Making Music with Pascal's Triangle + the LOCRIAN scale [RIFFING WITH MODES #7]

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  • čas přidán 12. 05. 2024
  • The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! shorturl.at/bouLV
    My pro theory + songwriting course: bit.ly/2J2Nctn
    Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! bit.ly/3wDacU4
    Every Episode of RIFFING WITH MODES: bit.ly/3r9oR5E
    At long last, the seventh and final (?) episode of Riffing With Modes. I did not anticipate this series to take so long, as I expected to make most of the videos short little efficient lessons with quick-tips on riff writing. Instead I took this series as a personal excuse to write music to my heart’s content- starting from Rush style rock riffs in Major, to Dad Rock Dorian. Then crushing Phrygian morse code metal, followed by progressive Lydian vibes. An entire 80s rock single and music video for Mixolydian, and 3 different mini-songs for Minor.
    And now, Locrian. I won’t lie- the mode hath bested me. I began writing this song in SEPTEMBER 2020 and it’s now January 2021. The music was done surprisingly early, but the video had many hurdles to overcome and technical screw-ups that I had to pay the temporal price for. But the battle is over, the dragon is slain, and here lies Locrian madness in all of its glory.
    Hopefully by watching this video, you’ll see that you can make interesting and moving music even without the harmonic tools like “good notes” and “good chords” and “good melodies”. This entire piece is influenced from random algorithmically generated sequences, and still maintains a sense of groove at times, only to be fractured at others. I hope you find the piece interesting even if it isn’t your cup of tea, and more importantly, I hope you discover some useful songwriting, production, or arrangement techniques that can help you in your music making.
    IMPORTANT LINKS BELOW!
    Byzantine Pi Math Metal - • Random Math Metal Riff...
    “Adore”-Faustas Udrenas (Produced by me!) - • adore // faustas udrenas
    Numberphile - Pascal’s Triangle - • Pascal's Triangle - Nu...
    David Bennet Piano- A Song In Locrian - • A Song That Actually U...
    Adam Neely (and friends) - Making Locrian Sound Good - • Making the LOCRIAN sca...
    Pascal's Triangle Code : pastebin.com/w71ZePzU - Note that neither me nor Faustas are actual software engineers, so there is a LOT of room for improvement on this simple + quickly written program. I'd welcome someone to modify the code to allow for bigger triangles (currently an integer overflow error prevents inputs over 34) and also size/space the triangle better, or even enable midi-output/ sound! If you decide to improve on this let me know so I can repost the link here and share it with everyone else.
    ADDITIONAL Pascal's Triangle code from a friend! pastebin.com/v39uhxpG
    An outrageous amount of gratitude is owed to my Patreon supporters who have decided to fund my free lessons and videos. They’re the greatest folks on the planet, if you want to join them you can for live Q+A’s, special videos, and more. / signalsmusicstudio
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    00:00- Why Locrian is Clumsy
    02:07- Locrian Inspiration + Pascal's Triangle
    05:07- Turning Chaos Into Groove
    06:55- Arranging a random motif
    09:11- Writing a Locrian Melody
    12:38- MUSIC VIDEO: "Pascal's Prison"
    15:50- Closing Thoughts

Komentáře • 1,7K

  • @locrian8087
    @locrian8087 Před 3 lety +569

    I've always been told I was useless... Even then, why must you hurt me in such ways, Jake??

    • @SignalsMusicStudio
      @SignalsMusicStudio  Před 3 lety +427

      GET A FIFTH, WEIRDO!

    • @henriquemontalvao8492
      @henriquemontalvao8492 Před 3 lety +42

      Don't worry babe, I still love you

    • @andrejz8954
      @andrejz8954 Před 3 lety +20

      @@SignalsMusicStudio LOL 🤣🤣

    • @cappuccino4366
      @cappuccino4366 Před 3 lety +4

      Get a job and you'll be useful

    • @indigo1324
      @indigo1324 Před 3 lety +22

      Idk why Jake hates Locrian so much. I’ve used it before. For me, it’s a great way of creating unease, to an extreme level that Phrygian can’t achieve.

  • @TheArtofGuitar
    @TheArtofGuitar Před 3 lety +936

    Are you trying to conjure interdimensional aliens my guitar brother? Cause this is how you do that! haha

    • @milestrotter6844
      @milestrotter6844 Před 3 lety +9

      Mike what's up! Also I think he might.

    • @benrechakiewicz3594
      @benrechakiewicz3594 Před 3 lety

      Best comment goes to you.😂🤘

    • @Celso_Luis
      @Celso_Luis Před 3 lety +6

      Wait... was Jake on DMT when he wrote this song???

