Hey guys,
I've been recently trying to compose some action music - a lot of drums and rhythm are involved, which I can tackle pretty well.
However, I have never been a melody guy, and while there's not a lot of complex melodic material going on in action music, I'm having trouble creating that "imperative" vibe. I'm sorry if that seems vague, but I can't think of another term.
Is there some secret to writing this sort of music? I generally start with a minor key because major doesn't seem to cut it.
Any help would be great, thanks.
"Imperative" chords and scales for action music
-
- KVRAF
- 2401 posts since 29 Dec, 2002 from In the dark
I just wonder what you mean by "imperative"?
In my opinion it is a fals believe that certain scales are more suitable than others for action music. It all depends on what you like.
In my opinion it is a fals believe that certain scales are more suitable than others for action music. It all depends on what you like.
-
- KVRAF
- 7825 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
Listen to Heavy Metal
It's not so much the type of chord as it is the type of attack
Hard staccato attacks which operate in Call/response with the melody.
Power chords (no 3rd) and the occassional Dominant7#9
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/471995/he ... le_royale/
It's not so much the type of chord as it is the type of attack
Hard staccato attacks which operate in Call/response with the melody.
Power chords (no 3rd) and the occassional Dominant7#9
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/471995/he ... le_royale/
-
- KVRian
- 1084 posts since 12 Sep, 2008 from Your basement
Try focussing not so much on "functional" harmony or tonality, but using dense, dissonant sonorities and little, short melodic fragments as "cells." Treat the sonorities as percussion instruments.
Focus on repetitive rhythmic "cells" shifting from one to the other.
To hear how this is used to great effect, listen to Stravinsky Rite of Spring.
Focus on repetitive rhythmic "cells" shifting from one to the other.
To hear how this is used to great effect, listen to Stravinsky Rite of Spring.
-
- KVRAF
- 2401 posts since 29 Dec, 2002 from In the dark
Are you looking at a specific genre? Nowdays it is becomming very popular to use beatz (hip hop backing tracks) for that kinda purpose. If you are looking at film music, orchestral music, etc, listen to classics like Holst's Mars (plain major chords most of the time), or more recent, John Williams (Superman, Star wars), Zimmer (Gladiator, Batman).
Anything with a hard driving beat should have what you are looking for. Bruce Springsteen kept it simple with E, A, B chords and created many tunes that drive forward. Heavy metal is another obvious choice and chords can be as sophisticated as Mozard, or sometimes just plain simple 4 chords.
It is more often the rhythm and the beat that defines it as action music, rather than the harmonies.
Anything with a hard driving beat should have what you are looking for. Bruce Springsteen kept it simple with E, A, B chords and created many tunes that drive forward. Heavy metal is another obvious choice and chords can be as sophisticated as Mozard, or sometimes just plain simple 4 chords.
It is more often the rhythm and the beat that defines it as action music, rather than the harmonies.
-
- KVRist
- 179 posts since 11 Feb, 2008
Agreed. I see so many posts here "what scales do I use for X" and "what chords do I use for Y".Sepheritoh wrote:I just wonder what you mean by "imperative"?
In my opinion it is a fals believe that certain scales are more suitable than others for action music. It all depends on what you like.
Most musical styles use exactly the same melodic and harmonic language - Major and minor scales, modes, and Major, minor, augmented, diminished chords.
Some styles have "more" - for example, a Blues scale in Blues, or 9th chords in Jazz, but in general, it's pretty much the same basic material.
So to the OP - it is not scales or chords that create "urgency" - its the why in which those scales and chords are used that create urgency. To understand that, you need to listen to things that you find "urgent", and figure out what elements - pitch, rhythm, dynamic, articulation, etc. are being used, and how.
HTH,
Steve
-
- KVRAF
- 2401 posts since 29 Dec, 2002 from In the dark
Just for the record. I quickly put a song together for you just to give you an idea of my idea of an imperitive / epic action song.
The (electric) epic song
Ok, ok. I am lying. I did not put it together in the last hour. I was working on it for about 2 weeks now and I am just looking for a cheap chance of self promotion.
For the record, more details are on http://sepheritoh.blogspot.com/
The (electric) epic song
Ok, ok. I am lying. I did not put it together in the last hour. I was working on it for about 2 weeks now and I am just looking for a cheap chance of self promotion.
For the record, more details are on http://sepheritoh.blogspot.com/
-
- KVRAF
- 7825 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
Kudo's on the self promotion.
I enjoyed the piece
I enjoyed the piece