Chords or Tune? Which comes first?

The age old question - what do you write first, the chords or the tune?
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[@eananpatterson]

Very rare to find someone gifted, not just as a composer or musician, but in the art of sharing knowledge with such joy. Wish I had you as a teacher when I was younger!!

[@inpurgatory]

Got to agree. I HATED music at school, wasn't until many years later I got into making music as a hobby. Now I love creating songs/music. If I'd had an animated, joyful teacher like Guy, I feel I'd have discovered this much earlier.

[@samsxplus8551]

Well said 👍

[@helpinghand123]

Musical genius, articulate, humorous, and technologically proficient. How can one man be so talented?!!

[@moleculist7978]

My God you're fun, and you came just short of the Star Wars theme to have me going 'Don't you realize that's a SW theme' and then you did the phone call and that slayed me. It was the comedic equivalent of a 7th to resolution. Clearly you know comedy and music. Bravo.

[@tonydalton459]

I enjoyed the Star Wars gag too. Like you, I had just gone “that’s Star Wars”. 😂. (Slight nitpick though, the phone call should have been from George, not Stephen )

[@cpjds1]

This guy really needs to give a TED talk!

[@leachim66]

perhaps TED should start giving Guy talks 🤔

[@comm2005]

Awesome Guy. You are probably one composer who shares the working process. You are a big hearted human being. Thank you

[@Arkogelul]

The phone call was hilarious XD ! I didn't expect the joke, haha !

[@Ritermann]

:D At first I was like, why the hell would you not Cut out the Telephone Part in post... best Joke ever :D

[@YoniFogelmanMusic]

agreed :D

[@JamieClark]

so perfect, I was about to comment about the star wars melody after he says "Oh, that sounds nice" at the Ab chord with the C on top hahaha

[@oskararnarson]

Same here :)

[@sxdrujandis]

I think he should do Star Wars... SWTOR music was awful IMO..

[@Ritermann]

"DEMAAAAANDING I should do the next..." :D

[@chrismeyers7487]

Guy, you really show that there are no rules in music, in the most beautiful ways. I know theoretically it all works, but the variation on chord progressions and types of chords, etc - endless possibilities! Thanks for another great tutorial!

[@chrisbrown7127]

I like your playful, informative approach to teaching. It is very engaging. Learning is natural and effortless when playfulness moves with it. Hats off!

[@sunnylazic3597]

Love this key. Love mixing major and minor. Like both time signatures, but liked the 3/4 the most. Made it really catchy. and memorable. Your an incredible teacher!

[@YoniFogelmanMusic]

LOVED this! Please do more videos like this- very helpful for an aspiring film composer to see his tonal harmony practiced and defined so relevantly.

[@joewakeford]

Your videos always leave me with renewed inspiration and positivity Guy, thanks!

[@GONZOftw2k]

I believe it is helpful for anyone to learn the basics of harmony and "tone-motion" (not sure what the english word is for that, it's called Tonsatz in german). It might be a dry start with a lot of boring basics, but it opens op a beautiful world

[@jwatt002003]

My new favorite KZbin channel!

[@midiman5045]

I have always loved the piano sounds and it's really sounds great when you play. Thanks for sharing.

[@karayuschij]

I understand so well your problem with Steven. I had the same kind of problem with Federico

[@peteskyrunner4845]

Please do more videos on song writing. I have played and written songs on guitar for 30 years and the chords nearly always came first because I have never been good enough to play chords and melody at the same time. But I have been learning piano about a month now and find that when I am writing I am kind of doing what you do. Letting the chords inspire the melody and vice versa at the same time. But obviously on a much simpler scale (see what I did there). And I really love that you can do that with the piano.

[@HankAstral]

love the timing of the star wars phone call right after you played 'The Force' theme. Great video!

[@skummelkatt]

So happy I found your channel. Big thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience as a composer. Big inspiration!