    • @seppet0ni
      @seppet0ni Před 3 lety +11

      "I decided to consult the mathematical structure known as the interdimensional pentagram"

    • @robinchesterfield42
      @robinchesterfield42 Před 3 lety +18

      But the twist is: They're not here to attack us. They were just happy to finally hear someone else playing music that sounds normal to them, and they're here to boogie down! :)

  • @wildy6980
    @wildy6980 Před rokem +37

    I think music in Locrian would sound nice in game soundtracks or something when you are trying to сomplete a difficult level with the main battle and this music create so much tension and does not let you relax for a second

    • @Alexander-mw1ek
      @Alexander-mw1ek Před 5 měsíci +8

      It is used a lot in video game music already! 8-Bit music theory has a nice video on it, including many good examples

    • @trambus1144
      @trambus1144 Před 2 měsíci

      ​@@Alexander-mw1ek"a lot" is quite exaggerated dude

    • @ScatLuigi
      @ScatLuigi Před 15 dny

      @@trambus1144Comparatively a lot

  • @Headfonez1
    @Headfonez1 Před 3 lety +133

    "Pascal's Prison" is definitely a beautiful song

    • @keep_walking_on_grass
      @keep_walking_on_grass Před 11 měsíci

      the description "beautiful" says almost nothing about a piece of music at all - sorry.

    • @Headfonez1
      @Headfonez1 Před 11 měsíci +5

      @@keep_walking_on_grass I was reacting to him saying that 'most of the world wouldn't describe the Locrian scale as beautiful'. I would typically agree with the rest of the world, but not in this case.

  • @victorhugotoledocofre1366
    @victorhugotoledocofre1366 Před 3 lety +479

    Most music youtubers call Locrian the "odd man out" and ditch it. You not only tackle it, but make good music with it. Congratulations, Jake.

    • @SignalsMusicStudio
      @SignalsMusicStudio  Před 3 lety +142

      in their defense I've been calling locrian the oddman out and ditching it until literally today lol

    • @bambangstudio3576
      @bambangstudio3576 Před 3 lety +6

      Tmi jake

    • @gwbuilder5779
      @gwbuilder5779 Před 3 lety +11

      @@SignalsMusicStudio Guilty. Although a really heavy emotional response can be done with a Locrian phrase for sure.

    • @alsatusmd1A13
      @alsatusmd1A13 Před 3 lety +1

      Most of music theory assumes that non-octave tonalities are the “no man’s land” and they are largely absent from music CZcams whereas Locrian looks like it is everywhere in comparison. Here is not only a way to tackle them, but to make the best possible music with them: en.xen.wiki/w/Modal_systematization_of_soid-family_scales

    • @everythingque4635
      @everythingque4635 Před 3 lety +3

      @@SignalsMusicStudio ikr lol everytime you’re like “forget about locrian”

  • @oxsolo
    @oxsolo Před 3 lety +271

    Dude, I legitimately love this song. It's like a quasi-accessible prog lol. It definitely speaks more to your skills as a composer than the quality of locrian

    • @ellehjames5809
      @ellehjames5809 Před 2 lety +3

      I just want it a little heavier and it'll be phenomenal!

  • @odw32
    @odw32 Před 10 měsíci +17

    What jumps out to me is that once you've adjusted, the whole composition feels "tense" but the tonic doesn't feel unresolved anymore. Then those major G/F chords suddenly feel simultaneously very familiar but also unresolved... It's like acclimatizing to an alien place to a point where you feel estranged from daily life -- like finding yourself inebriated and dancing madly at a nightclub at 4AM, and then suddenly you notice that your sober parents are present and waving you to come over. It has a little bit of a trippy vibe, with some implicit thrill, darkness, shamefulness or guilt lurking inside of it.

  • @pavloslazarou3697
    @pavloslazarou3697 Před rokem +85

    I don't know why but in general i don't agree with the popular opinion that half diminished chords sound tense and uncomfortable. I find their sound strangely captivating and beautiful. When that F resolved back to the B half diminished i was mesmerized. I love this sound!

    • @prometheus6474
      @prometheus6474 Před rokem +6

      can relate to that, that's in part why I stopped using names for chords and only use numbers now. if jake thinks a diminished chord sounds bad he clearly hasn't heard justin bieber

    • @brendanm6921
      @brendanm6921 Před 11 měsíci +3

      ​@@prometheus6474 he never said they sound bad, he said they're difficult to resolve on.

    • @prometheus6474
      @prometheus6474 Před 11 měsíci

      @@brendanm6921 kool

    • @keep_walking_on_grass
      @keep_walking_on_grass Před 11 měsíci +6

      they don't sound uncomfortable necessarily as we can hear in this piece he created. it sounds emotionless. which is very unusual for all modes and music in general since music is a language of human emotions and moods. exactly THIS is what music is. but Locrian sounds like the rejection of all emotions. nevertheless, it sounds great if done right. it sounds technical, objective. like watching a robot at work. no emotions.

    • @FindingsOfAnArmouredMind
      @FindingsOfAnArmouredMind Před 10 měsíci +6

      @keep_walking_on_grass It's not "emotionless", not at all, it does in fact sound sinister, and, if used well, you can create anxiety inducing melodies with it..

