Apply reverb sweeps on bass for spatial interest
Problem: flat bass, lack of spatial interest
Using reverb on the bass, especially in the silent sections of the pattern, can create a sense of space and depth. The speaker suggests low-cutting the reverb to avoid muddiness and automating the wet/dry knob to create…
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.…
Use time-stretching decay for ambient background textures
Problem: static or lifeless background textures
Applying time-stretching decay to a sample creates a slow, evolving texture that works well in ambient or atmospheric sections. This technique allows the sample to fade out gradually, maintaining a sense of space and…
Use narrow sub bass for better anchoring
Problem: muddy, unstable low end
A wide sub bass can feel unstable and lose impact. Narrowing the sub bass creates a tighter foundation, allowing the track to sound bigger through contrast. This is especially effective in progressive house where clarity…
Remove redundant sub bass layer
Problem: bloated, unclear bass
The original bass had two layers (sub and high bass) that created muddiness. Deleting the sub bass layer simplifies the sound while retaining the essential low-end energy. This avoids frequency clashes and improves…
Avoid aggressive kick EQing
Problem: over-processing kick
Using a kick that requires heavy EQ adjustments is inefficient. Choosing a naturally balanced kick reduces the need for aggressive processing. This saves time and maintains the kick's dynamic range, which is crucial for…
Align vocal chops with bass rhythm
Problem: misaligned rhythmic elements
Stutter melodies must match the bass's rhythmic structure to create cohesion. The original vocal chops were independent of the bass, breaking the connection between elements. Matching LFO speed to bass rhythm creates a…
Quantize vocal pitch changes to grid
Problem: uneven rhythmic flow
Awkwardly placed pitch changes disrupt the flow of chop melodies. Stretching notes and adding chops to every phrase ensures timing precision. Using a metronome reveals misalignments, allowing for grid-aligned pitch…
Use non-traditional chord rhythms with syncopated phrasing and shorter durations
Problem: monotonous chord rhythms
Breaking from standard whole-note chord durations by truncating notes and staggering starts adds rhythmic complexity. This approach works well in progressive house and electronic tracks where rhythmic variation keeps the…
Plan transitions and energy shifts in advance
Problem: flat or unengaging track energy
The producer discusses planning energy shifts, such as dropping the energy in a section and then building it back up later. This is a key part of arrangement in trance and progressive house, where dynamic shifts are used…
Use copy-paste with attention to detail to maintain energy and consistency
Problem: inconsistent energy or structure between sections
The producer mentions using copy-paste techniques but emphasizes the importance of paying attention to details and adding energy where needed. This approach helps maintain a consistent feel across sections while allowing…
Use creepy pads from the intro to fill instrumental breaks
Problem: empty or awkward instrumental breaks
The producer suggests using pads from the intro to fill an instrumental break, ensuring continuity and maintaining the mood of the track. This is a common technique in trance and progressive house, where atmospheric…
Re-use sections with modifications for consistency and variation
Problem: repetitive or inconsistent track structure
The producer plans to pull elements from previous sections (like verse three) and re-use them with modifications, allowing for consistency while still introducing variation. This is a common workflow in trance and…
Fade out atmosphere for a smooth outro
Problem: abrupt or unsatisfying track endings
The producer plans to fade out the atmospheric elements at the end of the track, creating a smooth and natural outro. This technique is widely used in electronic music to ensure the track ends on a satisfying note…
Use vocal phrases to define the track's structure and emotional arc
Problem: track lacks a clear emotional or structural direction
The repeated use of phrases like 'We could be free' and 'Swimming the seas with a wave clear' helps define the track's structure and emotional journey. This technique ensures that the track has a clear narrative and…
Edit on triplet grid by right-clicking the grid menu
Problem: imprecise triplet-based rhythm editing
Right-clicking the grid menu in ShaperBox allows switching to a triplet-based grid, enabling direct editing of triplet subdivisions. This is crucial for creating precise syncopated rhythms in genres like…
Set BPM to 127 for festival-ready energy
Problem: track lacks energy or festival-ready feel
Martin Garrix's style often features high-energy, hands-in-the-air festival tracks, which typically sit around 127 BPM. This tempo helps create a driving, emotional rhythm that's perfect for large crowds. Setting the…
