A Cheatcode for Better Arrangements: The Two Loop Rule
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2023
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MY GEAR:
DAW (Music making software): Logic Pro and Ableton Live
Studio monitors (speakers): Yamaha HS8's
Headphones: Audeze LCD X (open back)
Camera: Canon 80d
Computer: Mac Studio with M2 Ultra chip and 2 TB hardrive
Midi controller (keyboard): Komplete Kontrol 61
Interface: Scarlett Clarett 2 pre
Desk: a cheap one from ikea
Chair: also a cheap one from ikea
My favorite plugins that I use the most:
XFER Serum
Sylenth 1
Nexus 3
Kontakt
RC 20
Valhalla Shimmer
Valhalla Vintage Verb
Shaperbox 3
XFER OTT
Fab Filter Saturn 2
Fab Filter Pro C 2
Arturia Pigments
Baby Audio Comeback Kid
Output Thermal and Portal
LABS Soft Piano
Hardware that I use behind the scenes but not in videos:
Elektron Octatrack (my fav)
Elektron Digitakt
Korg Minilogue XD
The man decided to cover his ears with frying pans.
These are nuclear weapons
@@HEARDIFFERENT illegal in 49 countries
Based skillet head
Let him cook
Lol. Those are Audezes. Some of the best headphones money can buy.
blink twice if your headphones are holding you hostage
They are eating his head lmaooo
👊🤣👍
Looking like my toddler wearing my headphones.
Bro turned his head with cans on ears to hear the difference. That’s how you know somebody mixes often lol
Funny:)))))
My man out here blue balling us with no drop.
😂
lolol
Ballin out of control…
fax😂
😭😭😭
I love the fact that he's excited about his work and not just going through the motions.
I also love the fact that so many b0ts show up in all the youtube comments. It's like after the 'vid the DS is trying to pacify the masses using the good like A1 'stake sauce'.
Im glad im not the only one who felted jarred by those ghoulishly large headphones
I've been getting annoyed lately watching a lot of these people's production tutorials ... specifically when they're rocking out, making faces, bobbing their heads to the music they're making. There's something about that ... I don't know what it is but it gets on my nerves so much. 😂 Lots of good information to be learned, but ugh .. it's just so cringeworthy to watch them do that. 🤮 .. especially when it all just sounds so canned. It's like they're telling the viewer .. "Look at how wonderful I am!" 😂 ... This dude's not too bad with it .. but I've seen a few that make me want to vomit when they start dancing and stuff.
@@Fiveash-Art i feel you on this one. I support people vibing, but with a tutorial just keep it professional.
@@Rooftopaccessorizer This dude ain't bad with it ... I had just come off this one girl's tutorial and she's always dancing and bobbing to her own stuff and it bugged the hell out of me. 😂 Also the way she talks she acts like she's cool or something... people on UA-cam can be seriously annoying.
Hi Alex. This is a great method. I have another method I usually use. I open a song I like in Ableton (mp3 from a favorite artist), then I put markers in all the places where things happen. I try to describe the feelings I experience as clearly as possible at every marker. When I have analysed the song in detail, I remove the reference track. I am left with a template that I can then fill in with my own music. Then I never get stuck in a loop and it's very inspiring.
Great advice for a beginner like me, thank you ❤
Thats actually a great idea! Thanks!
very nice idea if you are practicing, but in the future you can aim to also create your own emotional story and express yourself and what you want to communicate!
been writing tunes for 2 decades and never thought to do that. Nice one :)
Very interesting! Thanks! :3
Alex: You can only repeat for two bars
Daft Punk: *And I took that personally*
sometimes you need a good zone out song, daft is great for psychedelics where you zone out a lot.
@@SpydrXIIITrue. I was born in 89, and grew up with them. Hehe.
They do, but tthey still follow the rule by adding/removing layers to keep it interesting
I know you're talking about "Around The World" but part of the reason that song still did well is because of the fact the automation / effects throughout the track actually still encompass the theory being described in this video despite the melody repeating over and over.
@@cr4ckrocksteady Oh, totally! I love Daft Punk, especially Human After All (the album, although I like the track too) which also has a lot of long, looping songs like Around the World. It's all in the genius production and the automation.
I love how he loves his own work and the fact that he isn't trying to constantly GAS up his viewers to buy more gear and software they don't need. He just helps us work with what we already have and make things better.
Were you paid to say that or something, it seems so fake
@@RedceLL1978
Seems genuine ive jumped across plent of different tutorials and this one didnt drop a single tip to. "First you should probably get this, this, and that.. dont forget this $100 audio kit. And $300 studio grade headphones so you can hear your work better" etc. he was straight to the point and very informative about this whole arrangement rule.