  • @franjojanes
    @franjojanes Před 3 lety +266

    Moral of the video: "You can't write catchy stuff in locrian." The video ends and that Pascal melody keeps playing in my head. Jake, what have you done? :D

    • @SignalsMusicStudio
      @SignalsMusicStudio  Před 3 lety +110

      listen it's stuck in my head too and I love it by try playing it at the club/restaurant/airport and you'll quickly see that we are all part of a special group of weirdos

    • @zhulikkulik
      @zhulikkulik Před 3 lety +3

      It's not too catchy but i guess the next time I try - it'll be this exact thing I'll come up with while trying to play locrian

    • @franjojanes
      @franjojanes Před 3 lety +28

      @@SignalsMusicStudio A.k.a. prog fans.

    • @dreamynachos3439
      @dreamynachos3439 Před 3 lety +1

      Milk Lizard by Dillinger Escape Plan's got a pretty catchy Locrian riff, but that's the only one I can think of.

    • @shawa666
      @shawa666 Před 3 lety +4

      @@SignalsMusicStudio Club resto, I don't think so, But it's mellow yet weird to be on the sound track for a game like Stellaris or Va-11 Hall-A

  • @horacefarbuckle
    @horacefarbuckle Před 3 lety +501

    Impressive. I play Doom metal and it's common enough to dip into Locrian for 4-8 bars for some disturbing effect, but sustaining it for a whole composition takes some real savvy. Kudos.

    • @SignalsMusicStudio
      @SignalsMusicStudio  Před 3 lety +52

      thank you :)

    • @victoresquivel8546
      @victoresquivel8546 Před 3 lety +14

      Yep, I hear you. This is the realm where Neurosis dwells.

    • @justinayers3589
      @justinayers3589 Před 3 lety +6

      i was just playing 10,000 Years by High on Fire and I'm pretty sure the main riff is locrian.

    • @heyjarrod
      @heyjarrod Před 3 lety

      But you can play a 6th-string Maj chord over Locrian!?
      I’m only 18 seconds in, let me watch the rest. I’m sure I missed some thing. Your videos are always on point! 🎸👍🏻

    • @Wind-nj5xz
      @Wind-nj5xz Před 3 lety +30

      4-8 bars in doom metal is already as long as a normal composition

  • @edbutler3
    @edbutler3 Před 3 lety +141

    That turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable piece of music. Love how the G-F change feels like a ray of sunlight briefly breaking through the gloom.

  • @ruminator3570
    @ruminator3570 Před 2 lety +22

    Pascal's prison is an indie developer's demonic puzzle box level theme. That's badass Jake.

  • @alejandro52612
    @alejandro52612 Před 3 lety +140

    That 3/4 version sounds perfect for a Zelda temple soundtrack.

    • @Somaiscariot
      @Somaiscariot Před 3 lety +23

      I was just thinking that. The locrian mode sounds perfect for (and, I want to say, is probably used in) a lot of video game "dungeon" music.

    • @rogerhammerstein4970
      @rogerhammerstein4970 Před 2 lety +2

      @@Somaiscariot That's what I was thinking as well. Locrian, and the song Jake built on it, make me think of a place where you don't belong. It really captures an oppressive tone without being unlistenable.

  • @gercekyusufberk
    @gercekyusufberk Před 3 lety +43

    my new favorite chord progression: G, F, B HALF DIMINISHED

  • @deanzuberiafrica6526
    @deanzuberiafrica6526 Před 2 lety +64

    i actually dig it. it sounds like the soundtrack to a challenging secret level in a video game. good job!

  • @cptnoremac
    @cptnoremac Před 2 lety +6

    It absolutely feels like a satisfying resolution to me. This proves you don't need a perfect fifth.

  • @MrMirko
    @MrMirko Před 3 lety +282

    This sounds amazing. The whole time it feels like I just want to come up for air to see some sunshine. That G and F almost put it in reach, only to take it away. Also, +1 to your friend for writing the code in C++.

    • @SignalsMusicStudio
      @SignalsMusicStudio  Před 3 lety +45

      Love that description! It does feel like the hope keeps getting taken away, much like the creation process of this lesson lol. As for the code- if I had done this myself, it would have taken much longer and I would have probably done it in Excel VBA and it would probably still not work :P

    • @SkinnyBlackout
      @SkinnyBlackout Před 3 lety +11

      I don't know man, I find locrian extremely calming. When I was trying to write music I only used dissonant intervals, because it sounded kind of like Dom and Roland's "Industry" album.

    • @greenatom
      @greenatom Před 3 lety +21

      Yeah, that G and F are like a glimpse of heaven, a little bit of bliss, then it's back to the grind. Too real, man, too real!

    • @yakzivz1104
      @yakzivz1104 Před 3 lety +1

      Yeah I absolutely loved it!!!

    • @miketheperformer5972
      @miketheperformer5972 Před 3 lety

      "Music To Drown In Swamp Water To" by The Locrian Underground, (RCA, 1998)

  • @Mr.Bright91
    @Mr.Bright91 Před 3 lety +220

    Am I wrong to think that, after hearing this, Locrian is just Lydian’s evil twin? The song sounds intense. Love the videos Jake!