Create risers from scratch using drum elements
Problem: generic or mismatched risers
Instead of using pre-made risers, the producer constructs them by manipulating drum sounds. This includes using claps, hats, and other percussive elements to build tension and energy leading into a drop. This method…
Focus on emotional core before sound design
Problem: losing emotional focus in production
Prioritizing the emotional core of the track—such as a melody or chord progression—before diving into sound design ensures that the track has a strong foundation. This mindset helps producers avoid getting lost in…
Strip back drums for space in the mix
Problem: cluttered mix, unclear elements
Limiting the number of drum elements in the track (e.g., only using four main drums) helps create space for other important elements like synths and vocals. This approach prevents the mix from becoming cluttered and…
Use AB sections for contrast and tension
Problem: monotonous or flat track structure
Introducing AB sections in the track provides contrast and builds tension. This technique is especially effective in progressive house, where subtle changes in key or melody can create a sense of movement and…
Hint at the key early in the track
Problem: unclear or disjointed track direction
Introducing the key of the track early, such as through a guitar or synth, helps the listener anticipate the direction of the song. This technique is used to create a sense of cohesion and guide the listener through the…
Use vocal atmospheres for texture
Problem: lack of atmospheric texture
Repeating a vocal snippet and using it as an atmospheric element adds texture and depth to the track. This technique is especially effective in creating a sense of space and mood, particularly in the break or transition…
Use propulsion and churning bass for energy
Problem: lack of energy, weak bass section
The remix features a powerful and churning bass section that adds propulsion and energy to the track. This technique is particularly effective in genres like ambient and progressive house, where the bass is a key driver…
Use tension and build for dynamic interest
Problem: flat dynamics, lack of build and release
The remix effectively uses tension and build throughout the track, creating a sense of anticipation and release. This technique is especially effective in genres like house and progressive house, where dynamic interest…
Add delay to reverb for movement and depth
Problem: static reverb
Adding a delay to the reverb tail creates a sense of movement and adds dimension. This technique is used in progressive house and techno to make the mix feel more dynamic. The delay interacts with the reverb, creating a…
Automate distortion envelope for rolling texture
Problem: bass lacks dynamic movement
Apply a distortion plugin (e.g., Soundtoys Decapitator) with envelope automation to the top bass layer. Draw an envelope that reduces distortion during the downbeat and increases it on the offbeats. This creates a…
Create chord progressions with octave jumps
Problem: lack of harmonic interest
Using octave jumps to outline chord progressions adds harmonic interest. This is useful in progressive house and trance for creating melodic basslines. The technique requires knowledge of music theory to avoid…
Differentiate between house subgenres by melodic content and texture
Problem: confusion between music subgenres
Progressive house emphasizes melodic elements and plucky synths, while tech house leans toward minimalism and industrial textures. Understanding these distinctions helps producers tailor their sound to specific…
Progressive house uses plucky synths with four-on-the-floor kicks
Problem: unclear genre definition
Progressive house is defined by its melodic, plucky synth leads paired with a driving four-on-the-floor kick pattern. This creates a balance between rhythmic energy and melodic interest. The genre often avoids harsh…
The main melody must be strong and have a fluid forward-moving rhythm
Problem: weak or directionless main melody
A weak or random melody makes it impossible to build a song. Restructuring the melody by duplicating and rearranging phrases creates a dancy, forward-moving energy that aligns with the track's groove. This is critical…
Match kick energy to the melody's theme
Problem: mismatched kick and melody energy
An aggressive kick clashes with a melodic, progressive house theme. Replacing it with a clean, sustained kick creates better congruency between rhythmic and melodic elements. This addresses a common mistake where…
Select a bass that harmonizes with the melody
Problem: weak/muddy bass
A weak or muddy bass undermines the track's quality. Choosing a melodic bass that complements the harmony of the main melody enhances emotional impact and clarity. This is essential for melodic house tracks.