I know no reverse cymbal sounds is so nice
I can't believe I'm saying this now internet has sunk low :(
@@simplicityd8703 you said something nice, you must be a paid shill!
@simplicityd8703 Seems more genuine than your comment.
He’s having fun and enjoying the ride with us! He’s like a millennial Bob Ross with a midi keyboard instead of brushes. ❤
He's panhandling his dubious wares, nothing more.
Bob Ross had some skill, this guy does not. If he did, he'd be successful, which he isn't.
he's promoting a course sure, but he's also offering something useful, unlike your comment.
glazing is crazy
Man everytime he says "isnt it pretty".."isnt it beautiful", I literally get hyped up and I am smiling like him haha.....
Also dont keep us hanging without the drop! This needs to be a finished piece :-P
you can't help but smile and he knows how to get emotion out of music i love it
he gives Bob Ross vibes
He's like the Bob Ross of EDM production 😄
we need the drop still! @alexrome
It has a drop, it's called Sideways by Illenium, he was kind of remaking the song
Dude has been doing this for so long and is STILL providing super valuable videos. Cheers to you Alex 🍻
This 10 minute video is most useful thing I’ve seen in the last 12 months.
I’ve seen a few videos that say «after each 8 bar, change the melody» and it never got into me and i still struggled. 4 years and i find this, it makes so much sense and maybe will help me actually start making music💀 I try but always stop because i get stuck and don’t find a good enough video to help me progress. So i give up easily😢
@@KazilikFire we all have the same problem early on. Start by finishing and releasing a short track. Feel good about that. Work your way up.
Confirmed
Came for the concept, stayed for the production. This track is BEAUTIFUL ❤
If you listen to Gaga's first album, The Fame, which is a near-perfect album of 2000s Europop, you realize that part of what makes the songs so insanely catchy is that you can break every section (verse, prechorus, etc.) into “couplets”. Every chord loop, or bassline loop, or vocal melody, happens twice so you can learn it before switching. Stuff like “Poker Face” or “Just Dance” truly are masterclasses on this.
lady gaga's european?
@@jacksonelh Is Eric Clapton black?
I have a theory that the reason why Mr. Brightsides is so insanely popular is due to the fact they essentially play the entire song twice.. full verse and chorus and then just doing the same thing again
@@ImSquiggs true, but it's the bridge/build up to the last chorus builds tension and adds excitement to finally come back to the familiar. It's that extra 'waiting' to finally belt out in chorus with an easy to remember hook is what makes it work
@@willia_music You're definitely right about that being one of the most compelling parts of the song, and I agree. I was trying to touch on the repetition as a possible reason why you can listen to it just once and already have it stuck in your head.
Bro! This is so helpful for me! I’ve been having writers block for years now, and I’ve been tired of just making four bar loops etc. so I had stopped even trying to make original music. But this has definitely inspired me to carry on. Thank you!! 🙏
What this guy above said.
@@twatmunro what the guy above this guy said
Very very helpful thank you.
Every time you make a song you create something that has never been done before. You got this.
Can relate!
This is wonderful stuff. Great explanation and very helpful. You did say that there were only two ways to make a change in the next section though, adding/subtracting instruments or adding/subtracting expression, and I’d add three more: 1. Moving to another harmonic area, 2. Changing the melodic content to a responsive or broadening line, 3. Change rhythmic content (particularly melodic or harmonic rhythms).
i think of all the youtube music channels i've seen this guy is one of the most helpful for electronic music - doesn't get bogged down by concepts or semantics & always demonstrates with real-time, visual examples.
This is blunt and upfront. I get lost in subtlety and nuance. This vid spells it out. Your arrangement needs to give cues as to the rise and fall in energy of the track. Thank you Alex, it is rare to be able to make something so simple and obvious. Subscribed.
What feels like nuance is actually just muddy unclear thinking
You explain everything so simply and clearly seriously thank you for all the incredible videos
I love the way he broke down the process. The method he's created is beautiful
Another easy rule is try to add or change anything about every 30 seconds. It can be a one-shot sample, a little flair melody, a riser/downriser, parameter automation, remove/add elements/layers. There are a way more options if you're working with synthesizers due to all of their parameters being customizable.
yes sometimes i study the timing of edm tracks to see when they change something and it's often the 30 second point which at 120 bpm is around 16 bars
@@helisoma He's a great producer, but don't you think at intro after first loop, the second loop got a bit boring?
