How Hans Zimmer Crafts Music Masterpieces

In this video I talk about how Hans Zimmer has written some of the best film music ever written and what we can learn from it! Hans has written music for films like Inception, Interstellar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Batman, The Crown and many others. In this video I dissect his music to find what we can learn from how he writes music.
Looking for some help with the piano?
www.matthewcaw...
If you have anything to add, be sure to comment! Let me know about your experiences with piano. If you found the video useful then hit me up with a big like and one of those subscribes.
Socials:
KZbin: / matthewcawood1
Instagram: matticawood
TikTok: tiktok.com/@matticawood
Website: www.matthewcaw...
For enquiries:
[e-mail]
MY EQUIPMENT (affiliate links included):
Camera: Sony A7iv - amzn.to/3zH8S58
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 - amzn.to/3UjFKtn
2nd Camera: Sony ZV-1 - amzn.to/3zCAEQv
Overhead Microphone: Rode NTG2 - amzn.to/3fAYLZ6
Background Lights: Govee Light Bars - amzn.to/3sZYou9
Lighting: Neewer Soft Box - amzn.to/3NxpOki
Electric Piano: Yamaha P45 - amzn.to/3Wt0DUc
Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 - amzn.to/3FJzbvE
Recording Microphone: Shure SM7B - amzn.to/3T8BCe6
Desk Microphone Arm: Rode PSA1 - amzn.to/3h3ybbf
Piano Microphones: Rode M5 - amzn.to/3t1XKfq
Electric Guitar - Epiphone ES-339 - amzn.to/3WtZaNj
Bass Guitar (not the exact one, but similar) - amzn.to/3WygTDE
Electric Drum Kit: Alesis Crimson II - amzn.to/3FM9RoC
Midi Keyboard: M-Audio Oxygen Pro 61 - amzn.to/3sWv5IN
#HansZimmer #PianistExplains #learnpiano

[@ochreJ]

hans zimmer is def a harmonic composer rather than a melodic composer; the chord progressions are the foundation and some of his work is very textural as a result. and whereas someone like john williams develops liet motifs for various characters, locations, etc in a soundtrack, zimmer tends to create one liet motif for the entire film and riff on it endlessly. he also favors certain characteristic chord changes such as tritones. and of course his blending of synthesizers and orchestra is legendary.

[@wilsonwahome8411]

I think another major reason why Hans' music is great is the fact that he uses great players, like in Dune, where he tells Pedro, the flute guy, to make vowels while whispering, to create textures for the desert sand.

[@StorryMorey]

the actual reason hanz is good at music, because he learned.

[@jumaisthebest]

Fun fact: He never studied music

[@StorryMorey]

@@jumaisthebestnice fact!

[@slapeters2004]

Fantastic video! Hans Zimmer is by far my favorite composer out of the lot. I’ve watched many interviews with him on how he goes thru the creative process, and it’s quite amazing. He freely states that he isn’t a ‘musician’ and when he first started he thought people would hate his creations because they were so simplistic. He was shocked that people had such visceral reactions to his pieces. The rest fell into place with experience and knowing he couldn’t do it alone so he surrounded himself with musical geniuses that took his ideas and helped him make them better. He also said he’s a big believer in creating your own samples and make a unique sound that people will identify with (think of the movie “Dark Knight” it was only TWO NOTES, recorded in a theater with 2-3 French horns in the balcony, and 2-3 French horns on the stage - that’s IT, and became the basis of the movie score ).

[@amarug]

I think the difficulty is to use simple scales and a few notes and manage to make melodies and textures that are haunting and unique and hit the emotional buttons they need to hit. Hans is the absolute god-emperor of this. A lot of modern classical composers hide behind a wall of musical complexity and elitism, playing with atonality and whatnot, and in the best case, liking to mock composers like Hans Zimmer as "low-level music". Ironically it's exactly that clever simplicity combined with insane and unique textures that is difficult to reach. As an engineer with a lot of background in mathematics and physics but also music theory, it is pretty simple for me to literally "construct" something insanely complex that sounds like many of the (post)modern "classical" composers. It is virtually impossible to create a haunting tune on the c-minor scale that is not just a copy or something that exists. There is a reason why studios are willing to pay Hans millions if they could have any of the "elitists" for a fraction of that...

[@AnnieTaylorChen]

I really like the Inception's Time and how it was actually evolving from simple few notes.

[@yuvanshankarr942]

OH! MY! GOSH! THIS IS GOOD CONTENT!

[@dansaada]

Adding one name to the name dropping at the begginning; ludovico einaudi is it neck and neck with hanz as far as emotional pieces. Thanks for the vid you earned new sub.

[@madhurigupta5146]

OH MY GOSH ! THIS IS GOOD CONTENT !!

[@crankyreed]

Thanks for the tips!

[@Legatorian]

I think it comes down to the fact that Hans did not have much education and mostly learned through just being creative. Learning the theory and all that can sometimes hinder your ability to compose and your creativity if you have not mastered everything.

[@crankyreed]

I will use this as an excuse to not take any music theory classes

[@psykorobot6807]

Or it could be the fact he has a team doing a lot of the work that we think he does himself. Zimmer is really the Zimmer Corporation rather than Zimmer the single proprietor.

[@TalmoTheSell]

@@psykorobot6807 He is still the backbone of his music though

[@DonyoSanghelei30]

Dare I say it and with all due respect but if Hans’ takes on Star Wars and creates a lasting new sound for Star Wars his legacy will be immortal.

