titmusspaultpaul5 But what do you think a "pause" is in music notation? It's just a note that we play that is not there. If you actually watch Varien's tutorial, you will understand what he is really talking about.
I fully agree that melodies are 90% rhythm and 10% notes. I once imitated a piece, and I copied the rhythm, but used the different notes, and it sounded very much like the original piece but different.
Actually, you will find that some notes are more important than others depending on which key you are in. Writing harmonic progressions and melodies is a very delicate and intricate skill.
This was great! A couple of tips to modify your idea: Don't feel the need to give a note to every syllable. Rather, focus on the *stressed* syllables and *their* rhythm; you can mostly ignore the other syllables, because it is mostly stress that guides English intonation, and when we speak, we tend to stretch or compress the unstressed syllables to fit between the stressed syllables that occur at roughly regular intervals. At the same time, I'm sure this technique is only meant to be a starting point, so there's no need to emulate spoken language to a T. Another tip: Listen to foreign languages, too. Even if you don't know what's being said, it can be helpful, especially for giving your music a somewhat "exotic" feel. Prosody (a linguistic term referring to the more "musical" aspects of spoken language like stress, rhythm, speed, tone) can vary considerably from language to language.
Couldn't agree with you more. The human voice contains all you need for musical composition: it has melody, rhythm - but also rich harmonics. It's really just a matter of listening...
"You've got only 12 notes, so there are a limited number of things you can do." I actually calculated something like this. Given 16 measures in 4/4 time (there are 8 eighth notes per measure, so 128 eighth notes total), keeping within a single octave, the total number of possible combinations of eighth notes is 12 to the power of 128. Which is about 1.4 x 10^138 in scientific notation. For comparison, the number of atoms in the known universe is estimated to be 4 x 10^81. There are a lot of melodies in those 16 measures, just using eighth notes. (If you exclude exact transpositions, the number is 12 to the power of 127 instead.)
+Pokemarky glad you already did the math so I don't need to think about it this time, because I'm usually the one thinking of things like this and having all of the non-math people let their eyes gloss over. Those were my thoughts exactly; the part about how NOT limited the number of things you can do with just varying notes.
This proves my theory of rap music. A rapper's "flow" is his melody. The way you speak and write is a melody. Even speeches. Ever been to church? The way the pastor screams and yells is a melody Everything that flows in a direction is a melody!
@SunshineSoul Xo Then dancing is also music. Doing something to music and matching its rhythm doesn't make it music. And they don't have to figure out any melody. Melody has no play in rap, apart from the normal use of intonation.
You're like a damn BMW, innovation comes standard. I already write poetry so adjusting it to the keyboard makes a lot of sense, thanks for the heads up man.
I agree that they work in conjunction with one another. Notes are not "harder" to master, but regardless, that's my opinion and you have yours. I simply believe that rhythm shapes the texture of a song on so many levels, and at times only requires little from melody or harmonies to be interesting. Neither is more important, both have their role.
this is a great video. I agree with what you said regarding melody being mostly rhythmic, and it makes perfect sense. thanks for sharing this technique with us.
Its not about whats first or last, they both work together. Once again, you can't make any rhythms without tone, which essentially are "notes", just not the directly identifiable set you're familiar with. However, i agree with you that rhythm is so important in writing, because it makes or breaks a melody/harmony. You can make the simplest melody rock with the write rhythm
I am finding so many ways to create original melodies. The ideas in this video are so creative. They inspire me to come up with my own ways to write melodies.
thank you so much! this is awesome and I've been struggling with this for ages! I really like your idea about melodies being mostly rhythm, I totally agree!
The method you just described did a good work on surprising me! For every phrase I say, a new rhythm is discovered and all I have to do is to put some notes from a scale. Thanks for introducing me this technique!
holy crap this video has helped me so much. i've been stuck for weeks now trying to figure out where to start writing songs. now i have so many ideas. thank you!
+MusicMusket he didn't say which types of chords he'd use with those tonic notes... If you have a piano try this progression: Eb minor D major C minor (1st inversion) D major (1st inversion) It actually sounds kinda good
It's not a trick . . . it's actually the real inevitable thing to do. After all, music is an expression of oneself - thoughts and emotions. Great thing there !!! Hi, from the Philippines.
