How To Write Like John Williams! Secrets of Film Scoring Part 1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- In this episode of Everything Music, I will show you harmonic progressions that film composerJohn Williams commonly uses in his writing to create his epic soundscapes! This is the first in my film scoring spotlight episodes.
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John Williams is an absolutely brilliant composer. I love his arrangements and melodies. Thanks Rick for this lesson. You're the man!
This is a fantastic video! As a young composer, I've been trying to figure out what I can do to improve my sound, and these seem like trivial things yet I didn't know any of these techniques! Thank you!
You're very welcome!
ChromeFXFilms wanna colllab?
Send me your stuff
me three
As a self-taught composer and amateur filmmaker, I really appreciate this channel. I've watched a few of your videos now and they are frankly much more interesting and easy to follow than any of the music theory books I've (attempted) to work through. Thanks!
Oh my, what musical gifts you have! Wow! Kudos for using your gifts and sharing with those of us less gifted.
Thank you so much Rick. I have been trying to figure out all of these cool 'moves' that John Williams uses, and you summarised some of them so beautifully here. Please continue enriching the world! Thank you :)
Thanks Rick, I am just starting to get into film score, and this explanation is very helpful. Looking forward to more videos!
The cool thing about the two major triads a tritone apart is that they are basically a really cool voicing of a 7 (b9 #11) chord. For example, take the one that you did with Bb and E. The notes are Bb, D, F, G# (the 7) B (the b9) and E (the #11). This kind of thing is why I really enjoy your videos, because the theory that you teach is multi-layered, not just simple 101 stuff.
WhiteTreeRightful he teaches degenerate 12TET theory. Real musicians understand music through rational relationships.
so you're implying that 12 TET theory is not rational? Explain your point, please
Great deconstruction. I graduated from college as a music major (even though I went into a different field). At 5:00, yes I DO know that progression from the great Bernard Herrmann. John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith both knew Herrmann and they were able to do their own spin on those progressions. Superb job!
That was a beautiful presentation! Thanks!
Watching this video and the part where you talked about the chords clashing made me realize that it's actually a gift to have emotional regulation issues because it could lead to fantastic music.
Ho can anyone gives this thumbs down? This is totally free info, concisely presented to someone who isn't a total beginner, but new to this discipline. Thanks!
Man i am truly grateful to you since there are not so much people sharing their knowledge to get better at songwriting and filmscoring. Keep this nice work, your just earned a new fan
This is tremendously helpful. I've forgotten half of the stuff I've learned and sometimes feel like I'm stuck using the same techniques over and over. Thanks for those master classes!!!!
I used to be very happy to find this video channel-channel.I wanted to thanks on your time for this wonderful learn!! I undoubtedly enjoying each little bit of it and Ive you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you youtube channel post.
Awesome! Thanks man!
Great vid. I actually think Alan Silvestri employs these techniques more than anyone else, though...especially in the 90's.
Koldeman he used octatonic scales a lot. Predator for example is all about octa scale
He uses the same techniques, however he adds something unwated... He did that thing for Avengers and it can be heard in many recent movie soundtracks : He turns those tracks into MILITARY MARCHES (even the love tracks) by *adding a drum bang after every damn note* . It makes everything sound heavy and dull. I hate it.
I spent my younger years figuring out all these harmonic combinations, so this wasn't new info for me... YET, I watched the entire thing and enjoyed every minute of it! Thanks Rick! Great stuff!
Always interesting to see that Holst used many of these progressions long before Williams and other film music composers.
Thanks for this - as always - very instructive video!
This video is invaluable, so very simple yet it holds the key to many doors. Thanks Rick, I have been watching a lot of your videos lately, especially those around music for film. I've watched this particular video somewhere between 5 and 10 times, finally got around to actually writing this stuff down :D I came to this channel with a slight knowledge of music and the modes from my studies on the bass guitar. You've really managed to set out these ideas in a way that I feel I can take and make my own, and I did not feel that way before. One person's musical journey changed for the better, thanks and keep going! :)
Just found your channel, what a wealth of knowledge, thanks for making these videos!
Thanks so much Rick! Bought Nuryl for my newborn, and went to school for composing music. All your ideas & videos are so inspiring, thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏🏼 love it!
Thank you Rick Beato!!!!
Sham Stalin You're very welcome!
superb lesson mr Beato. I hear that shostakovich, mahler, wagner, used allot of these techniques as well.
the more I study about composition the more I understand the importance of ear training. It is no use hearing a symphony in your head if you cannot write it down!
Hey im a highschool student taking music theory classes and this really makes the class more fun thank you.
Finally! The video that I wanted to hear before I died! I can die happy now.
