Playing a lead synth
- Thread starter mrsmith23
- Start date
engines of necessity
Registered Noisemaker
I feel a standard "I do what the song asks of me," post is necessary here. One trick I like to use is saving my blue notes for the lead just to really hammer home the dissonance...but it all depends on what you're shooting for in the song.
i play my leads with simple sounds then add the patches... ill use just a piano or sine wave or something simple (so i rely on notes instead of timbre)... and play the lead, then I'll put a nice lead synth on that midi track in replacement... makes you focus on what notes your playing and not what the lead sounds like, which is a downfall of many producers
if you make a really wicked dark sound, and play a major scale it still sounds wicked and dark, but if you play a nuetral sound in a major scale it sounds cheery and happy... if you play a minor scale w/ a neutral sound, it's dark and melancholy.... then just combine that minor scale note progression with the dark timbre of your synth, and you've got true nastiness... easily doubles the emotion in a certain song
if you make a really wicked dark sound, and play a major scale it still sounds wicked and dark, but if you play a nuetral sound in a major scale it sounds cheery and happy... if you play a minor scale w/ a neutral sound, it's dark and melancholy.... then just combine that minor scale note progression with the dark timbre of your synth, and you've got true nastiness... easily doubles the emotion in a certain song
Darko
Reanimator
Leads usually ARE the melody, no?
Designed to cut through the mix and to be played mostly monophonically?
I'd say study melody. Books, videos, websites, etc. Study improv too, if you dare.
Last edited:
TonyFowler
New member
WTfff !!!!!!
audiomentor
New member
In a classic sense, start with:
a) Play in the same key as the rest of the music.
b) Split your lead melody into phrases.
c) Start most but not all phrases on the root note of the key.
d) End most but not all phrases on the root note of the key.
e) Leave spaces without notes to let the melody breath.
f) If you can't hum it, it's too busy.
g) Ignore these points of you feel like it.
a) Play in the same key as the rest of the music.
b) Split your lead melody into phrases.
c) Start most but not all phrases on the root note of the key.
d) End most but not all phrases on the root note of the key.
e) Leave spaces without notes to let the melody breath.
f) If you can't hum it, it's too busy.
g) Ignore these points of you feel like it.
In a classic sense, start with:
a) Play in the same key as the rest of the music.
b) Split your lead melody into phrases.
c) Start most but not all phrases on the root note of the key.
d) End most but not all phrases on the root note of the key.
e) Leave spaces without notes to let the melody breath.
f) If you can't hum it, it's too busy.
g) Ignore these points of you feel like it.
thanks for the help bro