Keys and synths - concepts
Lesson time: (0min 54sec)
Paul Whalley looks at the keys and synth parts, and how he groups blended sounds to give each section of the track its own colour.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Produce a killer pop track
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Exploring Keys and Synthesizers in Music Production
Hey, guys!
In this next part, we're going to be looking at:
- The keys
- The synthesizers
And what role they play in the final production of the song.
I generally like to have a few different groups of sounds that blend together to create an overall colour for each section.
As we'll walk through here, I have:
- Distinct groups for the chorus
- Post-chorus sections
But also a couple of sounds that run throughout the whole song that really help glue everything together.
So, let's take a look at that now!
About the instructor
Paul Whalley is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter with a deliberately broad sound. He spent years on the road as a touring session musician with artists including Mumford & Sons and Ellie Goulding. Classically trained, he holds an undergraduate degree in instrumental performance and a Master's in composition from the Guildhall School of Music. Since moving from touring into production and songwriting he has worked with artists such as NAO, Wretch 32 and Nina Nesbitt, and played on top-40 records around the world, including Little Mix's 'Shout Out to My Ex'. He is based at Tileyard Studios in north London, where he writes and produces for major UK labels and develops new artists. On MusicGurus he and Emmi Green deconstruct a pop record from scratch - every arrangement and production decision laid bare - for songwriters and producers who want to hear how hit records are really built. read more