Posted
Hi all.
I have been composing music since 2003. And I always start with the climax, hook or chorus first and then work on the rest of my song parts. Synfire has introduced a new problem for me compositional wise. Specifically with the genres I work in, RnB, Hip Hop, Afrobeats I would always just strip away elements during the verse or change some minor things leading up to the Hook...
Well, with Synfire I have been using much more counterpoint instead of pounding away senselessly at chords. However, using my workflow I would seemingly start with a nice balance of counter point and/or cannons in the hook only to find everything going haywire when I strip these important elements away during the verse.
Does anyone have an ideas on the most effective way to imply harmony during a verse? I want to train myself not to use chords too much and I am familiar with counterpoint. Any ideas on how to maintain my counterpoint balance throughout the verse while still leading to an effective climas or hook? -BTW, I tried adding elements to the hook only to find that I have too many notes and too much going on in the hook-
Thanks
Wed, 2023-11-01 - 20:41 Permalink
Does anyone have an ideas on the most effective way to imply harmony during a verse?
If the counterpoint tracks are harmony driven, then you can superimpose several harmony progressions by stacking the harmony containers and try out different harmonies.
These harmony containers (the one below and the one above) shift relative to each other to get a particular chord progression transition...is also possible (the technique of slip composing).
But you probably mean something else?
Thu, 2023-11-02 - 01:13 Permalink
Compile a library of Pause parameters...for example:
1/4 note on, 1/4 off
1/4 off, 1/4 on
1/8 on, 1/8 off
1/8 off, 1/8 on
1/4 on, 1/8 off etc.
Then drag them onto an instrument and see what happens. But be aware that it's the position of a phrase's anchor that determines whether or not the symbols in that phrase will sound. For example, if the anchor lies in an ON portion, all the rest of the symbols in that phrase will sound, even if they are in an OFF portion.
Another useful practice is to copy a phrase you used in the chorus to a verse, and then use Transform/Stretch Parameter/Length*2 (half tempo) to play it at half tempo. If at least some of the verse chords are different from the chorus chords, some of the notes sounded by the verse symbols are likely to be different from the notes those symbols sounded in the chorus.
So the new phrase will sound different since it's half tempo and possibly different notes, but it will still sound somewhat similar to the original phrase, lending your project a sense of cohesion.
Thu, 2023-11-02 - 21:29 Permalink
Janamdo thanks but youre right. I was thinking more along the lines of retaining familiarity in the verse while keeping everything together harmonically. I used to always play chords, always in the song but since Synfire I want to shy away from that constantly. ONly if the song calls for it.
Thanks Artist. This is great advice. Ill try that along with changing someo f the chords in the verse.
Sat, 2023-11-04 - 14:38 Permalink
Counterpoint maybe is a bit overkill as a term here, but yes, I've been preaching this to songwriters all the time: Use full harmony sparsely and rather let it emerge from melodic lines.
If you have bass, guitar and a synth, for example, transpose the guitar and synth such that they are likely to play a different interval of the chord. This cannot be guaranteed, but these instruments are not playing sustained notes either, so you'll probably get a mix of melodic lines such that harmony shines through enough to be recognized.
Don't fret if your progression is super sophisticated but you can't hear all the chords. Progressions are cheap. Waste them. The final experience is all that counts.
Sun, 2023-11-05 - 20:39 Permalink
Ah this is actually very helpful. So Ive tried using the chord symbols in different instruments on heavy rhythmic parts of the beat and that helps.
Wow, deep but simple software Im still wrapping my head around.