Thats like a breakthrough tip here coming from you sir. And loved that joke at the end, very The Office'ish. Ok, I shall move on to some melody mining.. You cant imagine how helpful this video is to me. I need a minute to celebrate.
Wow! Of all the videos that I have watched on UA-cam, this has to be the coolest one. Its for all those aspiring writers who are just too overwhelmed because of the emphasis on theory and musical training by all those UA-cam teachers. My God I am just surprised by the amount of possibilities that are out there in nature.
Rhythm is 90% of the melody... dude. TRUE! Focus on the rhythm... ahh!. That's huge. Game changer. That's probably the best songwriting advice I've heard ever. Such a simple idea but totally changes everything.
What an amazing video... This has really helped me.. this is my first melody I am creating but I have to make it fit an instrumental.. but this is an amazing start... Thank you
This is good stuff...thanks! it supports a theory I've had for ages and one that I've used in Songwriting workshops. I'll record a convwrsation with a group and then we'll listen back and pick out phrases that 'sing' and sound like they should be in a song. I agree that the natural rhythms of speech make great lyrics and they do indeed have an innate melodic flow.
OMG. You are so right. I was able to come up with melodies right alongside your video. That easy. I can't believe it was that easy. Thanks for sharing this with us.🙂
Interesting, haven't thought of this... but it makes perfect sense. I often use vocal samples for an intro or something and notice that there is a natural time signature to the way people speak, often fitting the drums that I have down.
I think the biggest thing I told away from the technique of "melody mining" learned here is how to vividly express visual elements through song. I would not consider myself a music expert, just sharing my happy thoughts :-)
Man, I realized this when I was a kid. Our front gate in our yard used to squeak, and the way the squeak would sound formed this creepy 3 or 4 note melody and I always thought it would be cool to write music this way. I think the "Sound Garden" here in Seattle is completely based on this theory (the sculpture, not the band).
uree uree uree dddddd lmfao. i really love this approach though i mean its so awesome realizing that its all around us. the world is always singing a song. and you just have to get in there and play with it. its a beautiful way to see things. i love this. thanks for the vid
its not stupid, its just a different method, but your right about just doing what you want to get better at, one thing id like to add is that you cant be too critical about yourself, you might think your work sucks but others might think its awesome, and if they say anything bad about it they are stupid.
amazing! you're the man. Dont know if I will manage to compose the melody to my instrumental at last but its for sure inspiring and wise. Dont speak la la la no doubt, everything started to sounds like that haha : ) very cool it really does resonate
this is sooo awesome! I had forgotten about this vid... not anymore - will share with my folks at my next Songwriter's Workshop - OR better yet, might email it to them today - why wait, right?
You know another thing that is fun/interesting to mine melodies from is nature. Just go outside and listen to EVERYTHING. Birds make melodies all day long, but then if you listen deeper, everything around you harmonizes together. In this way you can build familiarity into your songs without being blatant about it.
Also, listen to Lyrics Born, they know how to flow but also utilize singing in rhymes so they're not as monotone or rhythmic based like you're saying most rappers do.
Totally!! Actually, many Classical composers derived their ideas for songs, melodies and harmonies from Nature or society. Anything from running water to birds and other animals to man-made machines operating or the sound of a busy square full of people etc etc!! It's still found in modern music....even when writers don't actively seek inspiration from their environments, the sounds of their surroundings often affects the sound of the music, even when done unconsciously!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. Some basic examples: *Blues* music often had rhythms and sounds that mimicked the sounds ~Trains~ make from riding down the tracks to the whistle blowing etc!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . Old *Country/Western* music sometimes would be reminiscent of the sound of ~Horses~ walking or trotting. Or sometimes the music would be derived from the sounds found on a ~Farm~ etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *Heavy Metal* had music inspired by the sounds of ~Factories & Industrial Equipment~ or the sounds of ~Metal~ being beaten and banged on. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . And those are just a very few basic examples in modern times
a better way of explaining it would be referring to it as call and response notes. that's basically what you're doing. the first few notes makes the call then the following notes answer the call of the first set of notes. also called call and answer notes.
actually, you can use any pitches you want in your melodies, no matter what other pitches are sounding at the same time. Dissonances create tension and add alot of color.
you just fucked my head up i will be hearing melodies everywhere i go now
Lol. That's funny
I'm scared to watch the full video now...
