Why This Melody Is Actually Genius (Chainsmokers)

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MY GEAR:
DAW (Music making software): Logic Pro and Ableton Live
Studio monitors (speakers): Yamaha HS8's
Headphones: Audeze LCD X (open back)
Camera: Canon 80d
Computer: Mac Studio with M2 Ultra chip and 2 TB hardrive
Midi controller (keyboard): Komplete Kontrol 61
Interface: Scarlett Clarett 2 pre
Desk: a cheap one from ikea
Chair: also a cheap one from ikea
My favorite plugins that I use the most:
XFER Serum
Sylenth 1
Nexus 3
Kontakt
RC 20
Valhalla Shimmer
Valhalla Vintage Verb
Shaperbox 3
XFER OTT
Fab Filter Saturn 2
Fab Filter Pro C 2
Arturia Pigments
Baby Audio Comeback Kid
Output Thermal and Portal
LABS Soft Piano
Hardware that I use behind the scenes but not in videos:
Elektron Octatrack (my fav)
Elektron Digitakt
Korg Minilogue XD

[@GreenFesh]

It's nice to see a musician appreciating mainstream music and not just saying that it's uninspiring bs that anybody could do. Yes, anybody could. But only they actually do it. It's not easy.

[@neptune2973]

most mainstream music is butt and listened to by NPCs

[@tommasobertini141]

i was thinking the same thing, mainstream music is underrated, is just that not many people can recognize how much work there's behind a pop song, and just because is pop of course is bad music

[@CrazzyJokerr]

Well, compared to other musical styles it's in fact very easy music. And due to the lack of complexity it's very easy to reproduce an therefore "easy". But without the feeling thats not gonna work anyway so 🤷

[@leooooo795]

@@tommasobertini141 mainstream music is underrated? thats definitely a unique opinion

[@scoobertmcruppert2915]

@@tommasobertini141 Yeah…I think it’s quite literally impossible for MAINSTREAM music to be underrated…

[@heyitspixl]

if anybody's wondering, the name for that sustained note in the chords is called a pedal point or pedal note. it creates a lot of harmonic tension that resolves nicely back to the tonic, especially if the pedal point is the tonic or dominant (as mentioned in the vid)

[@AlexRome]

Interesting. I’ll use this term instead of drone. What’s funny is that two of my production students are music theory professors and neither of them correct me when I refer to pedal tones as “running tonics” or “drones”. I’m going to go call them out and see what they say haha!

[@supriyopal6067]

@@AlexRome what! 😂👍

[@bencastor9207]

@@AlexRome they likely don't correct you because they know what you mean and don't think it is important enough to call you up on.

[@jaybefaulky4902]

well technically it's the minor 3rd and major7th it's written in key of Bminor but one could argue that it can be thought of as in Dmajor then it would in fact be the tonic and dominant, otherwise not. but I get your point ..the vocal melody is more of a Bminor thing though..Cheers

[@jaybefaulky4902]

by the way the weird thing is it ''resolves' to the Major6th in Bminor so it's kinda weird and very interesting depending what key you perceive it as. for example I could tell someone that the song is ACTUALLY in 'G Lydian' and this would work as well in fact I think this is more accurate.

[@darrenrobinson8317]

love the chainsmokers stuff,simplicity at its best.

[@GOWENYT]

Nice to see someone actually dive into the creativity of The Chainsmokers instead of just jump on the hate train and pass! Great video

[@sxoutz]

"I could never be coldplay, but i could write a melody with a horn" -alex rome 2023 Im dying rn 😂

[@jalenpadilla7744]

Being able to not only label these concepts (drone, major and minor scales, and how they fit in as themes) but recognize them in a song and notice how they are standard setting in the industry… I am blown away. Will definitely change how I listen to seemingly mainstream electronic music from now on.

[@benjiviews4300]

Love your analysis videos, super interesting, useful and entertaining

[@MalikAmer87]

Amazing short informative video, this is why I love this channel.

[@koppy82]

The best part is when they add in ANOTHER top melody, those harmonics are insane

[@ryun3307]

You're the best, Alex. Still slowly applying my bootcamp training.

[@AlexRome]

Ayyy Ryun! Cool to see you here.

[@ryun3307]

@@AlexRome Thanks:)

[@moonman1533]

Please do more breakdowns like this.. They're fantastic! I'm always amazing how Calvin Harris makes his chords and melodies and switches them up with simple (yet genius) techniques like that.

