Ostinato!

How do you write a great ostinato? How do you use ostinatos in your music? Composer Guy Michelmore will explain what they are, how they work, the different types and how you create a cool piece of music using them. Watch him create a suspense track in real-time while giving you all the tips and tricks you need to apply it to your own music.
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How To Write Music explores the fundamental skills that underpin every great piece of music whether it’s a song or a film score, string quartet or video game sounds track.
Check out the free guide here to get you started: thinkspaceeducation.com/htwm-...

[@beaumuse7890]

I want Guys autograph so bad. He’s the best teacher I’ve ever (never?) had. What a joy to learn online with someone across the world! His charisma and passion are unmatched. He sets an example for musicians by his demeanor alone, but his knowledge and experience is truly a gift. Best wishes from the USA.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Best wishes (illegible squiggle) - there you go

[@mikebubeck2880]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation Legend!

[@Harrysound]

Guy obviously has 2 accounts….

[@piotrturekmusic]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation 😅

[@morpheusQ]

Totally agree!! Nice lessons, fun and fresh. Really nice🙌🙌. Greetings from Barcelona, Spain😀

[@striverfor7628]

Ostinato: A short melodic phrase repeated throughout a composition. 0:38 An example of an ostinato 1:32 Why use an ostinato? Another ostinato example. 2:42 You can use any instrument. A synth example. 3:51 Using step-time 4:41 3 separate approaches to use ostinatos. Single pitch, something harmonically agnostic, and 5:46 What to avoid 6:32 Giving it a go. Achieving something that works because of the ostinato being harmonically agnostic. 8:24 Writing an ostinato, you're thinking about the rhythm and pitches. The function of the ostinato is like a pedal. 9:31, 10:14 Another go. 12:13 Layers of your ostinato 14:05 New instrument. If an instrument is loud, turn things down rather than up. 15:32 16:46 18:12, 19:11 Repeat it again then add another layer. Keeping the interest and building the tension or whatever. 21:30, 22:40 Adding percussion 25:41 Adding again 27:27 Markers are a good idea 28:22 Recap. Try those 3 approaches

[@user-by2im1ur3i]

That was useful. Thank you.

[@chromofonic]

When Guy starts with "Would you like to know........?" Me: "Yes please!"

[@GaboRossini]

I love how simple and accurate the video title is 🌿

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Yeah! Why faff around with endlessly long titles

[@AWKeith]

“Let’s get down to the Meat and Two Veg about this” - Guy Michelmore

[@TheLafo]

Fun Fact: Lalo Schiffrin's Theme for Mission Impossible is built over an ostinato based on Morse code Letter M (- -) and I (. .). I love it when everything just add... Thank you Guy for yet one more great lesson!

[@V-A]

holy. crap. i did not know that but now it seems so obvious!

[@wiseoldfool]

That is 100% correct.

[@TheLafo]

@@wiseoldfool I know...

[@TigerRichards]

Autofocus, shallow depth of field, an animated instructor, and a really interesting topic. Love it!

[@Leophred]

manual focus with small apperture is the way go go in this instance.

[@vacuumelite2065]

@@Leophred I'll go one more. If the aperture is so small as to kill the back light from the window but Guy is then too dark : a small amount of diffused front light on Guys face. But I am being over the top....to be fair. The main deal is lock the focus on Guy, as you suggest. ❤️

[@camelCased]

His camera focus kept ostinating... hm, is that a word? 😀

[@rogoodwin1860]

Retired expat music teacher in Aus just tuning in to tutorials on Cubase. Found your video sessions and can’t thank you enough. Many thanks Guy.

[@MrJoel9679]

Finally. Ravel’s bolero seen as a warning on where music was heading.

[@rodertera]

Woefully under-appreciated comment 😂

[@rohanwalker2404]

I am exceedingly grateful to you, you are a genius, and completely sagacious. I am deeply in your debt. You are gentle and kind, and even without knowing you, I regard you as a very dear friend, you have my deepest regard, gratitude, and respect..... THANK YOU.

[@QBellowMusic]

Guy is providing me with a vast continued education in music, and it's great. Thanks Guy!

