How to Compose Spooky Music Like Danny Elfman

[@ZachHeyde]

Hey there! If you want to learn how to build a career writing film & game music, check out my 6-week Composing Career Bootcamp: zachheyde.com/composing-career-bootcamp

[@MrBrendan882]

Zach this video is fantastic. I have followed you since I was young and your duets have inspired me to take piano seriously. I am now a music ed major and aspiring choral director and conductor. I also am working on composing a score for my university production of Macbeth. You are a legend!!

[@ZachHeyde]

That's so amazing, thanks for the kind words and congratulations!!

[@MrFanSoundtracks]

Danny Elfman has such a distinct style and manages to perfectly balance the whimsy, drama and fantasy of films. Really cool seeing you tackle his style in this video(also nice reference to "dies irae" at the beginning of the vid)!

[@ZachHeyde]

Good catch 😉😁

[@johnathonyoung5631]

Concur!

[@johnathonyoung5631]

Like others: As a big Danny Elfman Score fan, I very much appreciated this video. Satiating, as I enjoy examining, and natural discovery. I was in agreement, or at least I could follow the feel when I couldn’t follow the tech. (I am only starting to learn the language and style of technical musical expression, and appreciate yours)

[@RobertRodriguezMusic]

This was definitely one of my favorites! 😄

[@VisualVEN0M]

You are SO talented, my god! It is crazy to see how the chords just flow out of you and you are so quick to pick up harmonies. What is that instrument that you are blowing into? Is it attached to your midi keyboard?

[@matthewfritz]

That's a MIDI breath controller and it's used for control over the mod wheel and some varieties also allow the expression wheel to be leveraged too! The harder you blow into it, the more the CC parameters change :)

[@EmadSaedi]

Fantastic! Loved it! Thanks for sharing. It sounds so realistic too. It’s crazy how far samples have come 🤯

[@ozkebic]

Have you heard Blake Robinson's Synthetic Orchestra? He uses many Danny Elfman´s techniques/style in many of his compositions.

[@williamscolaro1159]

Zach, you are really amazingly talented. I love watching these videos. As I watch you work, I’m impressed at how quick and confident you are in your decision making. This is an area I struggle with as a hobbyist, frequently overwhelmed by the near infinite number of options in composition, instrument choice, etc. Do you have recommendations on how to overcome this or is it just a matter of experience?

[@ZachHeyde]

Thank you! Choice paralysis is a real thing, but tightening your deadlines are a helpful way to force decision-making. I also recommend paying more attention to your inner ear and what you HEAR the orchestration doing, rather than all of the things it COULD do. Often by just pausing for a second to imagine the next section, you can learn to hear what comes next in your mind--then the challenge is figuring out what it is you're hearing in the first place :)

[@TheZombinator1]

12:31 i had to pause there and finish humming jurrasic park :P

[@marcodallara4682]

Thanks Zach! This was an amazing and very inspirational video. I love Elfman and this really helped me to focus on the key elements to try to imitate his style. I made a little piece too after watching this video. Your videos are always very clear and full of useful informations. I'm glad to have discovered you channel 😉

[@PowerRangersLostGalaxyFanFilm]

Elfman has been, out of all music composers in film, for the longest time my huge influence to compose my own music for film projects. If it weren't for his scores for Tim Burton's two Batman films and for Sam Raimi's first two Spider-Man films and Darkman, I would've never got the spark to make my music like it. Particularly more influence from his Spider-Man scores.

[@prdk21]

It's fun seeing how different people transpose harp glissandi. I have recently just been treating each gliss like I am in either C or Am *slaps white keys dramatically* then just shifting all notes up/down x half steps to reach the key I'm actually in.

[@dcauwatchtower]

One constructive criticism: gotta find a met sound that doesn't pop as much, makes this sometimes hard to listen to, and I can't imagine what it's like for headphone users. Maybe it's only in the screen recording and not in your own ears? Regardless, this was fascinating, deconstructing Elfman's music like this! We do videos on "Batman: The Animated Series" on a regular basis and the Elfman style is of course present throughout that show, so this musical style is very nostalgic to me. Love these videos.

[@ZachHeyde]

Thank you! And appreciate the advice, are you referring to the low frequency when I press the keyboard? That's an error in this video I'll be fixing for future ones :)

[@dcauwatchtower]

@@ZachHeyde It's specifically when you have the metronome running, at least earlier in the video when the instrumentation isn't as dense. It's creating pops in the audio. I have that happen sometimes on export simply based on my bit rate settings, it's odd.

