For an even BETTER example of this concept used in a ROCK/METAL song, listen closely to the instrument and vocal arrangement in this song - th-cam.com/video/u1MaJksXbSM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=X9FyhBCr5b_DlRtS
the way i think of the bass and drum interaction is that the kick drum gives the bass punch and the bass gives the kick drum sustain and when properly synchronized together they create the foundation of the song which everything rides on top of.
@@MrMillions69 pretty much. since the bass line is usually the root cadence/groove of the song and everything else is a counter rhythm or counter point.
More Big Chaotic Jumbled Muddy Mess! Give the people what the people want, free the drummer. Let the drummer inflict pain upon the masses, spectators appreciate and shake your whacky assess! You must Bob your head, all hail the narcissistic drummer!
@@MrMillions69 I don't mind which instrument act as the lead as long as the overall song sounds good, but for bass I do prefer it to be more melodic...
I feel like every band needs to watch this video together at least once annually. Like any band. Regardless of genre or popularity. Definitely helps even seasoned musicians think like a regular music listener and refresh the true importance of dynamics and expression in song composition or even executing cover tunes tastefully. Less is usually more in rock n roll. We just gotta fill in the blanks with color.
"C'mon. You know the rules guys. It's that time of year." "But Ivan. We are a band of traditional Slavic folk musicians who play for tourists l." "I didn't make the rule Boris."
@@mintchevvv1834 OH Yes they do, they're still out there. With real instruments and everything, they're out there in their garages and practice rooms all over the world. Sometimes even in your local bar or community hall or whatever. Just because they're not in your newsfeed or making any money doesn't mean they've dissappeared. Old bastards like me and even young kids are still out there Rocking the fuck out. Cause we love it. I suggest you turn off the spotify and the banal chart radio stations and go get out there and support your local live music scene. Or better still pick up an instrument yourself, grab a couple of mates and start making some noise. It could well be the best decision you ever made. It was for me..
When I was in a band back at uni, the other two NEEDED a bass player and so, before I joined, they wrote my parts for me. They were both music students (though they played different instruments for their courses) and they used their knowledge from classical music stuff to write complicated parts for me since they knew me as a prog guy with a taste for busy music. The thing was, we played indie/funk music. They dialed back their own parts, but not mine for fear that I would leave. When we started writing together, I made parts that were much more typical of the style of the genre. They worried that I was getting bored, but I honestly thought we just sounded better as a group that way.
That was actually really nice of them to do that. A lot of people would have to or try to reign the bass player in, but they thought of you and went out of their way to write parts around what they thought would be cool for you (even if the song overall was better with more simple bass).
Drums changes dynamic for whole song Bass foundation for the rhythm and melody Electric rhythm guitar gives drive and punch Acoustic percussion Lead gives melody something for the listener to follow Piano can do lots Synth add air or reinforce
As someone who just listens to music and wants to understand what really "goes on" with all the different instruments in the band, this was really really helpful. Thanks man!
I tell *eeeveryone* that the drums are *not* in charge of the rhythm. Everyone is responsible for the rhythm, but the drums have the ability to change the song dynamically more effectively than any other instrument. *The dynamics* are our superpower!
This guy is dropping jewels.......back in the days you would pay good money that sort imformation......the truth is once you ve gained the knowledge of music theory.......you gonna have to learn how to give your piece of music life........this guy explains it a in clear and simplicitic way.......you can feel the coming alive.......awesome.....
Wow, this video really changed my perspective on music, Most of the time I only focus on my part as a musician but I didnt realize the importance of listening to music in a collective manner. Thank you very much
Well done man! Amateur musician here - I often listen to what each instrument is doing when I hear music. In fact, I enjoy listening to 4 instrument bands (drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboard) because it is fascinating the amount of music you can play with just 4, instruments! But! Each must trully understand it's role and purpose. Great video
I’ve been studying, playing, writing, and recording music for many years now and have learned a lot of this on my own as time has progressed, but I’ve never seen it in a video like this. This was awesome and now I wanna look back over some of my compositions and some works in progress and make them better! Thanks
Lovely Video clip! Forgive me for chiming in, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you considered - Deyvelynar Celebrated Dominance (do a google search)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for discovering how to learn the piano fast without the headache. Ive heard some great things about it and my friend got cool results with it.
“Think about what the other instruments are playing” Thank you for saying so succinctly what I’ve been trying to emphasize to my bandmates for ages. Just because you physically *can* play a part doesn’t mean you *need* to
This is so good! The concept of each instrument serving the song is fantastic. That’s what makes it so fun to play in a band- each instrument has the chance to make all the others’ better.
I found your information very valuable. You see the big picture and get straight to the point. As a sound engineer and drummer who's been known to preach "keep it simple" I can really relate. Looking forward to sharing with my band mates as you explain it better than I could. Thanks
Something I always said it’s like producing is like playing a band but you have to know how every instrument is played.. especially as a producer that plays all the sounds this is major understanding
This is actually super helpful foe electronic music as well. I've been trying to figure out where I was going wrong for my songs and this explains a great way to add separation between verses and chorus and also where to or not to add different instruments so it doesn't become muddled.