[@vivo-audio]

Steve Reich is a true master and genius with repetitive, harmonic ostinato. He's a huge influence to many musicians - both electronic and traditional acoustic. Love your videos, Guy. Thank you for your time.

[@TheValueOfN]

TL:DR Thanks for reminding me of my inspiration, Guy. At 4:45, I realised that the main element that's played a huge part in my love of all things trancey and hypnotic, is an ostinato that never lets me forget its presence. The repetitive motif that endures as the chords work around it has been something that has drawn me towards certain styles of music ever since I double-dropped back in '94 at the Warehouse in Plymouth. Eat Static didn't show up but I experienced the most incredible rendition of the Blade Runner End Credits. I'm not sure if the original synth bassline qualifies as an ostinato but that banging version on that particular night sent me into a blissful dreamland as the looped C,C,D,D# riff seemed to lift me towards eternity as I peaked, my desires were piqued and I enjoyed one of the most joyous musical and social experiences of my life. I've been searching for that version ever since. That hypnotic repetition led me to investigate the world of drones; sitars, didgeridoos, the uilleann pipes, overtone singing/chanting, the hurdy-gurdy and their ilk and the world of tuned drums like the tablas. I recommend investigating those, (and the obvious 303), if you're looking for ostinati in certain, more electronic genres, or/and ethnic, tribal chanting and folk music of any and every source. Let's think of those who created the samples that we download from Splice et al. A lot of them are probably suffering actual severe consequences of the current climate crisis. We need to vote sensibly next time around! I've messed around with Blade Runner ever since My Dad bought me my first Casio home keyboard back when all of the buttons were a novelty that needed to be explored. That was a very long time ago. ..... I miss VAZ Modular and ReBirth, Making Waves and SoundForge 4.5. The Ownership of Live 11 Suite, Reason 11 Suite/12 and FL Studio All Plugins Edition does not result in sufficient inspiration for me. I used to love digging the calculator out, referring to Future Music magazine's little red book and nailing the gates, delays and tempo-specific effects in SoundForge. I need to mess with samples more. I've just learned two things. Sorry about all of that.... Day off tomorrow, pissed right now. Stoned more than I'd like to be. I'm supposed to be listening to Drum and Bass right now. This has taken far too long. I might be autistic because I've just spent far too much time writing this nonsense. The vid is still paused at 4:45. Maybe I should watch the rest of the vid or maybe I should load up Reason. There are too many options! I'm here because I wanted inspiration and I was reminded of it. Thank you Guy. Ostinati!

[@lojarich]

"Sweet dreams are made of this... Who am I to disagree?"

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

There has been a large increase in accounts that are impersonating me, claiming to offer free rewards (particularly through Telegram). Do not engage with these accounts or reach out to them in anyway. All competitions and giveaways will be done through this account, our email list, or other social medias under "ThinkSpace Education". Stay safe!

[@kristianhanzzen5760]

My God, you Are such an inspiration. Thx! K from Denmark

[@stiffiron]

I always learn a lot and enjoy myself thoroughly when I watch one of Guy's videos! 🤩

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

great

[@BjornarFrantzen]

I have not watched the video and agree without a second thought, Ostinatos all day long!

[@kivivivi9800]

A lot of people complaining about camera focus problems, but it was probably the most focused version of Guy I’ve seen - especially in the beginning - without losing the personality. Great work Guy.

[@billbradleymusic]

I write all ostinato and never knew what its called. Even spent junior & high school in orchestra. Damned percussionists.

[@charliemcgrain]

Wonderful spending time in your company. Many thanks.

[@wiseoldfool]

"That, in essence is an ostinato. But there's way more to it." I was really pleased to hear that. If there wasn't, there would not be much to teach or learn! TBH, Guy could make "four thirty-three" exciting, interesting and informative.