Great explanation. Makes me want to go back and listen to the John Williams soundtracks again. As someone else mentioned, some very simple ideas but ones that I didn't know. Some great ideas for building a tool box of chord changes to use in various situations. Thanks again.
Thank you so much Scott!! Rick
This is fantastic! I've use a couple of these tricks in compositions, but I had to hunt and peck quite a bit to find them. I can't wait to start applying these ideas. Thank you so much for sharing!
I'm kind of binging your film scoring playlist.I'm learning so much and definitely incorporating these things into my own music. I'm a student in SUNY Fredonia learning composition and I'd really love to be a film composer.
John Williams is a genius, thank you for this lesson 🙏
This is utterly fantastic Rick! You present it great, deliver amazing intel and make that discovery of a new world a lot of fun. Many, many, many thanks for this!
This has to be the best channel ever! Thanks Rick for the work you put into the videos.
Amazing! Rick, your videos are absolutely blowing my mind! Thank you so much for the information and the inspiration. Can't wait to integrate this into my playing and writing 😁
thank you. May the Force Be With You.
And you too!
I'm so glad i stumbled upon your site Rick. This is excellent work, very helpful and informative. I can't wait to watch and learn from your other videos. Thanks!
It's incredible just how much depth can be found in simple harmonic movements between triads. I've been stuck in a diatonic way of thinking for so much of my life, this video is a great primer to expanding past that way of thinking.
If you wrote a book about chords working together and moving around like at 9:50, I would pay my kidney for it haha SO COOL
Johnny Day Trader or a step by step guide to composition and orchestration starting from this video and going on, it would be great
check out a video called harmonic relativity by JJay Berthume if you havent already. he explains all about those chords working together inI think a 3 part video series.
Rick has a book
@@kunai9390 Just watched them and I think they've honestly changed how I view the chord structure aspect of song writing. Thanks for the recommendation!
Right from the beginning, this video is full of goodies. Thanks Rick :)
we want the part 2! Your lessons are awesome, thanks Rick!
Love this. Been experimenting with film score style improvs. This helps me to think every deeper into the possibilities
Great information! Also, cool magic shorts change at 1:29 :D
Williams really loves that Major 1 to Major 2/1 bass, lydian thing. Off the top of my head, I can think of 4 pieces where he pulled that trick. He also pulls the Major 1 to Minor 4(6th)/1 trick a lot, and I noticed you didn't mention that one. He always made it work though, so I can't even complain... I just think it's fun to analyze the trends
this is like those shows that reveal secrets of the great magicians.
This is the argument I use to those not interested in learning theory. I say: if you know the language you can get at the wizard's magic formulae. Then you'll be really composing powerful music . . .
@@arthurmee Um
@@rheug ?
@@arthurmee Um
@@arthurmee I know the language- I skip the "theory"......
Please do Part II to this video. Great information here. All pretty basic stuff, but just seeing all this information in one place, at one time, is fantastic!
Hi Will - Working on it now. Thanks! Rick
Thanks a lot Mr. Beato! Its is a very gentle gift from you.
this is so informative and inspirational. Thank you, Rick!
Fantastic videos you make Rick. I had kind of given up on music theory but after I found your channel there is hope again. Thank you so very much for sharing these wonderful and inspiring videos.
Thanks for all the videos.. very helpful. and well explained.
Such a helpful video! Thank you very much for taking the time to do this. Would love to see a video like this in the style of John Barry! Thank you again!
you are the best teacher ever thank you sir!
Wow! Spooky how often these devices pop up in his music. Great video.
This is amazing. I wish you did courses for film scoring. Thank you so much.
Hi Rick - thanks for all the great videos! Not sure if it was in this video or another (I've been binging) but at one point you mentioned JW's use of Maj 7th chords in 3rd inversion, with the minor second interval on the bottom giving the triad more bite. I've seen it all over his scores myself, and I love the sound. I'm wondering if you'd be able to expand on that in a future video - maybe talking about how best to use it, pitfalls to avoid (i.e. how to avoid it sounding dissonant), ranges where it's effective, which sections can pull it off (I always associate it with high brass), etc. Thanks again!
Love this...Hope you do more!
Great video Rick - the sound gets epic so quicckly!
Also, 5:29 Sounds like Watcher of the Skies - Tony Banks of Genesis 1972/73 especially the live version. I could "hear" the next chord coming too.
These are the most informative music theory videos I've ever seen on youtube!
Great vid this.
This is fantastic, Rick. Thank you for your videos.
Amazing video, Rick! Thanks for sharing this!
Hi Rick, another new subscriber here. Just wanted to say thanks for this, I've loved Williams' work since I was a kid but have never analysed it quite like this. Fascinating stuff. I'll add my voice to those already keen to see a similar look taken at Jerry Goldmith's style too!