More to that, melodies are often question-answer. Now you will be hearing question-answers instead of melodies.
i hearing melodies all the time. everywhere i go. seriously guy i keep singing the melody.i swear i cant stop making melodies
Nexer Legacy happened to me for a month lols it's good when u trynna to produce
The part where you get the melody from birds singing is what Disney composers did for a lot of their movies, it's a great way to start
Fernando Lins extremely late but could you give some examples? i think i know some but i want to be sure
@@darthestaaar I think in some of the songs in sleeping beauty
"The notes that AREN'T there are just as important as the notes that ARE there"
-Varien
they MAY have some sort of significance, but if they were AS important, you would be playing them as well.
titmusspaultpaul5 But what do you think a "pause" is in music notation? It's just a note that we play that is not there. If you actually watch Varien's tutorial, you will understand what he is really talking about.
titmusspaultpaul5 You don't get it.
syncopation
Schroeder says it better:
Charlie: How do you play all those amazing pieces on a toy piano?
Schroeder: You gotta get the breaks.
I like to write melodies out of thicc air actually
Ayyy up top
The birds one is the essence of dubstep.
+Riexn yeah right
+Riexn That's literrally what I thought.
wooww, that's sooo true
No, you're totally right dude/dudette. The bird one is very similar to the vocal at the beginning Are We Faded from Keyz N Krates
cf Olivier Messiaen.....:)
I fully agree that melodies are 90% rhythm and 10% notes. I once imitated a piece, and I copied the rhythm, but used the different notes, and it sounded very much like the original piece but different.
i got cord trigger, so I'm good lmao
Dude you were so fucking high when choosing the notes!!!
+xZeno right
+xZeno He almost as high as me.
rawcussssssss
+xZeno hahhaahahahhahhaha
I can hear a completely different melody. I don't know where he got those notes from.
Thumbs up if you too heard "I hate everybody" at the beginning of the video
heard it too lol
Nice catch! Totally heard it!
I see where you got that but he definitely says, "uhh...hey everybody".
The truth is I always've been inspired by hatred towards everything bad around me. It still works
Those zap/lazer sound were sick. Reminds me of Skrillex - Ruffneck Bass (Full flex) lazers from drop.
Absolutely amazing! I'm gonna start opening my ears from now on, because we are sorrounded by instant melodies.
THIS is what You Tube is all about! Thanks for sharing your creative thoughts!
I'm trying to make melodies for the Psalms. Thanks. This is brilliant!
Where are you songs ??
Actually, you will find that some notes are more important than others depending on which key you are in. Writing harmonic progressions and melodies is a very delicate and intricate skill.
This was great! A couple of tips to modify your idea: Don't feel the need to give a note to every syllable. Rather, focus on the *stressed* syllables and *their* rhythm; you can mostly ignore the other syllables, because it is mostly stress that guides English intonation, and when we speak, we tend to stretch or compress the unstressed syllables to fit between the stressed syllables that occur at roughly regular intervals. At the same time, I'm sure this technique is only meant to be a starting point, so there's no need to emulate spoken language to a T. Another tip: Listen to foreign languages, too. Even if you don't know what's being said, it can be helpful, especially for giving your music a somewhat "exotic" feel. Prosody (a linguistic term referring to the more "musical" aspects of spoken language like stress, rhythm, speed, tone) can vary considerably from language to language.
True.
Inspiring.
Your statement about rhythm is SO RIGHT ON...without rhythm it's just noise!!!!!!!!
Couldn't agree with you more.
The human voice contains all you need for musical composition: it has melody, rhythm - but also rich harmonics.
It's really just a matter of listening...
"You've got only 12 notes, so there are a limited number of things you can do."