[@ZachHeyde]

Ah, I see! Will definitely look into that, appreciate the head's up!

[@Adadastralgi]

that discussion of minor chord progressions was fascinating

[@tamitalle4248]

Thanks for the video tutorial. you're so talented. Thank you for sharing.

[@malllllkaii]

I would love to see more imitations of Danny Elfman , I believe you do it best than prior what I saw

[@ozkebic]

Thanks for posting this Zach. Pretty good work!

[@aabattery45]

Brilliant! Super impressed with this! Quick question - what's the mouthpiece you are using to help recreate more realistic woodwind sounds?

[@Fiddlewold]

yessss this is awesome! one of my favorite soundtracks of all time ❤

[@alexgerlach5630]

Thank you for this video! It gives me new inspiration! Your orchestration is amazing. Keep it up. I need to get CSS/CSW and Brass. I never worked with piano sketches..i dont know why but i just tried with the instruments to get the idea..this helped me.

[@falaghsepehr5504]

Just waking up and watching your video is a good start for the day. I always learn new things from every video. It's kind of fascinating how fast you compose. I use Cubase and set up my templates shortcuts for quantizing, opening VSTs, etc, but I still can't catch up with your speed. Anyways thanks for the video!

[@64guatemala]

OK.... Dang it!!!! How long have you been doing this? So amazing!!!! Seriously though. You seem to know what's needed in every phase of the overall composition. Do you come to the table with a tune already mapped out in your head, or do you just figure it out as you go along? Honestly.... I am blown away! 🙂

[@ZachHeyde]

Thanks Kenneth! A little of both, but I've done this for a looooong time so I've got lots of mistakes and battle scars behind whatever seems easy on camera, haha :)

[@64guatemala]

@@ZachHeyde Thanks for responding. Quick question... Any secrets you can share with a neophyte composer-wanna-be to learn all those quick key commands?

[@ZachHeyde]

Check out this video I made on shortcuts/workflow if you're interested :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3zUiICMmbqVhas

[@benrijkmans8983]

Hey man I really get inspired by your videos ! What is that thing u using on the woodwinds and brass midi with your mouth thingy called?😅

[@Atxsmokinace420]

I like the speed and style of your teaching. Very well done my good dude

[@ZachHeyde]

Thank you!

[@Atxsmokinace420]

nah thank you ! @@ZachHeyde

[@ScamperMusic]

Really enjoyed this one and the result at the end! Your template sounds great too and I'm actually curious about the mixing, considering you're using mainly CSS for strings. For this series, I'd also love to see you have a go at Peter McConnell - especially the Hearthstone and Broken Age soundtrack.

[@ZachHeyde]

Good suggestions! 👍🏻

[@tylert2908]

This is amazing, fantastic job

[@yvanroustan4426]

Your best video series ! thank you ! do you score the music live, on the fly, or do you have prepared it ! because you write very fast !

[@ZachHeyde]

Thanks Yvan! It's on the fly :)

[@yvanroustan4426]

@@ZachHeyde waouou !

[@romaingreffemusic]

Again, a great with by a great composer! Very impressed on how you can figure quickly what you want to hear. I've done a lot of Elfman stuff on live session, and it's amazing how it seems so close to a real Elfman song.. Like a hidden track! So..Congratulations.. !😁 I had an idea when I listened your song : what about to replace de triangle off beat ( in the beginning of the 2/4 4/4 section) by a woodblock? For a more clunky sensation? 😊

[@ZachHeyde]

Great suggestion! And thanks for the kind words 😁

[@relaxingambientmusic2355]

I love your videos! What is that mouth piece you’re using? It looks super helpful for automation - especially in the woodwinds!

[@TheCoolj1212]

Awesome video Zach! I think I prefer the longer format (though the shorter ones are probably more appealing to my lizard brain lol). If I were to recommend some composers to do next it would either be Joe Hisaishi, Yoshihisa Hirano, or Masashi Hamauzu.

[@ZachHeyde]

If you're a composer and would like some advice on how to improve your music, I'm now offering written feedback via email! If that interests you, you can learn more below: www.zachheyde.com/music-feedback

[@julienlanglois5271]

Hello Zach and thanks a lot for your beautiful work . I was curious to know what is called this thing you are blowing ? thanks a lot

[@DeltaNovum]

What is that mouthpiece you are using? Sounds incredible!

