How to ARPEGGIATE without boring everyone

ARPS are awesome for knob turning synth enthusiasts like myself. But how can we make our arpeggios less stagnant in our actual music?
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[@JamesonNathanJones]

Here's that free eBook if you'd like to learn more about some of the compositional concepts that have helped me the most: bit.ly/FREEcompositionguide

[@johngilbert184]

did not work! Nothing in email and I checke Spam

[@JamesonNathanJones]

It can take a few minutes sometimes. Did it ever come through?

[@Mr1BOSANAC]

Hi, could you rate somo of my music? kzbin.info/www/bejne/raeWfn-coq5po6ssi=1D8oACJVwYA_1qi8

[@jonaseggen2230]

What you improvised at 2:20 something sounds like scandinavian psalms/church music. I'm not religious but this is a big compliment from me.

[@joyboricua3721]

I'm very impressed by the way he plays the instrument, standing behind from quite afar while wrapping his hand around to the Keybed... It's quite unique.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Years of very odd practice they said would never pay off. They were right.

[@ComposerMichaelDow]

🤣🤣

[@xSaintxSmithx]

This new style of music based content that's more philosophy than theory is SO GOOD. Please don't stop making these videos.

[@AFuturePresentation]

I'm not even mad at that comment. I agree. It is SO GOOD. Folks sharing their art here is a good thing. Appreciate you. Be well, my friend.

[@bricelory9534]

One thing I love to do with Arpeggiators is to not think of them as only chords - throw in nonharmonics, passing tones, or whatever else, and especially if your arpeggiator has some more sophisticated arp patterns (such as one that plays the notes in the order your press the keys, rather than just up and/or down), you can get some really interesting lines that can still move harmonically as you need but can play the role of an interesting melody or countermelody quite well.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Absolutely agree. Great point.

[@AFuturePresentation]

I like to press all the keys while the hold button is pressed (using a Keystep Pro). Freeing my hands to twist knobs and flip switches. There is real joy that comes from just listening to the abstract. Love it.

[@amarug]

I think there is something magical about arps. After 20+ years, I still get the feels from for example a simple basic i-iv-v-i, all minor arp, even just changing the synth a bit makes it fresh again for me. Still, very useful video of course :)

[@bricelory9534]

I also really enjoy arpeggiators when you step outside thinking of them as ways to do chords, but also include a lot of other notes, such as nonharmonics, passing tones, clusters, etc - especially if your arpeggiator has more advanced patterns than simply up and/or down. A personal favorite is using patterns that reflect the order you press the keys, allowing you to bring multiple voices into your arp voice, by having it jump large intervals and then walk stepwise a bit. It makes something that we're used to thinking of as chordal and makes it very horizontal/melodic. And you can get really interesting evolving patterns by shifting one finger at a time. I think it's a fun idea-generating experience that is fulfilling in its own right as well.

[@Garnassium]

Always looking forward to your videos!

[@JeffBradleyWrites]

Just wanted to say I really appreciate your philosophy, production style (audio and visual), and song-writing. Great stuff all around, and a channel to which I'm constantly returning in order to stoke the creative fires. Keep up the great work, man. You're killing it.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks Jeff!

[@Noise-Conductor]

Been making music since 2002 & only use an arp once. This give me some cool idea!

[@patrickgrange3264]

I use arpeggiator and a cat on the keyboard. 😂 We're still learning. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@GeekandUke]

Great tips, Jameson! Cheers mate

[@bricelory9534]

And a really lovely video - I like hearing the examples of your ideas from your body of work, so it's far more grounded in how you use them.

[@Vickorftron-]

Clever as usual. I dig your channel and enjoy it. Cheers

[@PanopticMotion]

Hooray! Technical content :) Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@nkozi]

Things like this are why it's really, really important to have folks who know the minutiae of how music works (in our standard notation context, that is) being part of this broader electronic music conversation. Approaching chords from a voice leading perspective is such a killer move when combined with the reactive qualities of electronic instruments, and you can literally just whip it out in any context! Theory is good, folks!

[@CapriciousBlackBox]

I very much appreciate your generosity.

[@Port_1]

Waltz in G Minor is SO good. Added it to my wishlist immediately. I hope everyone here finds the time to check out your Bandcamp.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thank you!

