Motifs and Chords- The Fast and Easy Way to Make Music! [SONGWRITNG - MUSIC THEORY - LESSON]]
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- čas přidán 22. 05. 2024
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This is a lesson on how to write music. There is, of course, no ONE way to write, but this technique is simple, effective, and versatile. At the very worst, you’ll come up with a good starting point off of which to build a piece or song.
The stuff you’ll pretty much need to know is linked below:
Writing Chords in Major • How To Write Chord Pro...
Writing Chords in Minor • How to write Chords an...
Additionally, you’ll want to know a bit about borrowed chords to keep up with my rant at the end
Borrowed Chords: • Writing Progressions w...
If you’d like to hear my song Generations that I discuss, you can watch the video here: • "Generations" - Jake L...
Or listen here: signalsmusicstudio.bandcamp.c...
If this video was too simple for you, I suggest expanding on it by studying reharmonization techniques. It’s a fun and productive way to expand past the redundancy of repeating motifs. I don’t have any videos on the topic (yet) but there is plenty of great info out there from Adam Neely and Aimee Nolte.
Additional Rants:
I didn’t expand on it, but that Bb Augmented chord is basically formed/implied when that melody (E-F#-D) is played on top of a Bb, since Bb-D-F# forms an Aug triad. In the recorded version, the electric guitars play a Bb and an F#, so like an Augmented Powerchord if such a thing exists. The bVI+ itself could be thought of as being borrowed from D Mixolydian b6. It could also easily be assumed as an inverted D Augmented: the voice leading within the chords goes from A to A#/Bb to B, and playing an Aug on the tonic is a good way to move to any chord In the key that has a natural 6th note in it, since the movement from the fifth to the aug fifth will naturally pull the listener to the 6th.
At 06:09 I mention the distance between B and C as a minor 2nd. In this arrangement though, the C occurs an octave higher, meaning we’d call it a minor 9th instead. But in my mind, there is not a giant difference between a 9th and a 2nd. A minor 2nd and a minor 9th “feel”, not sound, the same to me and create the same effect. They have a LOT of the same qualities and characteristics and it’s helpful to think of the intervals as “somewhat the same” even across octaves. The main difference between a m9 and a m2 though is the vast distance between the two clashing notes. When they’re close together (m2) the dissonance is overwhelming, but spacing them apart (m9) an octave makes them more digestable. But in my mind, they are still cut from the same cloth thing- the b2, just different aspects of it.
Also worth meditating on the general awkwardness yet diatonic versatility of a low 7th (B) paired with the a high (C) and what that COULD be. It COULD be part of an inverted C major 7 chord (unlikely), it could be part of an inverted G with an added 4th/11th, or an inverted Emb6… Take away the key and it could imply much more- B7b9, CmMaj7, Ab7#9…
Thanks to my Patreon supporters for making this video possible. I had fun making it and I really am happy with how it turned out, hopefully it gets you writing and shows you a bit more of how easy it can be to get something going.
Special thanks to these fine folks for supporting videos like this one:
Linas Orentas
Joe Buote
Nick White
Patrick Ryan
Christopher Swanson
John Arnold
Jon Reddish
Brandon Combs
Sebastian
Morgan M.
Lord of the Chords
Billyshes
Phillip Sharp
Don Watters
Bradley Bower
Marek Pawlowski
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:47 Motifs
01:45 Writing With Motifs
05:13 Modifying The Motif
07:25 Reharmonizing The Motif
09:05 Writing an Ostinato
12:13 Advanced Applications
14:23 Wrapping Up
Awesome stuff as always! Now add Bach´s Prime, Inversion, Retrograde, and Retrograde Inversion concept to existing motif and you have four "different" motifs out of one! 😉
While I personally don't employ those techniques often or cohesively, this is great advice for anyone who wants to expand beyond this concept further. This video is just an introduction to the concept, but there is a WEALTH of history and knowledge behind comprehensive motif based compositions
@@SignalsMusicStudio I am pretty new to this subject aswell. Todays technology just makes it really easy to morph your existing motif to those previously mentioned counterpoint "variations" should I say.
With couple of clever macros in midi editing I can make Inversions, Retrogrades etc. within seconds..
Even if not using those in realms of counterpoint writing it is just so awesome to be able to squeeze out so many variations out of one little melodic idea!
Makes me so happy to be able to create music in this day and age! 😊
Shredmaster Scott mentioned those motif variations on his Neoclassical video. Good stuff!
