What Makes a GREAT Intro? - How to Write Music
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- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- What makes a great intro? Whether you are writing songs, EDM, film scores or a symphony those first few seconds are crucial. Guy Michelmore looks at different approaches to writing song intros and then writes his own piece of music in real time. Find out which approach to intro writing worked best for him.
Check out Guy’s "How to Write Music" course!
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- - - - How To Write Music - - - -
How To Write Music explores the fundamental skills that underpin every great piece of music whether it’s a song or a film score, string quartet or video game sounds track.
Check out the free guide here to get you started: thinkspaceeducation.com/signup...
0:00 Start
0:45 Start with the main riff
1:50 Rhythm first
2:30 Bass line first
3:00 Start with a grower
4:22 Keep it short
5:00 All in from the start!
6:50. Let’s write some music!
11:38 Adding a bass
13:30 Adding a beat
14:30 Dune 3
18:35 Adding Cinematic Studio Solo Strings
21:46 Trying a different intro with string chords
25:25 Adding a throbby synth
29:20 Starting with the throbby synth
29:55 Starting with drums
30:15 starting with bass
32:45 Adding Vocals
![One Motif - Three Arrangements [How to write music]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TIfcc5IZu-g/mqdefault.jpg)
![One Motif - Three Arrangements [How to write music]](/img/tr.png)
I think what I appreciate most about these is that we don’t see a perfect workflow. We get to see the stream of consciousness and the outtakes right along with everything else and it’s really uplifting to see the whole creative process and not just the perfect stuff. Thanks, Guy!
Plays Beethoven's 5th. "Now there's a bloke who knew a thing or two about a riff." Love it!!
30 seconds and im already clicking the like button, im a simple man
for the 30 seconds i just like his British accent and humble personality just pairs well
One of my favourite intros is the 6 note arpeggio at the start of Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Now you're talking!! Absolutely
One of my favorite songs of all time!
Tears for Fears’ music is a masterclass in pop composition, and even some prog rock sensibilities too. So good.
Fast becoming my favourite youtube channel, despite being a metal musician so many of these midsets and ideas are so applicable and inspiring
You brighten my day all of the time especially when I have had some really dark ones. Thank you for your crazy whimsy. You definitely have at least one person who can relate and appreciates it!
When I grew up, it was the time of great British comedy shows on TV. But now we have this brilliant Laugh & Learn series. Thank you Guy :)
I need a T-shirt with Beethoven on it and the caption, “Now there’s a bloke who knew a thing or two about a riff.”
Fun fact - the singer from my old band Surfless met Tom Newman (who produced Tubular Bells). He heard our songs and loved them so much he offered to record some for free. His recording studio was on a boat on a mud mooring in Southampton so we would be playing and recording and as the tide went out the boat would gradually tilt over. Recording was halted once the tide was right out and the drum kit started sliding across the floor as the boat settled on the mud at a 45 degree angle 🤣. He was a lovely bloke, but boy could he swear when things didn't go right as he was producing.
Guy wrote the music for BBC's Eyewitness and BBC's Kirawira Valley, both SUPERB, and I have been a fan for 30 years!
Believe it or not I heard those 30 years ago and I every time I see a video of Guy I love him even more. What an artist, what a genius, what a Guy!
At last some spotlight for true genius of your days - Mr. Mike Oldfield. The man really has a God's gift. Such innovative, clever and inspiring music he writes :)
"What makes a great intro?" - "I want a straight throbby thing." Guy Michelmore gold.
Hi maestro Guy Michelmore,
This is just an amazing, educational and priceless guide with a solid structure and amazing opportunity for those who love to learn music composition more and more,, honestly, after years of searching. this platform is the best of all, properly and the simplicity of your explanation teaches me a lot. thank you so much for your commitment and for sharing your experiences with us. I wish I met you earlier. Thank you for being among us sir.
Thank you for this excellent tutorial Guy - very helpful suggestions :)
My favourite intro ever is that of John Cage's 4'33''
BRILLIANT - I luv these videos, and I love that you rolled in Kilohearts. But at 26:02 - "I wanted just a straight throbby thing actually"? I fell out of my chair. That said, I had a project today, I came here for inspiration. You did not disappoint. That reversed cymbal crash is a great way to start and then jump right in.
Fantastic as always! You're a true inspiration!
Thanks so much Guy!! There was one chord that you said you messed up and then you deleted and re-recorded it, but I LOVED it! The chord had a very distinctive timbre, so I tried to recreate it and now I'm going to write a piece around it.
Ooh, your comment may be admissible in court when Guy sets his teams of copyright lawyers on your ass! 😂
7:54 - look, this is me ALL THE TIME...love what you do!