It would be a similar concept, but you'd have a lot more flexibility since there aren't so many other instruments taking up space. I would recommend taking what you learned from this video and then listening to some songs by some 3 piece bands (Chevelle, Blink-182, Nirvana, etc.) and listen to how the parts connect, support, or compliment each other. Sometimes, the guitar might alternate between playing rhythm parts and lead parts, while the bass holds down the rhythm. The vocals and guitar might take turns providing melody, and the bass might provide more notes to fill up more space. Hope that kinda gives you an idea of how it would work!
To add on this, if you listen to a lot of blink-Mark actually does a lot for the rhythm section by playing bass chords. The songs written by him usually contain verse sections where he's doing two jobs of keeping the rhythm section down with bass obviously but also getting a more fuller sound with bass chords. You can hear it best on "The Rock Show". Honestly pretty cool.
This is by far one of the best tutorial videos I've seen! I can't recall how many times I've seen bands messing up their sound by overplaying and not knowing the role of each instrument. It's kind of strange that their is a million videos on scales you'll never use but not something as essential as this. Great job, keep it coming!
Thank you so much for this video... as a pianist thats in a recent band with a bassist, guitarist and vocalist I have been trying to figure out what the hell my role in the band actually is if it seems like whatever the piano can do is occupied by another instrument but this video has helped lots.
That's great; I'm glad to hear this video was helpful to you 🙂 I hope this gives you a few ideas of where to start, but you could get even more inspiration by checking out bands with a similar line up to your band; the first one that comes to my mind is The Fray. Maybe check out some of their stuff and see if it gives you some ideas. Have fun, and good luck with your band!
@@QuincyKane thanks again, I will be sure to check the fray out! I have forwarded your video to my friends and bandmates because I feel like this video should get more recognition :)
Thank you. I play keys in a bar band and this is already how I think. The same approach works in worship music (in my case, Reform Jewish) - my first question is What Don’t we have? It’s rarely melody or chords. I’m usually working with an acoustic guitar or two It’s bass line, so I play with a heavy left hand. I worry about adding rhythmic impact because piano is a percussion instrument. I add fills. Sometimes harmony lines. You’re so right about how live musicians think. I’ll lay out for a first verse to get a song to build. No one else is thinking that way. If we’re playing a song with a heavy groove, I’ll often have to tell the drummer to cool it with the fills, this song needs that pocket, which is what I’m reinforcing on keys for all I’m worth. (Drummers appreciate the extra groove support. They love playing with a rhythm section that acts like one.) The other huge factor live is TURN DOWN!! Under no circumstances should you even consider competing with the vocals and you have no business being unaware you’re doing it. If I don’t know if I’m too loud (or soft) out front I ask. Your product is not your sound, your product is the band’s sound. I hate playing with guys who don’t get that. I don’t care how good your chops are; if you don’t get this I don’t want to know you.
Sounds like you've got the right idea! The main purpose of this video was to help amateur musicians understand the concept of listening to the other musicians in the band and making sure what they're playing is connecting, supporting, or complimenting everyone else. I you find yourself in situations with fewer musicians, that gives you more wiggle room to play around with, and you don't have to worry as much about taking up too much space. You just wanna try to be dynamic (soft in the verses; harder in the chorus's), try not to cover anyone up, and keep an ear out for spaces to fill in with the "fancy stuff".
I almost never hear the bass in the songs I listen to 😂, except when the bass is the main instrument on the intro or has a part to play alone, or is heavy and high
I'm not sure why this has been recommended now, 6 years later, but it's made me very happy that the algorithm is doing its job. Great video, paced perfectly. Can't wait to check out your other stuff!
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! And yeah, I'm little baffled myself why this old video of mine is suddenly getting a lot of traction, haha Just a heads up; I have other tutorials like this on my channel, but I don't make these kind of videos anymore. I'm focusing more on a career as a solo artist, writing and performing my own songs; if you like artists like Chevelle, Killswitch Engage, or Flyleaf, you might enjoy my music.
Hey, my pleasure; I'm glad you found it helpful! I'm excited for you and your music production journey; there's a lot to learn, but just remember to have fun along the way 😉 Let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to give a helpful answer!
@@QuincyKane I appreciate that advice. There IS indeed so much to learn especially as I transition from loops to midi and live playing. I know what sounds good so there’s that feather in my producer cap but I don’t always know why it sounds good nor can I reproduce it yet lol. So thanks for helping with this part of the puzzle.
It can be tricky to make such a short example sound "bad", haha. The same techniques could be used with the first drum arrangement and help that groove to work even better.
Haha, yeah, that's actually a quilt my mom made for my brother out of a bunch of his old t-shirts; but of course, it's a classic movie and I love it! I'm glad you found the video helpful!
As a multi-instrumentalist I concur This is some good stuff bro (Plus you're still responding after 6 years!!!) There's a lot of good stuff to pick up here for everyone!
