How to Harmonize a Melody ft. Freddie Mercury | Four-Way Close Voicings
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
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Four-Way Close Procedure Screenshot: i.imgur.com/qOdnb6P.png
00:00 Intro
00:57 What is "Four-Way Close?"
02:21 Step 1: consider where to use it
02:40 Step 2: come up with four-note versions of the chords
02:55 Step 3: identify approach notes
03:22 Step 4: harmonize target notes
03:57 4(b). chord-tone omissions
04:57 4(c). anticipations
05:34 Step 5: harmonize approach notes
07:06 Reference Sheet
07:16 Substitutions
07:51 Always Use Your Ears!
08:05 The Result
09:10 Bohemian Rhapsody
09:50 Closing Words
10:08 Private Lessons, Ko-Fi, Thank You!
~Oddly Contrived Description for Search Term Purposes~
In this video, I, Myles Yang, explain exactly how to harmonize a melody with a bread & butter mechanical voicing technique called "four-way close," using a legendary Queen ballad as an example. Through the magic of modern technology, I've synthesized three new Freddie Mercuries to sing alongside the original in colorful four-part harmony. Since A.I. (artificial intelligence) and computer generated songs, musicians, and artists are so on our minds lately, I feel I should clarify that this is not a Freddie Mercury deepfake. I simply created these voices for the harmony lines with traditional pitch-correction software (Auto-Tune). Of course AI could be used to similar effect, which is something I'll be experimenting with in the future. At any rate...the result is a modern, 2023 Bohemian Rhapsody remix as you've never heard it before!
:)
Hey Folks,
It's been a while.... It's great to be back on the tube again. I'm not sure how much interest there will be out there, but I feel there's a lot I can contribute to this space, and I'm at a place in my life where I'm ready to really go in on this project if there's sufficient demand for me to be able to make this a viable thing. This video is the beginning of my experimentation with a new model that is better aligned with my personal values and hopefully will help enable me to spend more of my time making useful stuff for everyone:
I've decided to close my Patreon page, and freely offer everything I make from now on. No more paywalled content. As I mention in the video, I'm hoping we can make this work with nothing but a tip jar and a dream: Ko-fi.com/MusicWithMyles
So yeah, if I can get enough support to afford this, I would like to start putting out a lot more content on this channel at a much higher level of quality than this video. I have so many ideas...there's so much I want to make. The current bottleneck is the fact that I'm doing every bit of this on my own (while also teaching full-time), including the visuals, which, as you can probably tell, is not at all my area of expertise. So, I'm looking to bring an actual professional animator on board to help streamline the process and take MwM to the next level.
If you'd like to see this happen, please consider donating if you can. Even a single dollar is super helpful if a lot of people are pitching in :). In fact, if even just 1% of viewers were to throw in $1 or so per video, suddenly this channel could be my main focus. Btw, feel free to ask me any music question along with your donation and I'll be sure to reply! And if you don't have a spare dollar, just sharing my stuff around helps a ton too :D
And thank you so much for watching, everyone 💙🙏
-Myles
P.S. If there are any particular types of content you'd like to see from me in the future, let me know in the comments!
Great to have you back man! This is already such high-quality content - totally understand the desire to up the production value with an animator, but don’t underestimate how good this already is! Also, would love to see a video on metric modulation, as I feel this is a technique that is desperately under-explored in music education as a whole, and I’m sure you could make something really informative and entertaining.
Glad to have you back making content again! I've gotten the feeling that the videos you've made so far have gone along with your usual songwriting methods, and I've found that to be the most interesting material. To watch a general music lesson and immediately know how it applies to songs I recognize is very satisfying and helps with learning and retention. Would be very happy to see more content that relates to your personal process and methods!
Welcome back! I couldn't believe it at first when I saw that your channel had a little blue dot! Your video on Modal interchange is still one of if not the best on youtube! Just the energy, information density and editing are on spot! Seriously amazing work!
Welcome back I'm so glad you're making videos again I loved the videos you used to make so happy to see you again
I can't even begin to explain how freaking happy I am, your few videos are top tier musical knowledge on this platform right next to some of Rick Beato's "What Makes This Song Great" and a few comments from Adam Neely's "Q&A Sessions". Also Quiet World is still on the top prog metal albums I've ever heard. Poh Hock's latest album/EP sounds great too. Any plans of releasing stuff of your own soon?
Quite frankly: there aren't many people on youtube who explains such advanced stuff with this much clarity, you're filling a massive gap.
I don't know what's going on with your life but I can assure you that your work is really needed and appreciated here, I really hope you'll keep going.
