Writing for the Percussion Section

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Күн бұрын

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As a beginner composer, do you struggle to write effectively for the Percussion Section? In this video I breakdown the basics of writing and orchestrating for a Percussion Section, including a brief description of the main instruments. I then take you through an orchestral piece detailing various Percussion writing and orchestration techniques, to help you get the best sound from the section, alongside my recommendations for Percussion sample libraries for beginner composers.
► Get your FREE Beginner's Guide To Composing Music in 5 Easy Steps here:composingacade...
00:00 - Intro
01:19 - Low Drums Overview (Timpani, Bass Drum, Taikos, Surdos)
04:12 - Mid Range Drums Overview (Toms)
04:35 - High Drums Overview (Snare Drum)
05:04 - Metals Overview (Cymbals, Tam Tam/Gong)
07:24 - Example of writing for Low Drums
09:46 - Example of writing for Mid Range Drums
11:08 - Example of writing for High Range Drums
12:38 - Example of writing for Metals
14:11 - Whole piece with Orchestra
16:23 - Recommended Percussion Sample Libraries for beginners
19:06 - Outro
Recommended Percussion Sample Libraries
Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover
www.spitfireau...
Project Sam The Free Orchestra
projectsam.com...
Spitfire Audio Originals Cinematic Percussion
www.spitfireau...
Audio Imperia Nucleus Lite
www.audioimper...
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Пікірлер: 104

@rumar4u 2 жыл бұрын

Wow Simon... without too much fanfare you have certainly made the Best Orchestral Percussion tutorial on KZfaq. You have covered Lows, Mids, best uses and certainly by your example in 1/8 you have also covered the best accents as well. If in any future video you dive deeper, I'll be more than glad to watch it. Thank you

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Ruben, oh my word thank you so much for your kind message. I'm glad you found it useful - it was a lot of fun to write the percussion parts and ultimately put it together for people to learn from!

@mimix3555 2 жыл бұрын

This might have been the best video I have ever seen regarding how to use the individual instruments to build up a song. I have been struggling to work with the timpani, but now I know that they are usually working in conjunction with many other instruments, including other low drums such as a gran cassa. Thank you for this information!

@41Fingers 2 жыл бұрын

I don't know how I missed this channel, but glad I found it.

@homeofcreation 5 ай бұрын

Your newsletter, that brought me here, is GOLD! Easy to read valuable tips without unnecessary embellishments.

@nadiabirkenstock_harpsong Жыл бұрын

Great tutorial. thank you for creating this! I found it especially helpful that you displayed the sheet music along with the explanations and the audio.

@beatsbybergstrup1427 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thank you so much. I’ve been looking for a while on a tutorial on this. Great work, keep it up. I have learned much watching your videos

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much - I'm glad it proved useful and happy the other videos have provided some value for you!

@mr88cet 5 ай бұрын

Great overview, thanks! Being primarily a woodwind and strings player, it’s challenging, but way-fun, to take on a “mostly-about-rhythm” mindset. Percussion instruments strike (😂) me as, in a certain sense, the opposite of orchestral strings: they are by far the most varied and colorful timbres from instrument to instrument within the family, but each individual instrument has far less variety in melodic and articulational capability. Violins and ‘celli sound different, yes, but that timbral difference is minuscule compared to the timbral difference of, say, crash cymbals compared to bass drum. On the other hand, a ‘cello can play a huge range of pitches, even with microtonal precision, with arco, right-and left-hand pizzicato, spiccato, regular staccato, sul tasto, tremolo, natural and artificial harmonics, just name a few. Woodwinds are sorta mid-way between: Flute, oboe, and clarinet, sound more different than violin vs. viola, for example, but not nearly as wildly different as glockenspiel vs. snare drum. However woodwinds don’t have quite as much range nor as many intriguing articulational options as violin family instruments.

@flavioishimaru5399 Жыл бұрын

Simon is a great teacher, always learning from you new stuff 😅glad to find you 😁 Gratitude 🙏

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you so much for the kind words. Its my pleasure!

@dannyherbert1420 2 жыл бұрын

really useful information here, thanks so much. i especially appreciate the inclusion of recommended sample libraries

@chucksl21 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for taking the time to teach this to others. Awesome video!!!

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! My pleasure!

@PatrickOkora 10 ай бұрын

Thank You so much, finally I know what to do with all those percussion instruments in my library. Really informative and exactly what I needed to hear

@composingacademy8270 9 ай бұрын

I am so pleased you have found it useful! Thank you so much for watching and the comment!

@audiomixexpert3175 2 жыл бұрын

Another top quality video. Just what I was looking for! Thanks Simon.

