Composing Canons!

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  • Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
  • A canon is a melody that sounds good when two or more people perform it together, but starting on different times. These are also called rounds. Row Row Row Your Boat #gentlydownthestream is a famous one. Imitative counterpoint has a long history in Western Music, so why not learn how to canon with best of em?
    Peace,
    Adam

КОМЕНТАРІ • 263

  • @pepn
    @pepn 6 років тому +382

    Awesome! Sounds like counterpo-

    • @de1255
      @de1255 6 років тому +41

      He sounded so dead inside

    • @xMElpx
      @xMElpx 6 років тому +3

      What was he actually saying?

    • @pepn
      @pepn 6 років тому +17

      "Sounds like counterpoint"

    • @xMElpx
      @xMElpx 6 років тому +2

      What does it mean? Im no native speaker

    • @pepn
      @pepn 6 років тому +8

      It's a composition technique : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterpoint

  • @DuhAverageJoe
    @DuhAverageJoe 8 років тому +631

    My mind really wants to hear a harpsichord instead of a piano lol

    • @connorfiddle
      @connorfiddle 7 років тому +77

      DuhAverageJoe I would like to hear the finished version of this performed on a well tempered clavier.

    • @sirenwavemtv8334
      @sirenwavemtv8334 6 років тому +1

      Brandenburg Concerto No.3

    • @MrGuilherme1100
      @MrGuilherme1100 6 років тому +6

      Hey guys! do you think i'm on the right way? It's my first canon kkk
      ua-cam.com/video/8rUiN81PhXM/v-deo.html

    • @pepn
      @pepn 6 років тому +12

      Well this is not a Canon, nor a counterpoint piece, it is just a melody and its accompaniment as I hear it, and I think this is a little bit confuse as a music. Sometimes it feels like it lacks structure.
      There are however some nice melodc ideas !
      Keep in mind that I'm in no means an expert.
      (Also please put the sharps on the key ! ^^)
      edit: if you want it to sound like counterpoint, avoid the octaves intervals. At the beginig there are a lot of them and it's not great

    • @MrGuilherme1100
      @MrGuilherme1100 6 років тому +3

      Thank you very much! :D

  • @RCAvhstape
    @RCAvhstape 8 років тому +376

    That is so cool. And with modern software it's so easy to write and instantly hear how it sounds. We live in a golden age of music.

    • @LanceClark
      @LanceClark 6 років тому +11

      Just to let you know, this kind of software has been around for a long time. I recall using Finale Notepad back in 2003. Even then, there were still even older versions of this type of software available for free.

    • @moshadj
      @moshadj 6 років тому +54

      In the scheme of music history 2003 was yesterday.

    • @ChungusLover-re7wh
      @ChungusLover-re7wh 6 років тому +18

      too bad all the good stuff is overlooked in favour of pop music.

    • @jrodriguezpiano
      @jrodriguezpiano 6 років тому +4

      Helium Road just means more shitters who are lazy at music will get into it, and the average quality of music will go down.

    • @FlatTire
      @FlatTire 6 років тому +7

      Yet the modern music is the worst ever

  • @omertabach9794
    @omertabach9794 8 років тому +86

    06:06 - "Let's hear it."
    Great lesson! Thanks!

  • @danielap295
    @danielap295 8 років тому +87

    You explained this really well, and I would love to see more videos on composition methods like this! I really appreciate that you're able to teach so efficiently while still getting all the necessary information across.

  • @rockrollinnolan8521
    @rockrollinnolan8521 6 років тому +56

    "Awesome! Sounds like counterpo--"
    *End of video.*

  • @GeoffBosco
    @GeoffBosco 7 років тому +78

    Euphonious, was the word you were looking for, I believe.

  • @ES-yc1tp
    @ES-yc1tp 8 років тому +232

    You make it look so easy x.x I know you studied years to get to that level, but... Damn.