@@Morteza_Jahan He did the loop just to show his technique, not all loops are interesting enough to be heard infinity times. The vocals also usually distract us from the repetitive background so we it don't become boring too fast.
The part about entry and exit points of transitions is huge. For me, drum fills are really vital for making a smooth transition for the type of music I make. Sometimes 2 guitar parts don't mix back-to-back until you have a nice fill leading into the next riff. Very helpful video!
Ive had a hard creatove block for years. Seeing your pov of arrangements has kinda shined a new light on the way i look at my arrangements. I now feel more inspired ! Thanks for the video!
This is GOLD. Not only solid tips but your blatant adoration of music is verrry infectious.
I watched this whole video with a smile. Your genuine enthusiasm is catching.
Thanks for the video.
You’re having fun. It shows in your on screen vibes
Love the track you made in the lesson! It really shows how even the smallest things make the biggest difference. It's giving mellow vacation home
True hey. As I was listening, the rapper inside of me started jamming 😎✌️
Your joy, and how you describe the emotion you're feeling is so refreshing and awesome. Thanks for this video.
Ive never felt the music while learning the way you do Alex. You are great and your taste is impeccable. And ofcourse, once again, my production skills have increased with ATLEAST 20% much love!
i cannot tell you how badly i needed to see this video! my arrangement has been killing me and this is gonna help me so so much! thanks Alex!
Those are the biggest studio headphones I've ever seen
I love your energy man, so soft yet passionate. Great vid!
Really appreciate someone making a video on arrangement, so important
I freaking love EVERY SINGLE one of your videos! Just saying! You made me love to write/compose EDM. My husband did not like EDM until I started writing it how you taught me. I am a music producer/composer and I traditionally lean towards more orchestral composing but ever since I started following you, I have fallen in love with EDM and have sold even more music. Thank you!!
Do you know what DAW he uses
Logic
As fake as they come. look at all those likes. lol
"I traditionnally lean towards more orchestral composing" lolol what a complete farce.
You couldn't compose a single movement to save your own life. Prove me wrong.
I loved this! it was amazing and loved your own energy while working. thanks for this!
Doing a music production course rn and one of my teachers just talked about this two weeks ago. It's so useful and so important when making music. Easy ideas he gave for what to change would be transposing the melodies down or up an octave or reversing them or even as simple as cutting layers and adding a filter to the section. Defenitely good advice and practice to have for music production.
God im so glad someone is taking the time to talk ab song arrangement because it really is one of the most important parts of making a song
I love your videos Alex. This sort of thing is applicable no matter what style of music you produce and no matter how long you've been producing. Excellent!
I would say that this framework is one of many ways of writing music. There are other ways of structuring an arrangement, and the two bar rule might not be idiomatic in certain styles. Still, it's a nifty trick for elaborating on four chord loops.
What a simple and straightforward (and positive) video showing a very practical foundational technique. Very impressed by how you structure your content!
Dude I watch a lot of yt production how to vids and you are very good. The combo of usefulness, sophistication, taste and communication skill is killer. Thank you. Subbed.
Such a wonderful tutorial, mate. Just great arrangement tips for all styles.
I love your use of words to describe things. You bring a lot of emotion to the music theory and practice. EDM is one style I want to use but I am curious if I will find any help like yours in other genres
This video is actually insanely helpful! Subconsciously I've been producing around this rule but now that I can define it my music is going to sound SO much better. Thank you Alex!!!
Very helpful! Love how you dive into the psychology of how we expect something and the ways to change that so we are surprised:)
This is rock-solid, quick practical advice. Thank you.
Too rock-solid. So rock-solid it's boring. Throw away the grid.
I LITERALLY SCREAMED OMG! I literally just took a break from creating my first chord progression because I was exhausted and couldn’t figure out what to do next. Then your video popped up and my mind is blown lol
You created your first chord and said that' fire 🔥🚒
Thanks so much for taking the time to explain this to all of us - while covering your ears with frying pans even.
Your a song saver. Been stuck with one of my productions for ideas, and this rule just made all the difference. Subscribed.
Listen, I really wanted to poke fun at that absolite waffle-iron of a pair of headphones… but this is one of those rare videos that is actually offering up simple, valuable and immediately practical advice. Very very cool!!
🤣🧇🎧
Hard agree, but I can't NOT make fun of them...
Methods like this is why the LOFI hip-hop craze burned brightly but quickly faded into thousands upon thousands of songs starting to sound the same, rigid simple rules...that EVERYONE started to follow
Agreed, I personally like songs that have something unique about them
You have to start somewhere- learn the core concepts and "rules" before you consistently can experiment and introduce exotic unique elements
Dude, you send off some good vibes. This is an excellent demonstration too. Great work!