    • @Nahue91Carp
      @Nahue91Carp Před 3 lety +48

      Well, both of them have the tritone. But one is pure ethereal magic and the other one is uncomfortable ugliness. So you're right.

    • @seanfitzpatrick7878
      @seanfitzpatrick7878 Před 3 lety +7

      Great analogy.

    • @andrewqi6695
      @andrewqi6695 Před 3 lety +22

      Locrian is just Lydian with a sharpened tonic if you know what I mean.

    • @Mr.Bright91
      @Mr.Bright91 Před 3 lety +40

      @@andrewqi6695 I mean if Lydian is spacey and dreamy then Locrian is cosmic horror?

    • @ARiteOfPassage09
      @ARiteOfPassage09 Před 2 lety +5

      Hahaha both are sharing 3, both has Tritone, and Locrian is sharpened tonic compared to Lydian but Locrian has -3 while Lydian has +3 in terms of brightness.

  • @mityakiselev
    @mityakiselev Před 2 lety +73

    IDK, I think it's really useful in a lot of non-mainstream music, like metal for example. It's often the goal of metal to make you feel uncomfortable and disturbed. It's really useful if you make a soundtrack to something uneasy, like The Binding of Isaac or something.

    • @cptnoremac
      @cptnoremac Před 2 lety +1

      This would be perfect in Binding of Isaac

    • @lismarcheuseduciel6006
      @lismarcheuseduciel6006 Před rokem +6

      In metal I find it only useful in small doses though. In a way metal relies a lot on chugging on the root power chord to create heaviness, and that usually involves the fifth to establish the "home".
      Most of the time, when I've seen a Locrian main riff of a song in traditional metal, it was only technically Locrian, as in avoiding the 5th and making it ambiguously either Locrian or Phrygian and then placing the flat 5 at the end of the riff for effect. These riffs didn't really "feel" like Locrian if you know what I mean.
      That being said, I'm sure there are some metal songs out there in the Locrian mode that utilize it well. I just don't think it is that common to use this mode outside of a few bars in metal, because it is kinda awkward and restricting. In death metal for example, most bands just go into straight-up chromatic riffing for the disturbing/uncomfortable effect. Things might get a bit different perhaps if you look at specific prog genres or mathcore or stuff like that, where the emphasis lies more on other qualities than heaviness, but even here I'm not sure if it's really a common thing.

  • @euclid9492
    @euclid9492 Před 2 lety +3

    That was pretty awesome. When people say they don’t want to learn music theory because they don’t want to lose their creativity I think of them just playing blissfully in major forever thinking they’re being creative. Sometimes you need some knowledge to get you into uncharted terrain like this to make something really unique!

  • @wido123123
    @wido123123 Před 3 lety +198

    I really really would like you as a guest in Next Adam Neely's "composing with scales challenge"

    • @TSMusic-95
      @TSMusic-95 Před 3 lety +9

      Came here to say that exact same thing! That would be awesome

    • @chrismusic1837
      @chrismusic1837 Před 3 lety +1

      Get me in there, I’m not a celebrity, just someone starting out. I’d love to give it a shot, it would make me very very happy, this stuff is my life

    • @PivasRox
      @PivasRox Před 3 lety +1

      Totally!

    • @lt_johnmcclane
      @lt_johnmcclane Před 2 lety

      @@chrismusic1837 nope gotta be CZcams famous for opportunities like that

    • @KamcorderRecords
      @KamcorderRecords Před 2 lety +1

      @@lt_johnmcclane I think he's got the chops and subs tbh

  • @Raffael-Tausend
    @Raffael-Tausend Před 3 lety +59

    the G-F-B° gets me every time. every time. it just wants to get to C!

    • @ongjingxian1998
      @ongjingxian1998 Před 3 lety +6

      Agreed, my mind immediately went to G mixolydian

    • @SignalsMusicStudio
      @SignalsMusicStudio  Před 3 lety +22

      if I stayed on any other chord for too long, it felt like the tonal center wanted to reset to either Am or C

    • @B0K1T0
      @B0K1T0 Před 3 lety +13

      I actually loved it, I saw it more as a failed attempt to escape from Pascal's prison :D But it really fitted in the track to go back to that uncomfortable vibe instead of resolving to something more "normal" :)

    • @yarlodek5842
      @yarlodek5842 Před 2 lety

      The funny thing is, this “resolution” is absolutely uncomfortable in every musical way possible. The fact that the F chord’s root is a tri-tone away from the B diminished isn’t even scratching the surface.

    • @ARiteOfPassage09
      @ARiteOfPassage09 Před 2 lety +2

      to me, G-F-Bdim or bVI, bV, i-dim progression worked absolutely great. I tried to compose the same progression using garageband and I really loved it. I really learned from this vid.