[@earthlightsmusic2743]

Great presentation! I know composer who did it backwards: she started with motif, then stated it again with an ostinato, and finally stated it once more with ostinato and long alto notes and then stopped it right there, leaving the listener hanging. Months later she wrote something lovely that built on slow string lines and again introduced a pizzicato ostinato, which she layered as you've just shown how, introducing the cimbalom, and concluded with long higher alto notes which faded behind the decay of the last cimbalom hits. In light of your video I'm analyzing her compositional technique anew!

[@SeniorTorro]

He is the goto guy on youtube for inspiration ! thank you !

[@joeharrisoncomposer]

Excellent video as always, Guy. You were one of the main inspirations for getting me into Music Theory during lockdown in 2020 and it has become my absolute favorite subject, and it's made me fall more in love of music. I am so thankful for the work you do and the passion with which you do it!

[@peterelfman]

This was an excellent lesson, thank you for taking the time to put this together for us!

[@SergeGolikov]

Love your passion, you make it look so natural, NOT easy, but naturally inspired!

[@omarimusic]

Amazing stuff, thank you for the great break down, I always love it when you start with very simple ideas and grow them into masterpieces 🙏

[@evolutionmusicpress9823]

Excellent video. Thank you guy for taking the time to break this down.

[@DaveDickens]

Thanks Guy really helpful, I’m just working effectively with a bass guitar ostinato and your video has given me some ideas to explore. Cheers Dave

[@georgegarside5131]

Thank you so much Guy I had started playing with Ostinatos before seeing this video and made the mistake of using a chord and getting stuck, once again you have helped me out many thanks

[@Hankblue]

27:35 To be honest I think it often sounds better not being rigid with chords like that, at least with ostinatos. Small passing notes that are out of chord or even out of key will often add interest if you're doing it with good instincts.

[@robertphilip1832]

Guy! You always give me shelter in this seastormy world. I can't thank You enough❤

[@kailin98]

Love the verbalized internal monologue haha! Good to know we all have the same "I have a great idea! Nope I don't really" thoughts

[@dzezydzerk]

Thank you for your work Guy, you make things and music more affordable. Like all great teachers!

[@DrProgNerd]

I'm learning so much from your videos. Thank you for taking the time to do them. All of my music teachers should have made theory and composition this enjoyable.

[@GprokYB]

Awesome Guy!!!!

[@JennyEverywhere]

Dang. I'd never have heard of ostinato before, but now that you've explained it, I can hear it EVERYWHERE. My first thought was _Danny Elfman!!_

[@adude1335]

Guy, you are such a wonderful wealth of knowledge and, perhaps even more importantly, inspiration. I'm just trying to get into cinematic music production and watching your videos is immensely helpful. Thank you so much for all that you share with us.

[@orderd29]

Yet another great video, brilliantly explained and delivered. Tonight I revisited one of my favourite albums, John Patitucci's "Heart Of The Bass" and lo and behold, there are ostinatos playing throughout his initial Concerto compositions. Your timing is uncanny!!!

[@zelly8163]

Thanks again Guy great lesson as always.

[@TheValueOfN]

24:35 That percussion was needed and much appreciated by me. That metronome was doing my head in.

[@solkuba5549]

Amazing! just loved the way you teach

[@rob8482]

Great offering of information. Thanks!

[@grobinson9352]

Thank you SOOOOO much for this!!

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

you're welcome

[@boerboelmummy5075]

Thank you, Guy.

[@echoesandnoise]

There is always something awesome to learn on your channel .. Thank you ...

[@Gomorrha21]

Thanks for your guidance, Guy. Especially today where it is extremely easy to get distracted by just watching tutorial after tutorials, without getting actual work done, at least on a hobbyist level like myself. After watching every of your videos I immediately close all my web browsers, I fire up Cubase right away and toy around. Very few people aside you make me (or several of us? ;)) go through the process of actually DOING stuff actually. And over those multidude of hours or sp I definitively see so much personal improvement. Really quality stuff in your lessons :) As you say in your videos: Do the simple things (less is more - you can still add much more later, but that "simple" stuff done right! Those ostinato ideas you pointed out really help, and I find myself using very few tracks, preferably in different instruments registers, make comitting those initial spark to actual ideas and harmonic lines really a lot easier than other people telling you that "magic recipe" (which does not translated well if you did not the experience the original creator already has).