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for watching!

@ssurt_ 2 жыл бұрын

would love a guide on the keyboards (glockenspiel, xylophone, vibes, etc.)

@ratnacomposerstudio Жыл бұрын

The percussion categories have so well been explained along with slides and examples of sound too. Thanks.

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment, I am so pleased the videos are helping you!

@hjfsound 2 жыл бұрын

Really helpful. Orchestral percussion can be hard to pull off well.

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Hugh, I'm glad you found it useful. I'm a drummer, so the percussion section is my favourite :-)

@nitinmistry6280 2 жыл бұрын

I've been watching your great video series into orchestral comps. I have learned a lot and wanted to thank you. I had a question... I would love to get a download for the Midi file.

@josiahsimmons9866 8 ай бұрын

In the orchestras I've played in and been in the audience for, there are frequently five timpani. So, at least in my opinion, you can go up to about 7 tones used, because a percussionist will generally be comfortable retuning one or two of the drums periodically, just try not to have things move too quickly.

@ineedstuff8286 Жыл бұрын

i guess i was surprised one could layer all that and it not sound muddy and conflicted. Sounded incredible

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Hi, I really appreciate the comment, thank you!

@Ioan_S 2 жыл бұрын

What a great tutorial! I've taken many notes and I hope I could use them for my next epic song =)

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you found it useful - thanks for watching!

@ashokflash 7 ай бұрын

Only one good video about percussion

@Andmagic77 2 жыл бұрын

Super! Thanks)

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

@GavinNellist 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant, much needed quality video on this topic. I really struggle to write for percussion, it always sounds so rigid and fake, hopefully I'll use some of this information now to help me improve.

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you - I've also got a video called 'Epic Percussion Grooves' which breaks down the various parts, which you may find useful!

@raoulhere 2 ай бұрын

Is there by chance a a possibility to listen to the track you have composed in the latter part of the video (14:11-16:22)? It sounds super amazing! Thank you!

@ljdobles8104 2 жыл бұрын

Your videos are top notch. I learn a lot! Gracias (thank you). Greetings from Mexico.

@musiclad290 Жыл бұрын

Best tutorial on drums for me 🤯

@user-zr5xy5pv8w Жыл бұрын

I'm so appreciate, I learn so much from your tutorial videos. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

I am so glad you find them informative, thank you so much for watching!

@epicdude257 5 ай бұрын

if you want a more "experimental" sound on the gong i found out you can rosin some spray can caps and just scrape them against the gong

@imanifilmz6552 2 жыл бұрын

You're an amazing composer following you closely

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for your kind words!

@PapierschnitzelPapercraft 2 жыл бұрын

Great presentation as usual. I always look forward to your next video. Your way of explaining makes it so easy to learn something new! Thanks!!!

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for watching and for your continued support!

@TastePolice378 2 жыл бұрын

i would love a guide on orchestral mallets like glockenspiel and turbular bells

@MoodScores7538 Жыл бұрын

Very useful video. Keep it up.

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@iluvsyphonfilter Жыл бұрын

Fantastic! Very well explained and great examples!

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Thank for your kind comments and for watching!

@cjavierd86 2 жыл бұрын

Hello dear, how are you! Your channel is excellent, all its content is very good. You explain everything very well. Keep it up! Greetings from Argentina!

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for your kind words and support! Greetings from South West England!

@zqchz3227 Жыл бұрын

Do you have a video for composing with the pitched percussion instruments?

@maplefoxx6285 Жыл бұрын

this is really good thanks! I already know how to make midi drums fairly well for a drum kit with humanizing the velocity and timing. I play drums, heavy metal and funk style both. this is a really good video, maybe the best i've seen yet. I love how you show it all layered. I have not seen this yet from anyone. I will be using True Strike from Project Sam mostly and some Taikos that this guy made for Sforzando player that sound just amazing.

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Hi, really appreciate you leaving a comment, thank you! I am also a drummer so appreciate what you are saying. I am pleased you have found it useful!

@maplefoxx6285 Жыл бұрын

@@composingacademy8270 This was really really helpfun honestly i did not understand how to layer them before properly. Do you have any lessons or tutorials we can do at home and follow along with? I think my main weak point is harmonizing the sections together or making chords across individual sections. Or when to use deep heavy bass instruments. I did a few mock ups from video games, I think i need to study a lot of scores over and over to get more of an idea.. I can come up with melodies and ostinatos fairly well from playing a lot of guitar, but Harmonizing across the sections seems difficult for now.

@micahbijon_ Жыл бұрын

Great video

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!

