How To Write & Arrange For Strings (Explained)

[@PrincessAdobo]

..........Not going to lie my Friend, you made me feel like I attended a Music Theory class at Juilliard LOL. You are an amazing teacher.. Please continue making such informative videos! God I drank too much wine I'm sorry! I'm genuinely happy because I've wanted to add more to my piano practice by learning how to add strings! Oh, and thank you for sharing your free guide! You are so incredibly humble.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Wow, thanks so much Rae!!

[@mistersadaimusic]

Your ability to present information and articulate how to apply it is seriously unmatched.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thank you so much!

[@Markplaysmusic]

yeah 11 minutes before opening the daw! That's gotta be some kind of record.

[@djaxup]

Quicktips...30 minutes... 🤔 I like it 😊👍

[@ChristopherSiu]

Yup haha lost track of time

[@djaxup]

@@ChristopherSiu Yeah but i like that more than rapid-fire tips where 90% is guesswork after the video 😆

[@ZehNettoOficial]

Cool video! I like very much the ideia of creating the outlines of the piece firt of all. I do the same. In my humble opinion, the bass, the bass can be considered the second most importante melody. The ear pics more easily the high and low notes....In my arrangements, I like to make both, melody and bass, very connected. Thanks for the video! Great tips and insights!

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure! 😇

[@Dahlily]

Uh this was supper helpful! Actually observing someone go about doing it is way more helpful than just the usual "violins play melodies and cellos are low"

[@randydominguezmusic]

love the way you spoke about the strings in the beginning. That will seriously help out my arrangements! Subbed

[@ChristopherSiu]

Awesome to hear!!

[@praveenchaddha]

Superb video… beautifully explained. Thanks.

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure!

[@Hemanthjoisofficial]

This is so beautiful. I ll be honest, i always skip tutorials, for the first time i sat to see and omg total worth of 30 Minutes ! and the piece you have written is amazing too, really liked it, instantly subscribed. Thank you :)

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thanks so much Hemanth!

[@BJamesThompson]

This is exactly what I was looking for, THANK YOU! You know how youtube can be. Would you recommend Logic over FL Studio? I'm slowly being convinced I need to convert 😂 Glad I found your channel!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thank you my man! Yes, I personally use Logic because of its simple interface and ability to handle pretty much whatever I need to do.

[@FroznColors]

This video helped me so much! I've been doing strings SO wrong hahaha

[@ChristopherSiu]

Love it!

[@sammarksaus]

Wonderful video Chris! I'm curious as to how you approach the designation of chord tones across the Orchestra? i.e being careful to note have too many chordal 3rds; how many fifths and octaves. Thanks very much from one composer to another. Sam

[@ChristopherSiu]

Good question Sam! Can do a video on this in the future.

[@sammarksaus]

@@ChristopherSiu Looking forward to it! It's interesting the way sonorities can be affected by the varying power of different instruments and sections. It's an exponentially complex world, orchestrating!

[@kevinmkraft]

This was very good and inspiring.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thank you!

[@ThomC]

Oh! I was waiting for this! Thanks so much Christopher :) Time for me to open a notepad and learn a thing or two! :) Stay safe man!

[@ChristopherSiu]

All the best man! Hope you’re well :)

[@joshrainbow-IceTenor]

Amazing video. Have to watch it several times and try it out in my DAW to learn step by step how you explain it. Super cool you make these videos to help us all to write better music :-) Thanks

[@alitajvidi5610]

Extremely helpful, thank you so much! I truly admire your ability to convey knowledge in an easy-to-understand and engaging manner. 👏👏👏👏

[@ChristopherSiu]

You're very welcome! Thank you for the kind words!

[@alexgerlach5630]

Thanks a lot, Christopher. I didnt understand what some things mean, but i think when i more practice it will be explanied my itself. The first points at the beginning are really important. But the second point with 3rds and 6th sounds rich; 5ths means, that i should have room for other instruments, right? Example: If the viola plays on a lowest register it cans, i should not use the celli on the same register right? I hope i understood it, haha.