Hey!!! you made our list of excellent teachers on CZcams! Thanks for your great lessons! Please gimme 60 secs lol - czcams.com/video/vM7VltacS1c/video.html
@@viniciusbertucci and in his [insert music artist] vs Bach vids
You got to be kidding. That's like one year worth of guitar lessons crammed into one video.
Yep.
Incredible, eh!
Lots of value per second in this vid
What kind of goddam fool would down vote a Jake Lizzio lesson! The guy's pure genius!
He has the best guitar youtube channel for writing music there is no doubt to me.
Nothing related to the video, but just wanted to tell you that someone on Reddit asked for theory/songwriting resources. I linked your channel...and got a ton of upvotes. Many people seconded my opinion, and you seem to have so many people who appreciate you and owe you so much. You should feel proud man, hope you achieve all your dreams man
Funny story. I once posted something on Reddit (an interactive modal chart on Excel) and I got a response by someone who turned out to be THE Jake Lizzio. He was awesome and we got to chat for a few minutes. Not only is he a great teacher, but he also is very genuine and friendly.
Jake, you r indeed THE MAN!
I started my music theory videos a while back over at 12tone, but have since discovered Jake here and he's definitely one of my favourite CZcamsrs. I even went out of my way to make a Patreon just to support him, no one else on CZcams has made me even consider doing that(just because I'm not exactly the wealthiest person).
I've suggested this channel on r/musictheory before. Imo this is the most accessible music theory channel on the internet.
@@GeneralxMayhem The music theory Reddit is really bad... Lol. There are 3 types of people on there. Kids asking the same beginner questions over and over or for chords to a song. Guys that refuse to actually learn music theory and for some reason feel the need to post their totally uneducated opinions (and just to talk $#!+). lastly, there are the "experts". People who know theory, but they still have tunnel vision, are overly opinionated, some so totally biased in a ways that I can't even begin to comprehend, because it takes so much work to get to a level of competence in music theory and they just focus on one type of music.... TBH, I was extremely excited when I found it, but then when I actually tried communicating on there I discovered that it's a $#!+ show. It's great for getting into an arguement with someone nonsensically about music and be told you 've been indoctrinated to be unable to appreciate the "obvious" supeiriority of micotonal music over normal music when reality begs to differ.... Microtonal guys are the flat earthers of music theory.
You are now a permanent resident in my musical journey
I burst out laughing at bake with jake, damn that was funny. Great stuff as always Jake!
Joe DeSousa I think my neighbors could hear me laughing from my kitchen. I rewound and watched that probably five times.
That was so funny.
12:06
"Bake with Jake"
*Cuts to the toaster burning*
This bloke is brilliant. Takes the fundamentals and presents them in handy, digestible chunks. If every teacher was this good, the world would be awesome.
If every teacher were this good, The Wall would be a very different album and you wouldn't have written "was this good".
Yours, the Grammar Police. ;-)
em diar “taught this well?”, but wouldn’t “well” describe a state of health @em diar? Pls advise
Yes he does!
@@emdiar6588 wow you have no life
@@emdiar6588 What's wrong with "was this good". "Was" is a conjugation of "to be", and it's perfectly fine to use a predicate adjective with a linking verb.
You are probably the best guitar theory CZcamsr on this platform, and I think I speak for everyone when I say this, but your lessons pay off and benefit everyone no matter the level of education they’re at in whichever way. Thanks so much man for the effort you put in these videos and keep up the awesome work
I third!
I play piano but am able to apply a majority of the theory! Very good teacher 🙏
Totally agree... and I don't even play guitar. I'm a keyboardist and Jake's material is incredibly helpful for me.
I'm a sax player, and its still very useful!
Fax
"How to make the perfect pop tart"....*fire alarm blaring*...."oh my God!" 🤣 I can't breathe right nos I'm laughing so hard
I'm 36 and if I WISH I had a teacher half as good as you brother!! Thank you so much for all the hard work you put in. You can tell you really love it. I hope kids today don't take you for granted!!
That augmented chord at 13:28 is just *chef's kiss*
I'm loving the cutaways to metal and piano! The Netflix 'Bake with Jake' was gold 😄
Jesus Christ man, you’re teaching and inspiring at the same time thank you for this bro
learning theory had always seemed too daunting. I remember watching your channel for the first time and hearing you call the tonic chord “home” and using other terms like “uncomfortable” etc. now I’m writing music and playing solos I’ve never thought possible. Thanks man, truly did change my life forever, though a stranger on my cellphone.