Start with mids, not drums — build the track around the melody first
Problem: rhythm and melody misalignment
Building a track from the melody creates a stronger emotional foundation. When you start with drums, you risk creating a rhythm that doesn't support the melody's phrasing. This approach is common in melodic techno and…
Set BPM to 125-128 for progressive house
Problem: incorrect tempo for genre
Progressive house typically uses a BPM range of 125-128 to create a driving yet melodic feel. Setting the tempo in Ableton or any DAW to this range helps establish the right groove and energy for the genre. This is a…
Use Serum for creating plucky synth sounds with dynamic filters
Problem: lack of dynamic, plucky synth elements
Serum is a powerful synthesizer that is ideal for creating plucky, dynamic synth sounds with opening and closing filters. This is a key element in Progressive House, where the synth often has a rhythmic, percussive…
Use MIDI tracks and copy/paste MIDI data to create new parts
Problem: time-consuming to create new MIDI parts
Copying and pasting MIDI data from one track to another is a quick and efficient way to create new parts in a track. This is especially useful in Progressive House, where repetitive and rhythmic elements are common. By…
Use the LFO Tool to automate filter movements for dynamic synth sounds
Problem: static, lifeless synth sounds
The LFO Tool can be used to automate filter movements in a synth, creating dynamic, evolving sounds that are essential in Progressive House. By modulating the filter cutoff with the LFO Tool, you can add movement and…
Use the LFO Tool to copy and paste automation for consistency
Problem: inconsistent automation across tracks
Copying and pasting automation from one track to another using the LFO Tool ensures consistency in the sound design across different tracks. This is especially useful in Progressive House, where similar effects and…
Utilize a vocal or melody to guide the structure of a track
Problem: unclear track direction, lack of focus
A vocal or melody can serve as the foundation for building a track. It helps define the structure, emotional direction, and overall feel of the song. This is especially useful in progressive house, where the vocal often…
Use pitch shifting to match a vocal to the track's key
Problem: vocal out of key, poor integration
When adding a vocal to a track, it's important to ensure it's in the same key as the music. If it's not, pitch shifting the vocal can help it blend seamlessly with the rest of the track. This is a common practice in…
Use automation to create dynamics with synths in progressive house
Problem: static synths, lack of movement in track
Automation is a key tool in progressive house for shaping the emotional arc of a track. By automating parameters like filter cutoff, volume, or modulation depth on synths, you can create movement and interest over time.…
Start making music now, don't wait for perfect conditions
Problem: creative block, procrastination
Procrastination and waiting for the 'perfect' moment can prevent progress. The best way to improve is to start creating immediately, even with simple tools or ideas. This mindset helps overcome creative blocks and builds…
Gradually increase tempo to transition between sections
Problem: sudden tempo changes feel jarring
Deadmau5 gradually increases the tempo from 88 BPM to 128 BPM to smoothly transition from a cinematic section to a dance section. This technique helps maintain continuity and energy while making the shift feel natural.…
Repeat and evolve sections to create a sense of progression
Problem: arrangements feel repetitive or stagnant
The sequence of the breakdown and transition is repeated multiple times with slight variations, creating a sense of progression and development. This technique helps maintain listener interest and builds momentum toward…
Add the seventh note to a minor chord to create a minor seven chord
Problem: minor chords lack harmonic depth
To create a minor seven chord (e.g., C minor seven), add the seventh note of the C minor scale (B♭) to the C minor chord. This adds a darker, more jazzy quality to the chord. The minor seven chord is a staple in jazz,…