TesseracT - Time Signatures (Part 2) - Music Theory Hacks from "Luminary" (Metric Modulation, etc.)

TesseracT has a liberating approach to time signatures, so in this music theory lesson, you’ll learn their hack to magically change your song's tempo without changing its BPM. But first... Tea!
►Free eBook: RevolutionHarmony.com/Books
►Apprenticeship Course: RevolutionHarmony.com/Apprent...
►Songwriting & Producing PDF: RevolutionHarmony.com/Bestsel...
►Part 1 of our TesseracT series: • TesseracT - Odd Time S...
►Listen to "Sonder" at: www.TesseractBand.co.uk
TesseracT band photos by Steve Brown Creative
HACK 2: Dot the Pulse & Cross the Bar
This hack is what TesseracT brilliantly use in the collosal opening and closing riff of Luminary, which is in D Phrygian (the dark mode). With this hack, TesseracT pull off one of the most powerful illusions in music: they slow down, without changing the BPM. This is known as metric modulation, which is just a fancy way of saying that the pulse of the music has changed. Shortening the pulse speeds things up, while lengthening the pulse slows things down. Yeah and the rest of Luminary has an eighth-note pulse at 78 bpm, but in this riff, they lengthen the pulse to a dotted eighth-note, which slows down the riff and makes it extra sludgey and heavy! Also, as you may know, a dotted eighth-note equals three sixteenth-notes, so what they’ve masterfully done here, is go from a 12/8 feel to a 12/16 feel. Amazing!!! Just a quick heads up, if you’re working in a fast tempo, you’ll be doing this hack with quarter notes and dotted quarter notes. Finally, yes this works in all genres, so whether you write prog metal chords, djent guitar riffs, EDM bass lines, or pop vocals, this hack will help! Now, here’s how you can use this hack in your own music in 3 simple steps:
STEP 1: Dot the Pulse
First things first, you need to cement in the new pulse, so your listeners truly experience a slowing down of the music, and the best way to do that is to start with a basic drum beat. So, let’s get some hats on that new dotted eighth-note pulse, a kick on the 1st beat, and a snare on the 3rd hat. Then, we need a common thread to tie together the new pulse and the old pulse, so they’re different but still rhythmically connected, and we’re gonna copy the TesseracT drummer’s very clever hack here of playing sixteenth ghost notes on the snare (ghosts notes are notes played really quietly). And remember, metric modulation is not changing tempo randomly, your new pulse should come from a note value in your previous section. Right, now just copy and paste this bar three times, and we’re ready to riff!
STEP 2: Write the Riff
Go wild and have fun here, but just remember to emphasise the root note enough, so your listeners will perceive it as the home. Also, don’t be shy with the ♭2, cos that’s what makes Phrygian different to just the regular old minor scale (AKA the Aeolian mode). And be sure to use a variety of note values in your riff, too. And by the way, if you need help writing riffs, you’ll also find that in our Songwriting & Producing PDF.
STEP 3: Cross the Bar
Finally, now that we’ve dotted the pulse, it’s time to reveal the last part of this hack. It’s super simple but unbelievably effective! Here’s how it works: For extra intrigue, don’t accent the 1st beat of your third bar (just like in the Luminary riff). By hiding this 1st beat, you disguise your time signature, and add even more mystery to your riff. Such a tasty technique! The easiest way to do this, is to just extend your sixteenth-note run at the end of bar 2, by adding a couple notes to it. Tada, your riff just got the TesseracT “Dot the Pulse & Cross the Bar” makeover!
►Polyrhythms vs. Polymeters: • Polyrhythm vs. Polymeter
ABOUT
Hack Music Theory is the pioneering notation-free method for making great music. Taught by award-winning music lecturer Ray Harmony, and his protégé (and wife) Kate Harmony, from their studio in Vancouver BC, Canada. Ray is the author of critically-acclaimed book series "Hack Music Theory", and has made music with Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Ihsahn (Emperor), Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs), Madchild (Swollen Members), and many more. Kate has the highest grade distinction in Popular Music Theory from the London College of Music, and is the only person on the planet who's been trained by Ray to teach his Hack Music Theory method! While these Hack Music Theory KZbin lessons teach music theory for producers and DAW users, they are designed to accommodate all music makers (songwriters, guitarists, etc.) and all genres, from Electronic Music to R&B, Pop to Hip-Hop, Reggae to Rock, EDM/Dance to Metal (and yes, we djefinitely Djent!).
►Ray Harmony's music: RevolutionHarmony.com/Ray
►Kate Harmony's music: RevolutionHarmony.com/Kate
Music by Revolution Harmony
(c) 2018 Revolution Harmony

[@HackMusicTheory]

Hack Djent PDFs: HackMusicTheory.com/Djent

[@Ravesinger777]

You both are the most enjoyable teachers I have found so far! Thank you for doing this!!!

[@HackMusicTheory]

Aww, Jai, you are too kind, thank you! We're thrilled you found our video helpful and we look forward to hearing from you again! Take care and until next time, happy songwriting! Kate :)

[@binzianer]

Love that youre doing tesseract!

[@HackMusicTheory]

Thanks for watching beans., glad you enjoyed the series :D Hope you're having a great week!

[@ArchivingClownWorld]

Love your enthusiasm! Tessy rocks

[@NesNeedsBoost]

what a truly enjoyable video

[@Kanesis777]

Guys you are amazing, keep on making amazing content! You inspire me to take music up full time. Much love from South Africa :)

[@HackMusicTheory]

Aww, thank you so much for your support Garth, it's much appreciated! We're thrilled that you're diggin' our videos and we're honoured to welcome you to the Hack Music Theory revolution! The world needs more great music, so yes to you making lots of music! Until next time, take care and happy songwriting, Kate :)

[@RacingStripeAV]

Will definitely try some of these tricks myself - can already feel the ideas flowing.

