Good stuff, James! We’re eating GOOD with these songwriting related videos. I would also like to add a hack #6 to write like Noel: using the minor pentatonic scale for vocal melodies. In most of his Oasis classics, he almost exclusively uses the minor pentatonic scale to give his melodies a cooler and laddish sound. Then, in the highest or lowest point of the melody, he taps the 2nd or the 6th as passing notes to get a more emotional sound. For instance, in the chorus of The Masterplan he avoids singing the 2nd and 6th notes of the A minor scale, until he sings “All we know IS (6) that we don’t know.” The “About YOU (2) now” in Wonderwall is another example. He uses his and Liam’s voices like an electric guitar.
That major 3 chord is actually the V of the next chord. In she's electric, we see the G# as the V of C#minor. You can put the V of literally any chord you like before it, and it has that effect. Same with the B7 on the Importance of being idle.
Wow Grant Lee Buffalo mentioned!! Never would've thought they'd come up. I know all the Oasis lore but somehow never heard Noel reference Fuzzy... super cool!
2 things: the bridges leading to the chorus are called "Pre-chorus" here in the States 2nd on NGHFD's newest album, Council Skies the song "Think of a Number" is totally David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" (verse) and especially "China Girl" on prechorus on the bridge/pre-chorus (China Girl lyrics in parentheses) "The girl on the television (I'll give into your visions) She got her magic eye on you (I'll give you eyes of blue) She'll sell you a dream (But I'll give you a man who wants to rule the world) But she's trying to fool the world"
Awesome video. Thanks, James. I've always wondered his songwriting process. It would be a cool piece of content to get interviews with Liams' current songwriting team as they seem to have captured some of that magic
Cheers, James. This video quite literally couldn't have come at a better time. The channel Professor of Rock put out something today himself on Wonderwall, and the comment section is pure vitriol against Oasis. Need more lads who are mad for it as an antidote
1) find an old song that only people over 40 remember 2) rip the main riff and change a few notes a wee bit 3) get your talentless brother to get in front of the mic 4) record 5) release
Another brilliant video and so well detailed while remaining an easy and pretty quick watch. James Hargreaves you’re brilliant. Noel Gallagher is brilliant. Oasis are/were brilliant I liked this a lot and felt inspired. So much so I’m off for try to write my versions of the new Definitely Maybe and WTSMG for about the 99th time… Have it! 👍👍👏👏
For me the major 2nd chord is the single most Oasis-y thing - more so than the major 3rd. The major third is used much more often even by other artists because it's the dominant of the minor 6th, so it naturally creates tension and leads to that minor drop without sounding out of key; but I don't think the 2nd is used as a major chord by many other pop artists, it does have that uniquely Oasis sound, at least for me.
@@owenmartin3307The title from George Harrison and the piano line at the end is The Cure’s “Homesick”. Ps. I am a huge fan of Noel and his songwriting.
@@damianrf6309 Noel is guilty of plagiarism in plenty of cases, but in this case that’s a bit of a stretch. The chords and melody are just as unique as any other original composition. Repurposing titles and licks are fair game in my opinion.
@@damianrf6309So, in your opinion, a song’s overarching tune/ defining melody is comprised of the song’s title and a 15 second piano ostinato added to the outro in post production?
I didn't even watch the video but I already liked it. That's the type of content I'm up for. I love writing songs, and I do believe I kinda have some similarities with noel
Hack # (somewhere in your other 45)… become ‘mates’ with a Liverpudlian band called the Real People who kind heartedly want to support you - making sure you figure out they’re perhaps a bit too easy going and trusting, and so less likely to sue you or have any evidence to support sueing you. Base your song structure, strumming rhythm patterns and song personality around theirs. Go and write ‘Rockin Chair’ and ‘Don’t Go Away’ as 90% exact copies of the Real People’s own originals. Disown them as you get successful and threaten consequences to anyone who ever mentions them again
I think the hardest part is finding good melodies. They say melodies fall from the sky and you just have to catch them, but there are so many other songwriters who are better catchers than me...
