EDM Theory: Simple Melody Hacks (pt1?) | how to beginners guide

[@DiscoGroovz]

I would like to say thanks for the time and effort you spent on making all these tutorials. I've been struggling with understanding music theory for years, what always negatively influenced my motivation to progress with completing the tracks. Because I'm coming from the technical background, it's much easier for me to remember the formulas that you describe in your videos. This stuff deserves a lot more views. One more time - thank you.

[@Bthelick]

Aw thanks Teddy, that's great to hear. 🙏🙌❤️

[@BaneSanchez]

Ive been Djing for the last couple of years as a hobby and in the last 6 months at a pub/club. I just started my production journey in the last week and i’d just like to say that your channel is a gold mine of information, i’ve only watched a couple of videos and have already learnt so much! Will definitely try to get through them all. Thankyou

[@pavelmolchanov7156]

You're better than many music production courses !!!!

[@dasloopmusik4374]

Thanks for taking the time to put this together. I've spent years perpetually scratching the surface of understanding. Great progression.

[@hardcandyjewelry]

Brilliant! Has got to be the best tutorials on YT! I might actually finish a song going through all your videos.

[@adv8nturenick]

Another great vid. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

[@DrObvious111]

"I knew first 100 videos would suck" but they don't

[@Bthelick]

Haha cheers. The info is in there. I just sound like I'm falling asleep 🤣

[@DrObvious111]

@@Bthelick Don't you worry mate, you're doing your work and it's really amazing!

[@mrmick2878]

So what effect does changing the chord progression have on the strength of melody? I'm wondering about the first note of the melody in the context of the first chord - how do you think about it when you want to achieve the best possible harmony? I understand that the melody you presented here has several different chord combinations, but from a technical point of view some progression is best for it - there is a reason why you chose VI VII i

[@Bthelick]

Yes I'm trying to resolve the chord progression as the melody resolves here. But there is no best possible option though, it's about what emotion you're trying to create. Until you get experienced with knowing how progressions make you feel them you just have try a few and feel it out. Always go with your emotion. Eg, I could keep this same melody and put 1 7 6 underneath if I wanted to create a more drifting vibe, moving away from the 1 with a less certain resolution. See my garage chord video if you want to know about chord functions.

[@aDeedADay]

Hey mate thank you for your videos, I think I've watched nearly all of them now 😂 they're really helping so I'm very grateful. Quick question I'm struggling with if you wouldn't mind answering If I write a chord progression in A minor scale in ableton scale mode say, but want my starting note to begin on say C with my bass notes being the same would that mean my song is then in c minor? Probably a stupid question but getting stuck on that. What determines what key your track is in? Is it whatever the root note of the chords are? Sorry if that doesn't make sense. Thanks for your time

[@Bthelick]

Yes it makes sense and it's not a silly question don't worry. What determines the key of a track are the notes used, and what sounds like its home centre, where it sounds 'finished' or 'at rest' . It doesn't have to be the starting point. If you have everything set to A minor (only white notes ) but never actually use A minor or A in the song , and C sounds like the point of rest, then you are actually in C major. A minor and C major use the same notes so (and some others do too) so yeah it can be confusing. C major is called the relative major of A minor. If your track spends equal time on A or C and neither sounds like the point of rest then it can be classed as either a minor or C major.

[@aDeedADay]

okay great thank you! been trying to figure that out for a couple of weeks... thank you for the response@@Bthelick keep going with the videos they're great man

[@San7hos]

Q&A, is it "normally" called "call and response"?

[@peterkelly8357]

You really should have more viewers / subscribers…. Maybe “theory” scares a lot of people off?

[@Bthelick]

thanks for the compliments Peter. Its certainly a thought yes thanks for the suggestion. I am definitely trying to avoid 'classical' terms in general. Also I've been uploading under the "music" category on KZbins back end, this is the first I've tried under "education" so lets see if that changes anything too.

[@ruk2023--]

If I don't start on the first beat should it be timed to another element?

[@Bthelick]

No the start point doesn't change where the strong beats are, those are tied to the beat /grid.

[@ruk2023--]

3:07 - I think I get it but to make sure - you mean land on the 1st note of the chord not land on chord 1?

[@Bthelick]

Yes , note 1 of the scale. sorry if that wasn't clear

[@Ravix0fFourHorn]

The real questions is how you can make memorable melodies or hooks.

[@Bthelick]

practice, release, learn, repeat!

[@MadelnMachines]

Get lucky or have enough marketing budget to brainwash the general public into remembering it (payola)

[@Bthelick]

@MadelnMachines nah , disagree. It's just not easy. Trust me when you have (correct) information on both sides of the industry not just the outside, you are aware there were far more tracks that had millions behind them that failed than ones that succeeded. Branding is important yes, but that has never changed and it doesn't have to be a manufactured corporate brand. Humans are story tellers by nature that's how we spread ideas. Music alone is never successful without the spread of the idea along side it. That can be done with money, or without. But it still doesn't work if the music or story aren't worth spreading. So many people speak disparagingly of pop music simply because it's popular. But trust me it's not easy to get so many people to understand a piece of art that lasts the test of time (after all, the marketing has gone away)

[@hey_maurice]

Great explanation for those wanting to expand their melody and theory knowledge. Fantastic job. Also… You have a Mr Rogers / Bob Ross level of calmness in your voice. Definitely the right kind of energy for an EDM producer who’s frustrated by music theory. 🫶🏽

[@Bthelick]

Aw thanks. I did jokingly title one of my old acid videos "in the style of Bob Ross" 🤣 After I listened to myself and thought "my word you sound like a boring git" haha but I'm glad it's working in my favour! 😂🙏❤️