EDM Theory : The Secret Sauce Behind Classic Dance Music Riffs

[@axelerator24]

Mate, I’m hooked to your videos. Such a great teacher, and I get the feeling you’re a really good human too. Thanks for doing this ❤

[@csvines21]

I haven’t watched 10 or so of your videos and I just have to say you’re one of the best teachers I’ve ever watched. Fantastic content thank you so much

[@bassyjay6281]

All those tracks were absolute bangers from the 90s, love your channel btheclick, I'm hooked!! ❤

[@Jeremyelrick]

Thanks

[@Bthelick]

Thanks again Jeremy!

[@Jeremyelrick]

@@Bthelick no worries - pinged you on insta!

[@atibakojo3478]

Real world information. From a electronic music standpoint.

[@bellchops2487]

One of the best tutorials I've seen. Great content.

[@chumchum5987]

Love your channel. Keep up the amazing work sir.

[@tonytoniccco]

thank you !!

[@johannesnystad1355]

That bass is so fire

[@jacquessaints]

Fantastic

[@jacquessaints]

Also M1 korg?

[@Williammartto0]

"excellent mixing master" gracias!! MASTER

[@stekra-youtube]

Great input. Simple is king 👑

[@marioferre6253]

learning a lot, big love man!!

[@MRSTU1210]

Excellent subbed

[@Bthelick]

Thank you Stuart ❤️👊🙌

[@MRSTU1210]

@@Bthelick your videos are a great help sir

[@aqrs269]

Fantastic!

[@x-tropic]

Awesome! Big thanks!

[@Chat03848]

Good tutorials, keep them up! Greetings from mexico

[@Bthelick]

Many Thanks Diego!

[@scottshepardson9969]

What notes were you doing with the background arp that come in when the bass changes notes? It's so good.

[@Bthelick]

It's 1 5 7 1(up Oct)

[@johnsignoretti4002]

Awesome!! Any tutorials on EDM melody composition from chords?? Thank you very much

[@Bthelick]

I have some older videos on melody yes. Planning an update though.

[@drthorpe8602]

hello! love your tutorials. would I be write in saying doing a chord sequence in 16th notes seems to be the normal also? on your deadmou5 i remember investigation, it was also a sequence consisting of 6 chords spread out over 16th notes

[@Bthelick]

Do you mean on a 16th grid? Or an actual sequence of chords on 16th notes?

[@MrAngeloDy]

Thanx! Really essential content that no one talks about! I wonder how long are you in the industry? Once again: Thanks!

[@Bthelick]

Let's call it the "music scene" I've been professional for 15 years + now. I partake in the "Industry" bit little as possible haha

[@grahamjay7080]

This is Awesome thank you for this video. is there a video on how you created that rolling bass line?

[@Bthelick]

I haven't. But just draw a row of 16th notes! and maybe put some gaps in where you feel the groove benefits. That's about it honestly. This track is swung so there's swing here too. There's no 'line' as such it's just following the root notes of the chord. Anything specific you're struggling with? I never made a video because I didn't think there was much to explain but that happens a lot when you've done something a million times haha.

[@grahamjay7080]

@@Bthelick thank you, will give it crack.

[@MattShelley138]

Just checking if this a secret quiz? Isn’t 0:50 Insomnia not Offshore 🙃

[@Bthelick]

Yes the first in insomnia, but who said it wasn't?

[@MattShelley138]

@@Bthelick that’s how I took it 😉 Your content btw was my “kick up the pants” to get something released. “If your song sounds like a Grammy winner and you have 5 followers, something is off” was that kick 🏅

[@Bthelick]

Glad to hear. Finishing (and releasing) is it's own practice! Actually that sounds like a video title eh?

[@vince8664]

Hi Ben, What happens if you revoice the third note? Can you still make it a suspended chord or should you only implement this technique when the third note remains in its normal place? I guess the same question applies to the root note of the chord since you moved that down one as well. Would love it if you did another example of this technique. This was awesome, thank you so much! V

[@Bthelick]

If by "third" note you mean the top 🕐 of a normal triad. (The 5th above the root) You can play with that for sure, but that doesn't make it a suspension , that term is only used when the 3rd (above the root) is displaced. Changing the 5th to a 6th will technically change the chord to chord 6 , just inverted with the root at the top. In other words it's no longer an altered chord (like suspended) because those notes exist in another chord. Hope that makes sense. If not, let me know I'll make a video

[@vince8664]

@@Bthelick Thank you for taking the time to respond! Sorry, I meant the 3rd (above the root), like you described. If we move that up an octave to revoice the overall chord could we then move that note up or down by a note to implement this technique like we would have if it was in its normal position? Thanks again!