    • @johnappleseed8369
      @johnappleseed8369 8 років тому +40

      it is easy.........

    • @pigmemonkey
      @pigmemonkey 7 років тому +22

      If you think it is easy then you are not trying hard enough.

    • @WaldoFindsYo
      @WaldoFindsYo 7 років тому +18

      pigmemonkey canons to me are like a math formula you just follow the rules and "magic" will happen

    • @JustinLe
      @JustinLe 7 років тому +45

      You'll probably get to this point after a semester of music theory -- don't be discouraged :)

    • @travisbeck8184
      @travisbeck8184 7 років тому +5

      I've taken one year of music theory and I understand everything he is saying.

  • @qwaqwa1960
    @qwaqwa1960 7 років тому +207

    Needs...more...cowb......reverb.

    • @dartolek33212
      @dartolek33212 7 років тому +19

      qwaqwa1960 distortion and delay

    • @wingracer1614
      @wingracer1614 7 років тому +2

      all EQs at noon, just a little bit of reverb.

    • @WadWizard
      @WadWizard 7 років тому +1

      Why not both

    • @androy5188
      @androy5188 6 років тому +1

      MOAR COWBELL

  • @martiepstein
    @martiepstein 3 роки тому +6

    ADAM! I am using this video in my counterpoint class tomorrow. My students are tired of listening to me, and you explain it exactly the way I would have. Plus, they all think you're cooler than I am, so....

  • @Holobrine
    @Holobrine 7 років тому +24

    I would have ended the canon on A instead of C.

    • @thekingoface8338
      @thekingoface8338 7 років тому +10

      Ugh I know that bugged me so badly. I understand that he wanted to make it a true canon, but that B was just begging to resolve to an A

    • @divisix024
      @divisix024 6 років тому

      He probably would have finished on A if it was longer than three bars.

  • @HDChubbydude
    @HDChubbydude 7 років тому +16

    take a shot everytime he says "woohoo"

    • @Tomy_Yon
      @Tomy_Yon Рік тому +1

      What year are we? 🥴🥴🥴

  • @Booskop.
    @Booskop. 8 років тому +11

    Wow! You make it look so easy and casual!

  • @PauLtus_B
    @PauLtus_B 7 років тому +123

    YOU DIDN'T EVEN LISTEN TO IT?!

    • @davidmays7052
      @davidmays7052 7 років тому +4

      at 6:08 man

    • @PauLtus_B
      @PauLtus_B 7 років тому +29

      david mays
      Yeah. But he was finished by then.
      It's just that he managed to create that without ever listening until the end.

    • @Sagolel4797
      @Sagolel4797 7 років тому +4

      Well when he writes a note we/he can hear it so you can imagine the melodies working together in your head

    • @PauLtus_B
      @PauLtus_B 7 років тому +6

      Sagolel4797
      If you played them past each other within a short time I'd understand.
      I'm just really impressed he'd know what it's going to sound like, if that is the case and he's not just using techniques, which would sill be impressive.

    • @iDahl
      @iDahl 7 років тому +10

      PauLtus B I'd figure his comfortable knowledge of music theory allows him a lot of extra skill in audiating the notes. The hardest thing to predict for me at least would be rhythmic alliteration or just awkward sounding transitions. The melody and harmony are sure to sound in the key when being written with the use of theory.

  • @Randomguy190
    @Randomguy190 9 років тому +9

    Nicely done Adam, you explained that clearly and concisely. I'd love to see more videos like these where you explore concepts like Canons and other things within music theory. Thanks for making these!

  • @dominicbulger9136
    @dominicbulger9136 5 років тому +1

    This video helped me test out of Music Fundamentals and into Theory I. Thanks muchly.

  • @TheVocoderGuy
    @TheVocoderGuy 7 років тому +3

    This is exactly what I wanted to see, that fact that your narrating your thought process is great!

