How to compose an effective contrasting B section

🎶 Grab your free checklist for composing effective B Sections here:
composingacademy.ck.page/bsec...
Do you get stuck trying to get past your initial 8 or 16 bar idea? An effective contrasting B section can go a long way to helping you to sustain your listener’s attention, as well as helping to extend a piece.
In this video, I break down a variety of techniques you can use, which can help to ensure your B section carefully achieves a balance between contrast as well as some familiarity.
🎵 If you enjoyed this video, make sure to also check out my free training - 'My 3 Secrets to Composing Rich Cinematic Music':
www.composingacademy.com/free...
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:38 - Vary the overall intensity
02:34 - Modulating to a different key/s
03:30 - Writing a new melody
04:06 - Copy some previous elements for cohesiveness
05:14 - Varying the overall feel
06:19 - Introducing new instruments/colours
07:09 - Changing the chord progression
08:20 - Play through of the whole track (with original B Section)

[@57RickH]

B Sections are even more of a challenge than coming up with the original melody or chord progression so this is quite helpful. Would like to see a similar tutorial for a rock composition 😁🎸

[@composingacademy8270]

Yes I remember really struggling with them in the past as well. Haha I have never really written a rock composition...I might have to have a go!

[@theamazinbazin6068]

As both a metal songwriter and a creator of music education content, your videos have helped me immensely. Keep up the great work!

[@composingacademy8270]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@bobmeeks4033]

Beautiful writing, and perfect content for me. Everything I’ve done so far is just one long repeated A section with different layers. I’ll look forward to applying this. Thanks!

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi Bob, thank you so much for your kind words...good luck with applying it to your own pieces. Let me know if you have any questions!

[@stewybob]

I always learn so much from your videos. Without them I wouldn't know where to start when making orchestral music. So thank you.

[@composingacademy8270]

ah thank you so much! I'm glad you learnt something from it!

[@jasonmc8011]

This is very helpful Simon! Thank you. I’m definitely going to use these techniques in my track that I’m stuck on.

[@composingacademy8270]

Thanks Jason, Happy Composing :-)

[@Phloxx1]

Just amazing good job 👍🏻

[@composingacademy8270]

Ah thank you so much!

[@KonstantinKharitonovMusic]

Thanks! Your videos are very helpful!

[@composingacademy8270]

Glad you like them! Thank you for watching!

[@aarkay_music]

Amazing helpful ❤

[@composingacademy8270]

Thank you so much!

[@ArtursDerkintis]

Where can I listen to this piece? It’s amazing!!! Also b section is what I struggle the most with( besides sound design for my own signature sound)…this was helpful!

[@composingacademy8270]

Thank you for your kind words! I wrote it specifically for the video, so its only available to hear on here (there's a full run through at the end of the video)

[@tomsing6384]

All this music needs is a great movie to set it to.

[@composingacademy8270]

That is very kind, thank you!

[@jayantjrathod]

Very Informative Thank You Sirjee 😊

[@composingacademy8270]

I'm glad it was useful for you - thanks for watching!

[@hamacaboy]

Wow this is just super amazing

[@composingacademy8270]

Thank you! I'm glad it was useful!

[@hamacaboy]

@@composingacademy8270 its super useful and also simply a great video to watch and you are doing all musicians an amazing service. You should also compose music for films or make an album

[@tomsing6384]

maybe you could talk a little about the fantastic program that encompasses the choir and the grand and "Virtual" orchestra that you are using, whoever had anything to do with that, got it right. everything sounds good when that virtual orchestra and choir starts up.

[@composingacademy8270]

Good tip, one to think of for future content, thank you!

[@ricardohernandez2771]

Gracias!

[@composingacademy8270]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching

[@t9xz746]

7:11 Hi, this is a good advice, however i noticed that when i try to add new chords, it almost feels like the song doesn't sound ''coherent'' anymore, do you have any tips on how to write a new chord progression that connects to the previous one without making it sounds like a new song?

[@vivekjadhav2210]

What is your Mac specifications ram cores

[@composingacademy8270]

I have the Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra Chip. 64Gb of Ram. The machine is a dream compared to my windows pc!