I like how he uses internal rhyme patterns(A A B). He has also said he tries to put positive sentiment in his songs (hope, celebration etc) and write about universal ideas
Been watching these videos for a while now and more and more I'm noticing slandering of new "techno and dance" music and the idea that 90s British music is somehow superior. While I do like the 90s Britpop era, I think the aim to try to bring it back is just derivative and tends to come out just as bland as a lot of the dance music you slander. I also think that EDM can be just as engaging and musically fulfilling if you open your mind to the idea of it and look for the right stuff, as opposed to just sticking to the old-head idea that it's intrinsically worse because it is made electronically when electronic sounds are just a tool that can be used for making music and can be used well and poorly just like a guitar. I also feel like the comparison of your music taste to EDM is kind of apples and oranges as EDM serves a completely different purpose in some cases, like allowing yourself to just get immersed in a production and rhythm which works especially in a live setting. I do enjoy the videos and the topics discussed, but I think as a music fan it can be important to not even necessarily actively listen to everything, as not everything is for everyone but at least open your mind to sounds and styles that are different to what you may have grown up with
Well said. I like James' videos but he sometimes doesn't check his personal bias at the door and talks as if it's a universal truth that EDM is bad. It's actually not the truth at all. As anyone who lived through the times will know, dance music, Ministry of Sound etc was an absolutely massive musical genre movement in the late 90s through to the early 00s and at one point was briefly the dominant musical genre when it blended with pop. There's some good work being done today as well. Noel has always loved it.
An extension of using 'away' constantly, is the use of the 'ay' sound in general. So, you've got it in All Around The World's 'You know it's gonna be OK' refrain. Once again, probably inspired by Yesterday.
Nah I don’t believe a word of it! He knows loads of stuff, and then acts like he doesn’t even read books in interviews… it’s all a smoke screen. He’s very well read and knows plenty about music I reckon
I really liked the video. I find it actually very accurate, but all these tendencies are not found in all the songs. For example, in don't look back in Anger (my favorite song), in the bridge there is a clear formation of tension by using that Fminor in the fourth grade, and then with the G, that G# Noel chord, that I found super dominant and after It resolves in the sixth grade before playing that G and F anf again G to create more tension. What I am trying to say is that he clearly creates tension to break it up I'm the middle of the bridge, but he is capable to create again that tension with the subdominant and dominant before entering the chorus (C). I think that that bridge is probably one of the best things ever written by anyone, taking into account the gorgeous melodic line. Sorry if I had lots of grammatical mistakes, I'm from Spain. Thanks a lot of making this Type of videos, I Enjoy them a lot!!!
James, how do you think, did Noel Gallagher know this theory of chord progressions based on major scale from which we can extract chords or not? And also, How do you think personally, was in that time (90s) it was usual and essential to know this particular theory I mentioned to play songs, I mean making them?
I like you m8. Very Very well explained.. Subscribed 😊. But ..what you didn't say is that is art. It's always been inspired by Others thank B O D !! (SORRY DAMAGED CHILD FROM THE 70S 😊
I’m alwayse having trouble finding a chord that matches what music is in my head. I know Noel doenst even know chord names and LennonMcartney are an encyclopedia. What do you t’écopent for the mind - guitar playing coordination.
That Major 3 chord is hardly new, see "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" as performed by Eric Clapton on the Layla album, "Deal" by Jerry Garcia. There's more, that's been floating around forever.
hahaha well spotted I can’t hit that high F# in the chorus melody without it sounding crap basically! It’s too high to be comfortable. So I do it in C I also do DLBIA in A live for a similar reason…
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar yeah that was my best guess, just the vocal melody. Okay fair enough! Those Gallagher brothers have (well had in Liam’s case) quite the good rock range don’t they. Cheers, appreciate the reply!
Noel Gallagher is the greatest British songwriter of just the 1990s? Naw, he's the greatest British songwriter of all time. He took some old songs and made them better.
Oh no no no James... you are off on She's Electric. You're saying the bridge is BOTH "and I want you to know" and "cause I'll be you and you'll be me"??? C'mon mate that's silly lmao. That is clearly the bridge then the chorus, and it has normal verses. Your overall point is fine but on this song you are stretching sir
I’m not familiar with the British meaning of bridge but it’s been used extensively in the last video and the last as pre chorus. Could it mean post chorus as well? Then the part after the “while my guitar gently weeps” part would be the British bridge?