  • @roewilson5905
    @roewilson5905 4 роки тому +2

    Ive been a fan of yours for a while, and my school didn't have music theory or much music classes (my current college major) and you and 12 tone were super helpful learning music stuff and these old videos are still wildly helpful and fun!

  • @rafa3lico
    @rafa3lico 7 років тому +33

    wtf?? THAT WAS FANTASTIC

  • @juliadmorris
    @juliadmorris 7 років тому +2

    This looked so fun that I just had to try it out for myself. I'm pretty happy with the result!

  • @WaldoFindsYo
    @WaldoFindsYo 7 років тому +3

    I should get this program when I compose canons I just do it in my head. This looks much easier

  • @hetgenie
    @hetgenie 8 років тому +3

    Wow Adam, I learned two new major things about music and I JUST discovered your channel. Brilliant work!

  • @stephen7185
    @stephen7185 7 років тому +1

    Dude this was the single most useful video for understanding how to make stuff sound "classical" (forgive the generality, I mainly listen to metal music) I've ever seen. I'd love it if you did more writing explanation videos like this!
    Keep up the badass work brother!

  • @manueldeswaaf
    @manueldeswaaf 7 років тому

    YES watched this one over a few times while tinkering with Sibelius, love you

  • @TarksGauntlet
    @TarksGauntlet 7 років тому +1

    When it suddenly ended I found myself wishing the video was an hour long.

  • @misterbuckethead
    @misterbuckethead 6 років тому

    this is literally a person explaining the composition process and i love it

  • @victordeviking
    @victordeviking 9 років тому +40

    Great video Adam, watched it a couple times and its really helping me. I was wondering what program you're using? Is it apple exclusive? Cheers!

    • @AdamNeely
      @AdamNeely  9 років тому +24

      +victordeviking Sibelius, and no, definitely not!

    • @iandamaral
      @iandamaral 7 років тому +9

      It's Sibelius 6 and it's available for Mac and Windows

    • @YouCrossedMyPath
      @YouCrossedMyPath 7 років тому +2

      Musescore is indeed good, my only complaint is its marching percussion is less than great

  • @Alan2Bordeaux
    @Alan2Bordeaux 7 років тому +2

    Just imagine what Telemann would have done with good software!
    He'd have written a whole set of canon sonatas!

  • @Backtobassics500
    @Backtobassics500 7 років тому

    The infamous Pachelbel's Canon popped into my mind as soon as I saw the title, but I'm glad I watched the whole thing. I stumbled across your channel not long ago and I enjoy your content. I've already learned some of the material through either college, or doing my own research, but it's nice to be able to go back and do some review with a sometimes different perspective. I like how you dive into most of the aspects of music, not just learning how to play an instrument.

  • @valq10
    @valq10 4 роки тому

    Love how bored he is by the end. Top music school graduate attitude.

  • @bepispaul2419
    @bepispaul2419 5 років тому +2

    "Sounds like counterpoint."
    Well, I sure hope it does.

  • @gruforevs
    @gruforevs 5 років тому

    I love finding old adam neely videos accidently

  • @camillajefferson386
    @camillajefferson386 5 років тому +1

    It would be cool to see more videos like this where you take a theoretical concept and show how it would be used in a compositional environment, as well as/instead of existing examples. One way to get around the demonetisation, maybe?

  • @quercusweblecturing
    @quercusweblecturing 3 роки тому

    Thanks a bunch for pointing out I should approach this like counterpoint, rather than setting up chords. That makes sense :-)

  • @lostinlymbo13
    @lostinlymbo13 7 років тому

    I'd love to have more of this. I'm looking through your other videos to see if you have some. This could be a format - short composition videos. Just saying... I'd watch lol

  • @fryeguymusic
    @fryeguymusic 6 років тому

    Thanks for this video. Didn't know what a cannon was before this

  • @jimmyalderson1639
    @jimmyalderson1639 6 років тому +4

    Can ylu do the same but for a fugue please? I'd imagine you do a similar thing, but there's a lot more variety that i think would make it very tricky

  • @storingjazzinmycheeksforth5319
    @storingjazzinmycheeksforth5319 6 років тому +2

    Can we get more of this kind of video please?