Great video! I think this is what makes the Rolling Stones so enduring. A lot of their songs seem to really benefit from this understanding between the musicians. They didn't need to be virtuosos, Keith certainly wasn't, but they had great feel and knew how best to serve the song.
I’m actually so proud of myself, I’m a guitarist and a bassist in my friend band I’ve always had fun just supporting my friends parts as a bassist and as a guitarist I really appreciate when MY bassist supports me
Hey, thanks, I appreciate that! Just a heads up, you can find other videos like this on my channel, but I'm not really making tutorials anymore. I'm focusing on releasing original songs; if you're into artists like Chevelle, Killswitch Engage, Flyleaf, Tool, or Breaking Benjamin, you might like my music. If you have any questions about music, I'll still be happy to try and answer them for you; I actually go live on TH-cam every Thursday at 6:30 PM est, so you're more than welcome to swing by and ask your questions and I can explain them during the stream. (I'll actually be streaming on Tuesday October 17th this week at 7 pm EST).
Quincy Kane Morris Thank you do much! ☺️ Can you make more videos about band performance focused on the keyboard? I feel like I have a lot to improve✨ Pls teach us more in keyboard 🎹
@@chinpokkhaw4416 I would like to make another band video like this, but I'm not sure if I'll have time. However, I can give you a few more tips. When you say keyboard, do you mean you're using a keyboard to play traditional piano sounds or are you playing synth-y, electronic sounds as well? I’d recommend checking out Ben Folds; his music has been very influential to me as a pianist. Check out his Myspace gig and look up the songs "Rockin' the Suburbs", "Army", and "Such Great Heights". You'll get to see him playing live with other musicians, so there's a lot to watch and learn. He does use some foul language sometimes, just to give you a heads up. Also check out his songs "Red is Blue", "Heist", "Annie Waits", "In Between Days", and "Bruised". You’ll notice he provides a lot of rhythm with the piano, and often uses electronic sounds for melodies or sustaining notes/chords. Depending on the song, sometimes he does a lot, sometimes he does a little. If you watch, listen, and try to imitate, I think you can learn a lot from Ben Folds and apply it to your own music. Also, don't be afraid to try things and experiment with new techniques; you may "over-do it" at first, but that teaches you to know when certain techniques work and when they don't.
Quincy Kane Morris thank you so much! You really spend a lot of time replying to my comment☺️ I’ll definitely check it out! And your busyness is completely understood.👌🏻 Thank you again for making this great vid!
I think you did a great job explaining the roles of each instrument. The drums, guitars and piano should be contained more during verses so that it can build up towards choruses and bridges. The bass should be in sync with the kick drum. Good job man and thanks for sharing!!
excellent advice & info! playing hit cover songs (exactly as they are on the recording) is a brilliant education for any band/musician - the best songs (and usually biggest hits) "play themselves" and work by combining simple parts to create a complex final product
Yep, that's a great tip you just shared! Learning the different parts of a hit song, analyzing, and then applying it to your own playing is incredibly helpful!
Brilliant - thank you. I do not play an instrument, do not understand music at all - but I sing - I couldn't figure out why my band was not sounding as good as they should, and it really affects the vocal parts for me - it was sometimes a mess!!. This explains a lot :)
"If the band sounds better without you, that means you're doing something wrong" is an absolutely amazing point. Even though I've been producing and playing for about 15 years now, I always imagined this was a mixing issue - I never considered that it could be the part itself. I will definitely carry this nugget of info with me from now on!
This is great advice that a lot of bands don’t learn until it’s too late. The key is to service the song or the band’s “sound”. It’s easy to pick up bad habits by playing live because giving it everything you’ve got at all times will often get you great crowd reactions but that doesn’t work when recording and your songs will lose the emotional 3 dimensionality that good arrangements with a focus on dynamics can provide.
In all my years of playing music I've never heard a better breakdown of how it's supposed to work together. Will be working my way through your channel in hopes of finding more of your expertise and logic.. May life be very good to you ✌🏻
Thank you for the kind words; I very much appreciate it! I do still have some tutorials and music vlogs on my channel, but just to give you a heads up, I am focusing now as a solo recording artist, posting original songs and performing them through Live Streams and Music Videos.
Quincy, you have provided a very eloquent and helpful explanation of your track mix. For beginner musicians, it might be helpful to show a photo or video clip of each instrument for each track when introduced.
Thank you so much for your video! I've had more of an important role in the band for my Christian fellowship recently, so it's helpful for me to understand how my peers/bandmates make the setlist pop 👍
ok this is awesome thank youl wish i could find more stuff like this on the internet about instruments and their importance in production while arranging your music... thank you
I probably didn't use the best tone back when I made this example; the source tone of each instrument is hugely impactful in how they all fit together. The bass tone I used here is very "sub-y" with not a whole lot of top end to give it presence and help it cut through the mix, where as the piano probably did have some top end to it, so it still had some presence, even when playing lower notes. Because of that, you probably won't hear the bass that well unless your listening through speakers that allow more low end to come through. However, the focus of this video was not on song production or mixing, but on "arrangement", so the strategies I shared are still very effective, and will sound even better if your using better source tones for each instrument. I hope that helps; good luck with your music!