I used to compose only when I was inspired to. With a waning emotional state, I was getting inspired less and less, so my composing basically came to a halt. For me, getting started is the hardest part and you've reminded me that I can brute force that part by just using skills instead of inspiration, so now I can compose again. Thank you!
btw, I love your comparison of a chef should still be able to cook a dish even when he's not hungry.
The metal version forced me to log in just to give your video a like and a comment. You're an amazing teacher. Thanks for all your work here
That D note you changed from C was magic. I saw Bach smile and nod.
I love how you describe the process of making music. I find that inspiration is a two-way street. The music doesn't just flow from you and into the instrument, but is more like a feedback loop, with creation inspiring further creation. Getting started is the key! Thanks for your excellent videos!
It's a good day when the music just flows. Most of the time, you gotta chip away at that block till it reveals itself tho. I've found that a lot of music making is setting yourself up to be lucky- put yourself in a place where you CAN record, experiment, goof off, play chords, and a lot of times, you just get lucky. Something sounds good, and it sets of a cascade of thoughts, then you can try those ideas out and see what works. Maybe later on during dinner, you hear what you want in your head, and go back to fix it the next day.
@@SignalsMusicStudio I completley agree - the muse is fickle and mysterious. To quote Stephen King, "amatures sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work."
@@SignalsMusicStudio I think a lot of it is something that moves you to finish the creation. Sometimes it's a chord progression, a bass line, a vocal melody idea etc. It's not too difficult write a chord change as an example but is it "the" chord change that moves you to work on it further. I use technology to inspire me, synths, a DAW, loops what ever I also write on a piano or guitar in a more traditional way. When I have writers block I switch my working method around.
That's one thing that I do enjoy about electronic music. It's very free-form in that regard, where you can basically garble up any loop, have a slicer randomly play parts, and then just have a back-beat slamming behind it.
Some of it is very uninspired for sure, but sometimes the computer will give interesting results you would've never thought of.
Jake, I both love you and hate you! So much of what you share is SIMPLE and effective and I can put it to use immediately, and there's a part of me that often feels completely ignorant and I'm left asking myself why I couldn't figure something that simple out by myself. Thank you for all you share. I am super grateful for you and your course (about 1/2 way through).
I lost it at the pop tart section! I love that you can make things that could seem complex feel easy and fun.
I love how he holds the conversation while playing..
I'm a piano player, but I keep coming back to your absolutely excellent channel.
Dude that pop tart bit just murdered me X'D
You just broke my brain. In like 15 years of writing music, I've always over complicated things to the point where I'de be overwhelmed and just give up on songs. I never thought about things this way. Thank you
You have the best music channel on CZcams! Whenever I get lazy & don't want to work on my music, I just have to watch one of your videos to get re-inspired. :)
I love how he always brings it back to METAL!
Bach Prelude in C minor also has that Pattern you mention at 10:00
Wow this is great. I've learned priceless information from you. The world Thanks you in one way or another. The toaster bit was hilarious.
When's poptart recipe? Looked great on the video
my baking show was cancelled so the world may never know
Poptart flambé is delicious.
Signals Music Studio You should get together with Jim Breuer and do “Half Baked with Jake…”
Jake, I’m an OLD uke player drawing from the good old days of the thirties and forties. But now I've switched my focus to jazz. I find your presentations not only give me valuable information of musical theory but bestow inspiration, as well. I’m awed by your brilliance and delighted with your fresh approach to every subject you cover. Carry on!
Thanks for the kind words Dee! Very glad you find these lessons inspiring :)
@Dee Davis - hello from another *old* uke player, who also loves the old jazz. I’m loving Jake’s channel because I write tunes as well as covering the old (and sometimes *way* old) stuff.
You're a good teacher, and a sense of humour to boot.
Jake, your parents must be very proud!! Good stuff and thanks for making the world a better place.
Can't wait for more Bake with Jake. My toasting skills have already improved.
He should get together with Jim Breuer and do “Half Baked with Jake…”
Kept coming back to this many many times. Not just the approach of his composing was super helpful, but the little advice and tips are priceless, thanks again Jake.
The last bit about pruning your choice tree early on is excellent. I definitely have problems with getting started. "Paralyzed by the infinite choices" is exactly the way I feel oftentimes.
