Use chord progressions as the basis for your melody
Problem: melody feels disconnected from the rest of the track
Taking existing chord progressions and turning them into a melody helps create a sense of unity and glue within the track. This approach ensures that the melody is already harmonically aligned with the rest of the song,…
Add rhythm to chords to make them more energetic
Problem: chords feel too static or mellow
Adding a rhythmic pattern to chords can transform a static, mellow progression into something more dynamic and engaging. This is especially useful in Tech House, where rhythm and energy are central to the genre. By…
Use the bottom notes of chords to create a bass line
Problem: bass feels disconnected from the melody
Extracting the lower notes from a chord progression and using them as the foundation for a bass line ensures that the bass is harmonically aligned with the rest of the track. This technique helps the bass and melody feel…
Use advanced chord rhythm options in your DAW to shape the bridge
Problem: static or uninteresting bridge transitions
Wigman 2 allows you to customize the rhythm of chords, giving you more control over the feel and groove of the bridge. This is especially useful for creating dynamic and expressive transitions. By adjusting the rhythm,…
Shift chord roots by selecting notes and moving to the next scale degree
Problem: stagnant or dissonant chord progressions
To create a smooth chord progression, select all notes in a chord and shift them up or down to the next note in the scale. This creates a natural movement between chords. The visual indicator (e.g., notes turning orange)…
Use the number of scale steps between notes to identify major or minor chords
Problem: unclear or inconsistent chord quality
To determine if a chord is major or minor, count the number of scale steps between the root and the third. A minor chord has two scale steps between the root and third, while a major chord has three. This helps in…
Shift octaves to add depth and variation to chords
Problem: flat or monotonous chord sound
To add depth and variation to a chord, shift one or more notes up or down an octave. This creates a richer sound and can help avoid large jumps between chords. This technique is especially useful in uplifting trance to…
Use chord inversions to create smoother transitions between chords
Problem: jarring or abrupt chord changes
Inversions involve moving a note in the chord up or down an octave to change the chord's voicing. This can help create smoother transitions between chords by reducing the distance between the root of one chord and the…
Add bass notes in root position to reinforce the chord foundation
Problem: weak or undefined chord foundation
To reinforce the foundation of a chord, add the root note of the chord an octave lower. This adds a sense of weight and stability to the chord, making it more impactful in a trance track. This technique helps maintain…
Invert chords again for subtle and more cohesive transitions
Problem: jarring or abrupt chord transitions
If a chord still feels too abrupt or disconnected, invert it again by moving one of the notes up or down an octave. This creates a more subtle and cohesive transition between chords, which is especially useful in…
Invert chords to create subtle movement
Problem: monotonous chord progressions, lack of movement
Inverting chords allows for smoother transitions between chord positions. By moving the root note to the top, you can create a more dynamic and expressive chord progression without overcomplicating the structure. This…
Use opposite chord lifts for variation
Problem: predictable chord movement, lack of variation
By alternating between upward and downward chord lifts, you can create a more dynamic and engaging progression. This technique helps avoid predictability and keeps the listener engaged. For example, moving up and then…
Use bridging chords to enhance the uplift section
Problem: jarring transitions, lack of build-up
Introducing a bridging chord before the uplift section helps create a smooth transition and builds anticipation. This technique is especially effective in uplifting trance, where the emotional lift is crucial. The…
Transpose chord notes to create space for other elements
Problem: cluttered arrangement, lack of space for other elements
Transposing the third note of the chord one octave higher creates space for counter-melodies and arpeggios. This technique helps avoid a cluttered sound by separating the chord notes, allowing other elements to sit more…
Use half steps for emotional impact
Problem: lack of emotional depth, flat progression
Incorporating half steps between notes adds a subtle emotional nuance to the chord progression. This technique is particularly effective in uplifting trance, where small melodic movements can enhance the emotional…
Avoid jumping over non-scale notes for smoother transitions
Problem: jarring transitions, dissonance
Avoiding jumps over notes that are not in the scale helps maintain a smoother and more natural-sounding chord progression. This technique ensures that the movement between chords feels intentional and avoids dissonance…
Add a short note between chord tones to create movement