I actually calculated something like this. Given 16 measures in 4/4 time (there are 8 eighth notes per measure, so 128 eighth notes total), keeping within a single octave, the total number of possible combinations of eighth notes is 12 to the power of 128. Which is about 1.4 x 10^138 in scientific notation. For comparison, the number of atoms in the known universe is estimated to be 4 x 10^81.
There are a lot of melodies in those 16 measures, just using eighth notes.
(If you exclude exact transpositions, the number is 12 to the power of 127 instead.)
+Pokemarky ooooookay then
If you don't understand something from what I said I can explain.
you took it way too far. I like it. 👏👏👏
+Pokemarky glad you already did the math so I don't need to think about it this time, because I'm usually the one thinking of things like this and having all of the non-math people let their eyes gloss over. Those were my thoughts exactly; the part about how NOT limited the number of things you can do with just varying notes.
+Pokemarky Realistically only 7 notes in any key. And 8 eighth-notes in any measure would make for a very 'busy' melody and not so easily memorable.
This proves my theory of rap music. A rapper's "flow" is his melody. The way you speak and write is a melody. Even speeches. Ever been to church? The way the pastor screams and yells is a melody
Everything that flows in a direction is a melody!
Fuck yeah!
yesss
NobleNate doesn’t mean it’s a good melody
No. By that reasoning, any spoken word is music. Especially poetry reading and theater.
Rap is not music.
@SunshineSoul Xo Then dancing is also music. Doing something to music and matching its rhythm doesn't make it music. And they don't have to figure out any melody. Melody has no play in rap, apart from the normal use of intonation.
Totally agree on the 90% rhythm. Whenever I get a lightning-strike idea, it's always rhythm dependent. The notes are just the icing on the cake🙂
One of my personal favourites; The rhythm within words. Such a nice flow.
You're like a damn BMW, innovation comes standard. I already write poetry so adjusting it to the keyboard makes a lot of sense, thanks for the heads up man.
You know what, I'm gonna try making melodies out of a Trump speech. This should be fun.
Make melodies great again.
+heavyweaponsgaming I'm pretty sure you will just end up with Public Ememy's Fear Of A Black Planet.
Ted Nugent probably already sounds like that!
Great, I'm sure what ever song you come up with is going to be HUGE :P
heavyweaponsgaming POST IT
I agree that they work in conjunction with one another. Notes are not "harder" to master, but regardless, that's my opinion and you have yours. I simply believe that rhythm shapes the texture of a song on so many levels, and at times only requires little from melody or harmonies to be interesting. Neither is more important, both have their role.
'Alright, alright don't laugh at me here.. Uriii uriii, uriii tetetetete'
Hahahahaha :p
i died
this is a great video. I agree with what you said regarding melody being mostly rhythmic, and it makes perfect sense. thanks for sharing this technique with us.
i dunno that bird call sounds like a dubsteb bass line to me hahahahaha
+Luke Murray yeah right
Its not about whats first or last, they both work together. Once again, you can't make any rhythms without tone, which essentially are "notes", just not the directly identifiable set you're familiar with. However, i agree with you that rhythm is so important in writing, because it makes or breaks a melody/harmony. You can make the simplest melody rock with the write rhythm
I am finding so many ways to create original melodies. The ideas in this video are so creative. They inspire me to come up with my own ways to write melodies.
thank you so much! this is awesome and I've been struggling with this for ages! I really like your idea about melodies being mostly rhythm, I totally agree!
Revelation! I love it! It is rhytm that opens up the number of note combinations to ... infinity.
I agree with you , melodies can be found everywhere things you say and things you hear , things people say , phrasing can be learned also that way.
jump to 2:51 for why you are here.
I know this isnt needed but THANK YOU
The method you just described did a good work on surprising me! For every phrase I say, a new rhythm is discovered and all I have to do is to put some notes from a scale. Thanks for introducing me this technique!
Host: 8:10 "Don't steal that one, that one's mine"
Me: I'm not a biter, I'm a writer
holy crap this video has helped me so much. i've been stuck for weeks now trying to figure out where to start writing songs. now i have so many ideas. thank you!
^ In case anyone's looking for a Melody.
