OASIS: How To Write Songs Like Noel Gallagher (5 Hidden Hacks)

Join me to dive into Noel Gallagher's songwriting techniques and learn how you can apply them to your own music

Thanks!

[davidmoorhead]

Five hidden hacks: Em7, G, Dsus4, A7sus4, and a capo (on 2).

[OswaldoCastil]

Good stuff, James! We’re eating GOOD with these songwriting related videos. I would also like to add a hack #6 to write like Noel: using the minor pentatonic scale for vocal melodies.

In most of his Oasis classics, he almost exclusively uses the minor pentatonic scale to give his melodies a cooler and laddish sound. Then, in the highest or lowest point of the melody, he taps the 2nd or the 6th as passing notes to get a more emotional sound.

For instance, in the chorus of The Masterplan he avoids singing the 2nd and 6th notes of the A minor scale, until he sings “All we know IS (6) that we don’t know.” The “About YOU (2) now” in Wonderwall is another example.

He uses his and Liam’s voices like an electric guitar.

[TomClifford-tgzc]

The constant use of 'Away'. That's a favourite. Probably inspired by Yesterday.

[strayscene]

noel gallagher's biggest talent is making his guitars on record sound huge respect

[thvamvakoudes]

That major 3 chord is actually the V of the next chord. In she's electric, we see the G# as the V of C#minor. You can put the V of literally any chord you like before it, and it has that effect. Same with the B7 on the Importance of being idle.

[gothgurlfriend]

James, please do some deep dives for Revolver and Rubber Soul era Beatles! Vocals techniques, guitars / bass used, production etc 🙂

[weychm]

i love playing Noels song purely acoustic. Something so magical about his style.

[slidenaway]

Wow Grant Lee Buffalo mentioned!! Never would've thought they'd come up. I know all the Oasis lore but somehow never heard Noel reference Fuzzy... super cool!

[scruggsrox]

This is precisely what I’ve been studying with looking into the Oasis Archives👀 Ty m8!

[SpillAudio]

Cheers, James. This video quite literally couldn't have come at a better time. The channel Professor of Rock put out something today himself on Wonderwall, and the comment section is pure vitriol against Oasis. Need more lads who are mad for it as an antidote

[aliidris]

I learned the B7 chord by attempting to play Oasis/Noel songs. He uses it A LOT, and it has this cool melancholic feel.

[andrewlowden]

2 things: the bridges leading to the chorus are called "Pre-chorus" here in the States
2nd on NGHFD's newest album, Council Skies the song "Think of a Number" is totally David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" (verse) and especially "China Girl" on prechorus

on the bridge/pre-chorus (China Girl lyrics in parentheses)
"The girl on the television (I'll give into your visions)
She got her magic eye on you (I'll give you eyes of blue)
She'll sell you a dream (But I'll give you a man who wants to rule the world)
But she's trying to fool the world"

[frankslade]

The chorverse ones are something like the AABA structure of old days, "over the rainbow" and so on.

[Ridiculizer]

Always instantly watch your videos when they come up. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Nice one mate cheers.

[rolls]

Superb analysis, thanks for putting this together 👍

[johnupdate]

I think the hardest part is finding good melodies. They say melodies fall from the sky and you just have to catch them, but there are so many other songwriters who are better catchers than me...

[propavshijbezvesti]

For me the major 2nd chord is the single most Oasis-y thing - more so than the major 3rd. The major third is used much more often even by other artists because it's the dominant of the minor 6th, so it naturally creates tension and leads to that minor drop without sounding out of key; but I don't think the 2nd is used as a major chord by many other pop artists, it does have that uniquely Oasis sound, at least for me.

[Digimattik]

Brilliant video - really insightful - thanks James.

[Felix]

IT'S COMING HOME JAMES! 🦁🦁🦁(nice video btw)

[JimiRigg]

I just picked up my guitar and thought about writing a song then I see a notification for this... its meant to be