[@LarsLentz]

That was a great deconstruction - thank you!

[@rodybothe3329]

This song is pure gold! Thanks for the explanation, awesome to see it in depth.

[@swayybeats]

I've always noticed that the drop had one common note in each chord, good to finally see the musical theory behind it and actually made me realise that it's a common theme throughout the song

[@aspect795]

great balance of educational, entertaining and interesting. awesome video man

[@MicahBratt]

I did a remake of something just like this a few years back. Still love the song. Coldplay really gave it a vibe

[@yepyepmusic]

This remake is so accurate. Thank you for this video!

[@elijahcruz8895]

Your videos are so good, they make me wanna keep producing no matter what! I quite literally started livestreaming me making songs because of your channel.

[@gawergy]

"I'll never be coldplay, but I can write a melody with a horn" KILLED ME ahahah

[@Giannboy1]

Great stuff Alex. Thanks for the Free Chord Building Blueprint! Gianni

[@mayurtummewar3312]

that drop was exactly what fascinated me everytime I listened to the song thanks for explaining the magic 🤩🤩🤩

[@Best-Regions]

Gold. All of these are gold. Thank you Alex. Adds so much depth and appreciation

[@raincastmusic]

As someone who actually liked SJLT, i really appreciate those simple yet creative techniques

[@MatrikxXI]

Sometimes, instead of throwing in everything we know, what we need to do is just add a pinch of simplicity,. and we are good to go :D Btw, Can you do analysis on Illenium's music too? and how he keep his signature consistently? That will be much appreciated

[@AlexRome]

Yep! Been brainstorming for a video that dives into that whole Illenium style sound.

[@MatrikxXI]

@@AlexRome That would come out amazing IG!! I'll be waiting for that!!Keep it up Alex 💪

[@wesleymarquardt4708]

Yes! An Illenium breakdown would be amazing!! I've always enjoyed his music and while I'm not an amazing musical guy, I always find it interesting to see the technical aspects of my favorite artists.

[@UhKimboze]

@@AlexRome I gotta say, his chords on his Say It remix are my favorite he has ever done. It's a unique sound I've never seen anybody successfully replicate.

[@alicehoon7474]

@@AlexRomecan you please sound design the synth sound,melody of something just like this

[@ItsJustOakleyy]

Really great video. Educational, entertaining, and explained well to all skill levels. You gained a fan today!

[@fornoreason8822]

Take it easy Alex, their music isn't all that, it's just corporate pop with a team of producers but it is cool that you analyzed it. A theorical breakdown is always good to see for the independent. Peace.

[@catmasterOP]

so simple yet so sophisticated

[@tillenbillagwa7548]

That's it I'm doing music this summer. (Your content is inspirational, bud)

[@DanLaDue]

Usually I think your videos are a little click-baity but this one is great

[@YamenJahangeer]

Love the hat/cap you are wearing. I can't stop just only focusing on it through out the video. FYI, Love your videos. I watch them all.

[@mayurtummewar3312]

4:28 its a GOLDMINE from here on

[@LetsHaveFunJeremiah_LHFJRandom]

I remember when i used to hear that song come on a lot in 2017 even whenever i was in Middle School.

[@88keysLA]

Most useful channel for music production on KZbin

[@jessiedupuis4633]

Your freaking amazing man! Love what you do!

[@akeyasa2228]

What’s really amazing is classical composers doing stuff like this in their head hundreds of years ago.

[@hillelshmuel1354]

I really liked this video. Please do more analysis for songs like this

[@maxsoutherland]

Brilliant work! Great video! Thank You!

[@JohnPaul-oq6ud]

I've watched a handful of your videos and could not get over your HEAVY Delco accent. Hat and Jersey confirms it

[@mandieheart8577]

I love this type of analysis! Thanks for making

[@suchitputhalat4796]

East or west Sir Alex Rome is the best !🤩

[@newportreds6710]

love this! wish you replicated the beautiful guitar melody/solo towards the end of the song

[@adoniscious]

Wow 😳 this is so insanely awesome 😎😳🔥🔥🔥 First comment 😂

[@alexzehnmusik]

You're amazing man 🔥

[@kalebsatterfield2443]

"nobody before did that" yes alex that exact idea has been used in tens of thousands of songs of so many genres. Stacking 5ths is incredibly common. This chord progression is in every other song basically.

