[Trance] What do u think of this Melody?

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Music Producers Promotion
-- [Trance] What do u think of this Melody?

Posted by Lancaster on Jul-19-2005 20:50:

[Trance] What do u think of this Melody?

Hi Mates!
I'm currently working hard on my next track and I have many problems concerning creating a "groovy" melody. This is a sample of what I've made during the last 2 hours (really just the melody!!!)!
Finally I'm satisfied with that but after I've heard it 4943464964 times (the loop function in reason
) I'm tired of it now. I don't want to break up my work - what do you think of it?

I need you constructive opinion

DOWNLOAD HERE MY MELODY

Greets
Lancaster

Posted by Four_On_Four-er on Jul-19-2005 21:17:

I'm consider myself a melody man... and I'm rather at a loss of words. Having to give it another listen tells me that that this is either 2 things: a genius trying to search for something outside of normal trance boundaries, or a highly experimental person who's digging through a mess of scales discovering something but can't put a finger on it exactly.

Upon 3rd listen... I'm inclined to say that it might not be either. The chord progression shifts keys, something that's hard to do in trance properly... especially with the choice of instruments you are using. The mix you have right now is kinda cold, and lacks any significant bass. The choise of instruments is not working for me with this melody.

Trying to listen to melody objectively without having the leads and synths back up my imagery (I'm a very visual person, mind you)... I somehow saw a boss battle from some random video game (sprites from Mega Man and Sonic the Hedgehog flashed in my mind) almost something like the final boss from something lept into my cranium. Knowing that sounds crazy, I tried it again, and I'm at a loss again.

What can I say, all I know is that the lead is scratching around various chords trying to find some form of meaning. It's running too and fro on the scales is digging for a more tangible melody that I imagine could work great later in the song. If you use this melody, use it to build tension, that's what I recommend. I can't see it as "groovy"...

Posted by Lancaster on Jul-19-2005 21:29:

First of all I am German and it was a bit hard for me to understand you...

Thanks for your detailed opinion on my work. Well yes, its true - I tried to combine many different chords in order to stress the lead but
in my view, there's no problem with the instruments.

Does your "visual experience" wants to say that it is a melody for a video game?

Posted by Four_On_Four-er on Jul-20-2005 03:01:

Production wise... no problems... it's just not my cup of tea. The saws are a bit cliched, and sound more like chip-tune arps... Also, the lack of bass made the melody quite unmoving. These are all minor production technicalities that depend almost solely on point of view, except for the lack of bass.

Posted by gerrycueto on Jul-20-2005 05:45:

what do you mean production wise no problems? this is full of problems

the melodies are out of tune... they are incoherent (some of your synths are out of tune)... they do not fit eachother... it's like a band and each member is playing their own thing on time but out of tune. This is full of dissonance.. Dissonance may be good at times to build a little tension, but a whole track of dissonance makes me wanna hurl.

Not only that the track sounds really cheesey... where'd the bass go? no bassline?

THis is a big melody fest (and a dissonance fest)... melody fests aren't good productions... good production is making the most out of minimal resources.

Good trance gives me goosebumps, this gave me nausea. Let me get my pepto bismol.

oh yeah TIP

try not to hear your music so much... take a 3 day break on what you're working on and then hear it, and then you'll hear it with fresh ears and will make a better track.

If you want my opinion... Save whatever you've got and start a new track. I don't see this going anywhere. However like 4 on the floor said, you might want some of that track to build a little tension or something... so don't delete it... just dont' finish it!

Usually in my reviews I am able to give advice where the track can be improved into something listenable, but this is so bad that I can't say anything other than, "try working on a new song, bud"

I disagree with the musical genius... sounds like someone who has no feel for music attempting to create music. Although some of the technical production is there.. the synth sounds of trance are noticeable and the percussion and drums are trancey, unlike some random people who post "attempts" at making trance which sound like 8bit nintendo games.

So yeah... If I can think of anything positive to say... I would tell you that you do have the trance "sound" down... now it's time to get the trance "music" down!

oh yeah and HERE IS THE BEST MUSICAL ADVICE YOU WILL EVER GET!

simple sells.... complex doesn't

so focus on making something simple and catchy... not something extremely complex.... complex sounds like noise to most people, they can't understand it... they won't buy it.

although a stupid simple melody will sell over complex whirls of melodies, being simple doesn't mean you have to make cheesey or stupid melodies... take the Beatles for example... like Something in The Way she moves... it's a simple track with simple chords, but the theory is very skillful how they modulate from different keys.

Posted by slyfoxark on Jul-20-2005 13:31:

I agree, it is a bit too complex. Try listening to it without the background notes, (is it an apreggio?) Put in a bassline instead. It might sound a bit better then.

Posted by Lancaster on Jul-20-2005 15:08:

ok, i'll try to make it easier. by the way, there's a bassline. but it's too quiet.

Posted by djmill2005 on Jul-22-2005 14:06:

IF U DONT MIND ME ASKING WAT PROGRAM DO U USE TO MAKE YOUR MELODY WITH

Posted by DylanSwe on Jul-22-2005 15:10:

try lowering the open/close hit-hat, its to loud and gives the lead a bad sound.

regarding the melody, sounds out of tune sometimes, maybe delete a key here or there, make the melody not to busy..but that could be because there is so much going on. when the "break" comes it smooths out abit, which is good.

try another type of sample for your lead. to sharp.

take care,

Posted by Lancaster on Jul-22-2005 15:22:

@ djmill2005: Reason 2.5

@DylanSwe: Well that's is a posibble solution. I've added an extra lead in order to let it sound more "crazy" - anyway after all I thougt it woul fit. but obviously it doesn't

Posted by Subtle on Jul-23-2005 00:54:

although i shouldnt be posting a comment here..

in my opinion, u should just delete the project file, listen to ur favrite ch00ns.. try working loonger on each element, this sounds like something someone would have made without speakers, randomly clicking notes and loops together..

the first 6 seconds of the melody is all u need, try focusing on those first bars, and work something out of em.. skip the rest..