How to Write Happy Music!

[@shubus]

It's always a happy day here when I see that Guy has posted a video. If I feel down and out or a little blue from being musically "stuck", Guy's videos on just about any topic turn my mood around and am happy to get back to work in the studio with renewed enthusiasm. This is one of those days.

[@onthestrings]

Came here to say this! 100% agree.

[@primescore]

@@onthestrings I came with exactly the same thing😁Now I'm happy

[@AccidentalScience]

That reverb transformed a happy tune into a shower song😊

[@showbiztom]

The sunglasses alone make my day!❤ ❤

[@MeriaDuck]

They for sure do indeed 🤣

[@nicolesproducerpack]

Lol me too 😄😎

[@bigvin1970]

My ocd was kicking in with his clicks ...... it was all over the place for ages 😂 Great though . Lots of happiness and love Guy 😊

[@tonyr.4778]

Holst's Jupiter (from the planets) is one of the most joyous orchestral works. It is a great example of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic elements coming together. Same can be said about Beethoven's ode to joy thematic construction. Mozart's 41st is also a good example of happy, without being cliche or campy.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Very true - Jupiter is amazing particularly live

[@FLH3official]

Some tunes in La Belle Hélène or La Vie Parisienne, from Jacques Offenbach, give us a lot of joy and smile. "Le Couplet des Rois" (L'époux de la Reine, poux de la reine...) or "Le Brésilien"

[@Max-no1gl]

Thank you for the video. I really enjoyed seeing your process, since writing energetic songs is always something I struggle with. I noticed quite a while ago that a core element of “happy” music is its predictability, like you said, but I always find it difficult to make something slightly formulaic while also not being too cookie-cutter (four chords, etc) or outright boring. I tend to write melodic and sometimes dissonant music, so most of my songs end up being in a minor key. The problem is that I try to make soft rock/pop-y music, so when it’s not something like a ballad or a bittersweet song, I get lost very quickly. Sometimes I write something complex and then break it down and simplify it, which seems to work, but I’d like to get better at writing “happy” songs normally.

[@jernelson2018]

No matter what mood I'm in, it's always a good one after listening to one of your videos. You're the best!

[@Pagansong]

This is great- there is enough misery in the world. Love the glasses!!

[@dustintheblacklight]

This great piece is not only the essence of happiness, but all the wisdom of the universe!

[@johnfinnis8373]

Crivens. I reckon you could have a picture of Guy in them glasses scored to the darkest possible version of The Funeral March and people would be dancing in the streets, eating ice cream and being kind to animals.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

One of the team in the virtual office put that tiune to some video of people carrying a coffin - it was hilarious

[@johnfinnis8373]

🤣🤣🤣@@ThinkSpaceEducation

[@jacobsmithjr]

You are such a great personality not mention talented teacher!

[@nicholaswheeler1311]

Well, I submitted a happy song! I’m not going to pass up the potential opportunity of having Guy review something for me! What a great exercise though. I’d never written a “happy” piece before. Really good fun and pleased I did it!

[@andallicansayis]

Hello Guy, i was surprised you don't have a video about transitions. i struggle with them a lot. can you please explain how to properly transition form one idea to the next?

[@Marijnzor]

Fun video! Definitely highlighted some key components of producing upbeat songs. Also here's my take on the cultural vs psychoacoustic thing: They're both right. These two stances aren't mutually exclusive. Major chords are salient in musical history because of their elegant harmonic ratios of 1, 3 and 5. And they are "happy" because that is how we've been encultured to hear them.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

All true

[@getkilted]

It’s a hot Saturday morning in Adelaide, I’m lying in bed with hangover watching you whistle Guy. And it’s marvellous.

[@chromatic-me]

Bonkers 😂. In a good way. A regular Friday evening treat. I might even submit some of my own music! Update: I have now. It’s on my KZbin channel.

[@mickimarbhmusic]

Such happiness 🙌

[@johnmac8084]

Another inspirational video Guy. Of course there are many different types of happiness, to me this is comical happiness 😀

[@johnnybigoode]

That was awesome. Thanks for all the inspiration

[@coleharbak]

Awesome video! It’s really cool that you’re doing the community write thing, nice stuff :)

[@chasebethersonton5169]

I was literally just thinking today about how my lyrics are increasingly happy and celebratory but my ability to create tunes is centered around depressing and sad sounds and styles. brb, excited to watch this

[@bonuebonue]

Dear Guy, as always very inspiring and refreshing to see and hear your video!!! You are a very very good teacher and a wonderful musician! Thank you very much for all that you give us. I am also enjoin several videos of Thinkspace where I learn so much!!!