For me, as someone who's making a living of making music, you are the best teacher and inspiration that can be found on YT. Keep up the good work, I'm sure a lot of people appreciate your effort!
Just great! Thank you!
Jake, you are the most valuable teacher... not only you have it but you can transmit it...
Without doubt the best tutor CZcams has to offer.
I am playing things now that were once the stuff of dreams.
Thank you.
This guy’s channel caused my aneurysm to rupture & it was totally worth it.
I didn't expect a meme in all this educational adventure
I took music theory in college, the instructors were very disconnected with the students and could not relate to us in any way, shape or form. Everything that Jake explains is very well though out and relates everything idea in multiple ways. I am so glad I am subscribed to this channel, thanks Jake!!!
Talking at the beginning about Floyd Style music, we jammed so much on one of your awesome BT you did a while ago. And me and my music Buddy talked about contacting you about the permission to release something with it, just like we did with another good Backtrack creator few months ago. I saw a few comments where you give permission to somes who asked you. Soon we will write you a comment under that Backtrack you did to be sure to have your permission, and be sure if you accept, all the link and credit of you will be in the description. If you want to see one example we released with a BT, look at how good and popular "chaos 2019" video is. Very clear and interesting works you do Mister 👍
Go for it man! I don't have algorithm bots taking my music down for those tracks so you're all safe, and you totally have my encouragement to post that video.
@@SignalsMusicStudio Thanks for your reply and permission man. We will try to work on it in the coming weeks. We will Keep you update when it will be release. We enjoy so much the melody we added to your sooo great BT and jammed 100 times over it since a year now. Hope you will like it. Thanks again
Man you are the best. In one week you teached me more than 5 years on guitar lessons. As thirty year old guy coming back to guitar to teach my Son, thank you very much
The infinite choices and impossibility to pick one -> story of my musician life.
I really like the chef metaphor too. Let's cook. :)
Thank you for your work!
The possibilities are truly infinite, they're like the audio version of pixels on a screen, except you can also layer pixels on top of eachother to make harmonies, I love it
Just got back into these videos - CZcams's algorithm must have decided I needed a reminder and I'm glad it did. I'd forgotten how awesome they are. Thanks Jake! - ps love the occasional subtle humour, just enough to give us a good chuckle without being OTT.
Things I've been playing for years... You give them structure and conceptual clarity. - You're like a psychiatrist for music songwriting. We knew it felt right all along, but you told us why... Now we know. And in that we know how to express ourselves musically with clarity like never before. Thanks Doc.
I love the general humour and editing! You Rock!
Great video. I hope you publish more often, your videos are incredibly great.
Right now, If I publish any faster then one of two things is going to suffer- my sanity, or the quality of my videos. One day I'd like to get some help for editing (that's what takes me the most time, by faaar), and that would help speed things up, but I'd need to find an editor that I can afford that also understands music and theory so I don't have to spell out every detail to them. Also a computer upgrade should save me a day for each video since my rendering process takes soooo long right now, and usually kills a day or two of productivity. I'm working on it though :)
@@SignalsMusicStudio Totally understandable and thanks for even taking the time to reply :) I guess what I was trying to say is that you can rest assured that your videos are anxiously waited for, they're simply great. Many of the guitar instruction channels talk about technical skills, about cage, some about modes etc.. - but what I appreciate about your channel so much is that you're demonstrating how to put it all together to make music. At the end of the day, that's what it's all intended for. By the way, if you will want to do private skype lessons - I'd like to be first in line for that :) great job again man.
Signals Music Studio Publish faster... like we care about ur sanity.
Just joking 😝 love ur stuff
I followed your channel just last week. I learned more in the last few days than I ever learned in the last couple of decades.
Dude, you're so good at explaining Harmony
When you demonstrated the concept by adapting to metal, my musical third eye opened. Thank you, holy fuck, thank you.
Great vid. For me, what sets you apart from the mass of teachers out there is that you have broken down the subjects into bite size pieces that are immediately useful. There's no pretentious, lofty shout down to anyone. Your lessons just flow from you to whoever is listening in an instructive - "Here's how you do it and why you do it" kind of way. No ruler in your hand to slap the student the second they don't get something - like my old piano teacher used to do. No wonder so many folks share your site with others.....you really do a fantastic job :).....PS......With your voice, you could be in radio or voice-overs too......
So Happy that 'Nard dog" decided to teach music on CZcams too. Loving it man!
