The Secret to Action Music: Octatonic Scale & Orchestration Tips

[@jjrussell]

Commenting for the algo because i want to see more of these. Very nice explanation.

[@SamuFL]

Thank you! And yess! Thank you for the algo push. Highly appreciated!

[@Relvoet]

Your expression at 7:38 made me laugh, it's also how my daughter looks when she is at the breakfast table on Monday morning 😂

[@SamuFL]

Monday mornings are - Mondays I guess :D I'm glad you found it funny.

[@leandropugin]

Very useful!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@hirkdeknirk1]

And learned something again. Thank you!

[@KevinrosenOfficial]

Wow your timing is incredible im actually writing an action piece write now whit musio actually😁

[@SamuFL]

Who is not writing an action que? ;) Hope it can help in some way.

[@cesmcmyth]

congrats on the content and thanks! Apart from the theory and skill, man! it's easy to listen to you talking about your craft. Rhythm wise, accent and clarity. Great.

[@SamuFL]

Thanks, man! I’m just here trying to keep it real and fun. Glad you’re enjoying it!

[@mattwallis1893]

I do love the Octatonic Scale myself

[@evamazurek5467]

Very informative and well explained. Thank you for putting so much time making this video. I learned a new thing today :)

[@spokansas]

Thanks! Fantastic lesson, and the keyboard representation is really helpful in following along!

[@SamuFL]

Thank you so much for the donation! Highly appreciated!

[@gigabruzinho]

Oh, very good one 😊😊😊 ! Thank you very much !

[@genuinefreewilly5706]

Great effect and explainer! I think of them as symmetrical scales of which there are too many to mention and invent. One comes across them in jazz, in my musical exploration

[@musician202]

Great one 💙

[@SamuFL]

Thank you!

[@robst247]

If you can't follow what the other band members are playing, just think "F**k them" and play octatonically. It always sounds great. Never fails. Everyone will thing you're a genius.

[@SamuFL]

Right? Just play your thing and let the others figure it out! Rock on!

[@OfficialStevenCravis]

Awesome Samuel! I’ve heard jazz improvisations work in some of these octatonic phrases, I think sometimes in the Chick Corea style, but someone correct me if I’m wrong.

[@SamuFL]

Yes indeed. The octatonic scale is use extensively in Jazz improvisation. I am no Jazz expert, though, and wouldn't dare to make any statement as to style or use cases in Jazz.

[@SidJ8300]

Which library you used for horns and percussion? Pretty nice sounds with awesome composition

[@karlwhelanmusic]

Awesome tutorial, thank you! Came by this by chance whilst researching the octotonic scale which I want to incorporate into my palette. Some info on how you select the chords/progressions would be helpful, eg. I know what works in major/minor scales but are there any progressions which work particularly well with this scale?

[@SamuFL]

Hmm... good point. I might get back to the topic. But, harmonies and chord progressions with the octatonic scale are a rabbit hole in their own rights... So, I honestly need to so some more studying and homework.

[@solyarisoftware]

Hi Samuel, I usually really enjoy your videos! That said, I’d like to suggest dedicating a video to the harmonic value of this scale, perhaps focusing on chord clustering. For me, this scale is the second mode in Messiaen’s theory, so I tend to think of it more as the foundation for non-tonal composition. You seem to use it more for its melodic effect, which is a very different perspective-but that’s perfectly fine 🙂 Best, Giorgio

[@SamuFL]

Thank you. There is still a lot to lear for me concerning music theory. And Messiaen's work is definitively among the things I should look into. I am aware the dimished scale alows the construction of complex harmonic contexts. The structural properties of the scale appear endless. I will definitively look into it in more depth. However, I am still pleased with the energetic and chaotic feel I was able to craft using the scale to create motifs and melodies - and harmonizing those after the fact. The melodic propertoies sound amazing to me. Do you have any material you could point me to? I would love to get some more in-depth material to read and study.

[@solyarisoftware]

@SamuFL Thank you for your feedback. Regarding Olivier Messiaen's music, I’d recommend exploring all his symphonic works-you might appreciate his use of brass. For me, these pieces represent groundbreaking examples of non-tonal (but not serial) harmonic vision. Specifically, the octatonic scale (mode 2 in his theory) is used almost everywhere in his compositions, especially in the "Turangalîla-Symphonie" (perhaps in the "Chant d’amour" movements and "Joie du sang des étoiles") and "Éclairs sur l’au-delà...", among many others. I recently discovered that Messiaen reinvented harmony with his modes of limited transposition. A nice, gentle introduction for me was Rick Beato’s KZbin video: "Olivier Messiaen - The Modes of Limited Transposition".

[@mattwallis1893]

@SamuFL, what string libraries and articulations did you use for the main ostinato? They sound nice and crisp.

[@SamuFL]

OMG! I forgot to fill out the list in the video description! Violins, Violas and Celli are from Jaeger by Audio Imperia. Very powerful sounds. "Low Strings" (the tremolo at the beginning) is also Jaeger. The Basses in the action part (pizzicatos) are from BBCSO - fat bass sound. The articulation used in the ostinato is 98% spiccato, with rare staccatos thrown in, where I needed a bit of an accent.

[@FS4U-CH]

Hello, I really enjoyed this. is it possible for the last playback to show the notation view? this is easy in studio one and the arrangement view at this scale doesn't tell me anything. best regards.

[@SamuFL]

Very good idea! I will consider that in the next video. You are absolutely right - the arrangement view is kind of useles.

[@Lara-SMASCH]

Omg this is so cool i like your Videos all people pls suprice ❤ byeee

[@SamuFL]

Thank you so much!

[@Lara-SMASCH]

You welcome🙃💫