[@wiseoldfool]

Very helpful and inspiring series.

[@cornishwavesmusic]

Very much enjoyed sir, keep em coming

[@Kyle-wb7wx]

Dude. This is great. Thank you.

[@jimjohnson9785]

How fitting that I stumble across this just as I am trying to come up with an adaptation of Moonlight Sonata. Sometimes the simplest things are the best.

[@FlashStallone]

Every song that's in the background of each of your videos grabs me - every time! Great work, and thank you for the advice!

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thank you!

[@pmumble76]

Great video. I love the mixture of composition/theory and electronic music as subject matter. This is one of my favorite channels. Thank you.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Wow thanks so much

[@genuinefreewilly5706]

Great topic. Its routine for myself to vary 'delay taps' on simple arpeggiated patterns to create odd rhythms, then I have custom scripts to flip patterns. Then there is stacking patterns on various tracks and offsetting them. As I only have one somewhat functional hardware Korg synth, I sometimes write the stock midi patterns (percussion as well) into my DAW and parse those. It is often a picky chore.

[@blackvx]

Amazing. Thank you, just found you on Spotify

[@ashe_]

I love your videos so so much!

[@alvarovicenteguardiola5175]

Me encanta tu canal tío ❤

[@rickvanmeijel]

Cool video man! I like your thinking and sense of humor. You might remember me from SoundCloud, I've been a big fan of your compositions for ever and it's so cool to see how you've grown your following with these videos. I'll be tuning in more often :)

[@rrxdeadman]

I actually never messed with that aspect of my keyboard. So I tried it, and got some really cool things. Thanks so much. You are always thinking outside the box and I love that about your posts.

[@waylaid]

2:07 Me: wow, what a hauntingly beautiful passage Jameson: I’m just making it up, not the best part writing in the world

[@BaltimoreReese]

waltz is a lovely piece of music

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thank you!

[@bricelory9534]

It really is!

[@HowlingUlf]

Pretty useful ideas. Subscribed!

[@__3028]

this has actually been such a helpful video for my composition

[@NickBDesigns]

Great video! Love the content. I also got really bored with arpeggios a long time ago. I wanting more complex movements. So I decided to write a piece with a 5/4 arpeggiated right/left approach which was beautiful. I showed my dad the pice a bit later and it reminded him of a slower Philip Glass composition. This video is definitely inspiring me to make more time for my music.

[@edwinbrown9951]

Thank you! ✌

[@AaronFerenc]

Ooohh min 9...love that. Thanks for the ideas!

[@edrift3d]

Okay I’m back. Just had to go get that amazing waltz. Thank you. Ready for the rest of the video now.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

:)

[@fatmstr97]

Something I like to do as a not too great keyboard player is record a basic arp progression via midi into the piano roll and then add and move and arrange notes to make a more interesting piece.

[@brianmi40]

I've been endlessly impressed by the range of creativity and inspiration you can get from a VST like Riff Generation.

[@Drotz]

Once again a very interesting, informative and useful video! These techniques can be applied to almost any style of music.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks as always!

[@epiphoney]

Thank you.

[@foundriver5162]

This is an inspiring video! One of my favorite uses for an arp is actually using it to control drum samples and other percussive sounds. You can get some very unexpected rhythmic patterns out of this, especially if the arp has a random/semi-random mode.

[@SaschaTayefeh]

Thanks for all your useful videos.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thank you!

[@markrobertjustin]

Great ideas about using ARPS !!!! also abouot voice leading in chors , and moving harmonies over a APR OSC pattern and the revers : an upper part that stays the same and low part the changes harmony !! BRAVO really great . thank you !!

[@GrootsieTheDog]

There is a new parameter available now on some arps - percentage per note - and it really is a game changer. The only synths/plugins I know so far that have it are Bleass Arpeggiator and Novation Peak. I'm sure there are more...

[@NimbleX-MC]

This was a great video. Thank you. I would watch more like this.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks! More to come.

[@HiEnergyMusic]

Awesome video! Subscribed.

[@grandmasterjo1]

Thank you 🙏👍

[@BubbleFilms]

Thank you for this, Jameson! I envy your playing skills and appreciate you sharing so many of these concepts. I've recently begun exploring the many wonderful arp variants offered by the Harmony Bloom vst. If you haven't had a chance to try it, I highly recommend it for tapping new experimental ground.