+MusicMusket he didn't say which types of chords he'd use with those tonic notes... If you have a piano try this progression:
Eb minor
D major
C minor (1st inversion)
D major (1st inversion)
It actually sounds kinda good
Hi Melody! Can you help me look for a melody?
It's not a trick . . . it's actually the real inevitable thing to do. After all, music is an expression of oneself - thoughts and emotions. Great thing there !!! Hi, from the Philippines.
The birds were doing dubstep ahaha
yes always agreed that the rhythm is the most important aspect of great melody
Thats like a breakthrough tip here coming from you sir. And loved that joke at the end, very The Office'ish. Ok, I shall move on to some melody mining.. You cant imagine how helpful this video is to me. I need a minute to celebrate.
It took me years to understand the Genius of this vídeo. Thank you sir
Wow! Of all the videos that I have watched on UA-cam, this has to be the coolest one. Its for all those aspiring writers who are just too overwhelmed because of the emphasis on theory and musical training by all those UA-cam teachers. My God I am just surprised by the amount of possibilities that are out there in nature.
Rhythm is 90% of the melody... dude. TRUE! Focus on the rhythm... ahh!.
That's huge. Game changer. That's probably the best songwriting advice I've heard ever. Such a simple idea but totally changes everything.
What a great idea. I don't write but I play really bad guiter and now I can sing really badly along with great melodies. Thanks babes :)
Thank you for the tip, this is great for where I am at right now in my song writing.
Google Search! I'm feelin' lucky!
how does that actually work?
I'm a percussionist and I'd have to disagree. You can't play a melody with 1 note, but you can play an entire melody with just quarter notes.
What an amazing video... This has really helped me.. this is my first melody I am creating but I have to make it fit an instrumental.. but this is an amazing start... Thank you
After YEARS of struggle...I can't believe that it is this simple!!!
Thank you!! I did what you said, I found a video from the recent debate with Obama. His voice is SO melodic! Started writing a new song right away! :D
This is good stuff...thanks! it supports a theory I've had for ages and one that I've used in Songwriting workshops. I'll record a convwrsation with a group and then we'll listen back and pick out phrases that 'sing' and sound like they should be in a song. I agree that the natural rhythms of speech make great lyrics and they do indeed have an innate melodic flow.
OMG. You are so right. I was able to come up with melodies right alongside your video. That easy. I can't believe it was that easy. Thanks for sharing this with us.🙂
I agree completely about the 90% rhythm/10% notes breakdown! Every catchy melody EVER is catchy because the rhythm is distinctive.
This is one of the most amazing concepts I've ever been exposed to.
Interesting, haven't thought of this... but it makes perfect sense. I often use vocal samples for an intro or something and notice that there is a natural time signature to the way people speak, often fitting the drums that I have down.
I think the biggest thing I told away from the technique of "melody mining" learned here is how to vividly express visual elements through song. I would not consider myself a music expert, just sharing my happy thoughts :-)
Man, I realized this when I was a kid. Our front gate in our yard used to squeak, and the way the squeak would sound formed this creepy 3 or 4 note melody and I always thought it would be cool to write music this way. I think the "Sound Garden" here in Seattle is completely based on this theory (the sculpture, not the band).
that bird call thing is tapping into some deep shit. IIRC Mozart wrote many of his melodies based from bird calls! Incredible.
I believe in the 90 % rythm and 10% melody theory
+Wael Chorfan I cannot see any merit in that.
+melancholiac Think about all of your favorite melodies played as solid quarter notes, no rests either.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is probably the closest thing i can think of
You can work out the tones after, start with the rhythm!
Noahtherapper by the time as I'm working and working for hours ,it is about an idea, the tones and rythm are included there
Thanks Mate! Really cleared my head! I Came up with like 10 melodies just watching your vid! :D
You my man are a fucking Genius. Thank you so much will keep my ears open from now on :D
uree uree uree dddddd lmfao. i really love this approach though i mean its so awesome realizing that its all around us. the world is always singing a song. and you just have to get in there and play with it. its a beautiful way to see things. i love this. thanks for the vid
This method is extremely useful when composing melody for recitative! 👍
Wow this is actually very useful !
Dude! That's genious! And I agree with the rhythm / notes report!