Problem: static chord progressions, lack of movement
Instead of holding a chord tone for the entire duration, adding a short note between chord tones can create a sense of motion and interest. This technique helps bridge two notes smoothly and adds rhythmic variation to…
Use chord notation to build new chord progressions
Problem: difficulty in creating chord progressions, lack of harmonic direction
By taking the first, second, and third notes of a chord and shifting them in the next chord following a pattern, you can build new chord progressions quickly. This method allows producers to create variations without…
Use simple patterns to experiment with chord movement
Problem: uncertainty in chord movement, lack of experimentation
Starting with a basic pattern and then building from there allows for experimentation with chord movement. This approach encourages a hands-on, trial-and-error method that can lead to creative discoveries. It's…
Use Melodine to analyze stems and find chord progressions
Problem: difficulty transcribing chords from audio
Melodine is a powerful tool for analyzing audio stems and identifying chord progressions by visualizing note clusters. This is especially useful for producers who struggle with ear training or transcribing music by hand.…
Use polyphonic sustain mode in Melodine to detect chord notes
Problem: difficulty transcribing chords from audio
Melodine's 'polyphonic sustain' mode helps identify the most prominent notes in a chord by analyzing the audio stem. This is especially useful for producers who are not confident in their ability to transcribe music by…
Write a simple bass line to provide emotional context for the melody
Problem: melodies lack emotional context or direction
A bass line acts as a 'mini melody' and provides emotional movement that the top melody can react to. Writing a simple bass progression with three or four chords creates a foundation for the melody to build upon, making…
Use triads to build simple, effective chord progressions
Problem: chord progressions are too complex or dissonant
Triads are simple three-note chords that form the foundation of many chord progressions. They are a great starting point for beginners because they are easy to understand and use, and they provide a strong harmonic…
Add 7th and 9th chords to add depth and complexity to your progressions
Problem: chord progressions sound flat or uninteresting
Adding 7th and 9th chords to your triads introduces more harmonic depth and emotional nuance. These extended chords are built by adding the 7th and 9th scale degrees to the triad, creating richer and more complex sounds.…
Adjust the 7th note of a dominant 7th chord to avoid dissonance
Problem: dominant 7th chords sound dissonant or unresolved
When using a dominant 7th chord, the top note (the 7th) can sometimes create dissonance. To fix this, move the 7th note up or down by one scale position. This adjustment resolves the dissonance and makes the chord sound…
Use chord tones for safe and solid melody notes
Problem: melody clashing with chord progression
Chord tones (the root, third, and fifth of the chord) are the safest and most effective notes to use in a melody. They provide a strong harmonic foundation and ensure that the melody complements the chord progression.…
Understanding chord progressions is essential for intentional melody writing
Problem: melodies feel accidental or unemotional
Chord progressions are the foundation of emotional expression in music. Understanding how different progressions evoke specific emotions allows producers to write melodies with intention rather than by accident. This is…
Use the chord map feature for quick chord selection
Problem: time-consuming to input chords manually
The Novation FL KEY MK2 has a chord map feature that automatically maps different chord voicings to the pads. This is especially useful for producers who want to quickly access and play chords without needing to manually…
Use user chord mode to input custom chords
Problem: limited chord options in default mode
The Novation FL KEY MK2 allows users to input custom chords into the pads using the 'user chord mode.' This is useful for producers who want to create unique chord progressions or use specific voicings that are not…
Use a grand piano to create chord progressions
Problem: unclear or weak harmonic foundation
A grand piano is a versatile instrument for creating chord progressions, especially in house music. It provides a clear and rich harmonic foundation that can be used for the bass line and overall arrangement. This…
Use eighth note chord changes for a driving groove
Problem: static or lifeless rhythm
Changing chords on the eighth note before the beat adds a sense of movement and groove, which is essential in UK house. This technique helps create a more dynamic and engaging rhythm section that drives the track…
Use chord inversions to create interesting harmonic movement
Problem: predictable or monotonous chord progressions
Inverting chords by moving the top note down an octave can add harmonic interest and variety to a track. This is a common technique in house and trance music, where subtle harmonic changes help keep the listener engaged.…