[@DrJ3RK8]

Nice arps sir!

[@jloiben12]

One thing I like to do with arps is write a single voice in whatever rhythm and then flipping the arp on. It generally takes some finessing because of how I write music but I find it far more interesting of an outcome then the producer chicken arps that I have a habit of putting deep in the background

[@imagiste58]

Very interesting! Chord positions or invertions becoming melodic sources. I've experimented with that a bit in some compositions, and it's a blast (and it can sound pretty awesome)!

[@dmreturns6485]

Great video. Hearing about ways to approach composition and arrangement are always inspiring as it's such an open challange filled with options. Trying to pick or think up good or apporpriate options (non-boring / self repedative) its a challenge for me.

[@carldahlqvist1290]

Been thinking for the past couple of days that I need to figure out some ways to make my arps more interesting. This video really couldn't had showed up at a better time for me, heh. I am a simple, self taught rock bassist who picked up my first synth out of curiosity about 9 months ago. Not really even understanding what it was "Cool keyboard which makes cool noises, wow!" Never would have thought that I would stumble into the awesome (and also sometimes very difficult and somewhat frustrating) world that is sound design and music production. Your vidoes serve as great sources of inspiration and makes me think about music and texture in compleatly different ways. Thanks for making them, they're always an exciting highlight in the feed.

[@g3cd]

Instead of a "displaced arpeggio тм" I would've expected a "polyrhythm" ... and maybe a reference to Philip Glass, who does that all the time. OK, he's no Bach - who, as we all know, is the only legit composer in human history - but still 😉

[@Azeria]

While I always enjoy your videos and do learn something from all of them, they’re not always necessarily directly applicable in terms to techniques to the music I make. I tend to end up making very catchy, musically standard pop and pop EDM, which it seems is exactly what you try and avoid. This, however, much like the loops videos a couple months back, absolutely is. Some really useful ideas and concepts in here for any genre or style.

[@knowingwhatthebuttondoes3432]

"See Homer, that's why your robot didn't work".

[@indiefilmcomposer]

Such a good topic, really enjoy your videos, technique aside the tools we use can really affect the result , per step modulation or modulation tracks help like the pro 3 but one that stands out is Trent Reznors use of synth tools and instruments , he gets a lot of movement going by combining melodies and lines that sounds so interesting ,

[@michaelkonomos]

Love how your videos lately are almost a meta take on harmonic progressions - each video taken on its own is awesome - but also a further exploration on the original idea and connects with (harmonizes with) the other related videos. Very sneaky! 😂

[@JamesonNathanJones]

*rubs hands together in sinister fashion

[@Krung0401]

Great. Subscribed.

[@0rangeBlue]

Tip: make two arp patterns, maybe one with 3 notes before repeat and one with 5 notes before repeat (or 2 to 5 or 3 to 7, it doesn’t matter as long as they are different) and play them interlocked (first note of the first pattern, first note of the second pattern, second note of the first pattern, second note of the second pattern, and so on)

[@ErwinSchrodinger64]

Love the arp on the Waldorf Iridium/Quantum. Especially when it allows you to go several octaves up and down, scales, chords, and so forth. With the latest firmware, the sequencer can do 64-steps now. Thank you, Mr. Jameson. As always, I love that your channel focuses on musical techniques.

[@Evian457]

Would be great if the arp and sequencer were polyphonic for repeat chords on Iridium.

[@FunkinMatt]

The tension in your track is great, very cinematic. Another perspective on arpeggios I have, is that disabling the arpeggio function and playing them yourself often leads to more creativity. Then I carefully make the decision on which note is next, regardless of which chord I'm in or which pattern the sequencer is set on doing. I guess it then becomes more like a sequence than an actual arpeggio though ... :)

[@kadiummusic]

My favourite arpeggio... the bassline in I Hear You Now by Jon & Vangelis. Incredibly simple but absolutely drives the whole song. 😎

[@paultorbert6929]

VERY HELPFUL !!!!!!! As a guitarist turned to the Dark Side, buying synths, I lack the “piano education” that SHOULD precede any synth purchase.😅 I primarily turn arpeggios into sequences on my KeyStep Pro, for my synth songs…. You just showed me something that I can apply to my current lack of ability…. Damn, this life is good !!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU !!!!!!! Edit: my Blofeld is amazing, but I’ve relegated it to being the bassist in my one man band.