[@HackMusicTheory]

That's awesome!! We'd love to hear how you get along with the hacks! Thanks so much for watching and connecting Racing Stripe A/V :) Take care and happy songwriting, Kate :)

[@KentoNishi]

TesseracT Tesserac + T Tesserac + Tea

[@LouisSerieusement]

yeah ! phrygian and velocity !! I love to use both XD cheers :) :) :)

[@giacomorossini8583]

epic lesson

[@LouisSerieusement]

Personally, I love crossing the bar with triplet when writing a bassline

[@TimOost]

...and I'm listening to the new TesseracT album AGAIN!

[@HAZARDOUS88]

Thanks a lot, I really enjoyed it!

[@HackMusicTheory]

We're so happy you enjoyed this one HAZARDOUS88!

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Nice

[@JuanMartinezBTF]

OMG!, this channel is so amazing. Thanks for the videos, i learned more in 3 videos than in many months of self taught haha

[@HackMusicTheory]

Aw thanks for watching and connecting, Juan, it always makes us happy to know that our hacks are helping musicians! We're pumped to have you along for the ride and look forward to hearing from you again. Until then, take care and happy songwriting! Kate :)

[@JuanMartinezBTF]

Hack Music Theory Thanks, Kate. It's great to be able to understand what i make and have a basis to start. Thanks again for the great content!

[@JuanMartinezBTF]

Hellooo again. This is the result of many hacks made song. Enjoy :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYXdc6GVppZ3naM

[@The1stMrJohn]

Very good, this video needs rewatching to absorb all that juicy information! Had the pleasure of seeing TesseracT and Leprous support the mighty Devin Townsend at Bristol in March2017. It was a great night, every bands' sound was really clear, and the performances were all great. I knew what to expect from Devin, but I had never seen the other 2 before ... both who I thoroughly enjoyed. ;~) in Hampshire, England

[@HackMusicTheory]

Hey hey John, great to hear from you! We're super happy you enjoyed our video, and yes, there's a lots to soak in :) Wow, that must have been quite the show! Leprous is my favourite band, so the three of them together must have been brilliant :) Hope you are well and making lots of music. Until next time, take care! Kate :)

[@The1stMrJohn]

Hack Music Theory It was an excellent night and it proves that touring works because I now consider myself a Leprous fan. I have seen Steve Vai live lots, and saw him twice in 1993 when Devin Townsend was a youngster! I have seen hundreds of live gigs,[my first 'proper gig' was seeing The Tubes supported by an unknown band called Squeeze in 1976 I think, not long after that saw U2 as a support act in little gig} including most of the big names in rock, many in small venues before they were famous .... and because of this I have to say that Dev is one the live acts I enjoy the most, his sound is great and he's such a great performer and lovely human being

[@LooMinn]

Mind-blowing information about metric modulation. Kudos to Ray & Kate for demystifying this subject. Curious if you have ever heard 'Knee-Bitten Nymphs in Limbo' by the 70's prog band Happy The Man? To this day I still can't figure out how to count that song.

[@HackMusicTheory]

Hey LooMinn, sorry to say, I've not heard that song. Thanks so much for watching and connecting, we appreciate it big time! We're pumped you found our video helpful! Take care and until next time, happy songwriting! Kate :)

[@TheJTK123]

Please keep making unique vids like this!!!

[@HackMusicTheory]

Thanks big time SEMAJ, for taking the time to watch and connect! We hope to see you around for more theory hacks, until next time, take care :)

[@Nivenization]

Thank you.

[@HackMusicTheory]

Thanks Niven! Hope you're well and having a lovely May :)

[@TheLuizSouza]

Damn, now that's a tasty riff!

[@anointed01]

You guys rock!!!!

[@HackMusicTheory]

And you rock for watching and being part of the Hack Music Theory revolution! Thanks anointed01!

[@adamfowler5475]

These guys need to do one of these same videos for Leprous next...great video!

[@HackMusicTheory]

We love Leprous, so be sure to stay tuned around the time of their next single/album!! Thanks so much for watching and connecting, and until next time take care and happy music making! Kate :)

[@berval5948]

You are the best!!!!!! Saludos !!!!

[@HackMusicTheory]

Gracias Stain Stain! You're the best, for consistently showing up and learning how to make great music!! Thanks so much for being a part of our Hack Music Theory revolution! Kate :)

[@tatemitchell9253]

@Hack Music Theory What midi plugins are you using for your instruments and where would you recommend getting them?

[@l.harrison9725]

get yo' TEA!!!!

[@HackMusicTheory]

Great to hear from you L. Harrison, glad you're diggin' the tea! What kind of tea do you drink?

[@neovoxmusic5213]

You are geniuses

[@HackMusicTheory]

Lol, thanks NeovoX! We're happy you enjoyed our video and we appreciate you connecting. Take care and happy songwriting! Kate :)

[@nathanmccook133]

What software ate you using?

[@HackMusicTheory]

Hi Nathan, thanks for watching! We use Reaper as our DAW. Take care and happy songwriting! Kate :)

[@illlanoize23]

Oh hell yeah thats fuckin nasty I really need to use this haha

[@HackMusicTheory]

Haha, yes do it! It's great to see you again, illlanoize23, hope all's great your side! Until next time, have a wonderful week/weekend :)