[@ISHI6I]

But what else is he gonna copy, paste, rinse, and repeat for content

[@koppy82]

I think his point is that most songs with this style of song writing doesn't just get 2 billion plays or get as big as that song did

[@yaboiii6214]

yeah this video is top tier comedy honestly, he cannot be serious

[@ISHI6I]

@@yaboiii6214 I could make a PH pov video with his reactions to the most basic chord resolutions

[@majorbajor]

@@yaboiii6214 yeah it's really hard to believe that someone could do those reactions unironically. Chainsmokers are successful because their music is simple. And this video acts like playing eighth notes instead of quarter notes is like a huge revolution. Or that the fact that the drop has a rhythm is praised.

[@djraff_official]

thanks for the guide mr.rome chainsmokers is one of my favorite song in my list instead of playing online games,i focused myself to create and mix the song using fl studio and so this time im going to read the 7 step chord building blueprint in my laptop............... keep up the good work bro im always wacthing your videos

[@stephenquinn3251]

Awesome video! I love the chainsmokers so it's fascinating to see the breakdown like this. Keep up the great work 🙏

[@jacobl7451]

as a producer, I WANT SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS

[@MrTroller97]

my favourite song of all time! the drop makes me float every time. thanks for making this - a wonderful deconstruction :)

[@justinsprout7611]

Super cool video thanks dude! I feel like I always am over complicating my composition trying to make it unique and interesting, but rarely ever try to make just a simple aspect of the composition interesting in itself. Mainstream/pop has so many things to learn from in making a song listenable and marketable

[@eljohncabildo4086]

I would like you to do a breakdown video of their song "Roses". I believe it is their most overlooked song. The drop on that song is a thing of beauty.

[@SwedishLatino]

love your enthusiasm man haha great content as always

[@ashisangini]

this song is still one of my favorites! thanks for the explanation...

[@supernova1831]

Loved it, please make more videos like this 😃

[@domdisko9345]

Excellent!

[@hannahbackward]

When you chop out the notes to give it a syncopated feel, the downbeat of the second chord changes to the second bar instead of a quarter note after This probably confused a lot of viewers. Your videos are great none-the-less. The little details used to drive me nuts when I was beginning. You are as thorough as anyone else! I never took your Bootcamp but I have taken a few of your competitors and I can tell you they all leave out a lot more stuff than you. All the best stuff is resampled and they tell you to just pull it into the project. It never fails. I'm like, wait, hold on, darn it, that's why I paid more than $100 to take your course to learn how you made that rolling baseline in your song or that "Big Reverb Lead" that sold me on your course. I don't want no stinking sample. Lol. Anyway, you provide a hell of a lot more than others and anyone could see by the visuals in this video exactly where the A major chord fell. I must give the Chainsmokers credit for that minor tweak because it changes the feel completely. Very glad I learned that trick from you, Alex! Thanks!

[@NikBeats2k]

Chainsmokers are MAD GENIUS 🔥

[@supriyopal6067]

That's really very interesting! Great video ❤️

[@LokiVR2045]

6:15 bro why you stop it right before the drop I was rocking out 🤘😎

[@jdotx9843]

3:54 what a poetic line.

[@abdullahal-shiyab7930]

avicii did it first in silhouettes

[@sjmusic4804]

He was a guinius he has a lot of contribution in electronic music

[@perkiousmusic]

Honestly, I have a big issue with The Chainsmokers that is quite different from what most people have and that is their unwillingness to move away from the mainstream they did a remix competition for their track the fall and the winning song that they chose was your generic pop house track which confused me when I first heard it because there were people who had remixes like mine who went out of their way to do unique and creative ideas that is really my biggest gripe with The Chainsmokers they're not willing to leave their comfort Zone and it can be infuriating especially when your remixes you did is better than the remix that they put out

[@shayanmandal1270]

Listen to their new album pal and fully.

[@perkiousmusic]

@@shayanmandal1270 I was referencing their remix competitions and no I haven't heard anything experimental in their latest album I did listen to it nothing underground everything was just safe

[@Cry_ct]

To be fair, the pop house generation of music was the only good one. Modern music is super trash.

