How to Write a Rhythmic CHORD Progression • Music Theory from Maribou State "Midas"

 

How to Write a Rhythmic Chord Progression.

 

 

Free PDF Tutorial
includes multitrack MIDI file

 

If the link above does not work, paste this into your browser:
https://hackmusictheory.com/album/2540881/rhythmic-chords

 

 

 

 

 

Intro.

 

One of the most common mistakes producers make when writing chord progressions is focusing exclusively on the notes (i.e. the harmony). Now, it obviously goes without saying that the notes are a vital ingredient in chord progressions, however, another vital ingredient that is often ignored is rhythm.

 

As a result of this widespread oversight, it’s normal to hear chord progressions that are entirely lacking in vital energy. This lack is more obvious in certain genres than others, but the problem most certainly occurs in all genres.

 

British electronic duo Maribou State has a great example of what a lively chord progression sounds like. You can hear it in their song “Midas”. It’s a super chill track and the chords are not at all dominant, yet they’re full of vital energy. So regardless of whether you want to write something uptempo or something chill, the 3-step method in this tutorial will guide you through making a chord progression that’s full of life. But first… Tea!

 

 

 

Step 1. Just Add Chords

 

As mentioned in the intro above, harmony (i.e. the notes) is obviously a vital ingredient in a chord progression, so we’ll start there.

 

Set up four bars of 4|4 with a 1/4 note grid, and your tempo at 115 BPM. We’re in the key of A minor for our example, which is all the white notes from A to A. We won’t be using the diminished chord in this example (as it’s too dissonant), so the chord menu to choose from is: Am, Cmaj, Dm, Em, Fmaj, Gmaj.

 

Start your progression on the root triad (Am), then choose three other chords. Play each chord for a whole bar. Maribou State plays their chord progression on a keyboard, so there is a left-hand and a right-hand part. We’ll do the same in our example. Your right-hand will play the chords, and your left-hand will play a simple bass line below. For now, just play the root note of each chord as your bass line, and if you want a thicker texture to this left-hand part, play octaves (like we did).

 

Our progression: Am → Em → Fmaj → Cmaj

 

 

Now you’ve got the “skeleton” of your chord progression. This is a great starting point, but it’s shocking how many producers consider this to be a finished chord progression. But not Maribou State, and not you either! That