Take your tunes to the next level with - Counter Melodies!

[@sapienproductions]

The amount of times I've seen a video from Guy and thought, oh, 24 minutes?! I'll watch 2 or 3 mins and then save the rest for when I have time to fully watch it later, then notice I've watched the whole flipping thing & forgot why I didn't have the time to watch it in the first place. Fantastic insight and teaching as ever. Cheers Guy.

[@gerainsan]

Your sense of humor and showing the mistakes are so inspiring!)

[@samthesomniator]

Feels so good to have that honest types of tutorials that show struggle can be there during process even when you are experienced. And it is just okay. Thanks for all that information. 😊

[@jamieturton666]

It's all so human and certainly makes me feel better about the process we all go through as composers. The uncertainty and spontaneity is where the magic happens.

[@WarOnGravity]

Guy plays beautiful melody: "Sorry you had to see that."

[@nightnoodler812]

I love your phrase "Rythmic Identity", I have been trying to put that musical thought into words for many years. So Wonderful watching and learning from you, Thanks Guy.

[@hstanekovic]

For me, this is one of the best of your videos. You gave a few very important advice for composers. As bonus, we can see that you sometimes struggle while composing. Good to see because usually you look as super-duper successful in rapid composing.

[@kheireddineattala1281]

yeah he usually looks like that guy (oun intended) who "just composes"

[@peteragoston-petrosthemusi8260]

So true. Honesty is a rare gift nowadays.

[@aneskaric]

Čovjek je kralj (Absolutely agree)

[@DaneMorgridge]

Awesome video as always! For those asking, the controller he has on his keyboard is a Blackmagic design controller, but it''s for the video controls, not the DAW

[@paulakerman2371]

Thank you!

[@pattardn]

Usually I write a main theme around the main chord progression (sometimes the tune comes before the harmony), I write two more chord progressions and develop the main melody accordingly - with some elements repeating themselves not to stray too much from the main theme rhythmically - and then go wild on a "bridge" progression that takes me back to the main theme. I reserve the counter melody of the main theme for the "solo" which I try to sing and try to treat as an altogether different piece of music (sometimes I get inspired by the "bridge" melody). It is a very mathematical exercise, really. I loved your canon trick - I've always wanted to write something in the vein of "On Reflection" (Gentle Giant) and "Incantations Part iv" (Mike Oldfield), thank you for making it feel less of a herculean task.

[@florentinhonorius613]

i'm not watching this channel for almost 2 years. it's nice to see you so energetic in the first video i watched after a 2-year hiatus. i guess I'll be back to the music...

[@matthew.wilson]

This is a wonderful example of the very blurred line (arguably no line at all in fact) between improv and composition. Much good composition is arrived at through improvisation and really good improv is really well composed 🙂

[@SamBorgman]

This is great. Didn't know it's called Counter Melodies but I do this all the time. Lot of music had this in the 80s and I always love those.

[@parboilrice]

I'm glad you do this all in real time, really sets you apart from any other channel on YT

[@StrangerObjects]

I just started my musical journey a year ago and don't know what the hell im doing. I started producing beats and electronic music, but always been in love with film music. It's so rich and deep. But actually I don't know anything about music theory, nor can I properly play piano, BUT, your videos encouraged me to dig deeper into music theory and learn more. Plus, you're by far the best tutor I came across on KZbin! Seriously, you not only make it look easy, but also explain exactly what you're doing. Plus, I live your humor 😂🫶

[@kimnilssonlange4493]

I’ve learned so much from your videos both here on youtube and on Thinkspace education. I appreciate your way of explaining theory in a straightforward way and I believe I’m a better musician because of it. Your sharing of music theory and orchestral composition are truly inspirational and educational! This means more than I can find words for, but I wanted to say thank you!

[@Kihilbill]

You're a musician but you're also a magician. I do music from my 7 and i have 50 now, i played music with many peoples and i know some musicians very goods, you're one of them. You're also a poet, we ear that in your productions. It's a good idea you're on youtube. A real stimulation to improve my english for me =)

[@vleiratfilms2020]

As a wonderful illustration that simple tunes are really hard to write this takes the cake. At your most sunglasses of doubt moment you remain the champ. Loved this video.❤️ thank you.