Never considered Papa Roach as acoustic lounge music...Love it!
best guitar lesson channel on youtube..... u simplify everything... thank you
The little I understood about theory is courtesy of Jake. Has taken me out of a rut that had been stuck in forever and shown me so much I wasn't even aware existed. Cannot thank him enough has given me back a new love for music and playing guitar.
A wealth of knowledge explained in a way that even I can understand some of just owe this man big time. Thanks again.
Thanks, that was the simplest explanation for melodic/harmonic composition. Little morsels.. excellent.. :)
Okay, a little backstory before I shower you with praise. I have been playing guitar by ear for twenty two years. I am a pretty awesome instrumentalist. Theory however was something I could never wrap my head around, especially the roman numeral's and all the things that go into chord progressions. I can write a chord progression just fine, but never understood what it was I was doing, until I saw this video today. You explained it in a manner that was groundbreaking, I can not thank you enough for this. Now I can revisit all these theory books I bought, the simple basics I was missing have now been understood. Again, thank you.
Generations - Good sh#t!
You said - As a professional.. "Its important to write music, even if you're not inspired to write music.. Just like a chef might not be hungry but he could still whip up a good dish.." - also good sh*t!
You just speak music into existence. Great teaching again. Thanks.
This has to be my favorite video of yours. Not only the topic was taught masterfully, but it also was a joy to watch. Absolutely loved your song and the sound of your guitar was beautiful. I really appreciate the hard work. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
After watching your videos on how to write in a major key, how to write in a minor key, and this video, I feel so much less intimidated by a "blank page". Thank you.
Great video as always! Thank you, Jake!
Jake, you know so much about music and music theory that it hurts my brain to watch your videos. I love a lot of them, though.
I love these composing, theory, songwriting videos. You just give us the good, important stuff and don't send us into the weeds.
This is really one of the best youtube-music channels ever !
Excellent lesson as always! Thanks.
You have the ability to inspire with simple motifs, you advanced my playing by five years with this simplicity, it doesnt always have to be hard once broken down like youve done here. Awesome , and well done
Wow!! You always explain things so well!!
As a new song writer, this is gold. Learned so much. For me I'm getting the ideas and melodies easily just needed the chords info you shared to help me expand from boring to glorious. Thanks
Another inspiring video, thanks Jake, I always look forward to your lessons. You rock :)
yeah this could be my favorite video on all of youtube i thinkk. i keep watching it and it's the most concise answer to "how do i make a song" ever.
Well done mate! Loved how you pulled it all together.
Best guitar CZcams channel. The quality and relevance of these videos are beyond amazing- it’s nice to see somebody who genuinely thrills some people and shows them the point in learning theory
Love your content man!
Thank you for this! I really needed the message as well as the lesson!
I am a theory freak. Among all youtubers this is guy is the best!
love this guy, very inspiring stuff
Thank you. I so enjoy your videos and always learn a lot.
Love your grind, dude!
I like how you mention Iron Maiden when playing the harmony riff and then take Last Resort as an example later. That riff is an exact copy of Maiden's Infinite Dreams.
I just found you today and I am 4 videos deep at this point. Wow! Thank you. You're clear and plain. You have great versatility and explain things in a way that people who play music can understand. Thank you Jake. I can't wait to binge watch all this stuff and come back when I need inspiration and something fresh to pick on. ❤❤❤
Another great video by one of my favorite youtubers. Thank you Mike.
You make my day every time I see your vids. You have taught me so much!!!
Awesome man you never disappoint jake always look forward to your vids hell of a musician!
Beautiful lesson!
I bought ur modal poster! Love it!
Outstanding Jake, thanks
Great lesson Jake! Simple to understand but powerful in application.
Another awesome content Jake, congratulations! You really inspire me to try these ideas and take the dust out of my instruments!
Well, Jake, congrats once again. You're an awesome well of inspiration and knowledge. Thank you.
Jake - you made myself inspired again. I love the way you do it. Can't wait for the next ones.
Always learning something from your channel. Thank you so much for the time you put in making these videos!!!
Great Ideas. Will try
This is fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing this...
Awesome lesson, thanks
Awesome lesson, Jake.
Amazing lessons
You're just freaking awesome Jake! I've been binging your channel for the last 3 days. You're so talented, and I've learned so much, in so little time.
Brilliant! Another great session. Very practical. Loved the sounds produced by following the method all the way. Thanks so much.
Good stuff as always.