In short some people have some don't, watched this and learnt not a thing, stuck on a few chords and forever will be, maynbe that is why I prefer to watch and listen to music
And who did the Beatles copy? Everyone is just ripping off musicians they listened to in their record collection and adding some sort of difference. It doesn’t make musicians smart if they hate on oasis. Although they seem to think that. Can’t deny that he’s written brilliant Melodies. There’s a reason they get millions of streams
Ahhh the classic musician that thinks it makes them look really smart to hate on oasis. Did you know most of the artists you like probably rip off other artists? Even the Beatles are openly ‘inspired’ by classical music and all of the rock n roll they listened to growing up? Also please name some songs that are ripped off. You probably just think of Oasis as wonderwall. So many better songs.
Five hidden hacks: Em7, G, Dsus4, A7sus4, and a capo (on 2).
leaving out Cadd9 is unacceptable
@@slidenaway dude...i just need FIVE hacks and i NEED the capo. had to pick my battle.
@@davidmoorhead 😂😂😂 okay just saying Cadd9 is important okay, you can have 6 hacks, that means you're better than James, more hacks is better
Literally 😂
Now just tell me how you go about the melodies? 😎
noel gallagher's biggest talent is making his guitars on record sound huge respect
Good stuff, James! We’re eating GOOD with these songwriting related videos. I would also like to add a hack #6 to write like Noel: using the minor pentatonic scale for vocal melodies.
In most of his Oasis classics, he almost exclusively uses the minor pentatonic scale to give his melodies a cooler and laddish sound. Then, in the highest or lowest point of the melody, he taps the 2nd or the 6th as passing notes to get a more emotional sound.
For instance, in the chorus of The Masterplan he avoids singing the 2nd and 6th notes of the A minor scale, until he sings “All we know IS (6) that we don’t know.” The “About YOU (2) now” in Wonderwall is another example.
He uses his and Liam’s voices like an electric guitar.
That’s really well said, especially the line about Liam’s vocals being an electric guitar. Good one 👍
That major 3 chord is actually the V of the next chord. In she's electric, we see the G# as the V of C#minor. You can put the V of literally any chord you like before it, and it has that effect. Same with the B7 on the Importance of being idle.
James, please do some deep dives for Revolver and Rubber Soul era Beatles! Vocals techniques, guitars / bass used, production etc 🙂
Always instantly watch your videos when they come up. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Nice one mate cheers.
IT'S COMING HOME JAMES! 🦁🦁🦁(nice video btw)
Woooooop!
Really interesting, another great video. Thanks James.
This is precisely what I’ve been studying with looking into the Oasis Archives👀 Ty m8!
Brilliant video - really insightful - thanks James.
Wow Grant Lee Buffalo mentioned!! Never would've thought they'd come up. I know all the Oasis lore but somehow never heard Noel reference Fuzzy... super cool!
Fuzzy is amazing!
@@Ryan-tv6cy Hell yeah! Agreed, and definitely not talked about much these days. But those first 3 albums... really really good
2 things: the bridges leading to the chorus are called "Pre-chorus" here in the States
2nd on NGHFD's newest album, Council Skies the song "Think of a Number" is totally David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" (verse) and especially "China Girl" on prechorus
on the bridge/pre-chorus (China Girl lyrics in parentheses)
"The girl on the television (I'll give into your visions)
She got her magic eye on you (I'll give you eyes of blue)
She'll sell you a dream (But I'll give you a man who wants to rule the world)
But she's trying to fool the world"
*I'll give you television
The chorverse ones are something like the AABA structure of old days, "over the rainbow" and so on.
Noel would use a nursery rhymes as a reference in his music and thats the trick he missed in this upload.
Great video, very inspiring... Thanks!
Superb analysis, thanks for putting this together 👍
This is great, thanks!
I just picked up my guitar and thought about writing a song then I see a notification for this... its meant to be
There’s your refrain lyric ‘maybe it’s meant to be’
Happy songwriting 👍😊
A master class! Thanks James. None of the obvious points here.