[@DS-fi4hf]

This is excellent, Chris! Thank you!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thanks for watching Mike! :)

[@Mineiro426]

Please, can anybody help me to understand what is said at 25:47. It seems something like "and then it (???) after that". And thanks a lot Christopher for this amazing video.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Hey! I just said it modulates (changes key) after that. :)

[@Mineiro426]

@@ChristopherSiu Hi. Thanks a million.

[@CareerDropout.]

was there any effects on the instrument as you played it, such as reverb, delay, or panning ? was each harmony mono channel or stereo

[@bennypospos3018]

thank you very much for the explaination. It's really easy for to understand what i've missed when i compossed the strings. Thank you, once again.

[@ChristopherSiu]

You’re so welcome!

[@raymondhummel5211]

Enjoyed your enlightening way of arranging the string family on tracks, and how in doing so you achieved a very full sound. Wonderful work, you must have spent a lot of time in college learning music composition. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion for what you do with all of us.

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure Raymond! So glad you enjoyed this!

[@cjp68]

Awesome Instruction Chris ! Just like "Rae" below remarked below... I feel Like I snuck into a Advance Strings Arrangement Course at Julliard...Lol. If only the Vulcan Mind Meld were real... I watched a lot of the Info fly over my head. However, you did give me some ideas and helped me understand a lot of places I am already going wrong with my compositions. I love the Strings ! My favorite part to compose, however, I see now I have A Lot to Learn ! I must say, I definitely humbled by your talent.

[@ChristopherSiu]

That means so much Paul. Thank you, and definitely look forward to something special coming up! :)

[@darrenhirst9900]

Its been a pleasure watching your video and listening to this lovely music. With my headphones it feels like I'm sat in the middle of the orchestra. Thank you Christopher.

[@ChristopherSiu]

So glad Darren. Thank you!

[@obstinator5645]

Very good and informative. Thank you

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure!

[@MaharlikaChorale]

thats amazing! new subscriber here!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Awesome! So glad you found it helpful.

[@unexpected8166]

First video I saw of you, immediately subbed!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Appreciate it man, thank you! Lots more coming.

[@RyanMaterna_Composer]

Thank you for another great video, Chris! This information is super valuable, and I've gained a lot by being able to see your thought process as you write for the Strings

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure Ryan! I’m so glad.

[@1JasperStories]

I love how detailed this is man, thank you very much.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Glad it was helpful!

[@emilemerten6535]

How do you create an open sound without using parallel fifths and octaves?

[@ChristopherSiu]

You can start higher up :)

[@simondelguste]

Thank you so much for this !!!

[@gabrieldejesusmesquita973]

Very important channel here on KZbin. Subscribing just right now!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thanks, and welcome!

[@gabrieldejesusmesquita973]

@@ChristopherSiu I appreciate that budy!

[@EB0322]

Wow what a quality lesson ! thank you !

[@ChristopherSiu]

You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@leonardosales526]

really helpful! thank you very much!

[@ChristopherSiu]

You’re so welcome!

[@isaanley8452]

Thanks for the video, it was helpful! How do you go about knowing how to adjust velocities to make string instruments sound real and also woodwind instruments?

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thanks Isa! It's a difficult answer, but a lot of it comes down to feel and instinct. If you listen to a lot of recordings, you'll get a sense of how to work your libraries to make them sound as natural and realistic as possible to your ears.

[@beatsbymod120]

Great video bro you explained everything perfectly 💯💯

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thank you!!

[@maciekomis]

can you explain the way you use the mod wheel?

[@jazzman1945ify]

I am a trained string player and jazz musician. You explain perfectly; I just take my hat off to you. I would like to add something: why is it necessary to check through a piano to write strings, if you can use modern keyboards with the sound of strings - which is much more natural?

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thank you so much! Great question - you could certainly load up an ensemble strings patch right away, but as a pianist, it's just a personal preference. Also, any string library you choose will sound different to others you may try, so a piano gives you a clean slate to work from.

[@CROPDUSTERB-52]

thank you so much for the help! i have to do a string quartet composition as a final for my music theory class. i play a wind instrument and know nothing about strings. I appreciate this.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Glad it helped! You're very welcome.

