THE MOD METHOD with VESPERS SONG STRUCTURE In this Module Reverse - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE MOD METHOD

with VESPERS

SONG STRUCTURE

• Reverse engineering hit songs
• Discovering your winning formula
• Using an energy heat map

In this Module

• Song terminology:
• Verse, chorus, pre, bridge
• Electronic terminology:
• Intro, breakdown, build, drop, A-section, B-section, outro

Song Structure Terminology

• How do we do this? Examples:
• Flume - Holdin’ On
• Pre, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, chorus, outro
• Chainsmokers - Rozes
• Intro, verse, verse, verse, pre, chorus, alt chorus, chorus,

verse, pre, chorus, chorus

Reverse Engineering Hit Songs

• Shay Esposito - How Does it Feel (Vespers remix)
• Intro, verse 1, verse 2, pre, chorus 1, alt-chorus, verse 3, pre,

chorus 2, alt-chorus, outro

Example

• Example: Jazz musicians - transcribing solos
• Make a catalog of song structures
• Use markers in your project

Discover Your Winning Formula

• An issue with a lot of amateur songs is their energy level

doesn’t have any dynamic range / pulse / eb and flow to it

• Too much of a good thing
• Map not only structure, but energy

The Energy Heat Map

• Song structure terminology: Songs, electronic tracks
• Reverse engineering hit songs
• Practical example of how to learn song structure
• Discovering your winning formula
• The energy heat map

Review

COMPOSITION

• Caveat: The context is electronic & electronic-oriented pop

music

• Where to start
• How to write chord progressions
• How to write melodies
• When and how to write drums

In This Module

• Choose your keys / modes / feelings

Taking Your Song Concept & Telling a Story

• Harmony, melody or drums first?
• Approach 1: Harmony, then melody.
• Approach 2: Melody, then harmony.
• Then drums.

What Comes First?

• Compose using a piano or piano instrument
• If harmonizing a melody, paste in and mute the MIDI
• Start on the tonic (otherwise, you’re just in a mode of something else)

Chord Progressions: Where to Start

• If you’re not modulating keys between sections, the use a thinner

chord progression alternating with a thicker chord progression

• Use inversions, voice leading, & make sure common note is in same

place in the chord

• Search for chords with common notes by going up thirds and fourths
• Use passing chords / sus chords
• Keep the number of voices consistent
• Check when looped

Chord Progression Checklist

• Harmonic rhythm
• Major and minor chords in major and minor scales
• Greater harmonic depth
• Add 9 chords, add 11 chords, 7th chords, 9th chords

How to Write Better Chord Progressions

• Drop the chord root down into the left hand
• Gives you more flexibility in the right hand

Open Chords

• Compose in whatever mode has all the white notes
• Then transpose after

The White Note Hack

• I, V, vi, IV (CM, GM, Am, FM) - plagal cadence. 35% of pop

music.

• I, vi, IV, V (CM, Am, FM, GM) - Justin Bieber Baby

A Couple of Examples of Common Progressions

• Shay Esposito - How Does it Feel
• Key: Dm
• Original chords: Dm (i), BbM (VI), FM (III)
• Inverted: Dm, BbM/D, FM/C

Remixing a Chord Progression

• Open the chords:
• Split out roots into the left hand.
• Keep a playable, fluid right hand.
• New chords: Dm9, BbM9, FM9, G7sus4

Remixing a Chord Progression

• Copy in & mute MIDI from the chord progression
• Pentatonic scale (1, 3, 4, 5, 7)
• Blues scale (1, 3, 4, b5, 5, 7)

Writing Melodies: Where to Start

• Bass as a melody: LJ Beat
• Checklist:
• Avoid or break up 4ths and 5ths
• Change your input to change your output
• Extract Melody to MIDI and analyze
• Avoid notes (as passing, not sustained)
• Decorations: Grace notes, trills, pitch bends

How to Write Melodies

• Harmonic & non-harmonic notes
• Motif hunting
• What is a motif?
• Semi-tone movements are rare, use them!

Writing Better Melodies

• It starts with patch design
• Vibrato
• FM or aftertouch modulation
• Pitch bends

Synths to Respond Better to MIDI

• Drums first or drums after?
• Example: Shay Esposito - How Does it Feel (Vespers remix)
• Half time feel at the chorus
• Treat drums & bass as the same section
• Sync up drums with your harmonic rhythm

How and When to Write Drums

• You Must First Learn the Rules Before You Break Them
• Harmonic minor

Breaking the Rules

• Telling your musical story
• What comes first, melody, harmony, drums?
• Where to start & how to write better chord progressions
• Open chords, the white note hack
• A few common chord progressions
• Remixing a chord progression
• Where to start & how to write better melodies
• Breaking up 4ths and 5th, avoid notes, motif hunting, decorations
• Harmonic & non-harmonic notes, semi-tone movements
• Pentatonic & blues scales
• Getting synths to respond more realistically to MIDI
• How and when to write drums
• Breaking the rules

Review