Wow, this video was amazing, (and so was that song) lots of information here, and well presented, easy to understand, that's an instant subscription from me
Thank you for the kind words; I'm glad you found the video helpful! 🙂 If you liked the song, you might like some of the music I play during my Live Streams; I go live every Thursday at 6:30 PM EST. You should come hang out!
For an even BETTER example of this concept used in a ROCK/METAL song, listen closely to the instrument and vocal arrangement in this song - th-cam.com/video/u1MaJksXbSM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=X9FyhBCr5b_DlRtS
Meanwhile my band guitarist: is this time for S O L O ?
😂
"Solo?"
"Yes, Ricko, Solo"
@Lad2727 i was made for this
Bass: stand there and look cool
😂
Can't hear it anyway!
@@Dan-v8k No, you *feel* it
too much to ask
My deceased neighbour played bass for more than 70 years.
the way i think of the bass and drum interaction is that the kick drum gives the bass punch and the bass gives the kick drum sustain and when properly synchronized together they create the foundation of the song which everything rides on top of.
Lithium by Nirvana does this well
Bass should be the lead instrument
@@MrMillions69 pretty much. since the bass line is usually the root cadence/groove of the song and everything else is a counter rhythm or counter point.
More Big Chaotic Jumbled Muddy Mess! Give the people what the people want, free the drummer. Let the drummer inflict pain upon the masses, spectators appreciate and shake your whacky assess! You must Bob your head, all hail the narcissistic drummer!
@@MrMillions69 I don't mind which instrument act as the lead as long as the overall song sounds good, but for bass I do prefer it to be more melodic...
3:57, kitty in the background wakes up
Didn't know I needed this
Thank you
I feel 40% smarter now. Thank you
Watch this video three times
@@jstKidding_ no
He's has done nothing but watching this for 3 years
This guy is 100% right. A lot of bands improve dramatically if they take the advice of a good producer.
Thanks for backing me up, haha
Dont piss of your drummer because they can change the entire genre of a song if they wanted to
Indeed! They have A LOT of influence on the overall sound! And with great power, comes great responsibility 😉
@QuincyKane yea I only say this because I'm a drummer and I can be very petty
@THE_OUTCAST36
Someone has to lead!
I feel like every band needs to watch this video together at least once annually. Like any band. Regardless of genre or popularity. Definitely helps even seasoned musicians think like a regular music listener and refresh the true importance of dynamics and expression in song composition or even executing cover tunes tastefully. Less is usually more in rock n roll. We just gotta fill in the blanks with color.
I'm glad you find it so useful! Hopefully it's helped a few musicians!
Bands don’t exist haha it’s 2023
Tell me you’ve never listened to deathcore
"C'mon. You know the rules guys. It's that time of year." "But Ivan. We are a band of traditional Slavic folk musicians who play for tourists l." "I didn't make the rule Boris."
@@mintchevvv1834 OH Yes they do, they're still out there. With real instruments and everything, they're out there in their garages and practice rooms all over the world. Sometimes even in your local bar or community hall or whatever. Just because they're not in your newsfeed or making any money doesn't mean they've dissappeared. Old bastards like me and even young kids are still out there Rocking the fuck out. Cause we love it. I suggest you turn off the spotify and the banal chart radio stations and go get out there and support your local live music scene. Or better still pick up an instrument yourself, grab a couple of mates and start making some noise. It could well be the best decision you ever made. It was for me..
When I was in a band back at uni, the other two NEEDED a bass player and so, before I joined, they wrote my parts for me. They were both music students (though they played different instruments for their courses) and they used their knowledge from classical music stuff to write complicated parts for me since they knew me as a prog guy with a taste for busy music. The thing was, we played indie/funk music. They dialed back their own parts, but not mine for fear that I would leave. When we started writing together, I made parts that were much more typical of the style of the genre. They worried that I was getting bored, but I honestly thought we just sounded better as a group that way.
Yep, sometimes less is more!
That was actually really nice of them to do that. A lot of people would have to or try to reign the bass player in, but they thought of you and went out of their way to write parts around what they thought would be cool for you (even if the song overall was better with more simple bass).
Drums changes dynamic for whole song
Bass foundation for the rhythm and melody
Electric rhythm guitar gives drive and punch
Acoustic percussion
Lead gives melody something for the listener to follow
Piano can do lots
Synth add air or reinforce
You got it!
Acoustic guitar
Hammond organ
Electric piano
Flute
Saxophone
Violin
Turntables
@@vgmaster9prog rock
As someone who just listens to music and wants to understand what really "goes on" with all the different instruments in the band, this was really really helpful. Thanks man!
I'm glad this was able to help you understand!
“You only get to solo when you have a solo”? What heresy is this?!?
😂😂
the guitarist of my band wont like this 😓
You just casually dropped a whole lot of wisdom on writing and arranging parts for a song. Well done!
Thank you for the kind words; I'm glad you found this helpful!
I tell *eeeveryone* that the drums are *not* in charge of the rhythm. Everyone is responsible for the rhythm, but the drums have the ability to change the song dynamically more effectively than any other instrument. *The dynamics* are our superpower!