[@alexc9278]

Thank you so much sir!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Most welcome!

[@edouardmarcelin2374]

I was producing a bossa nova and I wanted to make a great strings line ! This will help me a lot ! I was actually stuck 🥴 thank you so much

[@ChristopherSiu]

Happy to help Edouard!

[@sunsetpoet-songwriter8323]

Was hoping to find a video with exactly this info and format. Thanks for posting.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Glad it was helpful!

[@comrestudios6040]

Thanks for the great video of explaining writing chords in various sections. I didn't come across much of videos in this nature and this really helped!

[@ChristopherSiu]

You're very welcome!

[@phishbacher]

Very useful and down to the point. Thank you!

[@jazzybeeff]

Hello. I search for a while but i could not find the answer. How to mimic multiple players of a symphony orchestra ? I don’t talk about harmony thing. I mean there are 40 chair of strings in an orchestra. Do i must play that 40 string track by track or not need it? How midi composers do it generally ? Thank you🙏🏻

[@ChristopherSiu]

It's best if you use a recorded sample with that many players! Otherwise, you can use multiple instances of smaller sections.

[@jazzybeeff]

​@@ChristopherSiu I have BBCSO Core. For example When i play just one note in Violin 1, it actually played by multiple player ? even if i play one single note ? i really don't get that point.

[@vampbat]

I may have stumbled upon this video while haplessly searching for "how to write Strings" in a For Loop using JavaScript... But your work is very precise/approachable and deserves a Like regardless!

[@solarranger7008]

Explained so accurate and comprehensive! thx!

[@ChristopherSiu]

You're welcome!

[@jacepawlak]

"All By My Seeeyeeelf, Don't wanna be, All By Myself, anymore..."

[@jameshighmore]

Great video, thank you

[@ChristopherSiu]

You are welcome!

[@thechisensei]

amazing!!!! very inspiring.. reminds me of the score for The Band of Brothers which always makes me emotion. thanks bro!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thanks Chico!

[@thechisensei]

@@ChristopherSiu you're welcome. keep it up :)

[@ronithhalder2325]

thank you christopher, can you make a video to demonstrate the process of recreating Indian style of violin arrangements in contemporary music.

[@danielt1985]

amazing

[@valentinogarrycinematograp2297]

Thankyou sir, this is beautiful

[@josht_sounds5132]

Please do more of these! Very helpful

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thanks Josh! Any questions or topics you have in particular?

[@josht_sounds5132]

Christopher Siu maybe on specific themes like how to write a trailer type of music?

[@ChristopherSiu]

Got something for ya: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4WmfJhtZ851mZI

[@feimstro]

very good video. you teach ? also your thoughts on sibelius? thanks !!!!!

[@ChristopherSiu]

I do teach professionally, yes! I enjoy Sibelius, although I don't use it that much as I don't do a lot of notation in my day to day work.

[@nikhilmanoj4153]

Hi, I am new to composition and it has always been my dream to compose string music of my own. Can you give me a few tips on how I should go about learning the requisite information?

[@jeffrey322]

Are you still using Logic Pro or can you recommend a different one?

[@ChristopherSiu]

Still using Logic to this day!

[@jeffrey322]

@@ChristopherSiu Thank you!

[@roncabalhugmusic]

Gonna watch them all!

[@squeezy99]

Great video . thanks for posting. I'm new to orchestration and am looking to orchestrate some music ideas that I have. Which software are you using?

[@ChristopherSiu]

Logic Pro X! :)

[@squeezy99]

@@ChristopherSiu thanks

[@TheyBenefit]

Best alternative to Logic for Windows? Been trying Studio One but I'm having a lot of difficulty managing a large amount of patches.

[@ChristopherSiu]

I would think Cubase or Studio One? I don't use them however.

[@ДанилоБарсуков]

What do you think about Spitfire Symphonic Strings? Is it worst than Cinematic ones?

[@ChristopherSiu]

I don't have any Spitfire libraries, so I can't comment on those.