[@Bthelick]

@@vince8664 oh sorry I see. It all works the same regardless of octave. They are still suspended etc after revoicing

[@vince8664]

@@Bthelick Thanks for confirming, really appreciate it!

[@vanderloo1978]

What was the first song used as an example? I tried to find it using Shazam it, but it didn't work.

[@Bthelick]

The first example after the intro was faithless insomnia.

[@SweetDeltoids]

Great teacher

[@MysticRapture]

Also could you show your voice sidechain settings that you use on your videos? It sounds so radioish. Like that. I have tried to do that on my amateur podcasts but couldnt figure it out correct radioish settings. Thank you.

[@Bthelick]

Hey thanks! I do the side chain in the video editor (davinci) but it's basically just aiming for 12db reduction on the music track (I have a 4:1 ratio set but that will depend on your voice) and have it set to release after 1.2 seconds ish. The sm7b mic certainly helps with the 'radio' it's an og broadcast mic that one.

[@anderhuangmusic]

For bassline, are you just using 1-4-6 in different order and have 7 as passing note? is passing down normally making deeper feeling for deep house?

[@Bthelick]

Yes the bass is playing 6 4 1 7. The 7 can be thought easiest as a passing note/chord yes. But if you want to get technical 😂, it spends equal time on 7 as other notes so it wouldn't normally be seen as a passing chord, instead it can be argued to be full chord movement as some of the riff contains both chord 5 and 7th extension of chord 1, so the 7 in the bass can also be described as either an inversion of chord 5 or chord 1 7th! Regardless, it sounds cool, the description is purely academic. As for deep house , the progression 1 7 6 4 or 1 7 6 5 is very common for that vibe

[@anderhuangmusic]

@@Bthelick Thank you, it really helps! Opened my music theory notebook from college and I've already taken notes from your video, and will try it on my next song for sure. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! 🙏

[@anderhuangmusic]

@@Bthelick 😊Also would be great if you could do a video breakdown Sonny Fodera - Nah. The bassline progression choice, pattern and piano chords.

[@DJCamHarris]

found this one quite interesting but hard to follow especially towards the end.

[@Bthelick]

Yeah sorry I do plan on remaking some of these older vids I wasn't great was I 🤣. At the end I was too excited to show that you could move the bass, but it's off topic, should have been it's own video.

[@DJCamHarris]

Apricated, and reason why im following this one is i reckon its the same theory used by many of my favourite tracks over the years @@Bthelick

[@DJCamHarris]

4th or 5th watch and now i get it and its also the concept behind my fave live track from bicep watch from 1 hr 24 its a beautiful example of it kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIqafmamr72Xi9E @@Bthelick

[@DJCamHarris]

thanks for sharing ;)@@Bthelick

[@NARXOVERHERE]

me tooo ,im so lost at the end , then lost again in the comment section which he wrote explaination for this guy @anderhuangmusic . But before that it is still a great video

[@samiirai]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, the irony. Next up: The secret sauce! Still good stuff tho.

[@Bthelick]

Hahahaha oh yeah I already did it 🤣🤣🤣. forgot about this one 🤦‍♂️

[@puvendranpillay8802]

The first chord trick is very sus

[@ruleset]

I don't know bro, those chords seem kinda sus

[@DjNicoForlanDe]

The first part of the video brings really nice content. The effect of the chord substitution isn't explained in the same detailed and understandable way you used to do. You the shifting bass is nice but the explanation doesn't satisfy me. Just showing something and bringing no rules for that. Feels like joining math class when the teacher just hadn't a clue what he was talking about. When he reproduced stuff of the book. Pitty. Sorry but I had to be honest.

[@Bthelick]

No apology needed! Thanks for the feedback. Though when you say "used to do" you imply before this. But this is a very old video!

[@verbotenco]

Jazz theory dumbed down to 1/10.

[@Bthelick]

Exactly!