+1000
Another tip for everyone:
Don’t be afraid of leaving pedal tones in your harmonies. This just means having one or two notes that stay the same throughout, maybe only moving up or down a note if necessary. This sort of anchors the harmonies so they don’t feel like they’re moving too drastically
also, using contrary movement on the voices sounds very satisfying on the right places
You arrange for Journey?😅👍
@@San-lh8ushell yes
I agree. Those happen a lot in Choral SATB and they make it easier to learn and to sing for the harmony parts.
OK, but four way close harmonisation is specific, and useful for harmonising solo for ex supersax : fourway close double lead. Please do not mix up things so unexperimented people gets confused !
It's a matter of style. If you start mixing everything up then you can also talk about Bach's chorals ans so... This video is an excellent explanation of 4 way close harmonisation, please respect it's creator.
Even though I'm not convinced by every choice of chord in there, the last two measures ("as if nothing really matters") are so damn beautiful !
I think the main issue is not leaving room for maybe one voice staying in the same note instead of following the movement of the main melody exactly, sometimes it sounds a bit too much arbitrary.
Yeah I agree that it may be better to let a voice stay on their same note, or switch to their target note early. Like staying on Ab or going to Bb for the bottom voice instead of going to A natural at 6:12.@@mitsuki1388
I also think making every chord a 7th chord robs the resolutions of their power. If you listen to the original, there are plenty of chords that are just 1-3-5-1.
Yeah all the sevenths don’t sound very Queen to my ear.
@@ItsBofu maybe 6ths would be better than major 7ths for some of these.
Great explanation, really well presented. Personally I'm not a fan of turning every chord into a seventh chord (especially in rock) as it destabilizes the true chords such as the EbMaj7 at "Ma-ma", but as a mechanical technique it works really well.
i feel the same. just make those maj7 chords maj6 chords (so the first chord from to bottom would be G-Eb-C-Bb) and it's much more stable. although that minor second internal dissonance is really nice on IV chords.
I don’t love this sound, being more of a counterpoint guy myself, but you explain it super well, and gave me appreciation for the style.
I teach Harmony at Berklee and embed Myles videos on my class pages- fine explanations, awesome quality video, just top-notch education. So glad to see him adding more content
Cheers, Professor!
can you teach me?
@@dannyjames7911 musicwithmyles.org/lessons :)
The parallel fifths are killing me 😮💨
I just wanted to say, even though this video came out a long time ago, that you explain harmony topics in a spectacular way. I am a music student and with your short videos I have learned and built a lot
I can't tell you how excited I am to see you back! I am 100% completely honest when I say your format is the cleanest and best format I've seen for music related educational videos! Looking forward to seeing more!
I really dig the clean aesthetic of the presentation and editing.
A really good explanation. This technique is also known as "block voicing" or "thickened line" and it's standard for big band jazz and many other styles. Queen did it all the time of course and they became so good at it they could do it in studio on the fly with hardly any preparation or practicing. (They recorded it with all three singers doubling all four lines to get an even fuller sound btw.) A few useful variants to add:
+ Sometimes you want to add a sixth rather than a seventh to three note chords. It generally gives a slightly softer sound.
+ If you want an even tighter sound for some of the notes, try to substitute a ninth for the root and/or a fourth for the third. But if you do, remember that you still want all the voices to move in the same direction all the time.
+ Two more common ways to handle passing notes (that is melody notes that don't fit the harmony):
- Use a diminished 7th chord
- Omit the chord note right below the melody note. (For example: if the melody note is an F and the chord is a Cmaj7 (CEGB), leave the E out of the chord.)
+ As the video says, ideally you want all the lines to move in the same direction all the time but if that simply isn't possible, it's usually better to let lines cross than to have one stuck at the same note. (For example, let's say the second line ends up as E-D-E and the third as C-C-C. A better solution would usually be second line E-C-E and third line C-D-C.)
+ You can add more body to the sound by doubling one or more of the lines one octave down. Typically the melody is the first one to double this way and then either the second or third voice depending on how tight you want the harmonies to be. (Btw, "standard" instrumentation for a full big band horn section is to start with everything doubled in octaves, then have the brass play the lines from the top one and downwards and the saxes from the third highest and downwards.)
+ Keep in mind that musicians will naturally intonate to fit the harmony so a harmonisation with a real musician/singer for each line will usually sound softer than the same notes played on a keyboard or by a computer.
+ If you only have three voices and want to emulate the sound of four-way close voicing, the easy way is to leave out the lowest line. I'm not sure but I think that's what Queen did live. A more advanced (but technically not close voicing) solution is to leave out either the root or the fifth of each chord.