I'd realised quite a while ago that Williams seemed to have drawn a huge amount of inspiration from Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World". It wasn't until you pointed out those tri-tone separated major chords that Williams is fond of that I clicked to them being the exact same interval that starts the New World's 2nd movement however :)
Anyway, thanks again. Great stuff.
Such a great video! Going to try some of this out! Thank you rick!
This popped up for me today, 2021, and all I could think was contest using all the techniques!
Wow, I never learned so much in ten minutes! Thank you sir!
Amazing video!!!!! Where's part two?!? I'd love a whole series of these. Would watch you break down any composer
Same here! :D
I am working on it :) Give me a few more days. I have a few more film composers that I am working on as well. Thanks! Rick
The 7:38 E minor to A flat minor is literally the opening of Holst's Neptune (I think) what Williams track is that??
Though it's something which may be easily overlooked, I think John Williams always has a strong rhythmic component to his music, it often plays a very significant role in many of his works; The Jaws main theme, Raider's march, Superman march, Imperial march and 1941 march are only a few prominent examples, but it can really be seen/heard throughout most of his work; Home Alone, E.T., Seven Years in Tibet, even the NBC news Mission themes all have very driving, propulsive rhythms.
Thank you Rick! We wait for part two!
Nicely explained! Enjoying the videos. Great work!
Thanks Rick! I just saw your channel, Im taking notes on all of your videos! Thanks for the knowledge!
Thanks a lot for your great video and channel, Rick!!!
Mesmerizing!
As weird as it sounds, I became familiar with these kinds of harmonic ideas because of Nirvana and Nobuo Uematsu's music.
Good video!
Great video, can't wait for part two. Also would it be possible to eventually future down the road discuss composers such as Chopin, Mahler, or Tchaikovsky for an example. I feel these composers and others in the Romantic era use more complex chromaticism and seem to get away with bending the more common style of music progression yet make it work in genius ways.
Thanks Ethan! I will try to get to them all in time. Some of these are going to take some really in-depth analysis. I can't wait!! Rick
I vote for Rachmaninoff
bigblucrayon That's happening for sure :)
That would be great if you did. I'm a big fan of your videos and the way you explain things
Thanks a lot for your videos! I'm pretty new to orchestral composition, so this is very helpful for me.
Ha! Bet I'm not the only one who immediately started whistling Yoda's theme to the Lydian thing at 2:00.
Loved this...excellent...thanks, Rick!!! 💗💗💗
Thank you so much for this. Just getting into your videos... I'd love to see one about epic progressions as used in many trailers or heroic cues. Thanks!
Great idea! Do you have any in mind?
Love the piano statement at the start - who and what is that? Apart from that - thanks for your great, informative clip - looking forward to part 2.
Way back in the late 60s when he was known as Johnny Williams and he was writing the incidental music for Lost in Space he wrote a piece called Sinfonietta for Winds. It's very different to any of the music he wrote for film and for my money a lot more interesting.
This is really great! Please do more analysis videos like this. You could do loads just on John Williams countless scores.
I could do 100 John Williams videos :) I will do more. Thanks! Rick
that D (pedal) with D and E always sounded "American" sophisticated to me. I hear it a lot in films, but also musicals... go listen to "tonight" from west side story!
it 's just a progression of chords built on a Lydian mode, a scale that's been around for centuries in Europe, nothing "American" in it, really
@@giotheproducer2476 used a lot in hollywood, thats why
How To Write Like John Williams: Born in the 30's , and be Brilliant without any computer and internet! Forget it ! we'll never get even close.... BTW, i love Michael Giaccino,for me he's one of the best in the game nowdays, a true classy and such original composer! Please Rick make an analisys from Medal of honor video game series by him, .TYVM.Cheers from Brazil!
This is great! Thank you, Rick!
Recognizable and wonderfull !
Thanks for these wonderful informative videos, Rick! You're great! :)
Brilliant thank you 🙏
Wonderful. Thanks!
I love this. I'm learning a lot with 2nd half of video. I like how organized you make it
Still my favourite video. Thanks
Wow, thanks for making the video! I find it interesting that the G min to E maj progression is very similar to the tritone progression Bb maj to E maj. There is only one note different in those two progressions.
Great video, Rick. This is priceless stuff.
Great stuff as always Rick.
Pure gold these tutorials!
Amazing. So inspiring.
Great video! Thanks a lot for your job!
This is amazing, I really admire your work and I'm so grateful, keep up! I'm recomending you to all of my friends
WOOOOOO!!!!! YES!
Amazing video, gained one more subscriber!
+AkilisMusic thanks!! More to come...Rick
Thank you for making all these videos, it's amazing.
This is a perfect video, inspirational!
This is amazing information! Thank you!