The Secret To Beautiful Chords

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

[musicbysazid]

I am here for 20% improvement on my music production

[awardwinningcritique]

What I like about Alex Rome is he doesn't try and withhold all the information till the end, it's an easy pace all the way through with no gatekeeping. Authentically amazing!

[Overlycomplicatedswede]

The fact this dude just used Fmin as his first chord and made it the most upbeat shit is amazing

[annfranksus]

As someone that takes notes when watching this type of video format, I greatly appreciate that you made a list for all the topics

[fatfanofmusic]

Man, you have so many chord tutorials on the channel, you must be a chord god. In all seriousness thank you, this is very nice of you to share your wisdom with us

[C_Corpze]

If you do want to use FL keys (plugin does exist for a reason).
You can use convolutional reverb and use ANY sample and replace the default clicking sound.
This will mutate or morph the FL keys sound with the sample you used in the convolutional reverb.
Can create some interesting effects sometimes.

[sunnyskies]

Literally just wedsday. I showed some people to see what they think, other producers more experienced than I. This is what they told me:

You've got good progression. You know when your song needs to change and you do so. The sound design is great and so is the mix. The only problem is you have no emotion.

This is what I've been needing to add to get more emotion. More expression. This is exactly what I needed thank you!

[gomesiekamalukwamanda]

Alex rome, you are a great person in everything, I love the way you express your safe musically, and every tutorial video that you post here is dope, am impressed and encouraged to start music production at 48.

You are the best across the YouTube village.

[JakHart]

Reverb 2 is where it's at.

I work in FL Studio mobile, and R2 goes into everything I write.

I write a kind of experimental dream music style, it works absolutely perfect for it, especially when I add some modulation to it.

[Chalisque]

To add a seventh: what I call orchestration (inspired by what composers do with orchestras).

Often, all your synths are playing all the notes of the chords.

Rather, have multiple patches playing different lines from the chord. Have one synth playing just the top line, one just the middle line, one just the bottom line, a few more playing melodic lines by choosing notes from the chords differently (e.g. if your progression is C-Dm-Em-C, then one synth plays a high C-D-E-C, another plays e.g. C-D-E-G, another plays G-F-G-E, and so on, so you get interesting timbral changes as the choice of which synth plays which chord tone varies).

This gets great results of you're playing with orchestral samples, but needn't be restricted to that.

You can also include hints of 7ths by having some of the synths play e.g. C-F-E-B or something. Other synths still, can add passing tones (e.g. instead of C-D-E-G, you could add an F between the E and G).

Basically get out of the box of playing the same chords on all of the synths. Imagine you are writing for an 'orchestra' of monosynths.

And look at classical symphonies and concertos to see the kind of compositional tricks classical composers use when making use of a collection of instruments each capable of playing a different musical line, and often capable of only playing a single line at once.

[Xserey]

eventhough i do mostly orchestral compositions, your techniques go across the board

thanks a ton for these videos

[adamnelsvn]

I think the best thing about your videos is that you show the best part about music production: the amazing feeling you get when you create something magical. Thank you for this!

[Logan_treinos]

F Phrygian chord progression. Simply stunning!

[alex]

Just started to get into making music. Music is basically my addiction in life and your channel has helped me so much. Just wanted to say thanks

[kairos]

This has really helped me fight my way out of writer's block as it enables me to flow with my chords better, thank you

[LagosEra]

"If you don't think that sound is prettier than FL Keys, ..music production probably isn't for you."

I have officially wasted $300.
Thank you, Alex Rome.

[alexbartlett]

This video is so incredibly helpful! Inspired to give this a try and make something out of it. Your explanation is extremely clear and easy to follow. Thank you for the tips👊🏼

[vcodev]

wow that was amazing watching step by step to create a beautiful chords, thanks!

[aixzi_official]

you have so much opened my mind about that the base is the cords themselves!

[skellman]

It gets even more fun when you start automating parameters to bring the chords to life!