REQ: Top40 Theory Melodic Math Course
Hi everyone,I’ve been searching for this course on melodic math .the techniques used by legendary producers like Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Benny Blanco and others to create chart topping hits. For those who may not know, Max Martin alone holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits by a producer, and he’s tied with John Lennon for the second-most #1 singles as a songwriter (just behind Paul McCartney ).
This course would be incredibly valuable, so if anyone this course to share, I’d greatly appreciate it!
INFO :
WHAT IS MELODIC MATH?
Melodic math has been central to my perception of how hitmaking works. Through my work on my music theory PhD and of course my Top40 Theory journey, it's been a lens through which I view a lot of the concepts and techniques I've learned over the past decade.
Contrary to popular belief, melodic math is (mostly) not about mathematical equations. It's a theory of how music and psychology intersect in the brains (and bodies) of the listeners. And this theory is grounded in reality, as evidenced by the fact that the person who conceived it, Max Martin, has been making hit after hit since the previous century without being fazed by shifts in trends and culture.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF MELODIC MATH
Achieve visceral connection with the listener and keep them engaged throughout the song
Tap into the listener's subconscious brain rather than impress the conscious brain
Create the illusion that the listener already knows the song on first listen
Make the listener sing along and move to the music as soon as possible
HOOKS
Melodic principles
Hooking functions (stickiness, interest, tension & release, etc.)
Hook types and the hooking functions they fulfill
Creating infectious hooksIntertwining multiple hooks
Using space
STRUCTURE
Large scale structure: building a song’s sonic arc
Medium scale structure: section-to-section
Flow between sections
Small scale structure: in-section melodic structure
Substructure: phrase and hook structure
REPETITION
Understanding types of repetition and the soft-hard repetition spectrum
Combining repetition and variation
‘Humanizing’ the repetition
CONTRASTS
Pitch contrasts
Rhythmic contrasts
Phrasing contrasts
Metric position contrasts
MELODY RECYCLING TECHNIQUES
Using the same melodies and refrains in different sections and contexts
Limiting the number of unique melodies in a song to increase the impact of each melody
Juxtaposing melodies
MELODIC PREVIEWS
Standard previews
Prince Theory
Hidden fragments
Pseudo-previews
HARMONY AND TONALITY
Ambiguity or fluidity between relative major & minor
Minimally functional chord progressions
Emphasis on final notes of phrases