Arrangement, Composition & Theory
Chords, melody, song structure, rhythm and getting past the 4-bar loop.
10:32Rhythm & grooveHow to program drum grooves
A musician's approach to programming drums that feel played.
31:36Chords & harmonyMusic theory for producers in 30 minutes: notes, chords, keys and inversions
A fast, practical overview that teaches what the theory does to a track, not just its terms.
1:53:10Genre studies & track breakdownsFocus... on hip-hop production: building a beat from scratch
Nearly two hours with a top hip-hop producer explaining his thinking calmly and in detail, with as much on composition and feel as on technique.
19:53Chords & harmonyMusic theory for producers, part 1: notes, octaves, staff and clefs
The start of a complete, free theory course pitched at people who make music in a DAW rather than read it.
44:02Chords & harmonyAdam Neely on the Western bias in music theory
Widens what 'theory' means for anyone who learned only the Western classical version, with clear musical examples from other traditions.
14:09Rhythm & grooveMusic theory for producers, part 3: rhythm, meter and tempo
Rhythm basics, explained without assuming you read music.
12:58Chords & harmonyMusic theory for producers, part 2: sharps, flats and enharmonics
Part two of a patient theory series built for producers.
11:56Genre studies & track breakdownsMusic theory for techno
Theory for a genre that often ignores it.
30:54Genre studies & track breakdownsRinzen breaks down "Torus"
A clear techno breakdown from a working artist.
39:58Genre studies & track breakdownsMaking a techno track with Tom Hades
Watch a techno veteran work quickly and decisively.
10:24Rhythm & grooveHow J Dilla humanized the MPC3000
Explains the off-grid feel producers still chase.
21:00Song structure & arrangementTurning a four-bar loop into a full song: arrangement for beginners
Tackles the most common stuck point, the endless loop, by showing the decisions that turn one into a structure, in real time.
6:30Song structure & arrangementFive arrangement tricks for more interesting hip-hop beats
Short and practical: small arrangement moves that stop a beat sounding like one long loop.
15:09Chords & harmonyWhy perfect pitch isn't worth wanting: Adam Neely on absolute and relative pitch
Clears up a common myth and points ear training toward relative pitch, the skill you can actually build.
12:44Genre studies & track breakdownsHow the best rappers rhyme, from Kurtis Blow to Kendrick Lamar
The colour-coded breakdowns make internal and multisyllabic rhyme visible, and you'll hear these verses differently afterwards.
26:08Rhythm & grooveDrum patterns every producer should know
A practical rhythm reference by genre.
7:04Rhythm & grooveFive rhythms worth knowing
Rhythms that move a beat past four-on-the-floor.
8:19Melody & writingMaking 808s more interesting
Small changes that turn a static 808 into a part.
10:50Chords & harmonyColtrane's "Giant Steps" explained: why it's so hard to play
Makes one of jazz's most famous harmonic puzzles understandable even if you don't read music.
8:09Rhythm & grooveTen drum patterns every producer should know
A quick reference for grooves you'll use again and again.
8:30Song structure & arrangementHow to finish music
Practical lessons on finishing, from a real deadline.
11:28Melody & writingSix music-theory moves for better bass lines
You hear a boring bass line turn into a good one step by step, and each move is simple enough to try right away.
13:45Song structure & arrangementArranging songs in MPC Beats
Turns loops into songs on free software.
39:23Genre studies & track breakdownsMelodic techno production techniques
A long genre walkthrough.
5:31Rhythm & grooveA triplet groove for house
A groove trick for house producers.
22:37Rhythm & grooveThree ways to program MIDI drums
Useful for rock and band producers.
9:16Rhythm & grooveWriting drums for non-drummers
Fills a real gap for many producers.
13:15Melody & writingThree tricks for better melodies
Quick ideas to try when a melody feels flat.
7:18Song structure & arrangementSong structure explained through a comedy sketch
Funny and memorable, and the section-by-section labelling sticks better than most straight explanations.
27:23Genre studies & track breakdownsA melodic techno session with Ableton and the Mini V
Watch a genre track take shape.
16:26Melody & writingWhy adults can't develop perfect pitch
Points adult learners towards relative pitch instead.
49:46Genre studies & track breakdownsTom Hades builds a techno track
Watch an experienced techno producer work quickly.
13:03Song structure & arrangementSong structure 101: verse and chorus
A solid structure foundation.
10:13Chords & harmonyImitating Hollywood film music
Theory anyone can hear and use.