[@ДанилоБарсуков]

@@ChristopherSiu aww okay;(

[@nandanuril1340]

Thank you

[@ChristopherSiu]

You're welcome!

[@ubleader]

Many thanks Christopher

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure!

[@HayDigital]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing and I’ve learned so much from this video. Thanks

[@ChristopherSiu]

Glad it was helpful!

[@82zman1]

I am new to this but have a solid base in music as a sax player and also play some keys. After watching this I think I am already making a rookie mistake. I come up with my ideas on the piano but when I move to Logic I am playing the midi controller like the piano in that I am actually playing chords as opposed to writing the individual parts and sections as you did here.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Great takeaway!

[@thaddeuskent8185]

Dude! You’re the best.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Wow, thanks!

[@brynax170]

I don't have any words to say but ... thank you. I owe you my knowledge about orchestration

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure!

[@TheDigitizedMusician]

Amazing video. You're an extremely talented guy.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thank you so much!!

[@josepmaria5771]

Muchas Gracias Muy Buen Video

[@oneironaut.indigo]

Thought this video would have more views, it definitely does very helpful information

[@ChristopherSiu]

Glad it was helpful!

[@guerosensible]

Nice vid! I didn't understand why in the brasses you played in a A# key, and why it works.

[@johnmanchester4605]

Very sweet piece! The subtle contrary motion in the strings adds feeling to an already evocative piano melody.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thanks John, much appreciated!

[@SuperJxl]

Chelly

[@ChristopherSiu]

Jelly

[@chazzd813]

Very nice! I have a 17 year old piano student that is learning to write orchestral music preferably strings so I sent him your link to watch.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Wonderful!

[@chazzd813]

@@ChristopherSiu Thank you so much for responding!

[@RadekOpieka]

Great explained, nice work!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Glad you liked it!

[@momogris6159]

Great explanation!!!!!!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thank you!

[@thechannelcntrlcollective2162]

Thank you, for the no nonsense knowledge my friend !

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure!

[@Laseroscar666]

I beg to differ; basically all string players I met needed to breathe to create sound.

[@ChristopherSiu]

I guess…

[@dafingaz]

Great!

[@fredizzle4251]

Bro im failing this assessment for sure

[@ChristopherSiu]

XD you got this

[@karlmaamary8181]

Thank you so muchh!!! I do have one question tho is it possible to play more than 1 note on a violin or it's always better to divide the sections

[@ChristopherSiu]

Hi Karl! Yes, good violinists can play up to 3-4 notes at the same time (called double, triple, quadruple stops), but most of the time they stick to 2-3 notes together. In terms of dividing the sections, if the composer wants the violins 1 to play different notes, then they can ask half the section to play one note, and the other half to play the other note. This is called 'divisi'.

[@karlmaamary8181]

@@ChristopherSiu ohh okayy thank you so much!! Love your videos!!!

[@finnoneal432]

@@ChristopherSiu It's worth adding that only two strings can be sustained at a time. While violinists can create the illusion of playing 4 notes at a time by moving the bow across all the strings in a row while playing two strings at a time (thus getting all the notes in quick succession) it's not a sustainable effect.

[@remyfammm]

Awesome video ! Btw, how do you use only one Kontakt instance in the first track and enable the rest of the tracks to record from the first channel? Thank you !

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thanks Benny! So in Logic I make sure I select Kontakt with 16 outputs, so when Kontakt is loaded, I can go into Logic's mixer view, add the other 15 tracks, and create tracks from those 15 so they show up in the 'arrange' view. Now I can record 1 instrument per track.

[@louiscorbett3278]

time is precious, video starts at 11:00

[@GreenHope42]

In many of your videos when you play notes they usually overlap with each other rather than having a quick change. Have you explained why you do it that way in one of your videos? It sounds good.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Hi there! Usually it's because I'm using legato for the strings, so you tend to hear the transition between the notes.

[@lattetown]

It's ridiculous to compose for the strings with a piano...strings can play long legato sustained notes, which the piano can't. Use a synth with string samples when composing for strings.

[@chrisfusion6945]

Calling string the most versatile section is one of the most bias and bullshit things I've ever heard from a musician.