How about the bass intro to Living In the Past, Jethro Tull, 1972? I know it’s 49 years old but it’s one of my favorite Intros. 5/4 time too!
I love watching these videos Guy that you put up here on UA-cam as well as on your own Thinkspace education site. It's wonderful and you cheer me up each and every day. Thank you. Stay on man, there's still so much to learn from you:)
Enjoyed this as always
I quite often find that the intro is almost the last thing I write - using a riff, harmonic progression, dum loop, bit of melody etc. Thank you for doing what you do - you've kept me sane through lockdown (despite the singing!!!)
Thank you Guy for making my wonderful Friday even more enjoyable. Cheers! :)
My pleasure
Love, love, love your channel, Guy! Very inspiring, very witty, funny and educational. You rock!
Guy your video tutorials are not only educational ( the main purpose) they’re also entertaining, both attributes of a great teacher thank you hugely 👍
I literally watched the whole thing! Loved this video! :)
Came across your channel today straight up amazing. I absolutely love watching how you go about writing an intro from start to finish. I'm also checking out signing up for your writing course as it's so far the best one out there that I have seen. Thanks You.
From the metal sphere, a new track from Deathcore band Fit For An Autopsy, A Higher Level of Hate, has such an immense, almost tribal drum groove for the first 30 seconds or so, and it IMMEDIATELY lets you know the tone of the song you’re about to listen to.
Thanks once again for the great lesson. What makes a great intro? Keeping it simple. That piano riff really is simply good!
love the airiness of the snare and the soft and roundness the upright bass
This has so much info for music production I can’t believe you just gave it all away!
Guy, watching your videos always feels like coming home. Love composition
I actually write a lot like this. Making a few tracks that work together and then working backwards to separate them. Great stuff Guy
Your videos are always fun while being highly instructional. Thanks again, Guy! This is one to come back to again and again. Lots of inspiration in this one for sure!
You always look so happy and bubbly. Great to watch.
I new video by mr.Michelmore... what a perfect way to start the weekend!
Thank you, I’m taking your course and really enjoying it. I know your inspiration, skills and knowledge are worth a lot so Thank you for making it affordable‼️💯
Great video Guy, love your thought process and it’s great to see that things just don’t happen first time round.
Yooo this came at the right time! Thank you so much you're one of my fav creator
Best intro? A Hard Days Night - a single chord that people are still analysing 57 years later!
Bless your heart Guy, no wall you don't know how to climb
Cheered me up, cheers Guy
😳 It went from zero to Cold Play level epic in short order. Absolutely stunning, beautiful, breathtakingly divine! I’m in desperate need of inspiration for creating intros, everything in between and outros. I have a ridiculous amount of both hardware & software tools including the new Roli Seaboard Rise 2. Yet nothing is happening. Deer in the headlights. But this is so inspirational! Thank you!! 🙏
Hi, how did you get on? And how do you get on with the Seaboard Rise 2. I've just bought one. I'm very impressed. Still looking for favourite sounds I like in Equator 2. The variations on the presets with the macros is amazing. Your 3 Brain video is something I'll give plenty of time to. 👍
I'm not sure if I have much creativity in me. I'll think of a scene or find short video scenes, and use Guy's 'Obstinatos' (he has a video of them). to Score to it. Then build on that in typical Guy style. But without his years of experience. I listen a lot though. There should be something waiting to come out. I get some smooth sounds out of the Roli. 🙂
As for the Roli, I'm super new, though I had a Yamaha CS80 before they became a thing. The rich sound and expressive aftertouch was something I looked for again. I will find two or three sounds and play them well, rather than getting stuck like your 'Deer in the headlights'. I like almost all music from the 11th Century onwards from East to West. But I'm into Ambient or light Simple melodies for the Roli.
'The hot desert winds ripping through the ancient Windcatcher Towers of Yazd, howling as the desert storms approach...'.
Like how you entertain weird ideas for the fun of it, you end up discovering cool and unique combos I didn't see coming.
Brilliant Guy ...as always !
Loved the gnome. I am so appreciative you are willing to share your creativity. It really helps. Even seeing the mistakes make us realize that is how we all learn. Thanks.
This was great to to watch, you made it engaging for sure, and you weren't scared to mess up... thanks for the video!
Thanks for all the wisdom what you share with us
How wonderful to see all the false starts and different combinations of the elements. And done with the fab self-deprecating wit, to boot. The 'warts-and-all' approach is so valuable, as well as the obvious skill and knowledge of course. Thanks!
Thanks Guy, you're awesome.
