🎉

[@indradhanush5444]

Sir ..i want to learn music composition ..if you have any course related ...plz guide me ..iam from India sir .. I want to compose music ..

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hi, I currently have two courses out on Logic Pro and Bitwig. I am preparing more courses on music theory and composition. 🌱😄🍿

[@MattiasHolmgren]

What instrument do you primarily play? Do you know music theory basics?

[@indradhanush5444]

@@MattiasHolmgren yes sir ..i know the basics...and i play piano

[@msmith2961]

Interesting stuff, but I wish the Metropolis Ark 1 pack didn't cost EUR550. Anybody know a free / lower cost alternative choir/vocal pack to follow along?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

8DiO Insolidus was $80 a few days back. Its one of the best choirs… and Lacrimosa. I love em!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Did u check Project Sam Essentials?

[@msmith2961]

I will now, thanks for the suggestions.

[@insomnia1on1]

Atmos please

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Atmos on what? 😋🍿

[@hatecrewsix2]

The best school is listening 17 and 19th century music in minor keys. Russians are good doing dark music.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Oh yeah? My fav of the old composer guard; Chopin, Tjajkovsij, Stravinski, Paganini, Holst, Dvorak, Debussy.

[@alienanxiety]

I’m confused why the thumbnail for this video was a Novation Summit. Did I miss something?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Its’ just a keybed. I love playing on it, could have been any keyboard though. Just happened to use the Novation Summit in this video. 😁🥳☕️

[@alienanxiety]

@@MattiasHolmgren I enjoyed the video. I just didn’t see a Summit anywhere in it. Haha I was waiting for the Summit part. All I saw in this video was the Keystep. It’s all good though. Super informative music theory is always appreciated!! ❤

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Haha oh totallt forgot. But it was probably because it looks good in picture in this thumb! 😁😂 glad u enjoyed it. 🌱

[@jimmylaze]

Sequencer! I kinda hate how every one calls it a DAW these days

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Oh yeah, how come? 😄🥁

[@jimmylaze]

@@MattiasHolmgren you have to explain what daw stands for and, in a round about way, end up saying sequencer anyway. It just sounds cooler basically

[@victoriyebutemeh]

Where's the BRAAAAAAAAM?! 😭

[@MattiasHolmgren]

The Brahm is not in the chords. ;) Only for specific occasions when you’re deep within the dream within a dream. 😂😄