Easy ways to voice strings that always work

In this video I go through some simple arranging and voicing techniques for the string section. Easy doesn't always mean basic, in fact I use these all the time myself.
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0:00 intro
0:15 block chords
1:38 voice leading
3:59 open chords
5:22 octaves
6:58 interlocking divisi
9:22 divisi and extensions

[@ZachHeyde]

This is pure gold 🏆 Will be -stealing- borrowing all of this promptly.

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thank my man! Appreciate it 😁

[@MattiaChiappa]

Which one was your favorite? I vote for open voicings 😁

[@FlartusMenix]

Open voiving, I use it a lot with Trombones :)

[@ZenzelStephens]

Divisi and extensions was my favorite, so much flavor lol.

[@curioso....]

I like the richness of the closed voicing. Actually this progression is interesting, it has several key changes and borrowed chords.

[@andallicansayis]

at 3:09 Mattia turned into a Guy Ritchie character: "Also if you, fockerz.."

[@BaraMatahariPagi]

THANK YOU for this Mattia, I've been waiting for this video! Open voicings sound really good for strings, but those extensions are on another level man! Nice one 😎🤌🏼

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks Bara, glad you’ve enjoyed it!

[@5ammy13]

Thank you for so much. This was exactly what I needed. Amazing stuff❤❤❤ can't wait for brass voicings too ☺️

[@EDUMSOUZA]

Again and again.. what a great explanation! When in a simple lesson the Music happens!! Thanks!!

[@NathanJMorris1]

Great explanation of voice leading and contrary bass-soprano motion. You introduce lots of important concepts.

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks!

[@thesaint7380]

Wow, thank you so much ! Straight to the point explanation and beautiful examples, really helpfull !

[@pinestreetstudios]

Incredible video. Very informative, keep it up!

[@ObsessiveCostumingDude]

Great tips and examples as always. Thanks Mattia! :)

[@sfJomusic]

Beautiful demonstration !

[@MeghdadShahhosseinimusic]

Your videos are really very helpful and informative, thank you 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@edbuller4435]

awesome !...Love the way the video takes the chords from standard sound into Miklos Rozsa Ben Hur Territory ! then finally Nelson Riddle !

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks Ed! Hope you’ve been well 😁

[@soulscape5083]

I cannot shake out the idea of you cast as a shady character in a medieval adventure movie:)) Thanks for these “treasures” of teachings! 🙌🏼

[@MattiaChiappa]

Ahahah you get me! One that dies a most painful gruesome death. That’d be right up my alley

[@coryprim2941]

Great video! Could you make a video explaining your process for harmonizing the melody?

[@grantfloering]

This content is as rich as those extensions! Thank you for sharing!

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks 😁

[@michaelstevenson5570]

So good as always! Thank you 😊

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks!

[@paulthiebaut]

interesting topic, effective examples, you're the best.

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks Paul!

[@Mojo_Musik]

Excellent video! Thank you Mattia. From a loyal Patreon

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks man!

[@phaeraofficial]

Thanks for the great videos. They always inspire me for trying out different approaches! This Progression sounds so familiar…but I can’t remember where I heard it. This makes me crazy! 😂

[@brettclarinmusic]

Nothing worse than not being able remember a song!!!!!! It reminds me of the Queen song ‘Who wants to Live Forever’ , very powerful. I hope that was it.😊

[@Nick.Magnus]

@@brettclarinmusic That parallel chord movement in bars 5 and 6 remind me of the central theme from James Horner's 'A Beautiful Mind' score. Yours is obviously not the same chord sequence, but it has a similar flavour. Love it!

[@doomboogie315]

Avatar

[@rafaelhernandez5550]

Great video you are a very talent and not just that also share it with us. Thank you very much,

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks!

[@JeffEcargMusic]

Nice

[@Somer144]

Great vid! I'm going to have to join your Patreon.