[@aaronlove3263]

Your videos are amazing, Guy - thank you! After playing guitar for over 30 years, I’ve just gotten into music production the past year. Love to see your approach and creating something out nothing, making it interesting, and showing your thought process. Wish I had more time aside from my day job and family to create more. Appreciate your content!

[@bradleydahl5191]

Not even 10min of watching my first video of yours and you've got a subscriber. Very real real-time presentation and you're not afraid of being yourself 😄

[@rickdauer5179]

Guy, you are such a pleasure to watch and learn from. Please keep the tutelage coming

[@roes4391]

Sir you have earned an instant subscribe on my behalf due to your great way of explaining and genuine appreciation for creativity.

[@JayszunVanderwerff]

"It's not exactly Schoenberg, is it?" Thank you Guy, I literally erupted in laughter, I really needed that.

[@DavidHughesss]

I also enjoyed that bit very much.

[@kond1e]

I really like this .. seeing professionals struggle is refreshing .. shows that we aren't the only ones who get frustrated

[@High-Tech-Geek]

Thanks for this Guy. It reminded my of my late dad who loved singing "Descants" above music he listen to or during hymns sung in church. Sometimes meandering, sometimes beautiful, always joyful.

[@AndreaRossGreene]

Guy, I love, love, love this video. This was just what I needed. I’ve been writing songs with lyrics for years but I’m relatively new to composing instrumentals so this really helped. Thank you!

[@marti22852]

love the little dance at 0:58, now I know I'm not the only one doing weird stuff whilst composing 😅 the best way to work

[@zipprien6191]

I love watching you create or explain something you seem so happy doing it :)

[@gerardking9751]

I reside many levels below you in this Devine folly. But I was able to completely parallel all of it within my working patterns. Laughed hysterically and walked away hopeful. Thank you

[@michelelucco5118]

I jumped off my seat at the chord sequence! It's exactly the same I often run into, when I'm fiddling on my keyboard looking for a tune!

[@makeaguitarnoise]

I like your positive cheerful demeanour. Nice tips.

[@naturalrestingface1884]

Nice stuff Guy, You're a breath of fresh air. John Williams springs to mind with lovely counters.

[@BarrieT]

I dont think you realise how helpful this video was, and probably not in the way that you originally planned. To see you trying and trying to make something 'Fit' echo's how I work. I have just 'Binned' my Sunglasses of doubt as I now realise that this is how even someone of your massive expertise and experience works as well. Thank you so much :)

[@defenator1]

Your videos just always makes me so happy. Thank you Guy

[@thomasvinelli]

You’re a funny Guy , Guy. I would love to sit in your classroom. With the humor you’re a perfect teacher for me.

[@jedstephensmusic0001]

Your brew sounds good, SLURP! Excellent info as always

[@stijnvandenbogaard]

I intently love the energy of this man

[@avivongo7669]

Thank you for your time creating these awesome videos. You’re always so inspiring!

[@FrankHarding-g6c]

This is great Guy thank, so nice to see it in real time instead of after the fact.

[@bojanmilinkovic431]

just aside from me absolutely loving your energy and the whole video in general. I also love the cup!!!!

[@jobonvibes]

Seeing you make mistakes and also struggle to get your ideas right is why I'll keep producing. Thank you.

[@RBmusic2000]

LOVE THE HONESTY OF THE STRUGGLES

[@canaldemais]

great examples of counter melodies... thanks

[@BF-up5xw]

Thank you Guy! You make compositional techniques readily understandable and show how hard work can pay off. It gives me hope and gets me working!

[@arapp2958]

amazing lesson, thank you!

[@Zavgorodny]

Watching you discarding these failed attempts is priceless, I feel so much better about myself failing too many times when writing. :D

[@grahamzebedee5525]

Thank you so much Guy, this is just what I needed to take my music to its next level. You make it so much fun to learn and smile at the same time. Keep up the excellent work.

[@mattystuartsydney]

This is what I'm working on at the moment (doing How to Write Music), so really good. I've been doing it for many years, to be fair, but totally by instinct, and a lot of my tunes end up meandering into the dark forest where no sunglasses of doubt are necessary, because, it's just impenetrable anyway. But this 20 mins gives me much more clarity. I use chord tracks a bit in cubase 12 pro, based on the paino track or whatever, but when I'm playing a guitar first (actual guitar), I use the marker track.

