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A look into the things I explore as a creative systems-thinker
A look into the things I explore as a creative systems-thinker
 Have you ever had a verse and a chorus that didn't fit together? Here are some ideas to help you 'bridge that gap' and 'put the pieces together' Techniques to Establish a Seamless Flow in Your Musical CompositionThe art of composition is dynamic. Various elements that, when harmonized effectively, take the listener on a journey. How do you ensure your music has a cohesive flow between different sections of a song? Whether transitioning between verse and chorus or introducing a bridge, the seamless flow of musical elements enhances the overall listening experience. In this article, we'll explore techniques to weave the fabric of your composition and continuity and flow. Melodic and Motivic ContinuityA motif is like the 'theme' of a song. One of the fundamental building blocks for a composition is maintaining melodic and motivic continuity. By repeating key melodic motifs or musical ideas throughout various sections, you provide a familiar thread that ties the song together. This not only creates a recognizable identity but also facilitates a smooth transition between different parts. Composers often use this technique in Movies. Next time you're watching one, listen to see if you can hear them. Harmonic ProgressionA harmonic progression is the way the chords and notes flow. A consistent harmonic progression can act as a form of musical glue, connecting disparate sections into a unified whole. Imagine a chord progressions that smoothly flows between verses and choruses, or a note common that ties the two together. It can guide your listener through the emotional nuances of your composition without disrupting the flow of their experience. Predictable yet artful harmonic movement can contribute to a sense of coherence and unity. Rhythmic Consistency & VariationRhythm serves as the heartbeat of a song. It can be the most influential factor in the overall feel of a composition. Consistent rhythmic patterns or gradual rhythmic variations contribute to the seamless flow between sections, although abrupt changes can be a stylistic consideration. Keep in mind the context of what mood you're trying to evoke through your music. concepts like syncopation, rhythmic themes, or evolving patterns can maintain a listener's interest while bridging different parts of your composition. Lyrical ThemesThe marriage of music and lyrics is a potent force in composition. Repeating lyrical themes or employing consistent or connected 'imagery' in lyrics can establish a thematic connection between verses, choruses, and other sections. Lyrical continuity reinforces the narrative and emotional resonance of the song. Dynamic Buildups and ReleasesDynamics are changes in the 'energy levels' in the song. Imagine a crescendo (buildup) or a FAT DROP. Strategic use of dynamics heightens the impact of your song. Gradually building intensity in one section and releasing it in another can create a satisfying ebb and flow. Dynamic shifts can serve as emotional signposts, guiding the listener through the peaks and valleys of your musical landscape. Much more interesting than a song that is the same from start to finish. Transitional ElementsIncorporating transitional elements, such as an instrumental interlude, fill, break, drop, or a new musical passage, can act as a bridge between sections. These elements serve to prepare your listener for upcoming changes while transitioning between parts and can help maintain engagement and interest from start to finish. Instrumentation and ArrangementYour choice of instrumentation and arrangement plays a pivotal role. When do you introduce a new element? Consistency or intentional variation in these elements contributes to the overall tonal palette of your composition. It's a key element of good orchestration, where each section complements the others, reinforcing the sense of unity of the piece Tempo and Meter Changeswhile less common in pop music, Strategic changes in tempo or meter can add a layer of complexity to your composition. These shifts should feel deliberate and enhance the musical narrative, guiding the listener through the evolving landscape of your song. ConclusionIn musical composition, the pursuit of a cohesive flow is balance of the elements we talked about in this article combined with experimentation, creativity, and a deep understanding of the emotional essence you'd like to convey to your listener. These are the keys to achieving a seamless connection between different sections. By practicing these techniques, you can elevate your ability to craft compositions that not only resonate with your audience but also push the limits of your musical abiliities.
Once upon a time I set out to record some Drum Loops. Today I Revisited the concept. This time around I sought help I mean, lets be honest here, It'd be better to leave the drumming to the drummers.  The Goal going in was to Sample the entire Drum kit. Bring your choice pieces, mic it, warm up. Record each drum in every possible way.  So we Warmed up, finished sampling the kit into this session here. Luckily, the setup was quick and efficient. Tracking went smoothly. we captured each Sample and then about a half-dozen loops. Next up is getting the loops Mixed, I won't get too deep into the weeds on the technical side. Light EQ mostly. Some Minor Edits. Later, the samples will be Exported as individual files and arranged by velocity. This is a guest post by Levente  For one, devoting your life to any kind of art is not only honourable and good, but it is also very natural Like the more time I spend creating and playing music, the more that’s all I want to do Sometimes I get annoyed when Soso or or Lablah the bandees want to smoke weed for like 45 minutes when my brain is wanting to be submerged in playing music And that’s a voluntary activity But it takes away from what’s pulling my very existence On the other, life is here for the living and though there are so many facets of songwriting that you could indeed spend every waking moment on it and never run out of things to improve and create. ... If you don’t take the time to live life, and enjoy some of it, take in art whether it be in games, TV, film, books, or anything else, you deny yourself the possibility of any of those things expanding your creative mind and leading you to places you wouldn’t have gone otherwise Not to mention receiving art into your mind is a way of connecting with all the humans who made it, and therefor gives you practice at connecting with humans, seeing how other artists do it, and draw your own conclusions there. I’d argue that a great portion of art creation is sharing existence with other humans. You think the composers of yore didn’t have hobbies on the side? Tune in to Loosechange604 on twitch. Streams Most nights at Midnight PST
Today's video is another sit-down and do it style practice. I didn't really have much of a plan going in - its nice to have a structure - so it ended up being a bit of Melodic Development over one of my favorite chord structures. - Daily Gratitude - When your reality isn’t what you imagined: In fact its so much better. Be open to the possibilities and receive your blessings of unlimited potential. Get a free song download - Join Cody Gene's Music mailing List A song can be four chords. That's not wrong, but if your chord progression is simple, then consider the Principles of contrast to make your song POP. where do you put contrast in your song?Where do you put contrast in your song? What are your song's elements?
Song Structure Have you thought about how your song is laid out while the concept is fresh? I recommend as good practice to outline a few basic song-structures for the style of music you write. it could look like one of these examples:
or
Helps with efficiency to simply put things into a place where you dont have to worry about structure. Why use this approach? because it takes the struggle out of putting the songs together because that part is already done. Just build the pieces to fit and stick them in. Songwriting En-masse, just remember your Contrast considerations. Smooth transitionshow can you switch it up without being abrasive? So now that we're fitting the pieces in, I guess you'll need pieces first. This is where creativity and imagination come into play. During your daily (and i hope it's daily) practice, noodle around until you come up with something. Some folks like to play from scales or books for inspiration. others simply jam. The point is to come up with something that sounds good to you. Remember it's music. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to this stuff. how can you switch it up without being abrasive Abrupt transitions are not always bad. To me it depends on the characteristics of the genre, some being friendlier to rule-breaking than others.
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