The 4 Chords of Afro House

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I am a professional musician, songwriter and sample creator who brings the world of music theory into electronic music. I help and collaborate with producers, djs, musicians, rappers, singers and songwriters creating new music and I also create instrumentals & sample packs of musical licks, guitar stems and melodies
I hope that the musical information and licks I share help you in your music creations.
(🔔) Please subscribe to one of my channels to keep informed of new releases.
you can download my tropical and deep house music guitar samples here: bit.ly/2MPv1s9
Download The Piano House Vol 1 Classic vs Classical by Bthelick here: bit.ly/2fyMq73
Download The Future Tropical Pack by Bthelick here: bit.ly/1PkTwVy
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Spread the licks, spread the love!
Music Theory for #EDM #Dance #House #Techno #Trance #rave #Producers #basshouse #techhouse #deephouse #slaphouse #housemusic #bass #housebass
#key #scale #Samples #swing #sounddesign #chords #groove
#tutorial #musictutorial #howto #beginners #guide #sample #sampling #plugins #pluginsgratis #freeplugin #musicislife #organhouse #bthelick #musicproducer #organbass #musician #musictheory #musicproduction #ableton #musician #producerlife #course #daw #howto #ukgarage #jungle #dnb #melodic #afrobeat #afrohouse

[@Bthelick]

whoops, apologies I didn't mean "Anyma / Rebuke - Syren" the track was actually Rivo's remix of disclosure - me and you. The file must have been renamed on download and I just read it loud without thinking.

[@realestatecoachestv]

Can you use a better picture of black coffee?? White people always trying to humble a black man smh

[@shoal5994]

I’ve literally started to treat your videos like class assignments that are due by the end of the week. Music’s gotten exponentially better because of that.

[@ericcaomusic]

🦾🦾🦾

[@Algo2.0]

Same here!

[@DespaceMan]

The more you do the better you become at it, FACT.

[@gothfrog69]

Great to see an electronic music tutorial talking about theory rather than “how I made this sound” or “here’s my mastering chain”

[@Bthelick]

Thanks! that was the entire reason to start the channel.

[@Lot]

bro is the best teacher ever

[@tobiaspetersen6342]

Wow, this might be one of the best tutorials I've seen. The explanation, the pace, the flow. Flawless! Subscribed!!

[@victorwidell9751]

@5:26 when you drag the note and accidentally go C#-D sounds awesome.

[@Bthelick]

You filthy degenerate! Get out of here with your non-diatonic sensibilities!

[@Castrouk_]

@@Bthelick😂😂😂😂

[@DjangoFlaherty]

Noticed it too. Love me some spice notes 😂

[@DespaceMan]

A unfortunate incident with a happy ending.

[@BLAMITMUSIC]

i see a bthelick video, i like!

[@San7hos]

I haven't watched this yet but I'm already excited!

[@San7hos]

I loved the mix of chord breakdown, instrument selection, rhythms and layering. The fact that you keep it very close to a real session it's excellent touch. Inspiring for any genre frankly.

[@JackHerra64]

This man always reanimates my desire to make music

[@atibakojo3478]

Thanks for the chords. Once I heard them I recognized those changes from a lot of the Ibiza crew. 👌🏿👍🏿✌🏿✌🏿

[@Jp-fc3uu]

This channel is gonna blow up pretty soon man. It's a bitter sweet feeling

[@Bthelick]

aw I know. I've predicted at 100kish I won't be able to respond to every comment any more and that makes me sad.

[@gazingwrmth]

Best Guy!

[@zenoalteamusic]

You just upgraded my entire style of producing music. I thank you sir!

[@ayoubhaida31]

This is exactly what I've been looking for. And you're the only one doing it correctly on KZbin. Very very informative. Thank you so much man. We'd be grateful if you could do a video on how to mix afro house drums.

[@Bthelick]

Well I didn't really mix them, I just pick ones that sounds similar to the refs. I may do a tutorial on what drum types to search for or what to look out for but if you saw my previous video you'll know I don't really have to do any mixing!

[@ayoubhaida31]

@@Bthelick Anything you do is good. Whenever i watch one of yours videos , I learn something new. Just keep 'em coming man. Thank you again. There are people who charge ridiculous amounts of money for mediocre courses, and then here you're giving us quality content on KZbin free of charge.