Awesome video. Thanks, James. I've always wondered his songwriting process. It would be a cool piece of content to get interviews with Liams' current songwriting team as they seem to have captured some of that magic
Cheers, James. This video quite literally couldn't have come at a better time. The channel Professor of Rock put out something today himself on Wonderwall, and the comment section is pure vitriol against Oasis. Need more lads who are mad for it as an antidote
‘Maaaaybeeee I’m just mad for it
I’m not sad for it
Don’t feel so bad for it
Be mad for it’
Sounded good in my head anyway. Turn it into a song 👍
1) find an old song that only people over 40 remember
2) rip the main riff and change a few notes a wee bit
3) get your talentless brother to get in front of the mic
4) record
5) release
The constant use of 'Away'. That's a favourite. Probably inspired by Yesterday.
Another brilliant video and so well detailed while remaining an easy and pretty quick watch. James Hargreaves you’re brilliant. Noel Gallagher is brilliant. Oasis are/were brilliant
I liked this a lot and felt inspired. So much so I’m off for try to write my versions of the new Definitely Maybe and WTSMG for about the 99th time…
Have it! 👍👍👏👏
Good video James
Love the major 3 change, it’s my favourite change by a mile
You sound good doing champagne supernova and I really enjoy your videos thank you James Hargreaves
james you should post oasis covers with just you and an acoustic, i could listen to them for ages!
i hope you continue this as a series 'how to write songs like ___' , absolutely top stuff.
For me the major 2nd chord is the single most Oasis-y thing - more so than the major 3rd. The major third is used much more often even by other artists because it's the dominant of the minor 6th, so it naturally creates tension and leads to that minor drop without sounding out of key; but I don't think the 2nd is used as a major chord by many other pop artists, it does have that uniquely Oasis sound, at least for me.
Noel’s process: Hears a tune he likes and thinks “I’ll have that!”.
Thanks, James. Very informative.
So which tune is wonderwall then ?
@@owenmartin3307The title from George Harrison and the piano line at the end is The Cure’s “Homesick”.
Ps. I am a huge fan of Noel and his songwriting.
@@damianrf6309As much as I think Oasis have some decent songs, their fans tend to be really ignorant of other music and their influences.
@@damianrf6309 Noel is guilty of plagiarism in plenty of cases, but in this case that’s a bit of a stretch. The chords and melody are just as unique as any other original composition. Repurposing titles and licks are fair game in my opinion.
@@damianrf6309So, in your opinion, a song’s overarching tune/ defining melody is comprised of the song’s title and a 15 second piano ostinato added to the outro in post production?
I didn't even watch the video but I already liked it. That's the type of content I'm up for. I love writing songs, and I do believe I kinda have some similarities with noel
Hack # (somewhere in your other 45)… become ‘mates’ with a Liverpudlian band called the Real People who kind heartedly want to support you - making sure you figure out they’re perhaps a bit too easy going and trusting, and so less likely to sue you or have any evidence to support sueing you. Base your song structure, strumming rhythm patterns and song personality around theirs. Go and write ‘Rockin Chair’ and ‘Don’t Go Away’ as 90% exact copies of the Real People’s own originals. Disown them as you get successful and threaten consequences to anyone who ever mentions them again
You must lead a sad life
I think the hardest part is finding good melodies. They say melodies fall from the sky and you just have to catch them, but there are so many other songwriters who are better catchers than me...
Another great video James, but...! We also wanna see your comments on Liam's DM Tour.
that Lowden sounds ace!
1) incredibly gifted.
2) pure cocaine ....
3) lifting great melodies from other acts ....
All kidding aside, excellent video.
Noel Gallagher was and still is a massive fan of dance music and has work with the chemical brothers.