[@predatorx8081]

Guy, you're amazing... honestly. Your videos are such a joy to watch. 😂😂Love from South Africa

[@martijnvanbeek4387]

These glasses are really looking great Guy! This video was indeed happy altogether, the tune got me whistling too😊 Somehow this tune reminded me of Monty Python’s Always look on the bright side of life, probably due to your whistling. And also of Cliff Richards Living Doll with the Young Ones. Have a nice and happy day, weekend and life Guy!

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Thats a great happy tune - I forgot about that

[@jimrogers7425]

I wish that you would have shown which acoustic bass plugin you were using. I love the sound of it and need one for my instrument arsenal. Love the video, Guy, although it took me some time to make my way through it... busy week for some reason or other. Cheers!!

[@microbians]

Good tips! thanks!❤

[@stevesm2010]

I dunno about make me happy but it certainly made me chuckle :-) I love it!

[@saruphim2548]

Hey guy! Great videos. The entire EW Fantasy Orchestra is out now. It’d be so neat if you wrote a fantasy track with the entire fantasy orchestra. I think you’d write something very inspiring. You did a video on fantasy strings already but it would be so cool if you wrote a theme with the entire Orchestra now that it is out. EastWest doesn’t get that much attention as it used to, save for the composer cloud. ❤️

[@miker1645]

Ah mate! Ive found you again. I remember watching one of your vids a few years ago. I didn't subscribe because i fell asleep and never found you again, glad i found my way back, ive subscribed this time haha. Hope you are well

[@sockymade]

love your videos man!

[@iNathGaming]

Amazing as always Guy! I would love for you to do a tutorial on a meet-cute scene/romance music. Those scores are always so beautiful and would love to see your take on them!

[@jacobshaw_music]

Loving the Elton John vibe you've got going on with the glasses! Thanks for the video

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

No problem!

[@sonicairmusic]

Hey Guy? You certainly have the cool happy care free vibe going on with this one. Love the rawness of it all. Just one thing that was bugging me was that your finger snaps were totally out of time, due to starting in 150bpm, then altering to a slower tempo. It’s kind like of funny in the way you didn’t mute or notice this until right at the end. Just shows how much fun you was having, not to notice 😂 Class of true brilliance mate. Have a great fun weekend xxx

[@alexkarpenter2306]

Great stuff as always! First five notes of this theme are straight from your "Whiteboots on Whitehall" score :)

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Good point! Ill sue myself

[@DT-yt2zh]

Love the process, but swear I've heard this tune from an old Disney short.

[@nightnoodler812]

Love it, very Happy, BOINGGG!😂Always love a good doobie and a boing

[@randydean23]

Sounds like a long lost outtake from a Roger Miller record. Kept thinking that a 'Dang' was ever imminent while the bass and drums were giving serious King of the Road vibes

[@sopastar]

The happiest song ever, Barbie Girl goes: vi ii V I

[@MartinJG100]

It's a hit, Guy :).

[@blindazabat9527]

This tune would have had its place in the Jungle Book! ;)

[@tjcint]

Guy, what is so nice is you are just being yourself .. unashamedly .. unapologetically .. just Guy on his own multicoloured train to wherever it will go ...

[@alexanderewing3779]

Viv Stanshall doing the theme from 'Skippy'. Gaun yersel' Guy! We need more happiness.😂

[@a.l.recordingstudio1163]

Brilliant, as always....😂

[@side4456]

I thought 'How to Write Music Happily'

[@CopenhagenCollabo]

Much entertaining Guy… Roger Whittaker would be proud 😅 Copenhagen 🇩🇰supports

[@freddesign4989]

drop the glasses... you look like Dame Edna now..... love the happy song btw... :D

[@allensbankmusic]

When is the deadline to send in a piece?

[@jp45424]

Took you long enough to fix those finger snaps, it was driving me crazy, LOL

[@FLH3official]

And now I see a frolicking teddy bear with a purple and yellow lollipop... Doobeedoo, spop.... Everybody should see this. Obvious.

[@nedfarrell]

Cant stop smiling. 😃

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

good!

[@adammortonmusic]

Happy Music for a Happy Friday! Always a great day with a video from Guy :D I tried accessing the form but it's locked to users of the organization :(

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Oh no!

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Sorted sould be fine now

[@adammortonmusic]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation Perfect, thanks!

[@KutiaMoyoMusic]

I didn't realize Guy wrote anything BUT happy music - and his example mock-up definitely knocked it out of the park! However, I'm super disappointed that he stuck with the pathetic cliché that "sad music is in a minor key; happy music is in a major key." What about Dorian? What about Mixolydian? (which, incidentally, mixolydian follows the harmonic progression better than major does because it actually flattens the 7th . . .) Some of the happiest pieces I've ever written are in mixolydian. Overall, though, was still a useful and informative video. Thanks, Guy!