Excellent, helpful video for those of us who attempt to make arrangements by just throwing darts and seeing what sounds good, this is tremendously insightful! I feel like this video highlighted to myself like 15 years of bad habits I have been repeating!
This video is not only helpful for music production, but also very helpful for Live Looping Performances 👌🏻 And I’m very excited for applying it in my live loopings ♥ thank you very much :D
Totally! Also why I'm here 😂
For sure! There's def more leniency for live looping though as to how far you can stretch it though. 4 or 8 im sure is fine, even 16
mozart spinning in his grave right now. Let's hear your wonderful productions! Post them! give links!
You can't. Because you have none. oh yeah 16 bars of repeat, mindblowing.
@@lgmediapcsalon9440 xD
Nice! I have a similar rule, I always think of it as the "Aphex Twin rule", because it occurred to me listening to him. Something has to change at least every 4 bars to keep interest.
The Venetian Snares rule: something has to change every half bar 😂
@@magnopere 🤣🤣🤣
It doesn't HAVE to. A rule like this is really just a guideline. It can be followed, or ignored.
@@magicsofa lol obviously. No one said you have to follow anything, it's not literally the law. Just how I happen to approach things. ✌
Really well explained. I’m learning a lot. I like the sound of high energy with the filter open, the filter closes, energy drops and you get beautiful delay and reverb tails
I randomly watch producing-tips to learn about different approaches and techniques from other people. Your tutorials seem to simplify basic aspects for every skill level through abstraction. Thank you.
Wow... incredible how you compose music so fast and well. I think you forgot to verbally repeat, that every change/add you put in your song, is each 2 loops, following the rule. But it can be noticed in the Playlist. Great idea bro!!! Thank you for sharing it!
Bro used landmines for headphones
😂😂😂
☠️☠️☠️
Ive been obsessed over all your great informative content. Very well done Alex!
Arrangement tips are always welcome. Thanks for sharing!
the song this video is based on is called sideways by Illenium, Nurko and Valerie Broussard, great song
interesting stuff, I like this kind of video because your concentrating on arranging a track instead of just one section.
I love this guide, but more than that I love your excitement. Great video!!
That piano melody was absolutely fire flame f word🔥
I don't typically follow this rule. I use it sometimes, but not always. One say of music I once learned and has helped me was that when it comes to expression 'and music is an art' there are no rules. There can be no mistakes so long as it sounds good. What you really are looking for is what's weak vs what is strong. Depending on what your going for sometimes you need that weaker approach while in others you may want to have a stronger approach. Use your ears.
I feel you. This is more of a video for beginners, it’s a nice base format for starting off with arrangement. Arrangement always stumped me in the beginning and this concept is a good starting point. I feel like most artists follow this rule to a certain extent. Not strictly 2 loops obviously
I honestly kinda use a mixture of both. Sometimes I start off following the rule but then change things up a lot for an element of surprise, and my recent expansion into more music like breakcore/speedcore/dnb/neurofunk has got me interested in arrhythmic patterns and odd meters (and of course the classic drum breaks).
I still think it's a very helpful guide, but I agree that's all it should ever be, a guide! Mess around and don't always stick to a 'rule' because all you really need to make music is heart, soul, and a catchy tune :)
Clearly having goofy headphones makes u a better producer. This is actually such a good video. Ur very good at teaching. Straight to the point and easy to follow along. Nice work!
Following because of how genuinely wholesome you are acting while making this music
Thank you for making free learning content and making it so easy to understand
Man as ridiculous as those headphones look, you still impressed the crap out of me with these concepts, great explaination and the theory of your music
you created the Melody and i instantly thought about "Sideways" by illenium, looked it up and the entire video is basically creating this specific song.
but i like it
I commented this and thought I was the only one. It’s literally the same haha
Bro I was so excited for the drop and then you finished the video 😭 but I thank you for sharing this and I love your passion!
I'm new to music production and this video just helps a lot! I didn't know what to do when I composed music yesterday but now, I have a clearer understanding of what to do.
The chords remind me of "Sideways" by Illenium and Nurko! Great video as always!
They don't remind you of them, they're identical. Same key, same chords, same melody.
@@k03hl3r yep I know, nice to know the chords and stuff now too
He basically remade the song, it's identical.😂
In Western Musical Theory, an 8 bar phrase is typically made of two 4-bar phrases, the antecedent and the consequent.
This 2-loop rule follows this time tested concept.