You save our lives with your experience and knowledge Guy!
My fav intro is in Paradise Warfare from Carpenter Brut.
I could watch you for hours mate, thanks for the videos!
Love it. Thanks.
How to make a great intro? Guy Michelmore videos always have great intros
Thanks for making this pandemic more educational and enjoyable
Thank you Guy, I always have had issues with intros..I now have some new approaches...maybe you can do outros another time.....Thanks again Guy, awsome watching you..never get tired of your vids. Had to pause and watch the end later, because I cannot play ytube and Studio One at the same time, and you have inspired me to fire up my midi..
Me too, comes from learning chord based guitar and launching straight into a song.
Spent Saturday night off family interaction ... I find this soo entertaining ... made my weekend - and it is only Saturday... thx Mr Michelmore ... You keep me afloat ...
One of the most underrated channels on UA-cam. You deserve way more views and subs!
Thank you for the great helpful tutorial today and well done.
"Lead with your best element ... which is obviously me singing into a garden gnome!" Brilliant!!! Great video ... just discovered this channel and am loving it.
Thank you so much for your great tips!
Gotta Love this guy!
Great vid! I've learned I should experiment in the "weird" more to find those unique sounds. Right now I kind of have a system down, "too well" and it's hindering creating something that makes me say, "wow, I didn't know that sound existed."
Like always another amazing vid!
This track is actually amazing! Well done!
Great video. Thanks Guy. Best part is the Garden Gnome being spat on ;)
Guy this has been one of your funniest videos but yet informative as usual hahaha
You videos always make me think about music.laugh & put a smile on my face
Great stuff. Intros really are more than just something for the radio DJ to talk over. I've been a bit in two minds about that recently, but I think this has helped me make up my mind.
Thank you so much for this Guy! And love the humour too1
Completely mad but hugely inspiring! Don't often get that in the same person! Well done Guy!
This dude is crazy, I love it.
you sir are on point
you are fascinating music teacher! love it
Sounds amazing
Mate!!! You are awesome!
Like singing into a garden knome... Loved it. I always learn so much from your vids...
I need a podcast!!! I would listen hours and hours to it!
Awesome Guy, you make me feel good!!!
Nice way to end the week :) I notice that BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover is ready for download in my personal email. Xau xau, have a nice weekend Mr Guy
Great stuff guy👍👍👍
great lesson🙏
Enjoyed this!
Excellent, subbed and will be watching thanks
Even the suggestion of Guy singing Wuthering Heights has made my day.
Well sir, you're teaching me a very important lesson...music knows no age
Guy-like typical workflow: 1)piano chord progression 2)struggle a bit putting kick and snare manually cause you’ve got Superior Drummer but you refuse to use it;) 3)reverse something! 4)open Dune 5)put a trance gate on it 6)don’t even pan or mix cause “it’s just a sketch”.
If I’d do that, I will end up with the same thing over and over.
You do that, and you create these beautiful examples. Then you probably don’t even save them anywhere, they just live in the present.
You’re an impressionist, sir. You’re a musical Monet. And these are your water lillies.
Nice one Guy enjoyed it.
Thank you for awesome entertainment and education
Jaja I love the Guy's way of life 🌿
What a great way to spend half an hour on my Sunday morning with a bacon butty, a cup of tea and Guy creating!👍
Love the way you show you're human and make mistakes just like the rest of us!
Great tutorial. Thank you again. I'm reminded of "Bad to the Bone" by Thorogood for simplicity in establishing the "lick". Much easier to keep a groove rolling than to start one out.
All the best from the Bay Area.
MK
Really enjoyed this one
You're a very kind soul and it's very pleasant to watch
Perfect music teacher, i wish i knew u years ago
Would you consider doing a video on writing jingles? I’d love to see your take on it.
WHEN YOU PICKED UP THE GNOME I WAS LIKE “HEEEEEEYYYYYY”
I'll never recover from seeing Guy lip syncing into a gnome posing as a mic!
It's the best.
It's ridiculous!!!!
With a mic right in front of him 😂
Now about the five major points or maybe more? Lots of laughter loved it!
I've been stuck on 3:26 for like 6 days... The internet just got a little better. Now that's what I call putting down your ego for the sake of teaching! Love you for that and I'll literally never forget about the intro again. Side note; We need to get Guy a micro Korg ASAP! Oh but you missed out the archetype Sandstorm by Darude, the intro everyone knows they don't know if they know?
Love it
Guy!! you are so lovely! I'm always learning something that takes my music beyond imagination. May you please do a tutorial on how to make such videos...(the equipment needed and process)..(maybe a series or so..Pleeeeeaaaase)