[@stephanechapdelaine]

What is the VST for your bass, it sounds very good

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Native instruments Cuba

[@stephanechapdelaine]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation thank you!

[@raymoland]

You've got the Sunglasses of Happiness!

[@MeriaDuck]

Anders Enger Jensen makes quite happy music in general.

[@alastairdallas]

Examples of happy music are hard to list. "Break My Stride" comes to mind, "Ob la di Ob la da," "Don't Worry Be Happy," and Pharrell's "Happy." Predictability is repetition, right?

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Obladi is a great one - I listened hard to Pharrel's hard and decided other than the lyric there wasnt a really strong happy sound

[@alastairdallas]

You're right! With the descending line, if you substitute sad lyrics Pharrell's is a sad song, even at the fast tempo.@@ThinkSpaceEducation

[@2free2snakes]

Guy demoes: Mafia Assassin has a nice day for a laundry detergent commercial shoot

[@wiseoldfool]

Very good, but would have been even better with a bit of "Boom Oo Yata-Ta-Ta"

[@alexanderewing3779]

If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad. Wait a minute...

[@TheSoundConnoisseur]

What are all those extra snaps out of time?

[@martifingers]

It could be the lost backing for that rejected Bernard Cribben's novelty record from the 1960's. Alternatively bring out the Swanee Whistle!

[@NgaTaeOfficial]

Buuuuut…. The only thing that can follow Swanee Whistle is….. Kazoo!!!

[@martifingers]

@@NgaTaeOfficial I'm sorry, I haven't a clue what you mean!

[@alexanderewing3779]

Right said Fred

[@kadiummusic]

70's minor & major. 80's major. 90's minor. This century.... (c)rap. 😎

[@Autumnspiano]

I just composed a song! And it's a little longer and you don't need to listen to the whole song, you may skip around it you'd like =) This is my version of positive/happy. I usually writer more somber and mellow pieces so this was different and I loved it. I go by aPiainist or autumn piano, and I am a self taught pianist because I lived far away from piano class places, therefore taught myself how to play after covid. I've been using GarageBand (which is the software I used for this) for a little over a year and I really enjoy it. Thank you for everything you do, love your vids. Here my positive/happy song (I composed it with an anime theme sound) (Disclaimer, I don't know why the audio in the beginning glitches for a moment, please don't mind) kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYOcnolvr6lnmM0

[@LucasBurnMusic]

Who the fuc* needs happy music?

[@mustuploadtoo7543]

if i was in a good mood i think this would make me less happy

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

ohhh sorry

[@ludovictrottier425]

🎶doo bee doo bee doo bee doo bee doo bee doo bee BOP! 🎶

[@mksounds6326]

I don't know what was happier, the music or you writing the music?!

[@LorenFagen]

the only thing missing is a kazoo...;)

[@FondueBrothers]

Boing!

[@micwarren21]

Finger snapping is driving me crazy.

[@micwarren21]

Thanks for correcting The BPM for the finger snaps.

[@jasonp9508]

16:58 “Boing!”

[@PendelSteven]

You know? This is getting to the essence of music from Sesame Street & The Muppet Show Even Elmo's song is still jazzy (pretty Django) --> kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIS8kpeeZ92gmas And of course, there's Mahna Mahna --> kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJOXaHapqapqiJY

[@tuttib1902]

Well it made me smile😊

[@code-fox]

Edna ! ROFL!

[@gary-songwriter]

Not that it has any relevance to the video, but Bono is pronounced Bon (as in bon-vivant) O. Not Bone O. 😛

[@andysim232]

😂🎉🎉 🎹 😍 😂🎉🎉

[@R0bstar-YT]

What is this "happy" you speak of?

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

try it!

[@ali_hsj]

😂 12:35

[@clowncarqingdao]

To be quite frank, and no disrespect intended, I find your tune funny and annoying and certainly not uplifting and happy.

[@MapleSonics]

That’s not happy, that’s just corny. 😢.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Well..... OK

[@bonuebonue]

@MapleSonicSolutions It makes ME very happy to hear the little tune of Guy!!! Maple: Your comment makes me unhappy. Where are you super original tunes on your channel? Why to be so unsensible and post such comments on a free, very generous and helpful video?

[@tiiibo]

hey, lets keep it friendly here people 😅

[@MapleSonics]

@TWDub It is for sure true that i do not make happy music myself. I do like happy music though. Easiest example might me “Happy”, by Pharrel Williams. Now there is a none corny song that sounds happy. On an alternative path i would say that “She blinded me with science”, by Thomas Dolby is a happy song.

[@MapleSonics]

@@bonuebonue Oh i’m just not confident enough. I do stream sometimes live on Twitch. Maybe tonight. Be prepared, it is not happy 😃.