[@Lamby1]

It's like you can read my mind or something! 😂 Top work MrLick 👏

[@samcowan1894]

I've been dying for another one of these videos. I have been building a CAREER on the basics you established in the organic house video and have been dying to get your insight into more afro house stuff! Would freak out if you made more of these Afro house tutorials!

[@Bthelick]

Great to hear. What do you hear as the difference between organic and Afro, there seems to be a lot of crossover on beatport.

[@Ben-l2d]

​@@Bthelick There is definitely a lot of crossover...for me the major difference is that Afro house as a genre is defined by the African Drum sounds and rhythms more so than Organic house, which whilst using organic drum sounds, many tracks in that sub genre don't rely on the tried and tested afro house rhythms as much. Afro house tracks tend to have slightly harder hitting drum sounds/samples and if you check out one of the biggest selling afro house labels on Beatport ,Mo Black Records ..you will see a hell of a lot of African vocal top lines too..although some organic house tracks have them also haha. I think of the organic house scene to be generally more 'hippy/trippy/floaty/mellow. The two sub genres can be comfortably mixed together in a DJ set -however the Afro house tracks usually hit with slightly higher energy on the dance floor with bigger builds and drops. I often warm up with more organic house and move onto more afro house but rarely the other way round ..of course it would depend on where one is playing... but my shows work that way round rather than vice versa more often than not.

[@Bthelick]

@@Ben-l2d thanks yeah that seems in line with what I'm noticing.

[@tombanner3720]

So nice to see an electronic music production tutorial focused on theory. The way you did it is great ! Would love to see more like this

[@Bthelick]

Thank you. There's a channel full, it is the reason I started the channel. Get stuck in, and enjoy 🙏👊

[@deanchester8754]

Clever git.

[@ghostnarbis7057]

Best tutorial i found! ☄️❤

[@bjornwelling6467]

Instant subscriber - best onpoint teaching resource on KZbin right now!

[@OhDeeDoubleU]

Liked even before watching, always a great watch

[@jhdrummer4815]

I love these chords,thanks for explaining them. Only thing I find quite boring lately is the way chords are played. Not even slightly syncopated and most top songs are more or less a variation of each other.

[@Bthelick]

thanks , yes I agree mostly. though that's from a player / musician perspective. But as one great producer said when I over-played on a track "it's not your wedding" 🤣 If you want this chill energy then this way is appropriate. it's an emotional decision for vibe, not a players decision for boredom. there's no rules though, look at Dorian Craft's new track Stella, that samples Michael Calfan's Last Call, a heavy piano house track, and he's put that on top of an afro house beat. You can be the one to change it up as you hear it.

[@CypiXmusic]

Some of these titles are truly wild 😆

[@erikan0404]

Easy explanation 👌

[@Natanelmusic]

Thanks as always Coach! 🫡 excited to watch this one

[@rikkshow]

These type of videos is where you excel and separate yourself from the rest of music "how to" creators on KZbin. Best Wishes!

[@C-MAG-Music]

Crazy day today. This was just what I needed. That was so chill. I'm gonna have to go and check out this genre some more. Never even heard of it before. Great stuff. Thank you!

[@z73-dn9ts]

whiting start to mastering afro house )))))

[@StoneCut]

Your channel is full of the best music production and theory videos I‘ve seen. Thank you.

[@nicolasharseim1083]

Brother your videos are insane, I've made so much progress with my production because of your videos!

[@RockstahRolln]

I see a new video from you, I immediately smash a thumbs up and then watch it because your videos are TERRIFIC!! Thank You!

[@Carlho80]

Thanks for the tips great timing just made some tribally loops at the weekend these will fit in great with!

[@frattamusic]

8 tracks out of the top 10 with the same chord progression 🥰

[@Bthelick]

Well, selection, not progression. But most similar yeah

[@Crumbsworth]

Still phat

[@williangarciasantos]

You’re an amazing and talented soul, we’re all very lucky and blessed to have you as mentor! Thank you so much for making music easier to understand 🙏🏼

[@Worrelpa]

À four chord song. Must be a hit. :) great vid as ever. Just love your direct and honest opinions on all this.

[@listentoma]

Love it, thanky ou!

[@Gedden]

This is a class like others have said. A great lecture!

[@melomate.]

