5 CHORD TRICKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

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

[AndyLowe-net]

A detail that the video doesn't mention and could potentially lead to confusion: the point about the 'bottom note' of the chord becoming the bass note - this will not work if the chords are not in root position, ie. If it's an F major chord the F should be at the bottom in root position. If you have already inverted the chord then the bottom note is not going to be the root. Sometimes inverting the bass sounds good but only used sparingly, most of the time you will want the 'root note' as the bass, NOT just the bottom note of the chord, whatever that happens to be.

0:34 - Trick #1 - Spread voicing
2:13 - Trick #2 - Change rythm of chords
3:33 - Trick #3 - Use bottom note as bassline
4:40 - Trick #4 - Use automation to add movement
5:57 - Trick #5 - Create alternative chords

[benwogu]

There's a distinction between a root note and a bass note. Root note is in the chord, bass note doesn't have to be. The distinction is important because you don't have to make the root note of a chord the bass note. Seems unconventional when you're first starting but I assure you its feasible and practical - they're "rich" sounding chords lol....try these two chords - (bass note -d1 chord, f3, a3, c4, e4) bass note - f1 chord - a3, c4, e4, g4) to see as an example and then implement it towards other chords and see how much it expands your toolbox of chords. Might be my next tutorial.

[rollvideo]

I followed your advice and my songs were only 17% more interesting.

[google]

Often slightly changing the baseline to the chords brings about a far deeper change in the song and very effective as well.

[mdoering]

I have probably watched this video 10 times already, those cords are so satisfying.

[asherevenson]

I just have to say. Alex, you explain things so simple and easy. My brain understood what you said sooo easily. Keep it going!

[reeblesnarfle]

Thanks for the subtle tidbits that feed the final product.

[DarkSide-ruel]

hey man, I can understand your videos because the subtitle option is active, and I have come a long way thanks to the useful information you have explained in an understandable way that I could not find anywhere, I am very grateful to you, I just wanted to say this.

[itsjodi]

i just finish using these tricks on my piano, on Garageband btw, and i was just amazed at how it sounded, i really appreciate your videos, thank you🙏

[nembutsu]

select a note/chord then hold shift+alt and use the arrows to move them up or down an octave

[hypal]

Great video. I would like to add the following: Randomize the velocity of your chords and create different spaces between the starting point and the ending point of the notes if you're not recording them on your midi keyboard. It gives a certain human genuine touch.

[danielbenjaminmusic]

I can tell you put a lot of work into helping out people that are starting their production journey. There is so much more available to producers when it comes to making chords more interesting, including walking baselines, voice leading including the bass (not just low note/root note bass), velocity controlled envelope filters, suspensions, automating resonance and decay sweeps, humanizing note on, randomizing velocities, ramping up the note on time (like a guitar strum). Possibly up to 25% more interesting...

[johnfollis]

I am using chord progression number 4. B Major, A Flat Minor, E Flat Minor, and D Flat Major. It starts quiet and then it brightens up with the cutoff knob. From there I have a nice melody with some beautiful uni-polar vibrato. So it sounds like some one is bending strings like you would on a guitar. But then it goes into a weird chord loop with some Minor7 Sus2 Chords I believe. I need to get back to it to see what I can do with it. But there is a couple of times when the bass line has some of that uni-polar vibrato I was talking about earlier. So yes. Trick 4, you did inspire me.

[mineheadX]

I highly recommend Scaler, it can reprogram the way you put chord progressions together...inversions & modes will turn you into a songwriting savant, those two avenues will blow your mind if you've never used them...as a drummer who is always trying to pick up some tricks rooted in theory, you really need to analyze the greats, like The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John...try Scaler, get enlightened.

[josecodes]

Thank you very much for these tips! I’m new to music production and you have no idea how much this has changed the way I tackle chord progressions and even music in general! Thank you, sir!

[thetree]

Thank you Alex your guidance is really helping my music and my confidence

[haystixxbeats]

This is going to be life changing for me. Thank you, I really appreciate this!

[fredacuneo]

Well done video - really good explanation and straight-forward without all of the distracting fill. Thank you.

[carlossaraiva]

You are great. Thanks for helping us with your expertize. Thumbs