  • @AgglomeratiProduzioni
    @AgglomeratiProduzioni 7 років тому

    So... it was, it was just that?!? Wow.
    You make complex things seem easy.

  • @heffhart2510
    @heffhart2510 7 років тому +12

    Would the middle section of Prophets Song by Queen be considered a canon

    • @connorschwartz7518
      @connorschwartz7518 7 років тому +4

      I believe it would. Great song!

    • @honeycombfromheaven
      @honeycombfromheaven 6 років тому +6

      I am ridiculously happy to find a mention of this song in a comment section. To answer the question, yes it's a canon, but more than that I just wanted to say how happy I was to see this comment :')

    • @JarredWrightMusic
      @JarredWrightMusic 6 років тому +2

      Same!

  • @WhimsyHeath
    @WhimsyHeath 7 років тому +2

    check out Telemann's Canonical sonatas! they are all canons, and they change keys, and sound amazing.

  • @johnsmith-pw7oj
    @johnsmith-pw7oj 6 років тому

    great !

  • @soheilmonfared3639
    @soheilmonfared3639 7 років тому +1

    its look like Sibelius just annoying you when you working with as mine !! i mean drawing notes ...lol
    anyway...thanks for great video...*_* !

  • @whaleguy
    @whaleguy 8 років тому +1

    Quick question here. What is your opinion on linear counterpoint? Do you use it at all or do you always think in intervals? I use it a lot in my band and I find it a lot of fun.

  • @hobodivine
    @hobodivine 6 років тому

    That was awesome! Thank you.

  • @evanhosley2360
    @evanhosley2360 7 років тому

    Every time I hear that F, I expect the rest of we are number one to play

  • @vesellin
    @vesellin 3 місяці тому

    We're gonna start in the key of a minorrrrrrrrrr

  • @dclarkmusic
    @dclarkmusic 7 років тому

    These are fun! I did one in cubase!

    • @slayerficated
      @slayerficated 7 років тому

      Dustin Clark what? Why would he do this again???

  • @jobejobe123
    @jobejobe123 7 років тому

    CONSONANT, ADAM

  • @TheMiwaro
    @TheMiwaro 7 років тому

    This gives me some good ideas! Thanks

  • @ks3bigksudjoht180
    @ks3bigksudjoht180 3 роки тому

    1:48
    Great. Now I only hear Moanin' by Art Blakey...

  • @timothyrice1621
    @timothyrice1621 7 років тому

    3:10 To me, Adam sounds like Mr. Garrison when he says "strange"

  • @shimtest
    @shimtest 7 років тому

    wow end result was great

  •  7 років тому

    My new favourite channel :)

  • @phoebuskyriakoudis7412
    @phoebuskyriakoudis7412 5 років тому

    I would expect a little bit more thinking done on the horizontal aspect of the voice as well rather than just considering what intervals work best each time and not discussing the continuity and cohesion of the whole. At the end of the day, counterpoint is all about the coexistence of musical lines that already sound complete in themselves, so I would like to hear more about how one can achieve that when writing a canon or any other kind of counterpoint rather than just discussing which intervals work best.

  • @RockBoBsteRMusic
    @RockBoBsteRMusic 5 років тому

    I had Arthur Welwood for this class...2009.

  • @nr23579
    @nr23579 6 років тому +1

    "Woo-hoo" -Adam Neely

  • @coleb.t.6905
    @coleb.t.6905 6 років тому

    Thank you for uploading this.

  • @juanfeeer
    @juanfeeer 7 років тому

    Brilliant!

  • @martinflores26
    @martinflores26 7 років тому

    Genial! grettings from Brazil!

  • @gruforevs
    @gruforevs 5 років тому

    Woohoo!