[@Peach10001]

Brother my brother...I gotta....I have no words...I was just scrolling through and I can across you......I tell you my story I m A fan of TCS for a very long time and recently they didnt made any hit songs that made me kinda upset cause I m little biased to them but you were the first to appreciate their work....I don't know I m just feeling very nice after watching you video I love you😭😭🥺❤❤❤❤❤

[@moadot720]

I like how I could tell it was about Something Just Like This from how the rhythm looks on the MIDI.

[@solomonomusic]

Hate the birds, but love your tips as always!

[@jv_matos]

Everyone jokes that they only use the 5 not piano to write songs and etc but it takes real geniality to make #1 hits in Pop, Dance and Trap music

[@phamdevin]

Thank you Alex! This is great knowledge.

[@wuhn_media]

Now I know why I loved the song

[@dobsashimself]

Well done... oftentimes the simple ideas are the best ideas!

[@Luxstari_music]

Great video. Amazing explanation.

[@peachellowoverload]

is that drone note within the chord progression cau i saw that D is written just half a note above C#

[@donn1473]

Great breakdown Alex!

[@ImJonasCortez]

Funny! I always did this a lot, maybe even before this track

[@GhostEntertainmentMusic]

good video 💯

[@doorwaysintomusic]

thank you so much for your analysis of this song -- I learned so much and you made the learning very enjoyable!

[@prodnaki]

05:56 Bro can't be serious here💀

[@ArtEntity]

these are the best freaking videos ever

[@Test-ev4oh]

Awesome video, but which vet sounds did you use in this video? So what did you use to make the guitar and piano sound?

[@yumxhtutkai8591]

Something just like this might have been an unreleased demo of chainsmokers then they flip it into collab song with cold play after they got huge fan base from closer and don't let me down cuz that saw chord synth sound like old sylenth or old Saw sound design back in 2014 ;_;

[@jackmatthess]

things are already starting to get sparkly I can feel it"

[@ldcommando1616]

It’s a shame people ignore or shit on mainstream music so much. This stuff is fascinating

[@leooooo795]

they shit on it because its involves less creativity and music theory then something like TPAB

[@mrbuffwoopmusic8788]

@@leooooo795 me when my favorite rapper doesn't get any attention for 0.2 seconds

[@llaarryy180]

Fantastic breakdown and go birds!🦅

[@PJSvndsn]

So simple yet so beautiful

[@rechasebass]

Great video really enjoyed it.

[@Janis.540]

so cute how you're feeling it so hard every time haha ♥

[@cydrawal]

alex is totally giving off stoner vibes nowadays it’s lovely

[@jrlv4781]

Eres el mejor explicando de resto los otros son puros influencers

[@Gagan_salwan]

Damn i was waiting for that last melody at the end of song (it is sooooooo emotional)😂, great work tho man. nice breakdown

[@viktorramirez9171]

Very entertaining and helpful Video. That sounds amazing. Thank you Alex

[@Riyan-fk4oj]

Amazing explanation my guy! You’ve definitely proven that you got some cool analysis talent that’ll help you understand the theory behind it. Btw, don’t feel discouraged if someone makes better music than you do, music takes time and effort (which The Chainsmokers had plenty of, specifically the effort part because the song was written by 5 people!) Anyways, great job explaining everything in such a short amount of time and I’ll see you on the flip side! 💪

[@mwilaandrechitabanta223]

Music is life

[@franklingrear5326]

been watching for a bit and this is how i find out youre an eagles fan. go birds

[@danielrenjiro]

i wanna see full process of making song by chord progression to mastering do it man plz, so freaking interesting

[@MrBrownAlliance]

i always enjoy your content very much!

[@awaylau6140]

so talent you

[@will_hunt]

Great breakdown

[@zhidongwu9059]

Isn’t it using the 456 progression in d major? And the drone is just using the tonic note of d major? I’m still a noob, help plz. So confused when Alex said it was using the relative D in the key of B minor

[@AutPen38]

It's one of those songs in which the key/scale is ambiguous because it doesn't begin or end on an obvious tonic. Most websites report it as B minor, but Wikipedia's editors decided it's in D major. Since both scales contain the same actual notes, it doesn't really matter, and you can describe it according to your own personal preference.

[@ELRADONE]

Fascinating somthing like this is a favorite......!!!♍♍👍🏾👍🏾

[@t3st3d]

this video made me want to remix that song

[@Vintsent]

=as Always ! Just Amazing, thanks a lot Alex

[@matthiastrilsbach7292]

hey! love the video! would you (or anyone that knows) mind sharing what guitar vst was used? thank you!