---
Not really four-way or close voicing but really useful variants anyway:
+ If you want a less "jazzy" and not so overwhelming sound, use the same principles but with three note chords and (of course) only three lines. Leave out the root of fifth of any four note chords in the harmony.
+ You can get a "wider" and less tight sound by transposing one or more of the lines in octaves. Three typical tricks:
- Transpose the lowest line one octave up. This is a kind of hybrid between "standard pop harmonisation" and block voicing. Make sure the melody doesn't drown in the mix though; give it a different timbre and/or more power than the other lines.
- Transpose the second line one octave down. Not close voicing anymore of course but it cn sound really great when done right.
- Transpose the second and fourth voice one octave down. Definitely not close voicing but it can be very powerful, maybe even a bit overwhelming if you're not careful.
---
Last but not least: remember that all rules in music are guidelines, not absolute laws of nature. What matters in the end is how the music sounds. It's still a good idea to learn and understand music theory and the standard solutions as well as possible because it will save you time and effort in the long run and besides, as I used to tell my students, you can't really break the rules properly if you don't kow them.
I was just rewatching your modal interchange video, great timing!
I've never seen your channel before, but I absolutely LOVE how you keep a metronome going and start examples on beat!
Gives it a certain momentum that solidifies engagement. Plus, simple easy bgm!
I waited for sooo long, great video man
I am in love with the way that you taught this.
The visual, and audio cues were super informative and entertaining.
Dude I just found your channel and the way you explain these ideas is so great! I love the constant beat in the back - it keeps the viewer’s attention and it lets you incorporate the chords you’re demonstrating really naturally. I see this is the first video you’ve made in years and while I didn’t know about you then, I’m very glad you’re back. Please make more of these types of videos, and thank you!
This is probably one of the most well-made music theory videos I have ever seen. The fact that you have that constant groove in the background and how it flows perfectly into whatever music example you’re about to use is simply beautiful
i dont know if it was unconsciously but even his speech in some parts goes with it too
i still regularly recommend and return to your older videos - so glad to see you're back!
This video bonked writing harmony back into my head after 8 years removed from music school. You did a better job of explaining 4 part harmony than music school did for me. Excellent content please make more.
Wow! This video is amazing! The way you use subtle musical queues to anticipate an example or short playback is great, it felt like I was being rewarded for listening whenever I knew a sample was about to be played before you said you'd play it! Also, the general background audio is made to perfectly blend back and forth between playing samples and simply underscoring your speech. I love it!
OMFG the video editing is so good and the harmony stuff makes my Berklee ears happy.
NO WAY You're back!!!
This is awesome; thank you for making this and sharing it! I'm rooting for you and your success!
Amazing!! Loved the exotic colors in between : )
oh today is a GOOD day! i love the way you present theory and composition technique - so engaging and digestible. looking forward to more! welcome back 😄
This has got to be one of the best quality music education channels, loved every bit of the video! It felt pragmatic and insightful at the same time.
Your videos are in a league of their own. So happy to see you back!
Excellent tuto really ! Clear and concise, covering most situations encountered. Very valuable, thank you.
Your videos are clear and simple. Amazing stuff, I hope you can continue!
This video is fantastic! I really hope you can continue to create more videos. Teaching music theory is very challenging, and you manage to make it fun and really easy to understand.
Please keep making videos like thissss! I've never been too bright when it comes to music theory but your videos are made in a way that works well in my head and makes it super easy for me to understand. It's great!!
Thank you, thank you and thank you again, bro. You and guys like you who teach and explain deserve more attention. I am very grateful to you
DUDE! This is an excellent video! I've been reading up on all of this and your video is so much clearer and makes so much more sense. Great job. I'm telling everyone about your channel!
So good to see your neat essay again, such an ear candy.😊
Love every note of your composition. Spot on!!!
Magnifique travail. Merci 🙏
So glad youre back and that youtube recomended your video to me. probably since ive been subbed from the early days. also i hope beyond hope for more native construct.
great content Myles. Love the style of the video. The animation is great and super clear. Thanks!
You know the joke about how teachers only become teachers because they can't do the real thing. Well this guy dropped the best album ever made then dropped the mic so that when he teaches no one can accuse him of not being able to do the real thing.
Bro, you've got one of the best video styles for this topic I've ever seen! I am really happy to see you back. Please keep doing this excellent job!
Well, I got a new channel to get addicted to! You do a great job of explaining stuff, thanks so much for the content!