[@Perricelli1113]

Awesome! Loved every minute of this. Get this "Guy" an Iced Tea!! :)

[@juanclaudio_cs]

I discovered your chanel a few weeks ago, lit its the best chanel in youtube !!! you are amazing

[@chisangakalulu8424]

I needed this ❤️Gold

[@faithisfortheweak]

In a few seconds you build a song better than any DJ in the world. It's a huge difference when you're a real musician. Greetings from Brazil.

[@joederbyshire_]

Sometimes I just watch your videos and play along whilst your in your own creative flow! Like remote collaboration but only I know haha. This time I was improvising melodies with CSS Violins 1. Enjoyed it thoroughly thank you Guy!

[@marianoviedo]

Muy bueno, muchas gracias!!!

[@conceptdevices]

Fantastic explanation, thank you Guy

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Great tutorial Guy. Very Informative this one. Thanks

[@mrpooroldme]

Thank you for this video, un till now I didn't no what ostinato was, though I have used it in my own music a bit probably copying others, but your example against C D and G opens up fresh possabilities, that I never would have thought of before.

[@florentainardi1569]

All courses from guy are amazing, i have lerant a lot. We need teacher like guy, he is for me the best

[@nizarbernaoui8744]

sir , thank you so much , you change the way i compose , thanks

[@adrumsolo4u]

I love watching your videos and learning, but pleeeeaase for the love of cowbells will you put your camera's exposure on manual? If at all possible. Again, your videos are super helpful and fun to watch but, as a videographer, I get so distracted by the constantly-adjusting auto exposure far too much.

[@tosvus]

and maybe do something about focusing :)

[@alfredohuerta5688]

@@tosvus I agree, I don't think it was like that before, but now it is. The quality of the information is great but auto-exposure and auto-focus is not good.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

OK the ZV-E10 autofocus settings were wrong so it was hunting. Fixed now but we hear what you are saying and will watch out for this more in the future and so I hope you wont see more of this in subsequent videos.

[@tosvus]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation ah yes. The ZV-E10 should definitely be great. I have the fixed lens version ZV-1 and use it for my webcamera and it is amazing. I actually use eye focusing with perfect results but I don't have a busy background so that would perhaps change things. I also have a light on my face so it gets proper exposure plus it helps with focusing of course.

[@SuonoReale]

I don't know. The auto-focus slip-ups were actually kinda inspiring in a way. I thought of writing a piece that uses an ostinato that goes in and out of "focus", it's timbre/pitch/rhythm etc being obscured/warped in different ways at various points in the piece. Sometimes slow and subtle and sustained; other times more abrupt.

[@mvo5720]

Great stuff, you make it all seem so simple. thank you.🍷

[@Mythansar]

I really liked this one, Guy! Keep the good work there! 🙂

[@KeithMountifield]

This video gve me more lightbulb moments than an hour locked in the lighting department of Homebase! 😁 Thank You! Utterly inspiring. You are a one-man KZbin rabbit hole!

[@KhaledAbdelmonemMusic]

this transition to chamber strings was so useful

[@Antosha9791]

Sir, you are amazing So nice to watch you making videos and music

[@DerekPicard]

This is a great video as usual! Sending you my best 👍

[@yams900]

Always inspiring !

[@ryanknaggs]

Wow! Thanks Guy! I've been using this technique for years but I never knew that it had a name of Ostinato! This is very helpful! Oh by the way it was 106 Degrees in Arizona today. But no complaints from me LOL. Your nocturnal friend Ryan.

[@timothywheeler671]

thanks, Guy! 🔆

[@Doc2rjae07]

great lesson 🙏

[@blazing6string]

I immediately thought of the Beetlejuice intro when I heard you talk about an ostinato

[@erikhiser6600]

Great video as always.

[@pauloluisdemoraespereirape9484]

Sensacional!!!

[@timmyrisetv]

As always amazing job Guy! Been a while I didn't check your videos... Hope you doing well :), greetz from France!