[@lzlin0508]

Love your video so much! Inspiring!

[@Passiomusic1]

that's a super beautiful tune & chord progression!

[@tshotflash7293]

For me, I rarely sit down and create a melody. The words just come with a melody already developed. Then I pick up my guitar and find the chords and key. No two songs have the same melodies anymore than no two songs have the same words. It just happens and I let a song go where it goes. Thanks! PS: I will add chords 2 fill out the melody.

[@earthlightsmusic2743]

For me, the melody comes first if I am not at a keyboard but simply whistling. If I am writing down my composition as I go at a notation program, chords in broken form may take shape first of all, followed by the growth of a melody. If I'm at a keyboard, chords may well come first and melody may then grow to link them together. If I have a cinematic idea in mind, the notation program may be my medium, together with a specific timbre. Thanks for giving the matter some thought and presentation.

[@kelvynification]

Lovely guy... always fun and educational. Thanks!

[@marekklucka4407]

Hey Guy, could you make a video about role of percussion and how to use them effectively? And (or) similar video about electric guitars (or guitars generally)? Thanks

[@andycordy5190]

Very interesting dichotomy. Perhaps it can be a trichotomy? As a lyricist / songwriter, my song ideas usually spring from lyrics and song subject matter. You have somewhat recalibrated this process by helping me understand conventional harmonic relationships. I'm sure this dynamic also steered Stephen Sondheim's composing in unconventional directions (rhythmically?) and Leos Janácek (et al) broke new ground using speech patterns to govern his writing.

[@imapcjunkie]

Quite astonishing. Since subscribing a few weeks ago I've watched your channel go from 30,000'ish subs to today's figure of 61,500. I've watched that happen in a matter of weeks. This video is from 2016, almost 4 years ago!!!!! Guy have you been on the moon for 4 years !!!!!!!!!! So inspiring. And even more unbelievably you're a veritable stones through from me! I couldn't believe it when one of your videos going in to Chichester Marina for breakfast !!!! I have so many questions I want to ask. Music has always been a go to for me and having written a song for my dad who I sadly lost in October 2016 I desperately want an arrangement to support the lyric and melody but I have been struggling to work out how to support it and do it justice. It's guitar based so I feel like I'm mixing genres. It's such an emotional piece though. How do I approach this without compromising what Im trying to convey? I have a version that includes some processes that I've taken from your stunning videos. Is it possible I cold send it to you for comment / guidance? Many thanks.

[@Kazemijazi]

So talented in many ways, thank you sir

[@attilathehun2276]

I think the harmonies/chords influences the mood much more then the melody do.

[@ErickMcNerney]

True, as you can theoretically do a number of chord progressions for any given melody. But when it comes to chords, you can get kind of get boxed in to certain melodies --if you want to avoid atonal music, that is.

[@ihaveriffs8261]

I loved that midi controller. I had one and then sold it. Got another that got stolen. I’m a minimalist now though and don’t know if I’ll ever have room for something that big again.

[@reneesasson1542]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed watching this 🙂 Thanks

[@JamieClark]

Love the Soule reference at 7:12 . Made my ears perk up, that felt better than the star wars melody!

[@Harrysound]

Excellent whistle sir. Personally I think the first 4 notes of a melody are what set me off. I see where the melody develops then start adding bass notes in. I also find it useful to have little break out timing things to stop it sounding too 4/4

[@mysterybro100]

Thx for this vid, very inspiring. One comment though. If you are going to mention scales at the onset, then pls continue throughout. You mention Mel Minor, but not Dorion mode (you go to Bb instead of B in the bass). Then later to Aeolian (Bb and Ab). This really changes the flavour of the harmony as well!! Best

[@craigberry4051]

Thank you for this video. It’s refreshing to see how other composers flesh out an idea.

