Making Music with Pascal's Triangle + the LOCRIAN scale [RIFFING WITH MODES #7]

At long last, the seventh and final (?) episode of Riffing With Modes. I did not anticipate this series to take so long, as I expected to make most of the videos short little efficient lessons with quick-tips on riff writing. Instead I took this series as a personal excuse to write music to my heart’s content- starting from Rush style rock riffs in Major, to Dad Rock Dorian. Then crushing Phrygian morse code metal, followed by progressive Lydian vibes. An entire 80s rock single and music video for Mixolydian, and 3 different mini-songs for Minor.
And now, Locrian. I won’t lie- the mode hath bested me. I began writing this song in SEPTEMBER 2020 and it’s now January 2021. The music was done surprisingly early, but the video had many hurdles to overcome and technical screw-ups that I had to pay the temporal price for. But the battle is over, the dragon is slain, and here lies Locrian madness in all of its glory.
Hopefully by watching this video, you’ll see that you can make interesting and moving music even without the harmonic tools like “good notes” and “good chords” and “good melodies”. This entire piece is influenced from random algorithmically generated sequences, and still maintains a sense of groove at times, only to be fractured at others. I hope you find the piece interesting even if it isn’t your cup of tea, and more importantly, I hope you discover some useful songwriting, production, or arrangement techniques that can help you in your music making.

IMPORTANT LINKS BELOW!

TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00- Why Locrian is Clumsy
02:07- Locrian Inspiration + Pascal's Triangle
05:07- Turning Chaos Into Groove
06:55- Arranging a random motif
09:11- Writing a Locrian Melody
12:38- MUSIC VIDEO: "Pascal's Prison"
15:50- Closing Thoughts

[TheArtofGuitar]

Are you trying to conjure interdimensional aliens my guitar brother? Cause this is how you do that! haha

[wildy]

I think music in Locrian would sound nice in game soundtracks or something when you are trying to сomplete a difficult level with the main battle and this music create so much tension and does not let you relax for a second

[victorhugotoledocofre]

Most music youtubers call Locrian the "odd man out" and ditch it. You not only tackle it, but make good music with it. Congratulations, Jake.

[edbutler]

That turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable piece of music. Love how the G-F change feels like a ray of sunlight briefly breaking through the gloom.

[locrian]

I've always been told I was useless... Even then, why must you hurt me in such ways, Jake??

[cesium]

I don't know why but in general i don't agree with the popular opinion that half diminished chords sound tense and uncomfortable. I find their sound strangely captivating and beautiful. When that F resolved back to the B half diminished i was mesmerized. I love this sound!

[oxsolo]

Dude, I legitimately love this song. It's like a quasi-accessible prog lol. It definitely speaks more to your skills as a composer than the quality of locrian

[deanzuberiafrica]

i actually dig it. it sounds like the soundtrack to a challenging secret level in a video game. good job!

[horacefarbuckle]

Impressive. I play Doom metal and it's common enough to dip into Locrian for 4-8 bars for some disturbing effect, but sustaining it for a whole composition takes some real savvy. Kudos.

[Headfonez]

"Pascal's Prison" is definitely a beautiful song

[franjojanes]

Moral of the video: "You can't write catchy stuff in locrian." The video ends and that Pascal melody keeps playing in my head. Jake, what have you done? :D

[euclid]

That was pretty awesome. When people say they don’t want to learn music theory because they don’t want to lose their creativity I think of them just playing blissfully in major forever thinking they’re being creative. Sometimes you need some knowledge to get you into uncharted terrain like this to make something really unique!

[MrMirko]

This sounds amazing. The whole time it feels like I just want to come up for air to see some sunshine. That G and F almost put it in reach, only to take it away. Also, +1 to your friend for writing the code in C++.

[ruminator]

Pascal's prison is an indie developer's demonic puzzle box level theme. That's badass Jake.

[Mr.Bright]

Am I wrong to think that, after hearing this, Locrian is just Lydian’s evil twin? The song sounds intense. Love the videos Jake!

[odw]

What jumps out to me is that once you've adjusted, the whole composition feels "tense" but the tonic doesn't feel unresolved anymore. Then those major G/F chords suddenly feel simultaneously very familiar but also unresolved... It's like acclimatizing to an alien place to a point where you feel estranged from daily life -- like finding yourself inebriated and dancing madly at a nightclub at 4AM, and then suddenly you notice that your sober parents are present and waving you to come over. It has a little bit of a trippy vibe, with some implicit thrill, darkness, shamefulness or guilt lurking inside of it.

[alejandro]

That 3/4 version sounds perfect for a Zelda temple soundtrack.

[ProphayniaX]

So bizarre,
I really felt like this was one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard in my entire life it should go on for 20 minutes.
I could actually hear it modulating to another cord I’m going to steal it.
Thank you for making me feel special

[ZetaCarinae]

As a mathematician I strongly approve of this content. Way to go man.

[cptnoremac]

It absolutely feels like a satisfying resolution to me. This proves you don't need a perfect fifth.