[@charlesyateschalfant]

K.I.S.S. Hans has many, many ghost writers who offer up numerous melodies. This I know. However, he is brilliant. He has a plethora of examples at his fingertips. Whilst he has a natural relationship with music, and what sounds good. he doesn't really delve into music theory. It's not needed anymore, as long as you have a good ear and know what sounds good. The most important tool at a composers disposal is the DAW, learn it well!

[@AbduHarakat]

Simply melody Easy memorable melodies. But at the same time not all simple melodies reach people unless you're a great artist

[@flaxx_x]

I would rather say that more complicated melodies reaches less people.

[@timspiano5054]

Hello Matthew, this was a great video! I just wanted to ask a question that maybe you could answer either under my comment, or in a future video - What is a good piano practice routine? Because I have been playing the piano for about two years and I have really enjoyed it, and I have improved so much. Though my practice time could be better organised- what would you say is the best way to organise these sessions?

[@ToxylTV]

What piano sound you are using? sounds lovely

[@sandman76_]

epic

[@stevenjairusrom]

Day 1 of asking to react to Armageddon v3 (it is a midi with 93 trillion notes)

[@floppblackmidi]

no do broken world and reptilian dark ritual instead. waaaaaaay better eith more quality

[@Toogoodtobetrue458]

I think his earlier stuff was great the later stuff it’s ok

[@PaulBSafar]

It must be me but, despite what you and everybody say about Zimmer, I find his music very boring and "easy". Just a couple of nice chords and lazy doodles around them. Comparing him to the luxious variety of John Williams and the creativity of Ennio Morricone is uncomprehensible to me. I mean these two guys are brilliant melodists, I can hum their themes under the shower, but when it comes to Zimmer, no melody at all. And I think great "masterpieces" are in melody (with great chords), not chords only. Am I the only one in this world to find Zimmer boring like rain ?

[@neosonixyz]

I get what you mean, but for me that's why I like Zimmer so much, I find his music way more emotional than any Williams score (more so than his stuff from Revenge of the Sith and I LOVE that movie and it's music) because he focuses more on the chords and the feeling it gives you and he is very good at creating something that sounds emotional from just a few notes or chords. I think people refer to zimmers music as masterpieces not because they are melodically or technically impressive or crazy, but more because they are perfect for the scenes they play with and sound emotional. more if you want to read: I think 'impressive' melodies can get in the way of emotion. Slower, drawn out memories often feel more 'emotional'. If we take time for example, the slower nature of the piece allows you to almost feel the chords, which do a lot of the heavy lifting, and the notes that bridge the chords compliment them. Now imagine that ending sequence at the end of Inception but with an 'impressive' melody over the chords, it would ruin the emotion because you're too busy focusing on the melody, which on its own would be great, but would not hit you in the way it does

[@hamza.13]

It’s weird how western musician only look at western composers and they think the most talented composers ever bro look to the east and you find plenty of composers that are 10 times better than those western composers you mentioned in opening of the vid

[@rmilan08]

Please name someone you thinks better than Zimmer, John Williams at composition for movies. You still have newman brothers, Harry Gregson Williams, ect... Only major composer I know of that's a mastermind comes from Asia and was responsible for ff7, ff8, ect... his name is Nobuo Uematsu.

[@hamza.13]

@@rmilan08just because you don’t know them it doesn’t mean that don’t exist look for yu peng chen look for Akira senju …

[@rmilan08]

@@hamza.13 I was listening, it still doesn't compare to the unique and amazing melodies of a John williams or Hans zimmer. Yu peng chen seemed ok but it was nothing over the top and sounded like a majority of jp composers before him and Akira is very good but it's also very contemorary. They don't compare to the unique melodies or harmonies created for the movies made by John williams and hans zimmer is great but simple. None of their music is something that shouts out to your brain like ear candy or memorable.

[@garyshirinian]

Thx for sharing. Great video. My question to you is. What keyboard are you using for the piano. Also, what VST do you use or suggest for orchestra strings sounds, piano, and brass. Thx. I hope it's not too many questions. Hope to hear from you

[@JeffreyBarkdull]

Do you think you can explain how john williams crafts musical masterpieces too?

[@HakamasMaximus]

Excellent breakdown!

[@john_blackthorne]

Howard Shore!

[@HyrubatoMusic]

Great video! you should check out some of Thomas Bergersen's music (from Two Steps From Hell)!

[@garyhendrie4001]

Amazing music too, love Hans and Thomas Bergerson's music, both geniuses in my opinion and i don't use that term lightly.

[@minimagician2242]

Why isn’t this guy writing music yet! Love your videos.

[@BasicallyVader]

He’s good at making music because he learnt music. You can’t make good (iconic) music if you don’t understand it. Hence why every famous composer has a background in some form of music training.

[@colinsullivan2001]

But Hans Zimmer only took music lessons for two weeks as a child before he quit, because he didn’t like being trained to perform something when it’s supposed to come from a place of passion, not following the rules of classic training. Instead he learned on his own

[@BasicallyVader]

@@colinsullivan2001 he learned on his own, which is music training…

[@stevesm2010]

I'd love you to do the same kind of video on Thomas Newman. Particularly the American Beauty soundtrack.

[@TchalE.]

:)

[@nicholasbarrett3018]

Most overrated composer ever.

[@Realist311]

How come? I don’t really know him

[@Ravendjdjdjjd]

Day 22 of asking for a reaction to your reality by team salvato