28:12Rhythm & grooveComplex beatmaking in Ableton
Fresh rhythmic ideas from algorithms.
5:10Song structure & arrangementOne thing to do with every song you write
A thoughtful songwriting idea from an author on song structure.
11:58Melody & writingKSHMR on writing lead melodies
You watch a successful producer's thinking as he writes, including the ideas he rejects.
5:10Song structure & arrangementSong structure for songwriters
Clear structure basics.
14:06Chords & harmonyTesting 432 Hz and temperaments
Debunks a myth with care.
11:54Melody & writingMaking 808 patterns more dynamic
Quick and useful for trap producers.
14:09Rhythm & grooveSimple and compound meter
Explains why some beats feel in threes.
4:23Song structure & arrangementThe anatomy of a song
Questions the labels we take for granted.
46:59Genre studies & track breakdownsTrap beats from scratch
A long, practical genre session.
14:23Rhythm & grooveGroove in underground house
Explains why some house tracks swing and others don't.
12:13Rhythm & grooveHumanizing MIDI drums in Cubase
Makes stiff programmed drums breathe.
9:57Melody & writingHow Music Works: melody
An enjoyable, insightful look at melody.
16:42Song structure & arrangementSong structure advice
Practical structure ideas for electronic tracks.
9:07Chords & harmonyWhich key is the saddest?
A smart look at a music myth.
10:09Rhythm & grooveBuilding a beat: rhythm basics
A friendly first rhythm lesson.
1:52:37Genre studies & track breakdownsA dark atmospheric techno track, start to finish
Watch a full track take shape.
2:23:33Genre studies & track breakdownsA melodic techno track from start to finish
Every decision, in real time.
24:08Rhythm & grooveHouse drums: placement, accent and tone
Explains why house drums groove.
16:34Rhythm & grooveFunky syncopated hi-hats
A small groove detail with a big effect.
18:30Genre studies & track breakdownsMaking a techno track in Ableton
A clear genre walkthrough with stems available.
17:29Rhythm & grooveThe Rosanna half-time shuffle
Understand one of the most famous grooves ever recorded.
25:15Genre studies & track breakdownsHow to make techno in Ableton
A clear starting point for the genre.
13:14Rhythm & grooveClassic drum patterns across genres
A fun rhythm reference.
16:34Rhythm & grooveMisha Mansoor's drum programming tips
Realistic programmed drums for heavy music.
2:52:15Chords & harmonyA complete music theory course
Starts from acoustics, so the theory makes physical sense.
16:37Chords & harmonyMusic theory in sixteen minutes
Covers a lot of ground quickly without losing beginners.
7:27Genre studies & track breakdownsA lo-fi hip-hop beat from scratch
Shows what actually makes the lo-fi sound, quickly.
15:07Chords & harmonyThe harmonic series: why notes, chords and timbre work the way they do
Explains the physics underneath most of music theory in a short, well-built video; even music teachers say they took something from it.
10:40Song structure & arrangementKSHMR on building a powerful drop
Concrete arrangement ideas for a drop, explained by the producer on his own released track.
18:31Melody & writingVictor Wooten on learning music the way we learn language
A short, moving talk that changes how many people approach learning and teaching music.
45:31Rhythm & grooveAdam Neely at Ableton Loop: polyrhythms, pitch and why everything is rhythm
A mind-expanding hour that connects rhythm and harmony in a way you can actually hear.
5:44Genre studies & track breakdownsBoi-1da deconstructs Drake's "Diplomatic Immunity"
A hit beat taken apart by the producer who made it.
8:36Melody & writingDamon Albarn's songwriting routine in GarageBand
Proof that simple tools and a daily routine write great songs.
5:14Melody & writingAndrew Huang's 300,000-note song
Andrew Huang writes a song with 300,000 notes, because he can.
5:15Chords & harmonyThe Pachelbel rant: a cellist on playing Canon in D
A cellist's revenge on Pachelbel's Canon, and on every song that borrowed its progression.
6:20Chords & harmonyThe Axis of Awesome's four-chord song
The comedy classic producers send each other: four chords, dozens of hits, and a lesson in how far one progression goes.
29:24Melody & writingProgramming orchestral strings in Logic, part 1: expression and modulation
The first part of a three-part series on writing for orchestra in Logic, from a working composer and teacher. It's about making samples sound played rather than programmed.
7:02Chords & harmonyWriting lofi hip hop chords
A short, focused lesson on the part of a lofi track that sets its mood.