[@mattystuartsydney]

I must also admit, having recently moved (not far) away from my ABACABB structure, I've become "guilty" of a bit of through-composing, but I always seem to return to a version of the intro, as an outro, usually with some minor twist if it was major, or the reverse.

[@johannborchersfriends]

I've been trying to get people to understand this. Now Guy posts the same thing I've been saying for 6 months.

[@tommyvercetti2836]

Good to see you back! Back with great content

[@jeffreybenson8910]

I am truly loving your videos!!!

[@TheClassicalSauce]

Beautiful with acoustic Guy! Channeling some Beatles with that progression.

[@Fettman89]

Just the "argh!" in frustration trying to write something that your just not nailing is so relatable haha.

[@mattibiskit]

Guy, love your channel and content. You’re hilarious and full of useful information music related. Another great video as always.

[@A145]

I love your energy, please keep creating man!

[@avalonpractice]

Only just seen this. I wish I had a teacher like you. Fantastic video and great sense of humour:) H

[@samuelconnolly347]

Countryfile has a banging theme tune! Thanks Guy - useful video. Looking forward to doing some composing over the Christmas holidays!

[@a.d.the.4mvla]

I really love your spontaneous approach to music creation its very refreshing. Love your videos😁🤩

[@brianrainsfordmarshall2692]

I love when Guy gives out to himself. He's just like me fr.

[@operasinger2126]

Guy, this was very helpful. Please do more. Thank you

[@freewheelburning8834]

Love your explanations, keep them coming!

[@DanIel-fl1vc]

I write lyrics first, then write the melody. It's really good because the commas and punctuation becomes natural pauses.

[@Haya1959busa]

Hello Guy I watch all videos from you always a little joke with built very easy explained to play it yourself just great keep it up Thank you George (Germany)

[@darryldouglas6004]

It’s amazing how many times Guy starts composing and I feel as if I already know the song. 😃 I was literally picturing a carriage moving through the English countryside before he mentioned the show Countryside of which i am totally unaware.

[@joegrint6280]

Countryfile just for accuracy 🙂

[@lahattec]

I hear a killer 70's prog rock song from your piano-based tune. Really cool. Bass and drums build up.

[@pjdahmen]

Thank you for the very good Tutorial today . I learn a lot today. Keep up and well done, Sir.

[@richardpeloquin4539]

What else can I say. I love your tutorials Guy!

[@souzsifu]

Love you, Thanks for all the help ❤️

[@BernhardMillauer]

That is so inspiring, thank you so much for showing your progression and not just the result!

[@Owl-qh2rh]

Thank you Guy! Heaps of useful information in that one, very much appreciated 🙏🕊️

[@springcar]

Youre a tank of firefull ideas man :)

[@DonBonin]

You do a remarkable Michael Cain impression, guy 23:19 Great topic. Thanks!

[@4-Da-Boys]

Ha! "Sunglasses of doubt" No doubt I love your approach.

[@ArnoldVeeman]

I vividly remember me explaining this exact way of writing melodies and countermelodies to my music theory teacher when I was studying at the conservatory. We really had quite an argument about it. He was frantically against this for I had to be far more considerate. Then I showed him countless examples of "well known" composers who did basically the very same thing. Some people make it really WAY too complicated, while it isn't and it was never supposed to be like that (well, we've done it for a few hundred years, but still) I basically said something like: well, the melody just has to be diatonic - just follow the information contained in the given chords. But he said something like: nope . . . you have to take into account every voice within a chord and let the melody (mostly the soprano part of the SATB) dictate the ATB - AND they have to follow certain set of rules. Now, I've tried both ways of course. And I found out that he was kind of right . . . melodies stick out way better within a context of chords that follows its development. Especially when writing orchestral work. Sometimes it may involve a very complicated tetrad to do the job. Otherwise any melody AND countermelody will sound lazy af. But sometimes, especially with singer songwriter stuff it works out really good and one can get away with anything. Today I see a lot of fellow composers using the first way of working (the singer songwriter approach) for making underscores for movies and series. It happens so often that we all got used to it. I don't really mind, but I still think - quality wise - one can stand out more by being more considerate in writing good melodies WITH the accompanying harmonies that would fit like a glove. It challenges you to come to your own original choices instead of the same choices that everyone else makes, making everything generic. However, I really love the way you explain this to give other people a chance to think about how to consider developing a countermelody.

