chords are pretty easy

chords are pretty easy

[Trash]

Internet is a crazy place. Just entirely free music teaching from an incredibly successful musician.

[vangod]

Nick helps out new producers like no other.

[dravxn]

i like how this isn’t a “watch me make this type beat “ video and actually inspires people to start playing around with chords the format lately is so nice

[czowiekzlasu]

01:32 that is a game breaker fr. i knew you do 1+7, then add 3/4 to give it mood, but was never aware that there is also a 7 note distance after 3/4 to make it a 7th chord. it makes everything so simpler now. literally best tutorials on production, you make is look so easy

[seanhall]

People literally have courses for this stuff. This guy just gets on here and breaks it down for us and he’s made beats that greats crave. We’re blessed

[TheBawss]

For anyone seeing this, practice getting really good with simple 3-notes chords, learning major and minor chords for every note. Learn intervals (distance between the notes) and why they're important to make chords. When you get good with 3-note chords, learn the sus chords that are majorly used in trap music and plenty other genres. Then learn major/minor 7th chords and all those above make up about 90% of all music we hear. Most important thing tho if you have the chance is practice with some kind of real keys

[cozymeech]

Sold my First Beat....Nick played a big influence in my early days

[GoogleAccount-kwmz]

Another way is looking at the black keys.

2 - 3 - 2 - 3
(Which you can also just transpose and play in any scale).

Starting at C# - skip one - D# - Skip two - F# - skip one - G# - skip one - A# - skip two - C#

This pattern can be played anywhere on the keyboard using the (skip one skip two pattern) and you can play any pentatonic scale by following the same pattern.. if that makes sense

TLDR:
Transpose the black keys to play anything you want in a matter of 40 seconds.

[rxgi]

Shadowing is an amazing way to mentor people!

[AlbertoBalsalme]

Even quicker way to conceptualize/approach it is to go 3 notes higher than the "+7" note when you went 3 notes above your root (or first) note for the one that follows it, and go 4 notes higher than the "+7" when you went 4 above the root, so you go:

(Here, 'st' means semitone, which is the distance between each notes on the piano)

Root + 3st + 4st + 3st (+4st)*
for the sadder minor '7th chord'
OR

Root + 4st + 3st + 4st (+3st)*
for the happier Major '7th chord'

*(add this last bonus note on top of the 4 other notes of the '7th chord' to make it a '9th chord' for a fuller sound!)

Dunno if my explanation made it seem unnecessarily complicated, but I swear that if you can memorize these 2 formulaes you'll be golden in no time. Just note this somewhere, either a paper you keep next to your PC/Keyboard, or in Paint (over some sick background image if you want to preserve aesthetics + save as a jpeg and set it as your FL's background (in the 'View' menu)) so you can look it up instantly whenever you forget it, and just practice, practice, practice with it, going:

MAJOR(HAPPY) : Root note, then 4 notes up, then 3 notes up, then 4 notes up

OR


MINOR(SAD) : Root note, then 3 notes up, then 4 notes up, then 3 notes up

and I promise that in no time it will become second nature and you will now be able to conjure sick chords on command

Just wanted to share this framework as it has made my life so much more easier, though it's not as straightforward an explanation as Nick did, he really is one of the best at transfering applicable production knowledge in a way most can easily grasp, thank you so much for the invaluable inspiration you keep providing the world man!!

[Beezoo]

Helped me so much bro. I was sick of clicking around until everything sounded in key. Took me forever now this is gonna be a lifesaver

[chillydoog]

Crazy. I was literally just looking up tutorials on learning the piano and your notification popped up for this. Love the serendipity.

[mmxiv]

Even though I know how those things work
I gotta respect Nick for making something really easy to understand for beginners.
Straight to the point, no bs.

[notfastenough]

Thank you so much for what you do man. This is extremely helpful. Also, your calmness is so reassuring like it feels like ASMR in a weird way because you give off such a chill and non judgemental vibe. It’s very easy to learn from you and listen to

[keepparis]

I rarely post anything in the comments, I think there are a lot of people like me here. I want to thank you for what you do, sharing interesting techniques, making us look at the world of producing differently and getting inspired in different ways.
The aesthetic and setting of your videos is just perfect. Every day I wake up and see a new video from you and it keeps me working on myself.

[SnowBro]

I'm out of town working atm and after watching this, I'm so excited to get home and play on my keyboard. You've gotten me excited to play a instrument I got over 10 years ago and have barely touched because it was so confusing for me. Thank you. Sincerely.

[havoc.is]

Nick just unlocked a new part of my brain what the heck. Shout out to him for making it so simple and easy to understand.

[SoulParanoiaa]

bro is a damn genius wtf, learned music theory just from seeing it in a numerical logic? thats crazy

[L-Office]

Now all that's left is drums, sound design, arrangement skills, mixing. One step at a time I guess :D
Played classical piano pieces for years, never learned to make my own chords, this is just what I needed. Ty alot

[RigzBYM]

legend. lotta folks in your spot wouldn't do all this for the small guys. crazy respect for you dude.