  • @guky667
    @guky667 7 років тому +2

    OMG IM STEALING THIS xD kidding, but it sounds so beautifull

  • @mitchmarq428
    @mitchmarq428 5 років тому

    I want the whole of music to be based upon canons. I even have a dream that one day, everything will be realized to be a canon.
    Just play the Final Countdown over itself. Seriously.

  • @HotSkeleton
    @HotSkeleton 5 років тому

    I love this letsplayer

  • @brianrawks123
    @brianrawks123 7 років тому +1

    so you can consider the delay effect a canon since it does pretty much the same thing in a wider scale.

    • @NicolasGarciaLieberman
      @NicolasGarciaLieberman 7 років тому +2

      i'd say you CAN do a canon with delay, but for that to be you'd have to be thinking about the relationship between what you are playing and what you played which the delay is playing back... so relating counterpoint-ally to your own delay. Not all Delay is Canon, Canon is a musical procedure, Delay is an effect. And I don´t mean you have to obey the rules that Adam followed, which are the traditional ones, but that you'd have to be relating to the delay, not ignoring it

  • @snapcracklecube6524
    @snapcracklecube6524 6 років тому

    What software for composing do you use? I’m using Finale, I’m not a big fan

  • @claudiamay4437
    @claudiamay4437 6 років тому +1

    I'm definitely not great at composing music, but I feel like that last note in the bass should be an A. Since the treble is a C the last note being a B to me doesn't really feel like an end to the song, it's almost like it's leaving me on a cliffhanger. Please explain the thing I'm either missing or hearing wrong!

  • @isaacvandoren4733
    @isaacvandoren4733 7 років тому

    super cool!!

  • @klop4228
    @klop4228 5 років тому

    Technically a round is a very specific type of canon. A canon can be the same melody played together with any kind of transformation of itself.

  • @guilherme-da-fonseca
    @guilherme-da-fonseca 2 роки тому

    So the Basics of the canon is to shift the Cantus firmus voice to voice?

  • @mikecurtis11
    @mikecurtis11 Місяць тому

    The ending, of the video, was abrupt. I wanted to hear the resulting single melody played solo. But, anyway, nice concise tutorial.

  • @jacobmaynor1508
    @jacobmaynor1508 6 років тому

    Wahoo

  • @cmt0726
    @cmt0726 7 років тому +23

    I really hope i wasn't the only one clicking on this video thinking he was composing for actual cannons? I mean I know canon is one less 'N' but a man get his hopes up right? No? okay..

    • @zannall2699
      @zannall2699 7 років тому +16

      I really was hoping for some 1812 overture action.

    • @Bushwhacker-so4yk
      @Bushwhacker-so4yk 4 роки тому

      Canon for Two Cannons. Challenge accepted.

  • @hida68
    @hida68 7 років тому

    cool

  • @SendyTheEndless
    @SendyTheEndless 7 років тому

    Just a quick question, and I know it's a matter of taste these days, but for "traditional" harmony, when you are harmonizing a run of notes, how do you treat passing notes? Harmonize the on-grid ones?

  • @NicolasGarciaLieberman
    @NicolasGarciaLieberman 7 років тому

    hahahaha i was just about to begin writing a fugue in Sibelius and this was just a bit too real for me

  • @T25de
    @T25de 7 років тому

    That was cool.

  • @trevorwilliams8353
    @trevorwilliams8353 7 років тому

    @adam Neely, do you prefer this software youre using compared to others? I use finale notepad and often find it frustrating to use.

  • @alcyonecrucis
    @alcyonecrucis 6 років тому +1

    Wow that actually sounded good. You're very fluent at composition Adam. Why don't you write more counterpoint?