  • @kashinewell6239
    @kashinewell6239 Před rokem +8

    It makes most sense to me thinking of locrian in terms of brightness as the darkest of the modes. Just like you go for phrygian when you want to be darker and edgier than minor, you go for locrian when you want to be even darker than phrygian. Minor feels more personal to me, like being in solitude or experiencing a sad moment. Where as Phrygian feels like an exotic adventure or an intense sadness or anger. And Locrian seems dark in the way of like what happens in a secret cave or the workings of fungus under the soil, a seething idea in the unconscious of society or something alien, from another planet/dimension/reality. I think it's cool I think I hear it in bands like rush and a perfect circle and deftones and always wondered what makes that ultimately dark mystical kind of sound... turns out it's locrian and it's a bummer to hear people don't use it that often. Seems like it would be cool as part of a story telling element in the music rather than trying to make the whole song in locrian but that sounds cool for dark mystical heavy riffs so it's nice too. Think people just say what they have heard before. Locrian isn't useless, just gone under the radar like mushrooms and aliens and Bigfoot haha

  • @ProphayniaX
    @ProphayniaX Před 3 lety +95

    So bizarre,
    I really felt like this was one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard in my entire life it should go on for 20 minutes.
    I could actually hear it modulating to another cord I’m going to steal it.
    Thank you for making me feel special

  • @davew1647
    @davew1647 Před 3 lety +43

    This is the uncanny valley of music.

  • @ZetaCarinae
    @ZetaCarinae Před 3 lety +41

    As a mathematician I strongly approve of this content. Way to go man.

  • @number1authority
    @number1authority Před rokem +8

    I just love this. I’ve been obsessed with conquering locrian since my first music book with a chapter on modes just skipped with a sentence that basically said “don’t bother”. Plus the algorithm approach is so similar to how broke writers block when I was starting out. It’s still my favorite song I ever wrote to this day.

  • @benbugohit
    @benbugohit Před 11 dny +1

    At the time of writing this comment, this is how i discover your channel : yt algorithm telling me to watch this video.
    Seems like I'll start with you to learn musical theory adapted to bass.
    Thank you for your work btw

  • @kittavares4334
    @kittavares4334 Před 3 lety +56

    B-but you told us locrian was a useless leftover mode! This might be my favorite composition of the series, it reminds me of post-metal bands like Isis.

  • @matthewwilliams6788
    @matthewwilliams6788 Před 3 lety +26

    It's amazing how locrian can sound so dissonant and uncertain, and almost comically lighthearted depending on how you use it

  • @DrZygote214
    @DrZygote214 Před 2 lety +15

    I think the raw locrian melody in the early video could serve as "sneaky" theme music, like in cheesy movies where the protag is tiptoeing around rooms and behind pillars.

  • @g1970r
    @g1970r Před 2 lety +4

    This Locrian tune you just made is definitely perfect for a sound track in a movie…that is the vibe I got from the beginning.

  • @mtaur4113
    @mtaur4113 Před 3 lety +77

    This sounds surprisingly chill, at least to the extent that it's even possible. The turnaround chords were an interesting contrast too.

    • @gizzhead7941
      @gizzhead7941 Před 3 lety +2

      This is literally trying to make Locrian sound as other-wordly as possible. There are far more mundane ways to use Locrian lol

  • @DavidPortera
    @DavidPortera Před 3 lety +60

    Surprisingly “Progressive”. You really did a great job with it.

    • @nightwolf9645
      @nightwolf9645 Před 2 lety

      Right.. The only thing missing is LaBrie's vocal..

  • @Asherr6
    @Asherr6 Před 2 lety +4

    Dude… your musical nerdiness is impressive. I totally dig this track . So good dude

  • @gtrgareri
    @gtrgareri Před 2 lety +8

    I guess I’m officially weird because I really liked this piece of music you’ve written! Granted, I’ve never written a single piece of music in Locrian, but I honestly enjoyed listening to your final piece of
    Music! 🤷🏻‍♂️

  • @sleepymarauder4178
    @sleepymarauder4178 Před 3 lety +37

    This kind of feels like a great composing for some weird show with lots of mystery and action. 10/10

  • @XeroTa1ent
    @XeroTa1ent Před 3 lety +38

    This could have been a Porcupine Tree song.
    Awesome vid, as always. Thanks, Jake 🤘🏻🇨🇦🤘🏻

    • @jadedandbitter
      @jadedandbitter Před 2 lety +2

      I would have said king crimson

    • @DiamondSane
      @DiamondSane Před 2 lety

      @@jadedandbitter and I would have said it's definitely from Blackjazz of Shining

    • @jadedandbitter
      @jadedandbitter Před 2 lety

      @@DiamondSane in my defense, I said King Crimson because the lead sounds like Red era Fripp and the little mini chorus part is definitely reminiscent of the orchestral chorus in Court of the Crimson King. And I could definitely hear the main riff being played on the Chapman Stick.

    • @DiamondSane
      @DiamondSane Před 2 lety

      @@jadedandbitter no offence, man. KC are suitable as well

  • @cmcp975
    @cmcp975 Před 3 lety +13

    This was really beautiful, in a trippy way.
    Kinda reminds me of the “Half-Whole” Diminished Scale; the difference being that it has less of a pull to any tonic as the challenge. That would also be a fun video from which to learn and watch.