Very good points! With great power, comes great responsibility 👍🏻
This guy is dropping jewels.......back in the days you would pay good money that sort imformation......the truth is once you ve gained the knowledge of music theory.......you gonna have to learn how to give your piece of music life........this guy explains it a in clear and simplicitic way.......you can feel the coming alive.......awesome.....
Your cat though.
Haha, yeah, that's my brother's cat "Skittles". Either I didn't realize she was back there or I didn't worry about it during filming, haha.
Kitteh win!❤
This made producing music so much more clear for me as a beginner, thank you.
Awesome, glad it was helpful to you!
Wow, this video really changed my perspective on music,
Most of the time I only focus on my part as a musician but I didnt realize the importance of listening to music in a collective manner. Thank you very much
Awesome, I'm glad you learned something new; now you're on your way to being an even better musician!
Well done man! Amateur musician here - I often listen to what each instrument is doing when I hear music. In fact, I enjoy listening to 4 instrument bands (drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboard) because it is fascinating the amount of music you can play with just 4, instruments! But! Each must trully understand it's role and purpose. Great video
Thank you; I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve been studying, playing, writing, and recording music for many years now and have learned a lot of this on my own as time has progressed, but I’ve never seen it in a video like this. This was awesome and now I wanna look back over some of my compositions and some works in progress and make them better! Thanks
I'm glad you were able to gain some inspiration from this!
Great video, i like the cat in the background :)
Thanks!
My music teacher thinks this is good and my whole class thinks that this is too interesting
Edit: ty for so many likes
Wow, I'm glad to hear it's being shared and people are finding it helpful!
Lovely Video clip! Forgive me for chiming in, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you considered - Deyvelynar Celebrated Dominance (do a google search)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for discovering how to learn the piano fast without the headache. Ive heard some great things about it and my friend got cool results with it.
@@ginb1598 Thanks for sharing! I'm already satisfied with my current piano skills, but it sure does sound like a great resource for learning!
does anyone know what app he uses
Trust your music teacher... it is really good!
“Think about what the other instruments are playing”
Thank you for saying so succinctly what I’ve been trying to emphasize to my bandmates for ages. Just because you physically *can* play a part doesn’t mean you *need* to
This is so good! The concept of each instrument serving the song is fantastic. That’s what makes it so fun to play in a band- each instrument has the chance to make all the others’ better.
Absolutely! That's really what makes the song enjoyable to listen to, even for the musicians playing!
I found your information very valuable. You see the big picture and get straight to the point. As a sound engineer and drummer who's been known to preach "keep it simple" I can really relate. Looking forward to sharing with my band mates as you explain it better than I could. Thanks
Thank you! I'm glad to hear that this is useful to you!
That was a really well put together demonstration, very professional and informative.
Thank you!
Thankyou!! As a keyboardist and singer in my Church this was extremely helpful!
Christian Duran Awesome, I'm glad to hear that!
Something I always said it’s like producing is like playing a band but you have to know how every instrument is played.. especially as a producer that plays all the sounds this is major understanding
This is actually super helpful foe electronic music as well. I've been trying to figure out where I was going wrong for my songs and this explains a great way to add separation between verses and chorus and also where to or not to add different instruments so it doesn't become muddled.
That's right! This concept applies to multiple genres!
I'm glad this was helpful; have fun making music!
Bass player, this is a very interesting video
I hope you found it helpful!
Quincy Kane Morris the music sounds like it belongs on the credits portion of a Disney sitcom.
Haha, I could hear that a little.
I’d really like to see a version of this for a power trio, just guitar, bass, and drums.
It would be a similar concept, but you'd have a lot more flexibility since there aren't so many other instruments taking up space.
I would recommend taking what you learned from this video and then listening to some songs by some 3 piece bands (Chevelle, Blink-182, Nirvana, etc.) and listen to how the parts connect, support, or compliment each other.
Sometimes, the guitar might alternate between playing rhythm parts and lead parts, while the bass holds down the rhythm. The vocals and guitar might take turns providing melody, and the bass might provide more notes to fill up more space.
Hope that kinda gives you an idea of how it would work!
@@QuincyKaneThanks, this actually helps a lot
To add on this, if you listen to a lot of blink-Mark actually does a lot for the rhythm section by playing bass chords. The songs written by him usually contain verse sections where he's doing two jobs of keeping the rhythm section down with bass obviously but also getting a more fuller sound with bass chords. You can hear it best on "The Rock Show". Honestly pretty cool.
If band is a sandwich, bass is the bread and drumset is the plate
Indeed!
Rhythm guitar is the meat, while lead guitar is the spicy mustard.
😂😂
@@cbrindle91 oh yeah
This is by far one of the best tutorial videos I've seen! I can't recall how many times I've seen bands messing up their sound by overplaying and not knowing the role of each instrument. It's kind of strange that their is a million videos on scales you'll never use but not something as essential as this. Great job, keep it coming!