[@LindaMissad]

Thanks, Guy! Great info as always. Have a good one.

[@marcelspora7365]

Your videos are SO amazing 😊

[@64guatemala]

You are AMAZING!!! Thank you for doing what you do!!!! 😁

[@ChannelWaldo]

Just great 👍🏼 Everyone loves experience in action , incredibly watchable.

[@michaelwolf9620]

The bbc symphony orchestra sounds absolutely great! 🔥🔥🔥 I´m wondering how my own compositions would sound with it. At time i use the old East West Quantum Leap.

[@GuitarAnime]

Very cool video. What I usually struggle is with rhythmic composition. How to make it all fit in a groove, and make it more dense, making rhythmic variations and motiffs. Usually i dont have trouble picking the chords or the notes for the melody, but making a good rhythm section is hard. Could you make a video about that?

[@ghastlyshimmer]

Love your studio. Also that sounds lovely. Subscribed

[@PotatoesPotatoPotato]

This was very useful, inspiring and entertaining. Thank you, Guy!!!

[@viruscerbero]

I really enjoyed watching you creating music! 😁

[@instrumentalmike]

I definitely love seeing you do your thing in real time. It really lets people in to what it's like to sit down and write. I love it. For a video tackling a subject with this much nuance it would be nice to see your approach with a prewritten thought out video so. Regardless, keep doing you, Guy!. You're really awesome and one of my favorite youtubers.

[@aikasinger]

Love this guy! I'm starting to write

[@dennisdimaandal1488]

i love your vibes as you teach.. God bless you

[@jamesedleymusic]

These improvisational videos are always entertaining.

[@antiquasarmusic]

it's so nice to see your videos Guy :)

[@bronwynhellings3909]

Hi Guy interesting look at counter measures thanks for the video.

[@joegrint6280]

Another excellent video! Thanks Guy!

[@LuckySinghMusic]

Thought you were going to burst in to “last of the summer wine” a few times Guy 🤣

[@josiethompson5739]

Wow, super cool and inspiring to see your creative process!

[@baronvonlichtenstein]

You're one of the few online teachers with any talent for composition. The others teach you really sophisticated ways of sounding ok. That's the difference between knowledge and talent. The latter is intangible and a bit mysterious. Otherwise so many artists wouldn't peak at 25 or 30 if it just came down to knowledge. A few peak much later if at all. That's the X factor. Not only natural talent but the ability to maintain it. The inspiration that comes from somewhere.

[@salliemorrill2671]

So glad you covered this topic. Love your vids! Hearing a lot of familiar movie themes from the 1st example. The same thing w/ faster tempo was used in Mrs. DOUBTFIRE. In the beginning, your countermelody's balance was maintained by staying w/the woodwinds. What would have happened if you had chosen a percussion instrument, like a piano? 2nd question: In the last part of the video, the answering phrase from the harp exemplifies what I often hear in vocal arrangements.

[@DrNikolaiLee]

I just love these videos.

[@adrianmortimer3369]

Great video Guy, educational and fun as always

[@grafyghtgaming8733]

Your comments disparaging your playing have me in stitches. Elephants sitting on pianos and meandering car crashes. I just cant. lol

[@dbmusicproductions9181]

Noticed the click seriously impacting your piano improv. How to deal with that? Do you ever make tempo adjustments to match improvs? My problem improvising is my tendency to want to change the harmonic progression with each new line. 😂 Love the tip about using markers to remind about harmony. Don’t know why I never thought about it on my own.

[@Mario-xr3jo]

Amazing lesson!

[@ChrisLehmannComposer]

Counter melodies are the key ingredient in brining music to LIFE! (in my opionion)

[@ironmanbatman686]

You are awesome. Keep up the good work.

[@skelligringphotographyandw7012]

I was 'predicting' where the notes would fall (a couple of beats ahead) and got it about right. I'm far too 'Countryfile' for my own good! Brilliant channel, thank you. P.s. Maybe a bit too 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' at 9:22 ? :)