[@MrMediterrano]

U could use harmonic ostinatos suggesting a tonal center and have them automatically get adapted to your harmony by letting Cubase to analyze the harmony and extract chords of it to the chord track and then having the harmonic ostinatos to follow the chord track.

[@irinalensky7403]

You are fabulous, thank you so much for sharing your knowledgewith with humble beginers like me. Love the upbeat nature of your videos 😃, as if it's all very easy really... Not quite though!

[@wiseoldfool]

When you take Ostinati, add layers, then swap classical instruments for the appropriate synth sounds, you get Berlin School ! If you have already covered Berlin School, please provide links, if not, please consider doing so. It is surprisingly "classical", and can consume many hours that could have been less profitably spent watching the football, cricket, or the rain.

[@SteveYeagerMusic]

Excellent !!

[@knuck75]

Great video! Thanks Guy!

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

thanks!

[@keithlancaster5489]

Great and informative video!

[@ndtaylor40]

Finally, he complained about the weather! Nice. I really enjoy the channel, Guy. Great info for beginners and advanced composers.

[@arturaravidi]

Thank you🙏

[@jasonanthonywebster8859]

Guy I know this may sound silly but how do I minimise my template to see what I have active because that looks a really handy way to work, I have the same program as you, thanks mate, keep up the great work, I've been watching quite a lot of your videos and you are such a character, you always bring a smile to my face hehe!

[@TheFinalGamerRN]

Hey Guy! What an interesting approach to ostinatos! Saying that composing from an ostinato is a "different form of composition" it's a very good way of seeing it and I feel it has unlocked a whole new spectrum of composition for me. What I mean is that I will try to compose from harmony (a chord, chord progression or whatever), from a melody, from a rhythmic pattern, etc; seeing them as different ways of composing. I know it may not sound like the big thing but it just is a different mentality than what I'm used to think. So if I struggle with lets say building a song from chords I will just "try another way of composing" hahaha. Hope I made my point clear. Great video, as always.

[@musicjazzvez]

“Ostinato…goes around, around…” thank you for sharing!

[@LindaMissad]

I love playing with this stuff. The first piano piece I memorized was full of ostinato - Mozart Sonata in C. Thanks for the video. Great info as always. Hope you stay cool, Guy.🙃. But then again - You're always cool 😁

[@simpl51]

did Mozart ostinate, or was he just hyperactve?

[@LindaMissad]

@@simpl51 ha ha

[@jumbowong3806]

Thank you kind sir for your inspirational attitude towards music and insightful lessons. You truly are doing God's work, thank you very much, helped me a lot !

[@gmanus1]

Hey Great Inspiration and entertainment, The color of Art, at scoring school, fun stuff , Bro

[@nathanbarajas9174]

You're back!

[@gatosoul]

Thank you for sharing

[@jasonanthonywebster8859]

That midi insert arpeggiator is pretty good because you could hold down the notes and if you had increased tempo during the track, the arpeggiator will adjust to the tempo in real time, the reverse piano is great, if you wanted another sound idea, use a reverse thunder sound, you won't be disappointed.

[@timothywheeler671]

brilliant lesson 😀

[@zitherman]

Superbe !

[@jacobfife7273]

Recently discovered your channel. I think I'd love to see you make an actual piece of music. Obviously this was all about ostinatos and you quickly put something together to explain that. But I think I'd just love watching you make a song with actual purpose and also explaining the reasoning behind your musical decisions if that makes sense.

[@NickHoad]

I think two or three videos like that do exist, you may have to go digging through the backlog to find them but they are there

[@randyhetlage9202]

ostinatos are the rock and roll of a symphony ...yup.

[@vleiratfilms2020]

Vintage Guy .. simply the best. Have used several of my exercises from his courses in movies I’m making.. even one with Twinkle Twinkle little star .. Oops.. hope that’s out of copyright 🤭

[@williamschumacher9316]

Great lesson (again). “Harmonically agnostic” might be the funniest thing I’ve ever heard

[@kattekaren]

hope your survived the heat! Thank you for another interesting lesson :)

[@ppgf]

You are the best.

[@pjdahmen]

great tutorial