Another example of the major 3 is in Don’t Look Back in Anger, first appearing on the words “know you might”
Top video really enjoyed it. Did you go and see Liam on the dm tour
I like how he uses internal rhyme patterns(A A B). He has also said he tries to put positive sentiment in his songs (hope, celebration etc) and write about universal ideas
one of my fav channels another top video 🍺
By the way, James is perfect pitch. He's hitting all the right notes. Respect 🔥
Found this interesting :)
Find a Beatles songbook or an old coke advert and off you go. That's only 2 hacks
Been watching these videos for a while now and more and more I'm noticing slandering of new "techno and dance" music and the idea that 90s British music is somehow superior. While I do like the 90s Britpop era, I think the aim to try to bring it back is just derivative and tends to come out just as bland as a lot of the dance music you slander. I also think that EDM can be just as engaging and musically fulfilling if you open your mind to the idea of it and look for the right stuff, as opposed to just sticking to the old-head idea that it's intrinsically worse because it is made electronically when electronic sounds are just a tool that can be used for making music and can be used well and poorly just like a guitar. I also feel like the comparison of your music taste to EDM is kind of apples and oranges as EDM serves a completely different purpose in some cases, like allowing yourself to just get immersed in a production and rhythm which works especially in a live setting. I do enjoy the videos and the topics discussed, but I think as a music fan it can be important to not even necessarily actively listen to everything, as not everything is for everyone but at least open your mind to sounds and styles that are different to what you may have grown up with
Well said. I like James' videos but he sometimes doesn't check his personal bias at the door and talks as if it's a universal truth that EDM is bad. It's actually not the truth at all. As anyone who lived through the times will know, dance music, Ministry of Sound etc was an absolutely massive musical genre movement in the late 90s through to the early 00s and at one point was briefly the dominant musical genre when it blended with pop. There's some good work being done today as well. Noel has always loved it.
When writing oasis lyrics, make sure you get the word "SHINE" in there.
That’s she-ine
i like it when he said their not mine i just pull them out the sky
Check out Elevator Up by Fountains of Wayne. The most Oasis , non Oasis song ever. You can almost hear Liam Gallagher singing it.
An extension of using 'away' constantly, is the use of the 'ay' sound in general. So, you've got it in All Around The World's 'You know it's gonna be OK' refrain. Once again, probably inspired by Yesterday.
Superb as always, James do you subscribe to the view noel doesn't know chord names theory or do you think he keeps this' all private?
Nah I don’t believe a word of it! He knows loads of stuff, and then acts like he doesn’t even read books in interviews… it’s all a smoke screen. He’s very well read and knows plenty about music I reckon
You can see in the latest documentary when he's talking to the singers he knows music theory
I really liked the video. I find it actually very accurate, but all these tendencies are not found in all the songs. For example, in don't look back in Anger (my favorite song), in the bridge there is a clear formation of tension by using that Fminor in the fourth grade, and then with the G, that G# Noel chord, that I found super dominant and after It resolves in the sixth grade before playing that G and F anf again G to create more tension. What I am trying to say is that he clearly creates tension to break it up I'm the middle of the bridge, but he is capable to create again that tension with the subdominant and dominant before entering the chorus (C). I think that that bridge is probably one of the best things ever written by anyone, taking into account the gorgeous melodic line.
Sorry if I had lots of grammatical mistakes, I'm from Spain. Thanks a lot of making this Type of videos, I Enjoy them a lot!!!
He also tends to use chromatic runs, mostly descending, in the verses.
For Digsy’s dinner, i’ve always played a C#7 as the second chord, always sounded better to me 😂
I really like this channel but the cut always to stock footage is so annoying
Dude... Go and watch a podcast then
@@Trashy4711 great idea. Thanks dude!
Noel seems to use implied harmonies, as in he tends to hit notes outside a chord. Like a 9, or flat third
James, how do you think, did Noel Gallagher know this theory of chord progressions based on major scale from which we can extract chords or not? And also, How do you think personally, was in that time (90s) it was usual and essential to know this particular theory I mentioned to play songs, I mean making them?
😮absolutely no way he is a legend absolutely fantastic have a wonderful weekend ❤😊
You should try and get Chris Karloff on- I’d love to know his story! 👍🏻👌🏻😀🔥
What make is that guitar?
Capo 2nd fret, G, C, Em etc etc....
I like you m8.
Very Very well explained..
Subscribed 😊.
But ..what you didn't say is that is art.
It's always been inspired by Others thank B O D !! (SORRY DAMAGED CHILD FROM THE 70S 😊
I’m alwayse having trouble finding a chord that matches what music is in my head. I know Noel doenst even know chord names and LennonMcartney are an encyclopedia. What do you t’écopent for the mind - guitar playing coordination.