[@fransteeno]

Very thought provocative. The problem in music composition these days is people that want to become successful, and have very little understanding of theory, scales, chords & progressions. They know where Middle C is. They can play 3 root triads like C, D. and G. You actually know what you are doing. How many so called Studio Musicians even know what a suspended chord is, or a diminished? How many can play a 2 octave long scale? How many understand various minor scales? But they all know how to turn on the arpeggiator, or sequencer and play a C major triad. They can create awesome beat patterns with the percussion machine. They also have a billion loops that they can drop into the mix at any point and make it sound like they are astoundingly articulate. And now we have AI. I could go on and on. Music is fun, and I am sure that is why so many people engage.

[@Whywhatwherehowwhen]

What I love to do is improvise them myself at half or even quarter tempo in midi and then double the tempo of the midi once or twice to desired speed. Best way to come up with stuff that isn’t formulaic.

[@BurkhardusX]

The ARP in the Virus TI is very complex because it features user patterns different from the standard up or down patterns.

[@AntonMochalin]

I remember a friend of me and I decided to play two acousic guitars one playing 7/4 pattern (it wasn't strictly arpeggio as it had a couple of eighths to spice it up) and another a 4/4 pattern and after a bit of difficulty with keeping each rhythm while syncing on the same tempo we had quite a good time, that sounded crazy impressive even though each part by itself was nothing special at all, just some pentatonic phrases like those in the most simplistic guitar riffs for beginners.

[@Ziqohth]

BP Moore! i love his music!!

[@JamesonNathanJones]

He's the man!

[@mk1st]

That Iridium is a beast!

[@JamesonNathanJones]

That it is.

[@Robert_Babicz]

very interesting

[@thejontao]

Doing a seven:four ratio is brilliant!

[@GizzyDillespee]

Another simple arp trick: turn on portamento! Or, if you record the arp as MIDI notes in your DAW, try setting some of the notes to glide between them. I got the idea originally from the Roland TB-303's sequencer, and then it was reinforced after I noticed it used in many of the KARMA arpeggiator patterns in my Korg keyboards. The KARMA patterns showed me how different rates of glide (log>linear>expo curve, and glide time), in different note positions, really can change up groove. Also, velocity differences (even fixed velocity accents) can make things more interesting, if the option is available. Again, if you record the arp as MIDI notes, you then can change the notes' velocities after the fact. Also, if you have a multi-timbral keyboard with decent note stealing implementation... put arpeggios on each layer, and then set your voice stealing priorities, meaning which timbre gets choked first, second etc. Then, press play, and choke a new pattern from the chaos. I know how to do that on the Kronos keyboard, which has high polyphony, that I have to limit it in order for the trick to work. I've found that any more than 2 or 3 arps will get chaotic, so you might need to limit the keyboard's polyphony so that the arps will start choking each other without there needing to be too many notes happening.

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

i like synths because I am creative person, composer as well as practiced keyboardist, sound designer, audio engineer. The entire process from first compositional thought, to building the instrument, to recording and mixing, to making the environment from effects chain designs, to finished mastering, all creative. Arps and step sequencers, quantized pattern sequencers are all on the grid robot music. Ugly, inhuman, inhumane sound weapons. I like arps and sequencers on my synths however used during the sound design process.

[@jamespatterson4772]

"I like to think of chord progressions as part writing" You must have some amount of formal training. That's straight up Fuxian counterpoint!

[@qasderfful]

Hey, that's a *different* Waldorf iridium! 😝

[@synth-eticfantasies5683]

Another excellent video from you! Arpeggios are not something I like using since I consider it "cheating" ( I prefer to write all my melodies myself) Maybe in the future I will consider the techniques explained in this video!

[@Leem96511]

Great video! I recently got my first analog synth and the sequencer/arpeggiator was totally my first stop. I'm very interested in the distinction you continue to highlight between improvisation and composition, and the physical transcription process. Have you found that doing the 'work' of writing your music on staff paper generates new or different ideas than composing inside of a DAW?

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Absolutely. I have a video coming soon about the whole improvisation/composition differentiation. I love working in a DAW, but when I take the time to write things down I always seem to dig a bit deeper.