Real gem this video💎🌞

[@chrisharrison809]

Cool stuff! Interesting how you call that 1 making the minor chord home. In gospel we keep things even more simple and call that 654 in the relative major key. Usually in classical music they use what you’re using though.

[@Bthelick]

Yes if there's no '3' then to my ears it's a minor home key. But as long as we understand each other that's the main thing

[@tonicba4748]

Thank you I'm really excited, I’ve been kindly requesting Afro house tech videos on your Instagram👊

[@siyabongamahlangu3236]

This video is what I needed 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@ericcaomusic]

INSANE BROTHER!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

[@EchoesOfMelodicExistence]

Another top quality video, as usual 👏🏼

[@soldrozd877]

Hey man only constructive criticism is to let the whole loop play without talking over for at least a bar. Thanks love your vids so helpful so much good little gems

[@Bthelick]

Yeah sorry it's not usually my intention, I record the sessions and then overdub and sometimes I have to add dialog to the script to explain things more clearly (and slower to the auto captions aren't confused) which sometimes fills in intended gaps. And sometimes I have to keep the exposed music short to avoid copyright. Videos are hard man! 🤣 Thanks for pointing it out I need to be more conscious of it.

[@corderoworldwide]

I’ve been trying to figure this out! Thank you

[@trizverze]

You’re awesome, your vids are awesome and i feel like i learn a lot watching you, keep it up!!

[@fernandocardoso4245]

Dude, thanks for your videos! You are an artist! hugs from Brazil

[@KarsonMusic]

Stumbled on your channel by accident, damn you do not disappoint man! Thanks learnt so much already just going through your content!! Thank you

[@Gavin_Harnett]

Afroganic house maybe😂😂😂. Thanks for this vid. Very inspiring as usual. ❤

[@rabmccudden683]

Usual notch levels sir 🔝

[@joeyzecarlos1122]

I Love your videos, amazing quality and all about the music. Greetings from Germany

[@smooverida]

Excellent breakdown as usual! 💣💥

[@ChrisSmout]

Just make it look so easy, great tutorial!

[@mma4696]

thank U

[@funkyhousegrooves]

Eagerly await your pedal tone video

[@loontil]

Great vids, B. Refreshing to hear/watch someone with a handle on music theory like me, unlike those MINDBENDINGLY, TESTICLE-CRUSHINGLY RUBBISH "Unison Chord pack" ads that pop up on my pc like a bad dream of modern lame shite. Whaddo I really think? I hear you ask....

[@planetmusicsamos]

thank you for all this knowledge!!!

[@vishie10]

You are amazing! Thank you for that. Please do drums and saturation next! :)

[@Bthelick]

Saturation? I don't think I used any.

[@hansvalentin9552]

Nice one, thanks

[@SamuelMaganya]

I love this channel!!!!

[@Bangers_mostly]

I love this guy

[@Bthelick]

❤

[@zach5539]

Lol at the Gordo highlight😂😂

[@jackfranzen8069]

This video was so good!!!

[@marsiliusmusic]

This video is so good. Thank you.

[@ELLIOT8209]

Great video as always B👌👌👌

[@marceloribeirosimoes8959]

That's similar to those 3rd Wold and Denroy Morgan tunes... ...so reggae... Thank you!

[@davidc510]

Love your videos

[@z73-dn9ts]

thank you so much

[@DJIconTV]

Great insight!

[@alieninvasion33]

very good my friend , thanks a lot !

[@diptoobiswas]

this is gold

[@zeepster]

Nice one! Please do more video's on mixing. Especially drums!

[@Bthelick]

Did you see my previous video about the mastering? All the info is in there!

[@zonalaudio]

Nice stuff!

[@Softvalley1895]

Danke schön

[@Softvalley1895]

i there an option to download the Ableton Project?

[@Bthelick]

I use splice samples for the drums so I can't redistribute those unfortunately.

[@Softvalley1895]

@@Bthelick with the google download link of your ableton Theme above i got only an *.ask file as Download. (no *.als file Project Folder)

[@Bthelick]

@@Softvalley1895 that's a theme file, not a session. (The colour scheme)

[@saykaOs]

Amazing, thank you

[@dj_kik]

Merci génial tuto afro house :o)

[@endmoore]

Your videos are really improving my music, bro 🙌 thanks. I'm a big fan of this genre 😅❤️

[@Chamilawarna]

nice video again 🙌

[@vanillafunk]

Top video!!!!!