@kolz9387 2 жыл бұрын

this is gold I could buy for that information!

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Haha thank you!

@TheNocturna001 Жыл бұрын

Good video but I obviously need more :) I have so many questions, like how do you make that build-up before each section? Are there any drum patterns mostly used in cinematic or classical music etc.

@xilvnta980 Жыл бұрын

OMG TY

@rik-keymusic160 2 жыл бұрын

Great video's ! and thank you for alle your effort you put into this !! :)

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

@leo-ki9ye 2 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU SO MUCH

@user-fs2us1xl2s 2 жыл бұрын

Great! Understanding dummies like me!!!!

@sfJomusic 2 жыл бұрын

thank you for the sharing !

@pierresilence 2 жыл бұрын

Thankx, it is very nice tutorial.

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure - glad it was helpful!

@SamuelRoyerLegault Ай бұрын

Just like bass drum and timpani, should we avoid playing too fast or complex rhythms on taikos and surdos? Or are they more similar to toms? Thanks for the videos that you make by the way, I always come back to them every now and then.

@MECHINEAU49 2 жыл бұрын

Hello, thank you for all these clear and precise explanations. I wanted to know, is there a mix on what you're showing? EQ? Compressor? thank you for everything

@cheribarkman1784 3 күн бұрын

Cool

@khalidrafi4909 2 жыл бұрын

It’s helpfull sir. Can I join your music accademy?

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! At the moment Composing Academy is just on youtube!

@ytinutroppo Жыл бұрын

But whats with the speed? I dunno why but it sounds like sth missing. I playing „düm - düm düm | düm - düm düm“ and than I want to make a transition to the next part with a „düm düm düm“ but sth is wrong😅

@ishagshafeeg 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Due you coach for composing drum line percussion as well? Thanks.

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I've never actually written anything for drum line percussion before, but I love to watch performances of it. Some of the ensembles are amazing!

@timjonesguitar 9 ай бұрын

HOw did you program the tympani rolls? Looks like just one note there.

@composingacademy8270 9 ай бұрын

Hi Tim, the Roll patch was from Spitfire's Percussion Library - they have 'roll' articulation, which has a pre programmed roll baked in. So a single midi note can trigger a sound that sounds like multiple hits. We can then obviously change the length, dynamic etc. I hope that helps?

@timjonesguitar 9 ай бұрын

@@composingacademy8270 ah ok, I thought maybe there was something in Cubase I could program with the MIDI. Thank you!

@deveshsolanki8875 Жыл бұрын

What's use string runs? & how it write? Make video

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Hi, I have a video on Writing for Strings, check out my channel for the video. Thanks for watching"

@Ismael.2010 2 жыл бұрын

what is the name of the instrument was played between 14:37 and 14:47 that has a metallic feeling?

@BryanWeltonIII 2 жыл бұрын

It's an anvil

@Ismael.2010 2 жыл бұрын

@@BryanWeltonIII thank you so much sir

@imanifilmz6552 2 жыл бұрын

Which version of cubase is that?

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Its Cubase Pro 11

@danielezekiel97 2 жыл бұрын

What software ,programme do you use?

@composingacademy8270 2 жыл бұрын

Its Cubase Pro 11

@danielezekiel97 2 жыл бұрын

@@composingacademy8270 thanks . sounds great , I use notperformer , do you think its superior in many ways to Noteperformer ?

@entropylovesyou Жыл бұрын

please keep in mind that most middle school/high school percussion sections don’t have taiko’s and surdrom’s! so if your writing for that level of percussion, you wont want to include those instruments

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

That is a very good point - thank you! I guess I was primarily aiming the video at people who would write music that would only stay in the DAW environment with samples etc. Thank you for your feedback!

@agorgedslug Ай бұрын

For beginners, great. But I actually clicked on this video to see about how to write for percussion, i.e. notation and articulation symbol use to convey what you are here simply using automation for, so not overly informative on that front. Thanks anyway.

@ansemvanverte Жыл бұрын

Idk what english teacher told you that periods and commas are 3 second breaks but pls cut the silence out if you're gonna pause at the end of every phrase, my adhd ass can't focus this long

@composingacademy8270 Жыл бұрын

Hi, still working on the balance between delivering slowly vs too quickly. Clearly I am not there yet! Thank you for the feedback, will look at improving for future videos.

@ansemvanverte Жыл бұрын

@@composingacademy8270 Hey, sorry if that sounded aggressive, commenting often feels like old-man-yelling-at-clouds when no one replies lol. Just want to add that whatever hangups I have with the voiceover, these videos are super helpful and informative and I hugely appreciate you doing them