Anecdotally, a lot of romantic ballet music is repetitions of the 8 bars (creating 16 bar... choruses, to borrow a jazz term) see rondo, or tarantella. So doubling the 2-loop could work very well.
The best explaining with excellent humor and personality man on YT!! Thanks man! Keep it up!
I don't think I'll ever learn how to write music, but it's just an exceptional delight for the soul to look at a happy guy on the screen who glows in all directions of the universe!
@@veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee This is now the 6th time I've seen you write the exact same comment. You don't have an original thought in your tiny little brain, do you?
9:06 had me dead!
Good stuff man, could you do a video about counter melodies maybe in future? Keep up the good work!
I just subscribed. You made that so easy to understand....im finding that with your other videos too. Im not even making music at the moment and you inspired me to load up everything and get back to doing what I love. Much appreciated sir!!
Honestly man you make everything seem so simple when it’s not, your so good…
Nothing worthwhile is immediate. Put in the work. You’ll get there if that’s what you want and commit to it
This guy has legit musical insights
What I love about music production is, you learn one rule/skill/setting, and you can immediately build this into your next project and benefit from it.
There's nothing technically wrong, I just think this can be very restrictive. To say something like 'or ears naturally expect chords to change every two loops' is only applicable if you listen to an extremely narrow scope of music and you're working on a pretty focused genre: the four chord loop pop song. Also, we're talking strictly western theory here. Anywhere outside this small range, this rule doesn't hold. Also, why would you do what is 'expected'? Isn't that a recipe for 'unoriginal'? What about changing every three loops (hold the tension), one loop (create some confusion), never (trance)? Also, how far does it go? A lot of loops can add up in three or four minutes. Do we just keep changing up, with the acapella loop, the bebop loop, the djent loop, etc.?
Anyways, there are some good suggestions, but hacks and shortcuts don't work well in music. Especially as a beginner, it is easy to end up learning the hack instead of the music. Spend the time, practice your instrument, learn the basics.
Again, this is not bad. The texture change ideas and such are spot on. However, relying on cheats all the time can be very limiting and lead to bad habits.
Yeah I get really bored hearing multiples of four in just about every new song. I find myself counting off measures on my fingers while shaking my head in frustration, and unless something exciting happens, I'm outta there.
He created the most cookie cutter boring-ass song ever and was like "isn't it pretty?" lmao
Been doing this for years its one of the best fast starts to build a track and change things otw. Fills, fx, new chord progression, effects just to name a few 🤙
I love how you crushed that joke at 6:38 and just let it simmer
Sounds like an Ozempic commercial, I can hear all of the side effects being listed by the announcers voice..
big ahh headphones
Bro you explained that so simply and clearly. Thank you
This is the best explanation of song arrangement I’ve ever seen
hey alex i wanna get better at vocals
np jus make aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh 👂🏻👁️👅👁️👂🏻
Me too
How to make what everybody does
Fr
One of the best, and most helpful arrangement videos I've seen. Thank you!!
Thank you! I just wrote my first song that I started with programming a drum beat, liked it so much I decided to write over it. It definitely drags on with too many loops. I'm going to apply this to the song later!
How to make a boring song when your musical skills are non-existent
I CAN NEVER LIE, WHENEVER I WATCH YOUR VIDEOS ,THE WAY YOU MAKE MUSIC , JUST PUT ME IN A DRIFFENT WORLD ..TO ME YOU ARE A MUSIC GOD THANKS
@@veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee You posted the exact same comment to like four different people (as far as I've seen). The fact that you're complaining about "copy paste" is hypocrisy at its finest.
PS Your music is trash.
You have a very laid back and confident aura, really nice to follow along to
That's impressive bro, i feel Illenium on those chords bro😌🐐
Fab, easy-to-grasp presentation, Alex - thank you! Love your vibe in these videos ~
Firre video! Soo helpful - I actually followed along with a loop i made earlier and actually got a decent song going now. You da best!
Dude you are seriously one of my favorite Ppl to watch for tips and advice. You're a god when it comes to this stuff
People talk about vintage gear sounding so rich and warm, but even this - straight out of a DAW - sounds so WARM. Nice job. Love the sound choices. It virtually mixes itself.
And many of these people just repeat what they heard and that's often old news.
Good modern plugins are designed with that warmth in mind. When it comes to samples, most of the heavy lifting is done during recording and processing.
We got a plugin that emulates a specific vintage mixer. Lift its input gain carefully and it will add warmth to almost anything you feed it.
Of course these plugins generally aren't cheap and you still need to have decent audio hardware to make the most of them. And, of course, you can ruin everything with "bad" mixing.