[@kvpvu225]

BtheGOAT🎉

[@ELLIOT8209]

Those continuous appergios are amazing as well. Can you please do a video on them

[@bigmanmike12]

Loved this, can you go more into it, drum patterns, basslines etc?

[@sebrosamusic]

Yo B! 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@ti3mpo618]

Love this video lesson, so much great information. I've heard you ask what is the difference between organic and afro house. I would say organic house is like Tim Green and afro house is DaCapo. Artists like Adam Port and Moojo sit somewhere in the middle

[@Soulysis]

your voice gives me vibes of Stanley Parable's narrator, btw great video

[@dave808turner]

Amazing as always mate. When you do these piano tutorial I’m locked in and you have answered my question before regarding why you always start on A note. Next time are you able to mention how much you pitch things up so I can follow along at home? Also showing maybe what the correct keys playing without the pitch may also help me. Just for reference. Big Love.

[@Bthelick]

Yes I try to these days , but there is no pitching in this one. The original tracks were all in different keys in their original form, but none of my examples were I kept everything in A you should be able to play along no change. It did you mean play along to the original tracks?

[@apatsa_basiteni]

Lets go✨✨

[@arthurpedro7480]

❤

[@paulatsydney]

Interesting. In classical music, the second inversion (fifth as the lowest note) is seen as an unstable chord (and very often avoided because of this), it really introduces harmonic vagueness at 6:20 - a nice effect.

[@Bthelick]

Yes, well technically it's not I suppose because the bass will still cover the root , but in general voicings with the 3rd on top are very popular in dance.

[@ConsciousFX]

Would love to see a Boom Bap demonstration and your approach on filling up the space in the track with samples or sounds that need some good mixing, transitions and sequencing.

[@Bthelick]

If the sounds need a lot of good mixing then I usually just don't pick them haha

[@ConsciousFX]

@@Bthelick Mixing as in blending specific sounds with one another/layering and creating more of a 3D palette of auditory experience with a genre that is anything less than simple to create. Especially to make funky and correctly. Haven't seen this approach in any in depth tutorials on Boom Bap, just curious to see your approach on this and what your final product would sound like. Mixing has taken on a whole new meaning but initially always meant (from a musical point of view) blending sounds together. Cranberry and vodka but I don't drink Lol. Complimentary sounds. A lot of times you can't just "pick them" or find them. May take bit more of a creative edge and maybe a bit of sound design knowledge which there is nothing wrong with! Whether or not you wanna use an eq or compress them together or saturate etc is personal preference obviously. Love your work thank you for the information regardless would love to see you create something outside of this genre. Staying creative and experimentation is key. Also super cool tutorial on the afro house!

[@paulc7798]

The plugin "Scaler 2" may be playing a part here, me thinks.

[@Bthelick]

is it a default preset?

[@paulc7798]

@@Bthelick I am not sure but certain products create trends.

[@AfricanElectronic]

I think afro-house is a lot older than so-called "melodic house" as a term for a sub genre. Also, not always, but Afro-house tends to have more syncopation as it's basis e.g. on snares/claps than melodic house but I admit there are plenty of similarities. At the end of the day, many of these terms are about marketing more than the music itself. That instrument that people call thumb piano/kalimba is originally known as Mbira.

[@Bthelick]

Indeed, I've just replied to someone else in the comments reminding them that it's probably 30+ years old. That's why I put "(beatport) afro house" in the opening title. I know the current top 10 is mostly bandwagon jumpers and this doesn't represent the genre as a whole, but if I notice a harmonic trend I can't help but mention it. That's for the info. I knew of Mbira but didn't want to risk mispronouncing it 🤣. I will make a video going deeper and giving the likes of onsulde his due. If you have any artists to check please let me know.