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Thank you so much for this video... as a pianist thats in a recent band with a bassist, guitarist and vocalist I have been trying to figure out what the hell my role in the band actually is if it seems like whatever the piano can do is occupied by another instrument but this video has helped lots.
That's great; I'm glad to hear this video was helpful to you 🙂
I hope this gives you a few ideas of where to start, but you could get even more inspiration by checking out bands with a similar line up to your band; the first one that comes to my mind is The Fray. Maybe check out some of their stuff and see if it gives you some ideas.
Have fun, and good luck with your band!
@@QuincyKane thanks again, I will be sure to check the fray out! I have forwarded your video to my friends and bandmates because I feel like this video should get more recognition :)
Piano player here, thanks for the video! I found it very informative
I'll be honest I had to rewatch this because the cat in the background was adorable!
Hey, this is really good advice, this was the first thing I went to on my search.
I'm glad you found it helpful!
Till now, I haven’t ever found better video which explains each and every instrument this clearly !
Thanks a ton for this video 👏🏼 🤝
My pleasure; I'm glad you found it helpful!
Thank you. I play keys in a bar band and this is already how I think. The same approach works in worship music (in my case, Reform Jewish) - my first question is What Don’t we have? It’s rarely melody or chords. I’m usually working with an acoustic guitar or two It’s bass line, so I play with a heavy left hand. I worry about adding rhythmic impact because piano is a percussion instrument. I add fills. Sometimes harmony lines.
You’re so right about how live musicians think. I’ll lay out for a first verse to get a song to build. No one else is thinking that way. If we’re playing a song with a heavy groove, I’ll often have to tell the drummer to cool it with the fills, this song needs that pocket, which is what I’m reinforcing on keys for all I’m worth. (Drummers appreciate the extra groove support. They love playing with a rhythm section that acts like one.)
The other huge factor live is TURN DOWN!! Under no circumstances should you even consider competing with the vocals and you have no business being unaware you’re doing it. If I don’t know if I’m too loud (or soft) out front I ask. Your product is not your sound, your product is the band’s sound. I hate playing with guys who don’t get that. I don’t care how good your chops are; if you don’t get this I don’t want to know you.
Sounds like you've got the right idea! The main purpose of this video was to help amateur musicians understand the concept of listening to the other musicians in the band and making sure what they're playing is connecting, supporting, or complimenting everyone else.
I you find yourself in situations with fewer musicians, that gives you more wiggle room to play around with, and you don't have to worry as much about taking up too much space. You just wanna try to be dynamic (soft in the verses; harder in the chorus's), try not to cover anyone up, and keep an ear out for spaces to fill in with the "fancy stuff".
This was an excellent idea for a video. Listening to each other in a band is so important and not everybody can do it naturally.
I almost never hear the bass in the songs I listen to 😂, except when the bass is the main instrument on the intro or has a part to play alone, or is heavy and high
this is like the best video about producing music i've ever seen
it help me a lot
Thanks for the kind words; I'm glad you found it helpful! Have fun making music!
Well done! Clear, concise, and without the usual bluster that is so common these days.
Thanks! I'm glad you found it helpful!
Wow, great way of explaining the roles of each band instruments, thanks for that!
My pleasure; glad you found it helpful!
This is a great take on how to fit into a band. Very insightful. You have solid grasp on the topic. Thanks.
Thanks for the kind words!
This is incredibly helpful! Thank you! You've covered more in this video than I ever thought I could learn from one TH-cam video!
I'm glad you found it helpful!
man i’ve been searching for these kind of knowledge for ages, thank you so much for sharing
My pleasure; glad you found it helpful!
Exactly what I've been looking for...for a long time.
People talk a lot about music theory. But never this.
Thank you so much.
Glad to hear you found it helpful! Is there anything else in this topic that you have questions about?
I'm not sure why this has been recommended now, 6 years later, but it's made me very happy that the algorithm is doing its job. Great video, paced perfectly. Can't wait to check out your other stuff!
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
And yeah, I'm little baffled myself why this old video of mine is suddenly getting a lot of traction, haha
Just a heads up; I have other tutorials like this on my channel, but I don't make these kind of videos anymore. I'm focusing more on a career as a solo artist, writing and performing my own songs; if you like artists like Chevelle, Killswitch Engage, or Flyleaf, you might enjoy my music.
I’m new to music production so this video is a gem! I don’t think I have found another video like this. Appreciate you for this.
Hey, my pleasure; I'm glad you found it helpful! I'm excited for you and your music production journey; there's a lot to learn, but just remember to have fun along the way 😉
Let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to give a helpful answer!
@@QuincyKane I appreciate that advice. There IS indeed so much to learn especially as I transition from loops to midi and live playing. I know what sounds good so there’s that feather in my producer cap but I don’t always know why it sounds good nor can I reproduce it yet lol. So thanks for helping with this part of the puzzle.
Thank you for sharing this information 👏🙏
My pleasure! Glad you found it helpful!
I find this very helpful, well said. Thank You
Thanks; I'm glad you found it helpful!
this was really eye opening in that i see ur point clear as day but i am absolutely groovin to any of the examples you’ve shown without a problem.
