Analisis Musical: ¿Primero los Acordes o Primero la Melodía? | Countblissett

Summary

In this video, the speaker explores the creative process of music composition, debating whether to start with melody or harmony. Emphasizing the importance of melodic freedom, they argue that starting with a melody allows for more creative possibilities. The speaker shares personal experiences, highlighting the value of learning harmony and its role in providing a strong foundation for composition. They discuss how harmony can be reimagined once the melody is established, offering more dynamic outcomes. Ultimately, the speaker suggests that while both approaches work, beginning with the melody leads to more inventive and expressive results.

Takeaways

• 😀 The decision to start with melody or chords is a matter of personal preference, and there is no right or wrong approach.
• 😀 Starting with chords can be a safer option, but it may limit the creativity of your melody, as the harmony can influence the melodic direction.
• 😀 Composing with melody first gives you more freedom and allows you to experiment with different harmonic ideas once the melody is established.
• 😀 A key approach is to separate the melody from the harmony and then reharmonize it, allowing for more innovative and unconventional harmonic choices.
• 😀 Jazz musicians often use reharmonization techniques, where they detach the melody from its original harmonic context and create new harmonic layers.
• 😀 Building a melody first, without worrying about harmony, can lead to more inventive and unique melodic structures.
• 😀 A solid understanding of harmony is important for reharmonizing melodies and adding creative complexity to compositions.
• 😀 The concept of 'modal mixture' and 'secondary dominants' can enhance harmonic language and offer more depth to a composition.
• 😀 Composers who focus on melody-first approaches often produce richer harmonies and more complex musical results.
• 😀 The internet offers a lot of information, but it's crucial to filter out what is truly valuable for developing harmonic knowledge and musical freedom.
• 😀 Harmony serves as a foundational tool for creativity in music, especially in orchestrating and arranging, providing the freedom to explore and express ideas.

Q & A

What is the main question Tony is addressing in the video?

Tony is addressing the question of whether to start with the melody or the chords when composing music.

What is Tony's opinion on starting with chords in composition?

Tony believes that starting with chords can be a safe approach, but it limits creativity as it confines the melodic ideas to the predetermined harmonic structure.

How does Tony compare the process of starting with chords to riding a bike?

Tony compares starting with chords to riding a bike with training wheels: it's safe and stable, but it restricts the creative freedom of exploring melodies.

What does Tony suggest as the more liberating approach to composition?

Tony suggests that starting with a free melody, independent of harmony, gives more creative freedom. This allows the composer to later harmonize the melody in various ways.

How does Tony explain the role of harmony in influencing melody?

Tony explains that harmony can influence the melodic ideas that emerge. When you play predetermined chords, they guide your melodic thinking, while starting with a free melody allows for more unrestricted creativity.

Why does Tony believe writing melodies without harmony can be beneficial?

Tony believes that writing melodies without harmony forces the composer to focus purely on the melody, leading to more inventive and original musical ideas that aren't restricted by chordal structures.

How did Tony's teacher help him develop a stronger melodic sense?

Tony’s teacher pushed him to write melodies without any harmony, challenging him to think about the melody's structure and then find suitable harmonic progressions afterward.

What is Tony’s view on reharmonization?

Tony mentions that reharmonization, as practiced by musicians like Jeyko Collier, is a way to apply new harmonic ideas to a pre-existing melody. However, Tony does not claim to be an expert in reharmonization himself.

How does Tony compare the methods of melody-first versus chord-first composition?

Tony states that while both methods can work, starting with the melody first typically leads to richer harmonic results. This approach allows for more flexibility and complexity in harmonization.

What does Tony emphasize about harmonic knowledge in music composition?

Tony emphasizes that a strong understanding of harmony is crucial for composing music. He suggests that working with a free melody and then reharmonizing it offers more creative freedom, but also requires a solid grasp of harmony.

What does Tony suggest about the amount of information available online for learning music composition?

Tony acknowledges the vast amount of information available online but warns that it can be overwhelming, with varying levels of expertise and clarity. He stresses the importance of finding reliable, professional resources to develop one's musical skills.