Use chord inversions to make piano chords sound more cohesive
Problem: disjointed, spaced-out chords
Chord inversions bring notes closer together vertically, making the chord sound more unified and natural. This is especially useful in melodic sections where cohesion and clarity are important. It helps the piano sit…
Use the third chord of a minor scale to inject happiness into a minor progression
Problem: minor progressions feel too dark or sad
In a minor scale, the third chord (which is a major chord) represents the tonic of the relative major scale. Using this chord in a minor progression can add a sense of happiness and uplift, even within a minor key. This…
Use two major chords in a row for a happy, uplifting effect
Problem: progressions lack emotional contrast
Placing two major chords back-to-back in a progression can create a strong sense of happiness and uplift. This technique is especially effective in minor key progressions, where it can provide a contrast and emotional…
Use upward-moving chord progressions for uplifting sounds
Problem: progressions lack energy or direction
An upward-moving chord progression, where the chords move in ascending order, can create a sense of energy and uplift. This is a common technique in Avicii's music and is especially effective in building tension and…
Add new chords to the end of each phrase for variation
Problem: melodies feel repetitive or static
Avicii often adds a new chord at the end of each phrase to create variation and interest. This technique helps keep the listener engaged and adds a sense of movement and development to the melody. It's a subtle but…
Use chord progressions that follow the contour of the melody
Problem: melody and harmony not aligned
Avicii's chord progressions are designed to follow the contour of the melody, creating a strong harmonic relationship between the two. This technique ensures that the chords support and enhance the melody rather than…
Use a pedal tone to stabilize chord progressions
Problem: dissonant or unstable chord progressions
A pedal tone is a single note that remains constant throughout a chord progression, adding stability and emotional depth. In Avicii's music, this technique helps create a sense of continuity and emotional resonance, even…
Use the intro chords for the bass to maintain cohesion
Problem: disconnected or jarring transitions
Using the same chords from the intro for the bass ensures a sense of continuity and cohesion throughout the track. This technique is especially useful in genres like house and trance, where maintaining a consistent…
Use A minor natural for simplicity and error avoidance
Problem: complexity leading to errors in chord selection
A minor natural uses only white keys, reducing the chance of accidental dissonance. This is a mindset tip for producers new to music theory, as it simplifies chord selection and bassline creation. The key choice aligns…
Use borrowed chords from parallel scales to add emotional contrast
Problem: predictable chord progressions, lack of emotional depth
Borrowed chords from the parallel major scale (e.g., A major in A minor) introduce unexpected harmonic colors that enhance emotional depth. This technique is common in house and progressive house to create tension and…
Avoid overusing borrowed chords to maintain tonal clarity
Problem: tonal confusion, unstable harmonic foundation
While borrowed chords add harmonic interest, excessive use can destabilize the tonal center of a house track. Limit borrowed chords to 1-2 instances per progression to maintain listener orientation while still achieving…
Transpose chords up an octave to avoid bass frequency masking
Problem: muddy low-end, unclear bass definition
Moving chord voicings above the bass register (typically above 100Hz) prevents frequency masking between bass and chords. This is critical in house tracks where the bassline needs clear low-end presence. The technique…
Build triads by skipping notes in scale mode
Problem: complex chords leading to dissonance
Selecting every other note in scale mode creates simple, consonant triads. This workflow tip streamlines chord creation in house music, where simplicity often enhances danceability. The method avoids dissonance and…
Anchor melody to chord root notes with emotional top notes
Problem: disconnected melody, lack of harmonic cohesion
Constructing melodies by starting with the root note of each chord provides harmonic stability, while adding higher-pitched notes on top introduces melodic interest. In house music, this technique helps maintain rhythmic…
Use borrowed chords for harmonic interest
Problem: predictable or flat chord progressions
Borrowed chords from parallel modes (e.g., using a minor chord in a major key) add tension and color to chord progressions. This technique is common in house and trance to create emotional depth without overcomplicating…
Use borrowed chords to add tension in vocal arrangements
Problem: monotonous vocal progression
The speaker mentions using borrowed chords (e.g., a chord from a parallel key) to create harmonic interest in the vocal arrangement. This technique adds emotional depth and avoids monotony in the track's progression.…