What makes a chord progression ''epic''? Discuss

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Gifted0ne

New member
I can't think of the best way to describe this, epic, anthemic, strong w/e the term is.. but the ''chord progressions'' (use this term loosely) in songs like

'Jeezy - Trapstar' (brass),
Young Berg 'Fishbowl',
C-Ride 'Sittin on my Porch' (intro) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxZOwuzPM2c,
Lil Wayne 'I'm Me' (strings) ,
2 Pistols ft T Pain 'She Got It (choir),
Rock City - Heart Stopped Beating (synth strings) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d0HFk_3tXc
Yo Gotti - Talk to em https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLA-TLsjJRE

Even in different genres i've noticed this, in songs like

Airfire ft Talla 2XLC No Signs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S2_gpE1sYI (MOST epic **** ever)
Dj Contacrest - Second Dimension https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtW4vBFjMQc


Mostly in chill-out 'trance' pad sounds, all seem too have a epic feel, I think it's something to do with chord leading but after reading into it i'm not so sure...

Any advice from anyone more knowledgeable in music theory?
 
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The progression is done slowly. 90 - 120 BPM in those songs. Each chord in the progression seems to be lasting about 4 bars.
 
i agree, i'm just wondering where too look theory wise too explain why, like ive heard chord leading and 'strong' chord progressions thrown around but it hasn't particularly helped as much as i'd like reading into it...like what rules are applied to say 'movie soundtracks' and some national anthems too give it that 'feel',

like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5nT58fBGpw

Dune, summon the worms, most EPIC music I think i've heard, skip too 1.20-2.20 ish for the most epic part, what rules are applied to this to make it epic, obviously the instrumentation itself and the arrangement, but ignoring that just chord wise...
 
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Try to find the tabs or midi music of the songs you want, or maybe search the song title plus chords and see if you get something. Then maybe play around with those chords and find a different progression you think is equally epic. Also be sure to add a lot of cymbal crashes and kettle drum rolls.
 
Think of how the song would feel like if they did the whole chord progression too quickly. I'm not talking about how fast notes are repeated, but how fast each type of note is changed. The Airfire ft Talla 2XLC No Signs, has fast notes, but has an arpeggio throughout each chord of the progression.

You'll have to try out different chord progressions out there because few musicians talk about the emotions they feel about for things like scales and chords in music theory.
 
When i think of epic, I dont think of the chord progression. In my mind an epic joint sounds BIG. The instrumentation and arrangement is huge. Por ejemplo....
track (click)


Not that this is an award winning example, but see how BIG the sound can be? The arrangement and instruments let me know that something is epic. Also go play that Dante's Inferno demo on Ps3 network (coming to X360 soon). Or one of those types of games...the music they use to provide the ambience for those games is "epic".

my 2 pennies

ONE
 
Yeah, it's definitely a spatial thing and more to do with the size and intensity.

You can hold a note for the same amount of time and have it increase in power just by altering the timbre.

I don't think any notation is really epic without the conduction...
 
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