[@AfricanElectronic]

@@Bthelick Aww haha. I had thought the word Mbira might have been intimidating before I posted that. Here are some artists, both old and relatively new to the scene, that I recommend checking out (though some with a more diverse/older sound to Afro-House/Tech) in addition to Osunlade: Culoe De Song, Mr Raoul K, Mr Joe, Black Motion, Infinite Boys, Djeff / Djeff Afrozila, Jackie Queens, Atmos Blaq, XtetiQsoul, Timmy Regisford, Da Capo, Zepherin Saint, Sun El Musician, Shimza, Kususa, Benny T, Floyd Lavine, Themba, TekniQ, Dladla Thukzin, DJ Gregory, Nitefreak, Shona SA, Argento Dust, David Morales, CAIIRO, DJ Jim Mastershine, Boddhi Satva, Lemon & Herb, Bun Xapa, Hypaphonik, Frigid Armadillo, Shredder SA, Zakes Batwini, Gino Brown, Dr Feel, AIMO, Vanco, Freddy Da Stupid, DJ Satelite, Stan Zeff, Fka Mash

[@WilliamMason-g7j]

Hi Bthelick, can you please consider making a video tutorial on "layering" leads properly or layering sounds in general? Can you please specifically address your reasoning behind why you perform "x" step?

[@Bthelick]

Yes I'm working on a layer video , it's tough to teach. it's very much about being able to hear the destination ahead of time whilst also knowing what sounds are possible from any single source.

[@Bthelick]

I forgot to ask what genre are you asking about regarding lead layering?

[@WilliamMason-g7j]

@@Bthelick Tropical House like Kygo. When I do it I either get distortion or masking. Even when I try to correct for it still doesn't work. I even tried picking contrasting sounds.

[@Bthelick]

@user-md3up9pb4v hmmmm does kygo layer his leads? I don't usually in tropical. What track lead example are you going for?

[@WilliamMason-g7j]

@@Bthelick No, but here is a video I see him doing it in the video around 8 minutes into the video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnunqnmhZcdkgLM Yet, like I said each time I try to layer anything I get distortion or masking. For example, when I layer vocal harmonies, I really-really have this problem. I have no compression or anything on my stereo bus after watching your videos. Also, I should say too I produce on headphones only. (Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Headphones)

[@izacmusic7000]

I am such a huge fan of your videos, Love the chill vibe and great great amazing teaching, your awsome producer and equally awsome teacher. How do you go by creating these small remakes / analyses of different tracks got any tips? :=)

[@Bthelick]

Thanks! It's all down to ear training practice. There's relative pitch training for recognizing pitch, then there's the engineering side for recognizing frequencies, and that plays into a little bit of sound design too for recognizing waveforms. I list a few places in the description you can start but in general it's just years of practice and making mistakes haha! Trying to recreate your favorite tracks fail or success is the best way to develop all those skills imo.

[@izacmusic7000]

@@Bthelickthank you so much, I know know what to do, enjoy your coffee 😀

[@nineways]

Amazing tutorial, thank you so much ! Have only one question, how you added the numbers on piano roll ?

[@Bthelick]

It's done in the video editor, sorry it's not an Ableton thing. Should be though right??

[@nineways]

@@Bthelick would be perfect to add this in ableton

[@Crumbsworth]

I was listening and taking notes, but at 8:32 and 18:52 I said ouuuuuuuu and danced

[@Bthelick]

Thank you greatly appreciated ❤️

[@Crumbsworth]

@@Bthelick and we greatly appreciate you and your hard work. Are there other ways to support you?

[@Bthelick]

there is a ko-fi link in my video descriptions. I may enable channel memberships soon as youtube are offering an incentive , but memberships are structured around rewards and I don't have the time to offer anything in return. In the future I plan to sell courses , samples, presets and maybe some kind of merch.

[@60secmusic96]

ok, 6534 in major.

[@krishnapnair856]

Hey B, i don't think Anyma and Rebuke's Syren has these chords. There's no piano in it first of all. And it's a melodic tech track, not afro house.

[@craigburton4447]

Yeah, I am really confused by this as well

[@Bthelick]

Yep my bad, looks like the file got renamed on download and I just read it out without thinking. The track was rivo's remix of disclosure you and me

[@NilsJagerstig-gq8gf]

Can you do melodic techno chords? 🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟

[@Bthelick]

Your mean for the breaks? They don't usually use chords in the drops.

[@NilsJagerstig-gq8gf]

@@Bthelick Yeah for the breaks but like you said some of them got chords in the drop. Mind against use often chords in the drop😁

[@yyy55587]

what piano vst did you mainly use? its sounds great

[@Bthelick]

It's shown in the sound section