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.

30 more videos coming soon. Check back soon to see what songs we analyze next.