[@Atxsmokinace420]

dampened cymbals combined with trumpets is some top tier imagination

[@jaykharris]

This was so inspiring ive just started dipping my fingers into composing and ive always loved danny elfmans music....i was driving to work as i was listening to your video so couldnt see much but loved it... can i ask what orchestral vsts this was... sounds real epic! Thanks mate

[@jaykharris]

Csw :)

[@Tanguy_Follio]

Hello Zach, a big thank for all the videos you offer. It is very interesting and useful! I saw you owned Infinite Brass. I love this sound library and am surprised you haven't used them for Elfman style. That said, CSB is great too ;-)

[@ZachHeyde]

Thanks Tanguy! I save Infinite for the super versatile passages :)

[@elijahdeshaw]

Couple of questions. The first one is I am wondering if you have a video explaining the organization of your projects, and the second is what is the thing you keep putting into your mouth? Does it let you control like articulations and stuff or what?

[@garysalyers7611]

Really appreciate these “composing music like” vids. Amazing content. But I’m curious. Do you get more control from a breath controller than with the mod wheel? I like the results you get and am considering getting one.

[@ZachHeyde]

Thank you! Most definitely with regards to woodwinds/brass--strings are pretty comparable, but overall I love the feel of the breath controller :)

[@ditraprasista]

Always love your video Zach.. and this video is my fav.. anyway is there any Joe Hishaishi orchestration?

[@ZachHeyde]

😁 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5vFiGqkgbx-ntE

[@sircadogan6362]

So great, huge inspiration! If u have time, how do you treat the negative track delays for css and csb?

[@ZachHeyde]

Thank you! May make a video on this soon 😁

[@benjamin_miles]

I had the same question. I’d love to see a video with your solution. I have been messing with this for a bit and haven’t figured out an ideal solution for me that accounts for the different delays of all the articulations.

[@ExarpOmega]

I mentioned before that I love videos like these. It is so insightful to see these glimpses of your creativity and what instrument choices you make. I sometimes wish I were creative like this. I rarely have enough creativity to come up with ideas, and when I "borrow" ideas, it's way too obvious where it came from. Videos like these tickle my brain and keep me motivated to keep going though. Also, I should be a better subscriber and comment more often. I don't feel like I show my appreciation enough.

[@ZachHeyde]

Thanks for the kind words!!

[@ExarpOmega]

@@ZachHeyde I'm trying to decide whether I want to buy you a coffee or if I should join your Patreon. On one hand I don't like the idea of being stuck with a subscription, but on the other, a coffee doesn't seem like it shows my appreciation enough.

[@ZachHeyde]

Well either one are always appreciated, but your kind words mean a lot too :)

[@sahrgen]

Hello Zach , could you help me by telling me, what is the name of the device that I use to make wind instruments? I understand that it is like a midi controller for air but I had never seen one. And it would help me a lot. Thank you.

[@stefanul]

such an inspiration!

[@simdrew1993]

This has been very fun to watch, it's a really good video. Sounds great! Reminds me of the old Batman films, aw man so epic sounding you really nailed that Danny Elfman feel. How long does it typically take you to write such an awesome song!? Oh and that mouth instrument, what exactly is that and where can I get one? Thanks.

[@fastrack2170]

This would be amazing for Luigi's Mansion! Especially when walking throughout the Mansion before a ghost pops out and scares ya! 👻

[@Harlequin_Pat]

Im a massive Tim Burton and Danny Elfman/Oingo Boingo fan, I just stumble on this video, What's that mouth piece that your using? I haven't seen that before

[@mistafisha]

I was searching for what makes music spooky plus how it can sound whimsical at the same time as they do in Nightmare Before Christmas and Disney's Haunted Mansion ride. I'm not really a musician, however it was so interesting watching you create this! Could you do one of where you create a new song for the Haunted Mansion ride?

[@timpate7340]

Awesome mockup

[@Broth3rz]

What company are you using for the Celesta and Harp?

[@stefanul]

youre so talanted bro

[@memphistopimpf]

great video, great composition, can you tell me which bank is the Xylopphone, thank you

[@BasicallyVader]

Sounds very similar to A winter's night by etienne roussel

[@vicsol75]

Very good lesson!

[@machines1915]

How can I learn this type of harmony? Can I ask you for some tips or things you would suggest to learn? It's such a great sound and I would to learn how to do it intuitively just like you do.

[@Dun3Cat]

Brilliant!

[@ivansabata4378]

What do you have in the mouth? A expresion o modulation with Breath?

[@ZachHeyde]

That's the TEControl MIDI Breath Controller 👍🏻

[@MrPGora]

Hello Zach. Can you tell mw why you so often shift first note of the event little forward? Do you have same shortcut for this?