  • @nerusonsanzenin2786
    @nerusonsanzenin2786 7 років тому

    I think you just blew my mind.
    About parallel fifths... I took theory in school, I know it's a classical no-no... but also as a metal guitarist it's definitely a solid tool that brings a lot of heaviness (especially when you write a riff in drop D and just play the same riff on the A string simultaneously). This will work on steel and nylon acoustic as well(No drop D required). If you play parallel fifths the guitar brings out this crazy aggressive natural "distortion"...Probably all the harmonics working together? I also like it when I record Rock vocals because I feel like my separate tracks blend well... but like you said it definitely does not bring out a second voice... only accentuates the root note in a way that makes it sound like an effect(like a 'Fifths Synth'.)
    Thank you for bringing meaning to some previously discarded knowledge! I also learned not to throw away anything I learn from anybody.

    • @matcoddy6097
      @matcoddy6097 6 років тому

      yes like todd said, also many paralell 5ths and parallel octaves are allowed in a row, BUT its NOT allowed to be used in the middle of independent lines, as the lines lose there independent sound, which confuses the listener of how many lines they are listening too, and which ones which etc.... when theres multiple parallels in a row that is ok, because it doesnt confuse the listener

  • @naturespeakmusic
    @naturespeakmusic 7 років тому

    Hey adam do you know of any programs that have a voice to text feature for writing music? It be cool to sing notes and there name and have it be transcribed.

    • @KKIcons
      @KKIcons 6 років тому

      I am looking for apps like this as well, and if I find one I will let you know. I do think Mixcraft ilets you do some fun things like modulate or augment (or time stretch) one vocal track and put it next to it's copy. And lots of loops and splicing ability. If you can play piano, it will also give you the midi piano roll or the notes for what you play. And you can enter in one track at a time, then put them next to each other and pick the bpm, etc.

  • @Tabu11211
    @Tabu11211 6 років тому

    This is so fucking cool!

  • @aleenasaha986
    @aleenasaha986 3 роки тому

    Tres fooli napsty

  • @jonassholmberg8071
    @jonassholmberg8071 6 років тому

    Gah! The bass wants to end on A as well!

  • @LordQueezle
    @LordQueezle 6 років тому

    What is the difference between a fugue and a canon? They seem really similar in their use of counter point.

  • @GR_BackingTracks
    @GR_BackingTracks 3 роки тому

    Writing a canon with low battery

  • @SergHalen
    @SergHalen 6 років тому

    wow! genius!

  • @armandbenrehaiem9937
    @armandbenrehaiem9937 7 років тому

    That sounds counterpoints

  • @artemisfowl2ndchannel359
    @artemisfowl2ndchannel359 6 років тому

    I understand that fugues are similar, but what would you do differently for them?

  • @travisbeck8184
    @travisbeck8184 7 років тому

    It sounds more like one of Bach's Inventions.

  • @poopy_fingers3324
    @poopy_fingers3324 7 років тому

    what music program are you using?

  • @jacktraveller8290
    @jacktraveller8290 7 років тому

    Could you incorporate a third voice into this by doing the same thing with mirroring the preceding half bar? Any tips for this?

  • @ToastedCigar
    @ToastedCigar 5 років тому

    Great video! I just hope that you would have talked a bit more about when it is ok to use dissonances (on weak beats), since a beginning composer watching this can get an impression that only 3rds, 6ths, 5ths and 8ths/unisons are allowed.

  • @vbenvenuti
    @vbenvenuti 7 років тому

    nice!

  • @fkeyzuwu
    @fkeyzuwu 6 років тому

    first melody kinda sounds like that one song from blank banshee

  • @agent45267
    @agent45267 7 років тому

    holy shit how did you do that

  • @jeffreyhodes
    @jeffreyhodes 6 років тому

    people normally say "consonant" instead of "euphonous" I think

  • @Aleroj44
    @Aleroj44 6 років тому

    i llove you ur so good

  • @carlotapuig
    @carlotapuig 6 років тому +1

    Why are perfect 4ths considered dissonant? Are perfect 4ths and 5ths not basically the same harmonically?

  • @jeff7775
    @jeff7775 6 років тому

    Boom!