I love this method! Can't wait to try it out.
this is probably the most useful tutorial ive seen and ive seen quite a few. thanks!
This is one of the coolest things I have ever heard thank you!
WOW, amazing technique. Very impressive. Thank You.
I've noticed this too. It works really well with sassy people
I totally agree...melody is much more about rhythmic phrasing than it is the notes!
Haha, melody mining, "digging for gold". I like the way you present your information.
its not stupid, its just a different method, but your right about just doing what you want to get better at, one thing id like to add is that you cant be too critical about yourself, you might think your work sucks but others might think its awesome, and if they say anything bad about it they are stupid.
Thanks for making this video. I needed someone to present this to me like you did.
LOVE THIS! never knew it was that simple....I'll definitely use this method
Dude... I spit brilliant melodies all the time and never thought of doing this... my goodness, this is going to help so very much lol thanks dude.
Holy crap! I can create melodies now! Thank you very much!
i totaly agree with your concept of 90% rhythm and 10% notes
amazing! you're the man. Dont know if I will manage to compose the melody to my instrumental at last but its for sure inspiring and wise.
Dont speak la la la no doubt, everything started to sounds like that haha : ) very cool it really does resonate
Best idea for finding melodies I’ve heard!! Love it. Nice work thanks for sharing
there should be more of these videos! Very informative!
Anything that's a definite solution to a creative problem is doomed, BUT that's an interesting technique for inspiration
wow this is going to change the game for me
this is sooo awesome! I had forgotten about this vid... not anymore - will share with my folks at my next Songwriter's Workshop - OR better yet, might email it to them today - why wait, right?
This idea sounds absolutely amazing. I'm gonna try to make use of this.
this is really cool. thanks for sharing this method.
AK lol?
AK!
Your tips is super super great. I'm enlightened! Thanks!
You know another thing that is fun/interesting to mine melodies from is nature. Just go outside and listen to EVERYTHING. Birds make melodies all day long, but then if you listen deeper, everything around you harmonizes together. In this way you can build familiarity into your songs without being blatant about it.
Also, listen to Lyrics Born, they know how to flow but also utilize singing in rhymes so they're not as monotone or rhythmic based like you're saying most rappers do.
Totally!! Actually, many Classical composers derived their ideas for songs, melodies and harmonies from Nature or society. Anything from running water to birds and other animals to man-made machines operating or the sound of a busy square full of people etc etc!! It's still found in modern music....even when writers don't actively seek inspiration from their environments, the sounds of their surroundings often affects the sound of the music, even when done unconsciously!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . ..
Some basic examples: *Blues* music often had rhythms and sounds that mimicked the sounds ~Trains~ make from riding down the tracks to the whistle blowing etc!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . Old *Country/Western* music sometimes would be reminiscent of the sound of ~Horses~ walking or trotting. Or sometimes the music would be derived from the sounds found on a ~Farm~ etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *Heavy Metal* had music inspired by the sounds of ~Factories & Industrial Equipment~ or the sounds of ~Metal~ being beaten and banged on. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . And those are just a very few basic examples in modern times
Good tips man! basically it's looking for ideas/inspiration from unlikely sources.
Genius!
I love this guys voice and humour "Don't steal that one, that one's mine! Just kidding."
Aw, so cute. And very helpful :)
a plot twist in melodiy making, thank u!
I think I need to watch this a couple more times.
a better way of explaining it would be referring to it as call and response notes. that's basically what you're doing. the first few notes makes the call then the following notes answer the call of the first set of notes. also called call and answer notes.
thanks, I always wondered if their is a name for that, now I can research it. ;)
This is actually REALLY good and I appreciate the effort to put it up on youtube! Thanks!
this is exactly what i do naturally ! thank you for putting it into words for me x
"google search i'm feeling lucky" sounded like a Doors melody
actually, you can use any pitches you want in your melodies, no matter what other pitches are sounding at the same time. Dissonances create tension and add alot of color.
Thank you so much. You gave some very good ideas.
I got 5 on it beat got a bird sound as a note just tweaked. And my drier was making a beat as well
I agree with your melody theory. Well thought.