[@nedjohnson6510]

This little snippet gave me a spark that I ran with. It was making me crazy because I wanted you to take it in a slightly different direction. I finally couldn't stand it, paused the video, and went to my keyboard. What I ended up with bore precious little resemblance to your little ditty, but it gave me a nice start on a little tango of my own. Who knows? It may even turn into something. :D Thanks for putting the bee in my bonnet.

[@francobonanni3499]

Love the way you teach music. Your beautiful personality always happy it makes a difference. Your continuous way to experiment all the possibilities is fantastic. Thank you so much.

[@beefoil]

Exactly the kind of video I need ! U R AMAZING !

[@dman030]

reminds me how i used to be able to play and how i should do piano lessons again :-)

[@JoshuaHults]

You are a musical genius.

[@guitargod6997]

I second that emotion!

[@liothomasart]

The Ukulele part at the end made me hit the sub button. :)

[@zooglah]

thank you for this video! this is a dilemma that's constantly in my head!

[@kpizzle8484]

I just get so much from your tutorials, thank you!

[@LaszloMetal]

OMG!!! I enjoyed this video soooo much!!! Your channel is a treasure chest Guy buddy! :) Thank you for everything.

[@scottrossgirvan8009]

Its this sense of discovery that I love so much about playing piano. Great vid.

[@alih.s.javadi2656]

5:07 going to Am is like WOW. Great Job Guy.

[@martinmalec5755]

Haha this guy is great! :D

[@roninmurphy]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Really informative!

[@timbeaton5045]

My favourite use of the minor major chord is the Stevie Wonder duet with Whitney, We Didn't Know. It's a chord that I have found myself wanting to steal on several occasions. nicely ambiguous. Sounds minor-ish, but....

[@colcal5275]

This is truly excellent = really enjoyed

[@RoyMorales]

Truly amazing and inspiring. Thanks!

[@carstenaltena]

Great vid Guy! Keep 'em coming!

[@jithendravs]

"thumbi vaa thumbakudathin" A very good south indian example c minor jazz.

[@musicproduction1330]

It might also be fun to explore Eb lydian with that melodic idea. Nonetheless, well done as always, Guy!

[@andreahuber2812]

Great videos in general! It really helped my writing songs. And the Star Wars joke was amazing, couldn't help laughing :D

[@Joker25076]

04:02 That's what I love about this channel xD

[@jammerco326111]

Excellent really !! Composition is a mixed Idea >>>> very good

[@davidlloren]

Right when you got the call, I was thinking the first half of the tune actually had a star wars melody in it from one of the first films

[@danquay9504]

That very helpful and your joy to watch and to be working with, yes music is fun to create and being happy 😃 makes the music, your teaching methods are easy to understand and that was hilarious, but I found is easy understand What I learnt is , keep it simple and currently am working on this track and that type of music can be included in EDM or pop song, thanks 🙏 you’re truly incredible and certainly got inspired from this

[@西村箫馆]

Great teaching, and lovely ,I like this.

[@王振宇-s9o]

very enlightening , thank you

[@kevinbillington9773]

Again Guy delivers, will sign up later.

[@smix86]

I love what you do. Wow. I appreciate you sharing your gift with us. Thank you so much!

[@alih.s.javadi2656]

7:05 Em was gonna make it mysterious. wondering what would be after that. Like it

[@daviddelayat-dnapictures]

at 3:48 you said "Or you can go down to the A flat", but how do you know that you actually "can" go there ? Or anywhere else ? Cause today most of my compositions just circle around the same chords because it's how I hear it inside of my head and it's where my fingers want to go, so it's really hard to find somewhere else to go ! First I'll try your free guide, but if you have some video about it, would be amazing. Thanks a lot

[@MrJoel9679]

So before the chords or tune you conscientiously or instinctively choose the key?

[@PuipinM]

OH MY GOD THAT STAR WARS JOKE HAHAHAHA I love it. You anticipated the comments saying "that's the same key as the star wars song! Same tune almost!" and rolled with it. Genius.