  • @michaelkelly6583
    @michaelkelly6583 Před 3 lety

    Jake, this was amazing. Thanks for taking us through this locrian journey.

  • @JYelton
    @JYelton Před 3 lety +93

    It is really valuable to see not just the final result, but the things you tried and abandoned as well. I sometimes quite enjoy darkness or "impending disaster," or bittersweet bits in music, and I think you managed to capture those feelings with this one. I mean come on, dark chocolate is clearly better than milk chocolate. :) This is truly a remarkable composition, you managed to make it very enjoyable! (In that "this is the soundtrack for the part in a game where the odds are against you and you have no idea what's around the corner" way.) Thanks for sticking with it and putting this together. It takes time to make great stuff!

    • @Jimb1264
      @Jimb1264 Před 3 lety +4

      Milk chocolate is supreme

    • @maybemaeb
      @maybemaeb Před 3 lety +5

      To make use of the same chocolate metaphor, have you ever had 99% cocoa chocolate? I have. It's... pretty damn awful, and this is coming from someone who very much does enjoy dark chocolate. Locrian feels to me much the same - can be really good if used sparingly, but too much of it and it just becomes unbearable.

    • @bubbythebear6891
      @bubbythebear6891 Před 3 lety +1

      Milk chocolate is much better than dark chocolate.

  • @nurk_barry
    @nurk_barry Před 3 lety +35

    Music is really just math that our ears and brain decode.
    Also, this sounds like the key that koji kondo uses in the early parts of majoras mask is in.

  • @adeptmage2293
    @adeptmage2293 Před 3 lety +8

    At times this sounds phrygian and at other times it almost sounds lydian. Love it.

    • @gaopinghu7332
      @gaopinghu7332 Před 9 měsíci +1

      It's funny you say it, because Lydian and Phrygian are, in fact, the most closely related modes to Locrian.

    • @flyingduck87
      @flyingduck87 Před 6 měsíci

      ​@gaopinghu7332 no they're not

  • @andymuri3463
    @andymuri3463 Před 2 lety +1

    Exquisite! Thank you for this experience! Mad respect!

  • @realpool
    @realpool Před 3 lety +15

    I love it! When it goes from G to F and back to B diminished, it's euphoric.

  • @an-2500
    @an-2500 Před 3 lety +32

    There is definitely something otherworldy in diminished chord as home. Something that regular major and minor can't capture. Awesome stuff, Jake.

  • @The12thAvenger
    @The12thAvenger Před 3 lety

    man I've been looking forward to this video ever since you started this series and I have to say you definitely didn't disappoint. In fact this is my favorite of them all. Keep it up!

  • @ab-wz2ny
    @ab-wz2ny Před 2 lety

    omg why do i love this vibe so much... this was an amazing track, I love that kind of music, well done

  • @jehmarxx
    @jehmarxx Před 3 lety +111

    Imagine if Jake ruins everything by putting a G7 chord at the very end.
    Well, that's the end of the series. Congratulations.

  • @ishi_gho9695
    @ishi_gho9695 Před 3 lety +22

    I actually really love locrian, there’s definitely some interesting and weird stuff going one with the harmony and there’s some really crazy melodies you can make with it. I think it should be explored more. Your video is a big and *AWESOME* first step into this strange musical world

  • @MrKittles1123
    @MrKittles1123 Před 3 lety

    This was profoundly inspiring and entertaining to me. I think the composition you came up with is absolutely epic, and really captures the strange and unique vibe of this mode. Amazing content.

  • @voronOsphere
    @voronOsphere Před 3 lety +2

    I love that devious Locrian flavor! It's a great special treat! This tune you did was very enjoyable.

  • @TaylorSappe
    @TaylorSappe Před 3 lety +19

    I tried writing in Locrian on several occasions and couldn't come up with anything that sounded good. You certainly broke that barrier!

  • @skwisgaarskwigelf331
    @skwisgaarskwigelf331 Před 3 lety +32

    Locrian feels like algorithms and sounds like microchips. It's like if we were able to connect our brains into the digital world. It's so disconnected from our instincts that you get disoriented when you hear it, like when you have a messed up sleep schedule, wake up after a disturbing dream and see darkness around you.
    *Man, it's creepy*

    • @philipweber404
      @philipweber404 Před 3 lety +1

      Dat ams not something you would play on a grandpa’s guitars.

    • @skwisgaarskwigelf331
      @skwisgaarskwigelf331 Před 3 lety

      @@philipweber404 it woulds make it atleasts more interesktings.
      PS: You noticed my meme account. But, did you notice the Metalocalypse reference in the former text?

    • @visiontranscend60
      @visiontranscend60 Před 3 lety

      But Immolation makes it very organic and hot down there in the locrian underworld.

  • @toddhatfield5329
    @toddhatfield5329 Před 3 lety

    This is absolutely phenomenal.

  • @jos9087
    @jos9087 Před 3 lety

    Dude your videos are awesome!, there's so much to learn. Keep the good content man, love it!