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks! You don't have to, but you can if you want :)

[@Somer144]

@@MattiaChiappa I'm learning a lot from you, and since I play by ear, your videos are extremely useful, so it's definitely worth supporting you. Plus, I'm a fellow guitarist, (8-D 🎸

[@FlartusMenix]

Perfect :)

[@yvanroustan4426]

thank you for all your videos Mattia ! i would like to study - with the aim to make a mockup / rescore of "Wobani Imperial Labor Camp (From "Rogue One: A Star Wars)" do you have any tips or do you plan to analysis it ?

[@TheCoolj1212]

Great video Mattia! Also, have you thought of getting divisimate for videos like this? It might cut down the workload a bit.

[@MattiaChiappa]

You guys mention it from time to time but I still have to check that out. I will at some point :)

[@boniuerlee1837]

Very effective tutorial, very helpful in the long run and much appreciated. BTW,can you tell me what brand of midi expression controller you are using?With heartfelt appreciation！

[@MattiaChiappa]

Thanks! I used a TE breath controller, a jl cooper fadermaster pro and the keyboard is a studio logic sl88 grand

[@boniuerlee1837]

@@MattiaChiappa GOT IT！Thanks！

[@5ammy13]

Also Mattia, noticed that you're using the Breath Controller. Do you prefer it to the Modulation Wheel/Faders? Does it also capture Bite Information? I was looking at both the Breath Controller and the Breath + Bite controller but didn't know how it'll work out for Strings.

[@MattiaChiappa]

I only got it recently and I’m still learning to use it but I like it so far. This one doesn’t have bite, just breath. I don’t normally use it for strings just but it’s good when you want to play chords with 2 hands like you see me doing here.

[@5ammy13]

@@MattiaChiappa ah okay. So would you say it makes quite a difference if you don't play a lot with two hands? I'm fine playing with two hands and then recording the midi cc after. If the Breath Controller does add in the human modulation and expression, then I think it may be worth it no?

[@MattiaChiappa]

@@5ammy13 Yeah, it’s very handy for specific situations like this one because it removes a step and I can show you guys what I play in real time. It’s awesome for modeled instruments like sample modeling which I use a lot! It’s very rewarding but it is something you have to practice to make the most out of it, so it may not be for everybody. Your call brother!

[@5ammy13]

@@MattiaChiappa thanks for that Mattia. I think I'll hold back on that then cause I find working with faders comfortable enough. If I was playing live a lot this would definitely be something I'd consider. I also was looking at a MIDI Ring, but I don't like how the batteries on those things aren't replaceable.

[@MrFalkbossa]

Hi Mattia, you use the following progression in your example chord progression: Gm/Bb Db/F Fm/Ab B/D# This chord progression sounds totally familiar to me, but I can't remember which piece it was. Can you help me?

[@MattiaChiappa]

Hi, I really don’t know. It’s a simple progression though and I’m sure just like any other it must have been used in all sorts of music before. I wasn’t thinking of anything specific when I wrote it.

[@MrFalkbossa]

Many thanks for the quick reply! Maybe someone from the community can help?@@MattiaChiappa

[@boniuerlee1837]

I am a big fan of yours！！！！！

[@MattiaChiappa]

thanks for the donation man, really appreciate it!

[@boniuerlee1837]

​@@MattiaChiappa I just sent an email on your personal website, please check it if you have some free time, thanks!

[@shitlordflytrap1078]

Where is this melody from? I swear I've heard it before in a movie.

[@brettclarinmusic]

I just mentioned to someone else it sounds like Queen ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’

[@octavianlupashco235]

Маттия очень интерестный и полезный контент.я как новичок ...длиные ноты аккорда пишу на 1скрипку с динамикой.копирую не 4 инструмента...1ск.2 ск.альт и виолончель.и в каждом интрументе -1ск удаляю 2 нижних голоса.2ск удаляю 2 верхних голоса.альт удаляю верний и нижний голос а виолончели дублирую 1ск на октаву или 2октавы вниз.про бас и дублирующий виолончель не говорю.как для начало звучит не плохо...у меня Cubase10...и BBC Core.спасибо за очень полезное видео.привет из Украины.удачи.

[@goodmusic7459]

Eyes of pure evil ….

[@MattiaChiappa]

Ahah I don’t disagree, but what makes you say so?