Music Theatre Soundlab features weekly videos that empower musical theatre songwriters to embrace audio production as a tool in their creative arsenals, hosted by Joanna Burns. We believe that audio production has the ability to supercharge the process of musical theatre writing. And we're pretty excited about it honestly.
I've taught bass guitar for many years. The simple explanation for other musicians is we are half drummer and half guitar. Bounce around on the roots and fifths like the main drums and occasionally throw in a 3rd or 7th for flavor, like a cymbal.
Such a delicious groove. If you want the funk, there's a couple more things to add in to your basslines. Lots of dotted notes (dotted eighths and dotted quarters), and sometimes playing around the beat (just before or just after). Just look at the phrasing of the refrain's vocal hook: "Ease on down, ease on down the road" -- delays an eighth note, then the first "ease on down" lasts a dotted quarter. That's where the funk is! Another useful trick, to give a song drive inside a daw, is to subtly ramp up the tempo for the chorus, then subtly ramp back down (say, from 120 up to 123 and back down). You won't hear it, but you'll feel it. Always enjoy your videos. More, please!
Love love loved this video so much. I was going down memory lane and decided to listen to Ragtime while I was doing my homework. As soon as Till We Reach That Day finished, I came to look for reaction videos of the song because it was always one of my favorite, if not my most favorite musical numbers. Ofc there weren't any because I don't think people make reactions to musicals🥲But I stumbled upon your video and it was so nice to see somebody appreciating, and understanding the song in the way that I feel. Along with that, hearing you talk about more technical things which I would've never known was really enlightening, and makes me appreciate the song even more. I need to get back to work, but thank you for making this video and sharing your thoughts. If you read this, have an amazing day!🙈💛
You captured the feeling so well - I remember going into an unemployment office once and slowly realizing that I was going to be waiting...maybe an entire day...and deciding I'd just deal with being broke. The feeling of waiting permeated the office unlike anything I've ever seen, lol. Super interesting to see your workflow and I know nothing about theatre
What is cool, is how you say you’re not very good at bass. then when you play, your bass sounds pro, & you demonstrate all the fundamentals you described. Humility is so attractive!
I have zero musical abilities, but I am so fascinated by all of these videos. Very educational and entertaining, Joanna! I would have appreciated this concept of learning all aspects of music when it was mandatory in my elementary school and middle school years instead of my music teachers insisting I must sing or tap or fail. I was and still am quite shy. I do not think forcing a child to sing or tap is the right way to go about things. Anyway, I think your content would be cool for all ages. 👍
Did you peep that I accidentally turned the hi hat accents around on the refrain when pasting them in?? 👀 Maybe that'll be a followup vid. Hope you enjoyed!
I applaud you for attempting this feat. Great job! The “Analyzing a Drum Groove” tips are very helpful. Technically, the accents on the hi-hat were turned around from being played incorrectly near the 9:05 mark, which was before the paste at approximately 13:15.
You’re welcome. Impressive, indeed, is your drumming knowledge. You put a lot of hard work into this video, and the information is very valuable! I’m looking forward to exploring more of your content.@@MusicTheatreSoundlab
What fun! I'd never consciously thought about the tempo of a character/scene, but that makes so much sense. That interminable 30bpm is perfect for the unemployment office. In the 1st phrase, you went from the minor 3rd to the major 3rd. If I were working on this, the 2nd phrase would follow the jump to the 7th with a flat5/5 step up. Then maybe a modulation to the minor 6th, which would drag on twice as long as you think it should, before returning to the tonic (or maybe a false resolution to the 4th -- Dflat maj / B flat maj). Or not. 🙂
I like this Ominous Bass Line: E0 E2 E3 E4, E3 E4, E3 E4 E3 E4, A2 E4 *Repeat X17* *0 = Open String* *There are some other Tabs, but it’s take a long time to add them all*
Yes! The natural rhythms of the English language are an ever-fresh fount of musical inspiration. It drives me crazy when the natural cadence of the language is thwarted by an imposed melody. I hadn't really thought, though, about how stresses are melodic as well as rhythmic. Lower pitches for unstressed syllables. Something new to think about when building a melody. Or, conversely, when writing lyrics to a melody that I've already got. Super useful! I especially like seeing you work through the process. Listening to you think is illuminating and inspiring. One of your best videos yet! 😀
Joanna, I have told you how much I have been enjoying all of these videos already, but I just wanted to share again, these are great. This one was quite interesting! Keep at it. 😉 P.S. yellow is a fabulous color on ya. 💛
OMG, what a great analysis! I love looking at the dramatic impact of chord and melody choices. And I don't know this show, but it sounds amazing. Is there a film version of this? Thanks! You knocked it out of the park. Please do more videos like this. 🙂
not only does that bassline sound super groovy, lots of movement and tonally amazing to listen to also, but the video is really useful! Setting out to write for an instrument and being guided directly by the purpose of that instrument generally is not an approach I've tried before, but I absolutely will be now, thank you :)
I wish I was as disciplined as you. One thing that helps me is to meet with my sometime-music-partner. Even working on some rando side project keeps the juices flowing. What I wish I had was a peer group to be accountable to, and to get feedback on my composition.
You have motivated me to set a timer to actually leave my house for a walk tomorrow. I've been spending 9 hours a day at my computer. It can't be good for me.
@@MusicTheatreSoundlab Of course. It all makes sense. You love Bowie... I have a crush on you... ...And now balance, peace, and harmony can last for our entire species if you agree to be wed. No pressure. It's just the species. ;-)
What a blast! And I love the flavor of the music you structured around it. She's right, too. It needs at least three more verses, a bridge (where the bums plead to stay, in a half time self-pitying dirge) and a giant dance number evicting the bums (to a growly baritone sax line).
This sounds amazing! One thing I'd suggest is possibly adding some brass (probably trumpets) or saxophones, just to beef up some of the layers, and they could be added in towards the end of the 2nd refrain. I can already hear in my head that there's lots of potential for little brass stabs at certain points, or some harmony between saxophones (which I personally ADORE). Either way, with or without reeds/brass this sounds kickass.
Oh man! Thank you so much. And I totally feel you on the wind instruments. It’s such a balancing act between keeping the band small enough to stay appealing to stage producers but still fully realizing the potential of the sound. You’re 100% right though. Horns would kill!
I've learned by doing. I do have a PhD -- in Expressive Arts Therapy, not in composing or theater. But my dissertation was a feature-length rock opara, which I composed, recorded, cast, filmed and edited. Did I make mistakes? Tons! Did I get it into any film festivals? No. Am I glad I did it? Hell yeah. Now I'm working on my next musical, making all-new mistakes, and having a blast.
