Get Inspired
Two of our guys, Louis and Mike, analyzed some of the world's biggest hits to discover what made them so memorable. Did you know that starting on the 6th chord can make your chord progression sound "endless"? Do you use "rests" in your music? Learn new techniques in the videos below:
Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa - One Kiss (Neopolitan Chord technique)
New video: Marshmello feat. Khalid - Silence:
Drake - Passionfruit
Highlight: Simple descending melody that fits the chords
Ed Sheeran - Shape of You
Hightlight: How to write simplified chords that let the melody shine through
Dr. Dre - Still D.R.E
Highlight: Plucked chords that with delayed resolution.
Chainsmokers - Paris
Highlight: A trick that's super-popular right now: Suspended chords
Kygo - Stole The Show
Highlight: Playing a complex melody at a slow tempo.
Daft Punk - One More Time
Highlight: Simple, unusual chords with lots of fast repetition to build more tension in the 4th measure.
Avicii - Levels
Highlight: Adding a "rest" to the music makes it a lot more memorable.
Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MØ - Lean On
Highlight: Bassline follows the chords exactly.
Faithless - Insomnia
One of the biggest electronic tracks of all time
Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar
Highlight: Arpeggiation
Calvin Harris - Summer
Highlight: The melody looks like a staircase going up and down.
Eric Prydz - Pjanoo
Highlight: The melody loop stays exactly the same, but the bassline forms new chords as it plays underneath the melody.
Iio featuring Nadia Ali - Rapture
Highlight: The bassline going up in the final measure.
Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400
Highlight: Nothing happening in the 4th measure to give the listener a break before the hook comes back in.