[@80sJayOfficial]

The pet shop boys really do arps well. They make arp parts and then combine them and / or connect them to make a sequence. The beginning to it's a sin is a perfect example.

[@Seekthetruth3000]

Good info! I wish Iridium had 61 keys.

[@bobbylimesmusic]

Cool stuff. I'm not classically trained but thinking of things horizontally always clicked with me.

[@BeatMax2023]

Very interesting ;)

[@AFuturePresentation]

Also, I LOVE ALL OF THE POSITIVE COMMENTS HERE! The world needs it. Keep it up good people!

[@ToyKeeper]

I agree, basic arps are boring. But at least they're not block chords. :D (stabby block chords are kind of a pet peeve)

[@wttw4942]

Electronically generated arps sometimes have interesting uses and very specific spaces within a piece of music. But generally speaking, you are absolutely right. Arps in their "specifically generated electronically generated type of sequential, mechanical, repetitive, pattern-based context" are very boring and if not handled carefully, make the composition also sound extremely amateurish in most cases. They become much more boring, especially if used as a continuous action element in a piece of music. But sometimes they also sound quite interesting. I think it all depends on how much wisdom and originality they use. And very important; What compositional function do they have in the piece, what do they contribute to the piece, what details of texture, style, genre, etc... the type of music you are producing..., and for what type of audience as well. But in general terms, Arps are kinda funny.

[@slimyelow]

I would never by a synth (hard of soft) that did not include an arp. Now way hosay. The magic is uncanny and I could get lost for hours in just a single one. Especially when you hold down an odd number of fingers and you get wild polyrhythms going immediately without effort. It is like having angel dust for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[@AFuturePresentation]

I'm definitely one of those "three-fingered, chicken-footed, producers"! And I'm here to tell you that I'm learning from you. And for that - I am appreciative of you. Thanks! Edit: And bro! You said when you were IMPROVISING. I'm like what? Shit, that isn't improvising, that's some pro-level skills! I feel like you are obviously classically trained. And I don't even know what that means! You play with impeccable posture, technique and style. And the sounds you get out of that synth represent that. I feel like you would be a good composure for film or video. Cheers! Edit #2: DAMN, BRO! You really gonna sit up in here with an upright piano with no front panel? Bro, what is wrong with you? That is some gangster-ass shit. That's basically equivalent to an east side low rider, rolling with the top down, sitting on a candy-ass ice cream paint job. Props. Edit #3: I am 100% checking out your album. #goals

[@easytoassemble54321]

Thanks for this. I needed to feel this attacked, so that I can actually evolve and expand my creativity a bit more. Arp lock is good for finding sweet spots, but I've realised arps need to be used sparingly. It is the cholesterol of music. Tasty, but keep an eye on it.

[@synthplayer1563]

Nice. For me the most important tip is to simply not use a "dump" arpeggiator. Except when this repeat impression is desired.

[@alancarmody8848]

Cool. Do you mind if I ask where you got the piano patch for the iridium?

[@JamesonNathanJones]

I'm just using the Iridium as a controller in that example. I have a sampled version of my downstairs piano I used for that bit.

[@woodsro]

Phillip Glass take note!

[@slimyelow]

Just listened to waltz in G and am now folloring on Spotty. - very nice!

[@KurtLorenz]

❤❤❤

[@conradgittins4476]

CPE Bach and Vivaldi would have loved it.

[@CANiSAYAye-io4ih]

Cool ideas for sure but automation brother One note has infinite possibilities when we automate to keep things moving and interesting ✨✨

[@LuvWatches]

Thank God... for a second I thought I was going to need a green screen to make arps interesting. Great video.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

It does help

[@LuvWatches]

Haha@@JamesonNathanJones

[@despot666]

These arps have a very harp-like quality. Harppegios if you will.

[@GaryHayes]

Great thumbnail, interesting theme but to be honest I got a bit 'bored' with the video as the 'how to' never appeared ? But 4K video so 'yay'

[@theshinyobject2438]

You just play them by hand and get good at it. That way the arp has natural volume and velocity changes

[@Evian457]

Would be great if the arp and sequencer were polyphonic for repeat chords on Iridium.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Yeah a polyphonic sequencer is a strange omission for sure.