It can be tricky to make such a short example sound "bad", haha. The same techniques could be used with the first drum arrangement and help that groove to work even better.
Great video, demonstrating on the DAW really helps prove your points, thanks!
Thanks for the kind words; I'm glad you found the video helpful!
Love the Jurassic Park blurred out on the blanket
great video. thank you for the info!
Haha, yeah, that's actually a quilt my mom made for my brother out of a bunch of his old t-shirts; but of course, it's a classic movie and I love it!
I'm glad you found the video helpful!
As a multi-instrumentalist I concur
This is some good stuff bro
(Plus you're still responding after 6 years!!!)
There's a lot of good stuff to pick up here for everyone!
Thank you for the kind words and affirmation!
And yes, just trying to be helpful, haha
This video was so carefully thought out, prepared, and concise. I loved it!
I appreciate the kind words; thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Quincy I just wanted to say thank you so much for this. I’m currently trying to create a “band” in my DAW and this helped a bunch thanks!
My pleasure; glad you found it helpful!
hope it went well for you
Great video! I think this is what makes the Rolling Stones so enduring. A lot of their songs seem to really benefit from this understanding between the musicians. They didn't need to be virtuosos, Keith certainly wasn't, but they had great feel and knew how best to serve the song.
What I like about this is the examples that you have. This is great :D
Thanks; I'm glad you found it helpful!
I’m actually so proud of myself, I’m a guitarist and a bassist in my friend band I’ve always had fun just supporting my friends parts as a bassist and as a guitarist I really appreciate when MY bassist supports me
Sounds like you're playing music the right way 😉 Keep making music and having fun!
Quincy, your videos are extremely well done, easy to understand. You are clear and professional. Also your music sounds really good! great jon
Devon Dicker Thank you for the kind words; I'm glad you've enjoyed the videos and music!
Great video. Your examples bring a lot of clarity to each instrument having its role.
Thanks, I'm glad you found it helpful!
This video should be required watching for all music producers. Subscribed.
Thank you for the kind words and for subscribing! I'm glad you liked the video!
Bro just got a new subscriber here!
Hey, thanks, I appreciate that!
Just a heads up, you can find other videos like this on my channel, but I'm not really making tutorials anymore. I'm focusing on releasing original songs; if you're into artists like Chevelle, Killswitch Engage, Flyleaf, Tool, or Breaking Benjamin, you might like my music.
If you have any questions about music, I'll still be happy to try and answer them for you; I actually go live on TH-cam every Thursday at 6:30 PM est, so you're more than welcome to swing by and ask your questions and I can explain them during the stream. (I'll actually be streaming on Tuesday October 17th this week at 7 pm EST).
Thank you !! That’s really helpful. I’m the keyboard of my band in high school, now I think I know my role better.
Glad I was able to help out! Have fun with your band; I know you'll do great!
Quincy Kane Morris Thank you do much! ☺️ Can you make more videos about band performance focused on the keyboard? I feel like I have a lot to improve✨ Pls teach us more in keyboard 🎹
@@chinpokkhaw4416 I would like to make another band video like this, but I'm not sure if I'll have time. However, I can give you a few more tips.
When you say keyboard, do you mean you're using a keyboard to play traditional piano sounds or are you playing synth-y, electronic sounds as well?
I’d recommend checking out Ben Folds; his music has been very influential to me as a pianist. Check out his Myspace gig and look up the songs "Rockin' the Suburbs", "Army", and "Such Great Heights". You'll get to see him playing live with other musicians, so there's a lot to watch and learn. He does use some foul language sometimes, just to give you a heads up.
Also check out his songs "Red is Blue", "Heist", "Annie Waits", "In Between Days", and "Bruised". You’ll notice he provides a lot of rhythm with the piano, and often uses electronic sounds for melodies or sustaining notes/chords. Depending on the song, sometimes he does a lot, sometimes he does a little. If you watch, listen, and try to imitate, I think you can learn a lot from Ben Folds and apply it to your own music. Also, don't be afraid to try things and experiment with new techniques; you may "over-do it" at first, but that teaches you to know when certain techniques work and when they don't.
Quincy Kane Morris thank you so much! You really spend a lot of time replying to my comment☺️ I’ll definitely check it out! And your busyness is completely understood.👌🏻 Thank you again for making this great vid!
Great explanation Quincy! We are a rock band based in Singapore and your tips have been helpful!
RockWeller Glad to hear it was helpful to you!
I think you did a great job explaining the roles of each instrument. The drums, guitars and piano should be contained more during verses so that it can build up towards choruses and bridges. The bass should be in sync with the kick drum. Good job man and thanks for sharing!!
My pleasure; glad you found it helpful!
excellent advice & info! playing hit cover songs (exactly as they are on the recording) is a brilliant education for any band/musician - the best songs (and usually biggest hits) "play themselves" and work by combining simple parts to create a complex final product
Yep, that's a great tip you just shared! Learning the different parts of a hit song, analyzing, and then applying it to your own playing is incredibly helpful!