I loooove the huge energy instilled in this video, very efficient process!
Your Sub V video covers half a semester of Harmony in 5 minutes, and this covers the bulk of Arranging 2 in 10 minutes, AND it's super clear (albeit requires some prior knowledge). Glad to see you're back and have more videos I can refer people to.
Please keep doing this, learned quite a bit from your "how chord progressions work" and "substituting dominants" videos. Welcome back.
this is so great. an organized distillation of the method of stacking notes. very clear and understandable. thank you.
these videos are so awesome and useful, ive learned so much since i discovered you channel. Thanks dude!!
Dude you’re back!!!!!!! Hell yeah!! Dude I got such a theory boost off your modal interchange video. Seriously got me started expanding my guitar playing.
I would love more videos.
Welcome back dude
While few, your videos explain complicated or confusing topics in music in a really good way that's accessible and useful for musicians of all walks. Your work is really appreciated and excellently done
oh man this is awesome! was not expecting a myles upload today but damn am i happy with it!!
Love love love your videos, so glad to have a new one!
This is insanely useful and well explained. Thank you!
Love the aproach, thank you for sharing. Best regards from Argentina!
Dude I just found you because of the new video and then fell in love with the old ones. 100% rooting for you and the future of this channel.
This is great! Loved how you used Freddie's voice for it too. Well explained!
This is such a cool vid :D Amazing explanation, visuals and examples. I also found it really clever to always have a beat playing in the background and to play every sound example unto that beat!
Just starting binging your videos, really fantastic stuff man.
You have a great style that's unique and engaging, as well ws highly informative
Keep it up, your doing great stuff and love your changes too
This video is stunning. I want to start making music again and try this technique out immediately! Great video!
this is some high quality content. appreciate the effort and the little details
Great explanation! Thanks!
生きとったんかワレェ...！！！！
I am so happy to see you back!!!
Awww maaan, your stuff is still amazing! I just love your style.
The beauty of melodyne, thanks for making this!!
presently surprised to see a new video!
there are a ton of lessons on youtube but many of them are just talking head videos, your visuals and pacing are way more helpful!
How did my brain absorb this so quickly? Will be using this very often in arrangements!
So good. Visually awesome. This is hands down best in genre.
Great explanation of harmonizing using four way close!! We had to practice this a lot in my jazz arranging classes. Wish I saw this video when I started learning lol
This really what I'm looking for for about 5 years...
Amazing, and *just* what I need for one of my songs. Thanks!
superb, many many thanks. Very clear
Holy shit Myles this video is something else. I'm in no way classicly trained but I do love music, and your info was so crystal clear and well made, I just couldnt stop watching it until the end. Liked and subbed straight away!
This channel is a great resource.
Kia ora. This was an exceptionally well-done explanation of the concept Myles. I will be linking my students to this for their harmony modules and encouraging all to subscribe. On ya.
Welcome back dude keep ‘em coming!
loving the editing as much as the content... so cool!
Your videos so killin!🔥
The presentation on this video is immaculate.
thank you so much for this content!!!!
Magnifique!
This is quite amazing!
I’ve been looking for a video or lesson like this EVERYWHERE. Thank you.
I was looking for something specifically about tracks/harmonizations from MJ, Janet, Justin Timberlake. But this seems to be pretty much the same. You’re awesome! ⭐️
So glad to see you back!
I like the conciseness of your videos. I know its not a word but it fits. Cheers
This was an amazingly presented video. Loved the constant rhythm in the background that allowed the examples to play in time. Also, the visuals were a really nice touch. Instantly subscribed
Great explanation! It was funny to me to hear Freddie Mercury sing as he was part of a SciFi Broadway film
Thank you very much. Subscribed
Thanks!
Thank you!
Dude i remember you. You're probably the only music theory educator i actually remember stuff from this is great
this content is incredibly good
Well explained!
I really appreciate this video
Mate, you are the best!
I honestly mean that, i'm new to your channel after playing by ear for many years now.
Your succinct, practical and understandable approach to teaching, and knowledge, is outstanding.
Appreciate your videos a lot, will be buying you a coffee for sure :)
Cheers from Scotland, Robert.
Much appreciated, cheers!!
I'm blessed... I found such a great channel....❤❤
I missed you, man. I've finished my music degree while you were gone. I've used your videos as inspiration for a lot of projects back then. Welcome back
Best tutorial
You’ve got yourself a subscription sir!
Gracias!!!
Holy damn that edit on "Exotic Colours" is amazing hahahahahhahaa
Great video and useful technique. Don't know if works best with this song.