[@thehowlingterror]

Enjoyed that. Ta.

[@EdwinvandenAkker]

I really dig that theme!

[@guitargod6997]

Gifted and brilliant! If only we were younger and handsome again....just joking! Wish I had met someone of your stature ohhh...fifty years ago. I love that you start with two measures of melody and then take us on an insightful sonic journey. Epic teaching!

[@CraigDG]

Hi. Have you listened to David Tolk. His piano compositions are beautiful.

[@navaho5430]

Don't give up your day job...…. you enjoy it too much cheers from OZ.

[@Gusrikh1]

Very interesting... educational..

[@Gabrielland150]

typical example of min-maj swap Inon Zur fallout and Ennio Morricone Mille Echi, even better when going upnote transposing within

[@petitpoidferoce]

I understood nothing ! But I will keep watching this video until I do... ;-)

[@alejmc]

Ok, scratch Star Wars. What about the next Zelda then? The prologues, background stories, sad parts, the OST basically

[@matrixate]

So...start with either. Experiment with accents and timing, and inspire yourself by taking as long as it takes to make something pleasing. Got it.

[@adrianpolley9419]

Amazing how the tune sounded so different in 3-4 to 4-4 time.

[@tuudurvantamme]

Nice video, thanks! :)

[@VersedFlame]

Is it just me or does that melody Guy was coming up with sound a bit like The Force Theme from Star Wars? :p

[@rcknicholson]

interesting as I have been writing with a Cm chord..

[@Beatsbasteln]

Great tipps

[@ivanllopis5882]

The song is amazing!

[@ThePianoenergy]

C, D E-flat, (F), G, A it is a c- dorian scale btw.

[@Tomlinsky]

With a Bb it is dorian. With a B (dominant 7) it is a jazz minor scale.

[@ThePianoenergy]

Hmm, it is the first time I hear of a jazz minor scale. With a B natural I would call it a c harmonic minor scale.

[@Tomlinsky]

Jazz Minor is simply the ascending form of the Melodic Minor (1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). C Harmonic Minor (1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7, 8) does indeed have a B Natural but also has a flattened 6. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_minor_scale en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_scale#Harmonic_minor_scale

[@ThePianoenergy]

@@Tomlinsky Great, thanks.

[@Tomlinsky]

No probs. Using different formulas for ascending and descending with the Melodic Minor for classical composition has always been a magical and mysterious rule to me. But then so does the idea that humans find noise and rhythm so fascinating in general. Stay safe and regards.

[@steroller6218]

Smart guy

[@8rivers591]

I stood up and went to answer the phone at min 4

[@nixonguit6754]

Your videos so helpful. Thanks for you job!!! Can i ask you, where did you study? University or college? Where i can study music production ( except your course)? Thanks you in advance :)

[@rongisen325gamer]

Great video! What piano sound do you use here?

[@DNHarris]

What key does your phone ring in?

[@Leispada]

Way to point out my lack of chord knowledge >_>

[@LeeGee]

Actually beautiful music

[@thin1964]

Hi what piano plugins. thanks.kk

[@MartinJG100]

What about 7/8 when you get stuck down a dark alley? Never fails.

[@COLDMKULTRA]

Chords ... mostly!

[@uxvellda1112]

It's like asking if the chicken or the egg came first :)

[@viniciusqueiroz2713]

Damn, that was beautiful

[@nilstarlight]

The phone call xD

[@appleskum6520]

Music is the beauty in life.

[@nyborgfilms7429]

what do you use for headset microphones?

[@msvizzera]

Thank you so much for sharing but stay with the piano pleaaase ;)

[@guym1428]

You mean uke isn't the instrument of the future? So my Uke Symphony was a waste of time!? NO!

[@msvizzera]

+Guy Michelmore it wasn't a waste at all :D I just reeeally loved the piano theory part! It somehow outplayed the uke part if you know what I mean :P I would love to have those chord skills...