[@DeeptaKoiri]

Which App did you use for your Ipad to controlling Logic ?

[@benjaminmagambo3849]

which library do you use the most?

[@ZachHeyde]

Thanks for watching! All VSTs are listed in my gear list: bit.ly/zhfreebie

[@javierestevez9680]

Man amazing i was crazy finding content like this. I love the Alice wonderland theme

[@DallasCrane]

Excellent!!

[@tb6265]

that’s amazing Zach. May i ask what Library u used for the celeste? stands “SK” for sonokinetic? this celeste sounds great. i tried cinesamples, but i find it too airy…. all the best

[@ZachHeyde]

Thanks! Yep, Sonokinetic 👍🏻

[@tb6265]

@@ZachHeyde thanks man

[@Cr4z33_YT]

What breath MIDI controller is that? A TEControl? And btw that's a great idea for expression control beyond woodwind instruments!

[@ZachHeyde]

Made a video about it here :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpzKhmxojNR6gpY

[@Cr4z33_YT]

@@ZachHeyde oh cheers gonna watch it immediately!

[@YasserAlBanna]

Thanks for all the great videos you sharing, it’s really inspiring and amazing skills , I wonder if maybe you can share some info about the libraries that you are using beside the css , and which iOS app are you using for articulations ? Thanks

[@ZachHeyde]

Thanks! I'm using TouchOSC with a custom preset--may make a video on that!

[@stefanul]

what is the "fairytle sparkiling" instrument at 23:22?

[@ZachHeyde]

Mark tree :)

[@Foxx07]

Amazing ..

[@larstinderholt7438]

Nice video. What kind of libs are you using here?

[@ZachHeyde]

Thanks! VST list in the description 👍🏻

[@christopherbernhardt]

It's REALLY important not the rely on the DAW - this isn't for OP but new composers. Especially the brass. The tuba samples are terrible in every pack I've ever heard. The tuba here sounds like a middle schooler going to town on the smallest tuba they could find. imho it's a huge problem, same with trombones and trumpets, while hornsbusually sound notbl brass enough - as though it was recorded for woodwind qtet. Also remember, a lot of these packs only really seem to consider full orchestra moments with the winds and don't have good Legato patches.

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

6:30 basically all from Shostakovich and russian guys of his time

[@Atxsmokinace420]

where can i find your mouth thing for articulations ?

[@ZachHeyde]

My full gear list is in the description! 👍🏻

[@gaboandrademelo]

Great!!!!

[@thedoctor9936]

That breath controller...**i need it**

[@tfbundy6793]

Can you do a video about John Williams?

[@ZachHeyde]

Coming up :)

[@jaketanner109]

Great piece and video. I have Cubase question...what is the name of the track that has the writing in the editor window? is that simply a folder track? I use pro Tools (even though i own Cubase pro), and looking for something similar. Thanks :)

[@ZachHeyde]

I'm not a Cubase user, so I'm not sure exactly what that's called--sorry!

[@jaketanner109]

@@ZachHeyde oh damn, sorry. I thought you were using Cubase. Anyway, what is it called in your DAW? You have it labeled for every group. It’s right in tue middle of the edit screen.

[@ZachHeyde]

Ah! Those are summing stacks :)

[@jaketanner109]

@@ZachHeyde oh ok, thank you. Seems very convenient. I used Logic several months ago and didn’t even recognize it. Lol

[@AleksandrPechenkin]

Very Very Good

[@jaykharris]

Amazing

[@rileypearson1074]

whatchu blowing on dogg ?

[@soundtreks]

Not sure I would ascribe the term "spooky" to Elfman's. It's great of course but spooky to me is Bartok, Ligeti, Crumb, Penderecki. For film composers, Goldsmith, Goldenthal, Corigliano, and Kilar all composed music with a real scary quality.

[@djwhitepeople]

This is such an incredibly dumb, tryhard comment. You know exactly what he means by spooky. Haunted houses, ghosts, jack-o-lanterns. That kind of spooky. Calling a composer like Penderecki "spooky" is such a funny misemployed use of the word to me. But good on you for name-dropping a bunch of composers. Definitely doesn't make you seem like an insecure, mediocre musician at all!

[@josuebustillos8874]

o que é o que você se põe na sua boca? video demais pra caraca.

[@NTD2827]

What's that thing you put in your mouth?

[@momilan]

Yess!!!! Support this man on his patreon, ya'll! @zachheyde Thank you for your content.

[@ZachHeyde]

Thank you Mo! :)

[@thomaspakula]

Great video, Zack!