  • @LTDLimiTeD1995
    @LTDLimiTeD1995 Před 3 lety +23

    in a song I wrote in locrian, I found shell voicings and simply not using full chords was very helpful.

    • @Meshuggapeth
      @Meshuggapeth Před 3 lety

      You mean playing the i chord as only the root, b3 & b7? Or rootless? Is this for piano?

    • @LTDLimiTeD1995
      @LTDLimiTeD1995 Před 3 lety +1

      @@Meshuggapeth Kind of a creepy organ song as a villain's fortress type theme. But essentially, yes.

  • @ozzi9816
    @ozzi9816 Před 3 lety +25

    Dangit, I was just about to comment that the song sounded very beautiful when you got to your closing thoughts, haha. I honestly think that B half diminished is one of the prettier sounding diminished chords (I remember reading somewhere it has to do with the relation of the position of the individual notes that makes a diminished sound more or less dissonant but I don’t recall exactly) and maybe part of the reason this song worked so well is the root chord was one of the less discordant types. Then again, I’ve always had a bit strange taste in music...
    I also think timbre ends up playing a big role here as well, the moment you added the marimba I went from thinking it sounded okay to really liking it, and then the 3/4 drum beat got me completely hooked on it. It sounds like something that would play in a gritty cyberpunk show, like Serial Experiments Lain if you know about that.
    Thank you for making all this great educational content!

  • @nolannernberg4627
    @nolannernberg4627 Před 3 lety +3

    I am so glad you attempted Locrian! I once tired to find songs written in it and all I found was the Björk video you mentioned. Once again a great video!

  • @atom-ark
    @atom-ark Před 2 lety +3

    Love watching you arrive at the culmination of this track through mathematics and structure. While Locrian might not "resolve" in the traditional sense, I believe you demonstrate that it is musically viable if tackled with purpose. I'd listen to a whole EP of this just to hear your variations on the theme. Bravo Jake!

  • @SparkyBobOmb
    @SparkyBobOmb Před 3 lety +17

    I love it!
    It has a Metroid tension-like feel to it. Listening through very high quality headphones or sound system is an absolute-must to savor and enjoy all the layers of this song!

    • @TomAnderson7
      @TomAnderson7 Před 2 lety +2

      My first thought was Metroid. The song gives me goosebumps. It’s so good!

  • @ErnieLeblanc
    @ErnieLeblanc Před 3 lety +3

    Jake's GENIUS is Always Educational and Enjoyable.

  • @robinwaij5315
    @robinwaij5315 Před 3 lety +1

    Absolutely Beautiful piece of music. The tension that it creates really sets up for a big tonal shift after the G-F part and could flow into a very emotional climax.

  • @neonspheregaming
    @neonspheregaming Před 2 lety +1

    This sounds Amazing. I love these kinds of song construction, using math and seemingly unrelated methods to music writing. Love your channel Jake. I'm learning so much from you as it fits my mental process better than anything I've tried before. Can't wait for the rhythm course. Peace!

  • @NoJobRob
    @NoJobRob Před 3 lety +17

    sounds like something that could be on the Zelda Skyward Sword soundtrack! reminiscent of Lanayru Desert/Lanayru Mining Facility

  • @unclemonty9506
    @unclemonty9506 Před 3 lety +8

    fantastic...I'm inspired, I'm gonna write me a love song in Locrian 👍

  • @cioculeasavlad8639
    @cioculeasavlad8639 Před 2 lety

    Very interesting concepts. That bass sounds awesome.
    Nicely done!

  • @danielamin
    @danielamin Před 3 lety +4

    That sounds like my life: brief moments of glorious respite sprinkled around a stream of ugly, unbridled chaos.

  • @SquareWaveHeaven
    @SquareWaveHeaven Před 3 lety +6

    Pascal's PRISON. LOCKrian. I see what you did there : ))))) Also, banging tune. The 1 diminished really feels like home. It's just an eerie home.

  • @xchefx990
    @xchefx990 Před 3 lety +21

    Loved it, sounds amazing, I enjoyed learning this mode as much if not more than the other six

  • @benjaminramos7223
    @benjaminramos7223 Před 2 lety

    This is awesome, great piece of music you compose!

  • @Tanglangfa
    @Tanglangfa Před 2 lety

    I started watching your videos a few weeks ago mostly because I’m learning to play jazz and blues rhythm and solos. I appreciate these theory/composition videos too. Please keep up the great work!

  • @wiseSYW
    @wiseSYW Před 3 lety +10

    that marimba with the bass/drum beat makes it age of empires-y

    • @Aquatarkus96
      @Aquatarkus96 Před 3 lety +1

      Lol I know the exact track and the exact part of said track I think you're talking about :D

    • @thelanman7674
      @thelanman7674 Před 3 lety +1

      Yessss! I was imagining playing Age Of Mythology to this song XD

  • @NeelDhar
    @NeelDhar Před 3 lety +12

    16:40 Totally agree
    The Locrian is just us wannabes trying to make music in Locrian. Simply because it is diffcult.
    Not because we want to make music good and choose it organically.