Brilliant - thank you. I do not play an instrument, do not understand music at all - but I sing - I couldn't figure out why my band was not sounding as good as they should, and it really affects the vocal parts for me - it was sometimes a mess!!. This explains a lot :)
Glad this was helpful to you! The band definitely has to make room for the vocals!
Cool crash course. 👍
"If the band sounds better without you, that means you're doing something wrong" is an absolutely amazing point.
Even though I've been producing and playing for about 15 years now, I always imagined this was a mixing issue - I never considered that it could be the part itself. I will definitely carry this nugget of info with me from now on!
I'm glad you were able to learn something useful from this!
Thought you were Rob Scallions brother for a minute. Keep up the great work man
This is some incredibly helpful advice. Totally enhanced my understanding of music production. Thank you man 🙂
So glad to hear that; thanks for sharing!
This was interesting. I also liked your cat in the background. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
glad i watched this! i'm having trouble on mixing instruments! this one explained a lot!
I'm glad this was helpful to you!
this is helpful for most beginners. start off with basic rudiments with catchy chord progressions and that’s it. simple pop music
Surprisingly well done. cool.
Thank you!
Well done Quincy!
Thanks!
Just what I've been looking for, thank you!
Glad you found it helpful!
this was actually eye-opening lol, thank u!
I'm glad you found it helpful!
thank you very very much
this is really really helpful
can you make more of this? (part 2 - 3, giving more examples)
I'm glad you found it helpful! I'd LOVE to make a part 2, but I could use some ideas. Are there any specific things you'd like to see in a part 2?
@@QuincyKane Hey mate! Can you share samples of a keyboard (or other instruments) used in different ways but still sound awesome?
This is great advice that a lot of bands don’t learn until it’s too late. The key is to service the song or the band’s “sound”. It’s easy to pick up bad habits by playing live because giving it everything you’ve got at all times will often get you great crowd reactions but that doesn’t work when recording and your songs will lose the emotional 3 dimensionality that good arrangements with a focus on dynamics can provide.
Yep, those are some important inputs you're sharing there!
Thank you so much!!!!! This video is so inspiring and helping!
Thank you!
I'm glad to hear this was helpful to you, as well as inspiring!
I'm not in a band but I appreciate the video and this is very enlightening. Good job. Thank you.
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
This is gem! Thanks, you helped me a lot.
My pleasure; glad it helped you out!
Concise and very informative-hard to find that on TH-cam. Thank you so much.
My pleasure; glad you found it useful!
Nice video very useful I’ll show that to my mates 👍
In all my years of playing music I've never heard a better breakdown of how it's supposed to work together.
Will be working my way through your channel in hopes of finding more of your expertise and logic..
May life be very good to you ✌🏻
Thank you for the kind words; I very much appreciate it!
I do still have some tutorials and music vlogs on my channel, but just to give you a heads up, I am focusing now as a solo recording artist, posting original songs and performing them through Live Streams and Music Videos.
Just what I need thanks
Quincy, you have provided a very eloquent and helpful explanation of your track mix.
For beginner musicians, it might be helpful to show a photo or video clip of each instrument for each track when introduced.
Thank you so much for your video! I've had more of an important role in the band for my Christian fellowship recently, so it's helpful for me to understand how my peers/bandmates make the setlist pop 👍
Awesome, I'm glad this is helpful to you!
ok this is awesome thank youl wish i could find more stuff like this on the internet about instruments and their importance in production while arranging your music... thank you
My pleasure; glad you found it helpful!
What bass??? I can't even hear it, especially when the low notes of the keyboard drown it out. Definitely not loud enough for me!
I probably didn't use the best tone back when I made this example; the source tone of each instrument is hugely impactful in how they all fit together.
The bass tone I used here is very "sub-y" with not a whole lot of top end to give it presence and help it cut through the mix, where as the piano probably did have some top end to it, so it still had some presence, even when playing lower notes.
Because of that, you probably won't hear the bass that well unless your listening through speakers that allow more low end to come through. However, the focus of this video was not on song production or mixing, but on "arrangement", so the strategies I shared are still very effective, and will sound even better if your using better source tones for each instrument.
I hope that helps; good luck with your music!
I feel the same way. Most songs have the same problem.
THANK YOU
Finally, some bass guitar representation
I felt as if I learn music the true lesson for a first time! You’re a hero!🎉
Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you found it so helpful!
Your a genius. This is called dynamics. Long before there were little computers and programs and digital music.
Yep, dynamics have been important since the birth of music; they're probably even more important for "computer and digital" music, haha
Wow, this video was amazing, (and so was that song) lots of information here, and well presented, easy to understand, that's an instant subscription from me
Thank you for the kind words; I'm glad you found the video helpful! 🙂
If you liked the song, you might like some of the music I play during my Live Streams; I go live every Thursday at 6:30 PM EST. You should come hang out!
Nice video
Thank you!
Thanks
My pleasure!
0:54 Everyones rocking out to themselves
SOunds like typical Prog rock/metal lol
Haha, certainly not the "good" prog bands; a lot of that music needs to be precise to sound cohesive!