How to Transition Between Sections

Do you struggle to write B sections? Do you struggle to transition between sections and finish your song? Then learn about the Frankenstein method and the Song-whispering method. Subtitles/CC available.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been asking you what part of the writing process you struggle with. Firstly, thank you sincerely to everyone who took the time to share, we read every single comment. Secondly, we have great news for all of you! We already have resources available to help with every problem that was shared, so let’s jump in! Now, almost all of these musical problems can be grouped into a handful of categories, which we’ll address over a couple of lessons. By far the most common issues you raised, were writing new sections for existing sections, and transitioning between sections. These issues are totally related, so we’ll cover both in this lesson.

Right, so there’s two completely different approaches to writing transitions. We like to call them the Frankenstein method, and the Song-whispering method. The Frankenstein method is when you have different sections that were not written with the intention of being joined, but later you decide you wanna stitch ‘em together. Then on the other hand, the Song-whispering method is when you write one section and allow it to whisper to you where it wants to go next, then from those whispers you write the transition and the next section. Both methods work, but the Frankenstein method forces sections together, whereas the Song-whispering method allows new sections to grow out of existing sections.

I used to use the Frankenstein method a lot when I was a young songwriter, but the more I matured, the less I used it, and nowadays I don’t use it at all. I believe that for a song to reach its full potential, it has to be given the opportunity to grow organically in whatever direction it wants. And that belief is the reason why I created the Song-whispering method, because when you master this method, it feels like your music is literally writing itself!

Now, on a very practical level, you’re probably wondering what to do if you have two sections that were not written with the intention of being joined. Well, instead of forcing them together, we recommend turning each of those sections into separate songs, which will allow them both to grow into their full potential. Having said that though, if you’re determined to Frankenstein them together, then you can, and it’s at least a great way to practice modulating (i.e. changing key). And if you need help with modulating, then check out the ultimate Modulation hack in our Songwriting & Producing PDF. It will empower you with the three most effective ways to change between any two keys.

And if your two sections are in the same key already, then they’ll transition into each other relatively smoothly as is. So, a drum fill and perhaps a variation in the melody should be enough for a decent transition. However, the most powerful transitions will almost always involve modulating, as that freshness you get from a new key is vital in the overall longevity of a song. So on that note, if your two sections are in the same key, maybe they shouldn’t be joined after all.

Now, when you use the Song-whispering method, your song will guide you to the new key that it wants to move into, which will make the modulation sound natural and effortless. Okay, so now the big question is: How do you do this Song-whispering thing? Well, not only does it take many hours to teach Song-whispering, but it’s also our secret sauce that we sell (in our online course linked above), so we can eat, pay the rent and keep making these free lessons for you.

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ABOUT
Hack Music Theory is a pioneering method for making great music that stands out, so you can move and grow your audience! Taught by award-winning music lecturer Ray Harmony and his protégé wife Kate Harmony, from their home studio in Vancouver, Canada. Ray has been teaching music theory for 24 years, and along the way he's made music with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad), Ihsahn (Emperor), Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs), Madchild (Swollen Members) and many more! Hack Music Theory teaches relevant and instantly-usable music theory for producers, DAW users, and all other music makers (songwriters, singers, guitarists, bassists, drummers, etc.) in all genres, from EDM to R&B, pop to hip-hop, reggae to rock, electronic to metal (and yes, we djefinitely djent!).

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COPYRIGHT
© 2019 Revolution Harmony
Revolution Harmony is Ray Harmony & Kate Harmony
All content (script & music) in video by Revolution Harmony

[spencerrobinson]

Freaking eh! You guys are so great c: I defs needed this lesson

[doim]

Once i started to write a piano solo and i was just playing some nice arpeggios with a melody underneath them and i followed the harmony that the chords "told" me. I listened carefully and found the next chord that sounded the most natural and suddenly about 20 bars into the song i modulated from c minor to d minor. And i feel like there is no other way, i tried a couple different chords bc i didnt like the idea of a key change that early but nothing sounded as natural as d minor. I literally had no other choice

[WizardOfArc]

When I get resettled in Seattle, I’ll have to start Song Whispering with you.

[Jose-oqkj]

I was about to check out your podcast but thought I'd find a video and I see that you also make videos, cool.

[nandakoryaaa]

Hi Kate & Ray! It seems I use the Whispering method all the time, but sometimes it takes literally months to advance. I now tend to keep all my drafts because some of them evolved to pieces most valuable to me.

[muhammadrezahaghiri]

Hello!
I'm just here to leave a comment 😁. I couldn't watch the video when I got the notification, because I had a busy weekend and at the end of the day, I fell asleep quickly 😂
by the way, have a great time my friends 🤘

[HAZARDOUS]

Song-whispering is a great way to put it, very helpful. Thanks!

[funut]

Great Video! I'd be interested in seeing a video on inversions.. Ive heard before that your brain hears highest note first... Does this mean certain harmonic voices lead themselves to certain melodies more... IS inversions just about limiting how far you have to travel between two chords or is there more... For example would a chord with an inversion where the third of it is on top lend itself to more emotional melodies vs the fifth or root... Ive been struggling to figure out how to apply chord voicing into my writing much thanks!

[NyctalopeDiurne]

Not even a musician, just a music lover, and this video was fascinating. Cleverly joined tracks are key to a great DJ set, yes! It does make all the difference: it gives coherence, it says something more, it keeps the flow going and the people dancing! I wish I could sorta tweak my Deezer playlists and make this song stop here, the next starting there, add some basic effects (reverse the end for eg.). I’m tired of parties where anyone grabs the phone and makes shitty and/or abrupt transitions. Kills the vibe. I think someday I’ll try making a mix at home, store it on my phone and let that play for 1~2 hrs. at a parteeeey and see how it goes 😀
Good luck to you guys! Love from 🇫🇷

[basslightyeah]

Thanks a lot for this lesson! Good to see that I'm not the only one struggling with this. My go-to strategy for this is to build in structures (parts of the melody or rythm patterns) of the new section into the current one to "foreshadow" the newer one. If it works, chances are these two sections genuinely "belong" together.

[dannycunil]

Both of your voices are very nice to listen to, and makes it easy to understand.

[johnjohntv]

I'm going to buy your course! Please hack Two Steps From Hell; I would love to know the secret to writing great trailer music.

[Chmelewsky]

I can always count on y’all to get me unstuck ❤️

[mundanemagik]

Great video also whats up with the sad piano song starting at 0:55 ?

[JEZARIC]

Hmm, it’s just a box is a song of mine that did exactly that, wrote itself. I just set up each new track.

[OSJordan]

Bet his tea got some “sugar”, love your videos guys

[obi-wankenobi]

Useful and straight to the point. Subscribed :)

[dark_optix]

so underviewed for how helpful this is

[monohive]

Came across this channel today. Already learnt a lot. Definitely signing up for a course at some point.

[shadowhenge]

Soon as i get the money... thanks for addressing it, though.