  • @xezdog
    @xezdog Před rokem

    Liked this video a lot! Really cool stuff and presentation is superb. The track even stuck in my head for couple hours. Thank you!

  • @btfa2020
    @btfa2020 Před 2 lety

    You are an amazing musician and teacher.

  • @tebruno99
    @tebruno99 Před 3 lety +11

    I really thought that sounded awesome. Loved the rhythms and groove.

  • @raphaelcote3577
    @raphaelcote3577 Před 3 lety +8

    Wow!! Very cool! You are the 1st composer I see that makes a composition with the Locrian mode! At one point in the video I was thinking maybe it would have been cool that you mix the 2nd Idea with the 1st one! It would have make a very cool Progressive Metal/Djent song ahah!
    But still, very creative ideas, very cool! :)

    • @guitaristssuck8979
      @guitaristssuck8979 Před 3 lety

      Except that I did it before but I don't have visibility:
      czcams.com/video/i_nQcBj95pk/video.html

  • @jteichma
    @jteichma Před 3 lety

    Jake, thanks so much (and to your Patreon supporters). Brilliant exploration and great ideas for composition.

  • @caioaquino5958
    @caioaquino5958 Před rokem

    By far one of the best channels that I subscribed

  • @AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL
    @AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL Před 3 lety +3

    Okay this is absolutely amazing. Love the final product and such an inventive way of producing a song. Pleanty of cool ideas to steal (borrow). Reminds me of Karnivool and stuff in that vein.

  • @jamesrussler7797
    @jamesrussler7797 Před 3 lety +9

    3:15 locrian triforce now I've seen it all. one of these days Jake is going to open up some alternate dimension that swallows the earth fooling around with all this stuff

  • @frike2ss61
    @frike2ss61 Před rokem

    Showed this to my family, they loved it. Shows how good of a composer you are.

  • @GrowsDrummer
    @GrowsDrummer Před rokem

    Oh boy, that sounds amazing! I love it.

  • @owlofathena1247
    @owlofathena1247 Před 3 lety +9

    7:13 sounds like every math rock song ever, and tbh I like the jolly innocent sound of it, without the heavy distortions and bass.

    • @TheBcoolGuy
      @TheBcoolGuy Před 2 lety +1

      Like a baby alone on a space ship 45 billion light years away.

  • @FlavioCastellaniFlaviotti

    "very restricted in not being restricting". So true. Yet: hats off to you for the resulting Locrian piece! 👍👌

  • @mr.o_9123
    @mr.o_9123 Před 3 lety

    This just made my day! Nice work!

  • @DTGuitarTech
    @DTGuitarTech Před 3 lety +2

    Honestly, you are musical genius. I have never seen anyone resolve successfully to a diminished chord like that. You actually made it musical. Dark and deep but musical. It did not sound like just an exercise. Well done you.

  • @jacobryan365
    @jacobryan365 Před 3 lety +3

    This was awesome! You're channel has been so great for me, even though I'm a piano player not a guitarist. I love how in your seven modes video you said Locrian was kinda useless but you figured out a way in this video. Keep up the great work dude.

  • @-LTUIiiin
    @-LTUIiiin Před 3 lety +3

    every one these videos is immensely inspiring. you're an amazing musician jake

  • @correametal
    @correametal Před 2 lety

    I think this is a Masterpiece you just composed with the Locrian mode....I love it...thanks for this beautiful piece!

  • @hyowokatzamuaio5246
    @hyowokatzamuaio5246 Před 2 lety

    Resolving from that F to B° with that tremolo effect and the 6/8 groove sounds so good to me that i really am stoked to use this as inspiration for song of my own. Thank you! Like your vids!!

  • @ProfessorFrenzy
    @ProfessorFrenzy Před 3 lety +3

    That was a terrific exercise. Love hearing how Locrian would sound in an 'actual' song. Nice work thanks.

  • @ludovicmennel4166
    @ludovicmennel4166 Před 3 lety +6

    I can hear some strong Devin Townsend vibes here, especially during the G-F move

  • @motion.nature
    @motion.nature Před 3 lety

    love your creative writing approaches! Also very nice video editing, one can see the fun you had with it :D

  • @dcfromthev
    @dcfromthev Před 3 lety

    Awesome video Jake! You are such a bad ass composer, one of the best most well rounded on all of youtube.

  • @SuperCmagiera
    @SuperCmagiera Před 3 lety +20

    Jake, your song reminds me of a Dream Theater interlude.

  • @djabroni_brochacho4644
    @djabroni_brochacho4644 Před 3 lety +6

    Came for the thumbnail, stayed for the thumbnail.

  • @occamseraser
    @occamseraser Před 2 lety

    That moment where the 3/4 drum feel came it just snapped the whole piece together. So rad man, thanks for all your content.

  • @professordeb
    @professordeb Před 3 lety

    That was brilliant, Jake! Bravo.