What happened to your cover of Cast No Shadow? It’s been taken down!
Wonderwall seems to break some of these rules, with Em appearing in the verses, bridge and the choruses.
Live forever and whatever have ABAB song structure rather than the modern verse chorus structure
Im big believer of the magic, if theres no magic feeling in your stomach when your writing it, bin it, its probably shit.
You probably know this already but "Genre swapping" is formally know as modal interchange.
Serious musicsians 😂
Correction: Noel Gallagher wasn't the greatest British songwriter of the 1990's.
He has been the greatest British songwriter SINCE the 1990's.
That Major 3 chord is hardly new, see "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" as performed by Eric Clapton on the Layla album, "Deal" by Jerry Garcia. There's more, that's been floating around forever.
The rest of the stuff was good, love your stuff, sorry about thee tone above.
Listen to Slade ....
lol James I KNOW YOU KNOW Stay Young is in D, not C. Why you play it in C 😭😭😭
hahaha well spotted
I can’t hit that high F# in the chorus melody without it sounding crap basically! It’s too high to be comfortable. So I do it in C
I also do DLBIA in A live for a similar reason…
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar yeah that was my best guess, just the vocal melody. Okay fair enough! Those Gallagher brothers have (well had in Liam’s case) quite the good rock range don’t they. Cheers, appreciate the reply!
Oasis don't just use hacks. They are living, breathing hacks.
Take someone else's chords and song, and then rip them off again and again, hoping people won't notice and if they do then pay them off ?
"How to write songs like Noel Gallagher"
Steal everything possible from The Beatles.
Ready.
Noel Gallagher is the greatest British songwriter of just the 1990s? Naw, he's the greatest British songwriter of all time. He took some old songs and made them better.
Do you mean 'how to write lyrics like Noegl Gallagher' because the music is usually just a rip off of other bands?
Oh no no no James... you are off on She's Electric. You're saying the bridge is BOTH "and I want you to know" and "cause I'll be you and you'll be me"??? C'mon mate that's silly lmao. That is clearly the bridge then the chorus, and it has normal verses. Your overall point is fine but on this song you are stretching sir
I would consider and I want you to know to be the chorus but that might be because it’s the chorus to while my guitar gently weeps 🤣
I’m not familiar with the British meaning of bridge but it’s been used extensively in the last video and the last as pre chorus. Could it mean post chorus as well? Then the part after the “while my guitar gently weeps” part would be the British bridge?
I’m on my phone rn so I can’t edit that but I just realized I said the same thing twice
“And the last”
OH it means it “bridges” the verse and chorus. Guess it could “bridge” the chorus and verse
His technique is a bit like lee mavers then?
In short some people have some don't, watched this and learnt not a thing, stuck on a few chords and forever will be, maynbe that is why I prefer to watch and listen to music
Who the deuce wants to write songs like oasis...?
Step 1: Rip-off songs that already exist.
Ok let's test this which song is wonderwall ripped off from?
Pictures of matchstick men
@@THELAZERGUNSTUDIOS1😂
@@owenmartin3307one Wonderwall is one too many
Step 2: make them into the greatest songs ever written.
He pinches other people’s melodies all the time. 😂. As a songwriter, I would hate not to strive for originality always.
🙄
Just copy The Beatles.
And who did the Beatles copy? Everyone is just ripping off musicians they listened to in their record collection and adding some sort of difference. It doesn’t make musicians smart if they hate on oasis. Although they seem to think that. Can’t deny that he’s written brilliant Melodies. There’s a reason they get millions of streams
@@alexchurch5988 Musically, Bonehead is the sound of Oasis.
Jason Pierce had much better songs than Noel in the 90s, and now for that matter. They’re not even in the same league.
Who?
@@owenmartin3307 your mother
Rip off other songs and repeat lyrics throughout.
Simply rip off every tune you've ever heard.
Please let us know which tune is wonderwall from oh great one ?
Ahhh the classic musician that thinks it makes them look really smart to hate on oasis. Did you know most of the artists you like probably rip off other artists? Even the Beatles are openly ‘inspired’ by classical music and all of the rock n roll they listened to growing up? Also please name some songs that are ripped off. You probably just think of Oasis as wonderwall. So many better songs.