What is a Motif in Music? - Music Theory

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Learn all about the motif, what they are, famous examples and how to write your own. One way in which music is written is for it to be based on a motif or combination of motifs. So what is a motif and how would a composer work with a motif? All is revealed in this music theory lesson. A motif is a short musical idea - often a melodic motif but sometimes a rhythmic motif. This music theory lesson explores how to spot when a motif is being used in a piece you might be playing, or how to construct and develop a motif in a piece you might be writing. Really useful to performers, composers and analysts alike.
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🕘 Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to motifs in music
0:45 - Example of a motif using block chords
5:38 - Example of a motif using a single melody line
7:07 - Using motifs in music
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Опубликовано:

30 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 128

@MusicMattersGB 6 лет назад

Learn Music Online - Check out our courses here! www.mmcourses.co.uk/courses

@terencewright2223 4 года назад

Very interesting, I do enjoy these videos.

@Spinz99 3 года назад

What an incredible "ear" opener. Thank you. My musical world has changed. My favourite tunes and themes will never sound the same again. I know how to listen to them now :)

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

That’s great. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@abstract_note 5 лет назад

Thank you. This increased my knowledge in music theory.

@MusicMattersGB 5 лет назад

That’s great. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more. Happy Christmas.

@JunyL 3 года назад

same here

@yangerlongchar778 4 года назад

The lesson was imparted with such clarity. Thank you sir.

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@johnellison3030 5 лет назад

Yes, this has been very helpful. A short and to the point explanation of the concept. Thank you very much for posting this video. Cheers mate.

@MusicMattersGB 5 лет назад

A pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more

@andojuliusramahefahasiniri315 6 лет назад

always an amazing course ,thanks so much

@MusicMattersGB 6 лет назад

That’s kind. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more

@nicolerawlings4472 4 года назад

Thank you for the visual representation, super helpful:)

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

A pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for details of our online courses and of our Maestros programme

@MyOwnWayMusic 4 года назад

Gosh, brilliantly presented, thank you Gareth you’re a great teacher. 👍

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

That’s really kind. Many more resources at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@donnat.2180 3 года назад

I love this man! I feel like he breaks down music so simple.☺♥

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

That’s most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our 25 online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.

@bargledargle7941 2 года назад

5:53 - FINALLY someone talks about this fugue! It is very worthwhile to analyze

@MusicMattersGB 2 года назад

Wonderful music

@w4h175 3 года назад

Thanks a lot 👍 Such a amazing discription

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.

@youtubevideor265 3 года назад

Thanks for the valuable lesson. I am learning a lot from your lessons.

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

That’s most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our 25 online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.

@xxearth_angelxxmixes2612 2 года назад

Ahhh everything just came right together in my head after watching this. Thank you!!

@MusicMattersGB 2 года назад

Brilliant

@Evangelionism 6 лет назад

*Thank you, Sir!*

@MusicMattersGB 6 лет назад

A great pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more

@frankyfernandes6283 Год назад

Loved it. Thanks :)

@MusicMattersGB Год назад

That’s great. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@KGunasekhar 4 года назад

Thank you sir, this helped me a lot , am working on a piece for quite long time but now i got an idea to improve it

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

That’s great. There’s much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk and you can also book individual lessons if you wish or join our Maestros programme.

@KGunasekhar 4 года назад

@@MusicMattersGB thank you I will be looking forward to it

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

😀

@sandhyagupta7493 3 года назад

Wow! Thankyou so much! I finally got to understand what a motif is!

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

That’s great. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.

@lawrencetaylor4101 9 месяцев назад

Another great lesson. Merci Alex and Gareth.

@MusicMattersGB 9 месяцев назад

A pleasure

@chunsu3309 4 года назад

thank you, you helped me very much for my music theory

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@delight8888 4 года назад

Wow... Thank You Sir!!!!

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

It’s a pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more

@SoraiaLMotta Год назад

thanks. it was easy to understand.

@MusicMattersGB Год назад

Excellent

@floojosephine9329 3 года назад

Tomorrow i'll have theory music exam at my college and your explanation help me a lot, hope i'll get a good score tomorrow, thanks!!

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

Good luck! Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our 25 online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.

@heavybeats1487 3 года назад

Thanks so much!

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@sakeofbasstv 3 года назад

Thanks ot was a good lesson

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

That’s most kind. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.

@laura_whittle Год назад

Brilliant video…! Thank you…! Nicely paced…! 😊

@MusicMattersGB Год назад

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@laura_whittle Год назад

@@MusicMattersGB wonderful I have just found your Advanced Music Theory course… looks fantastic…! 😊

@MusicMattersGB Год назад

Enjoy the course. It covers a lot of useful ground.

@ward910 Год назад

Thanks a lot 💜💜💜

@MusicMattersGB Год назад

A pleasure. Thanks for your support

@vaibhavraj2917 3 года назад

Very nice explanation 👌

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

😀. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@billypropes6827 3 года назад

Thank you!

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

That’s great. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.

@AbhiBass96 5 лет назад

HELLO! I wanted to know what is the more "modern" term for motif with various pop and rock songs in the scene. What is a motif in that genre?

@MusicMattersGB 5 лет назад

They are commonly referred to as either a 'riff' or a 'hook' in popular music styles. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more

@AbhiBass96 5 лет назад

Thanks. I'll see through that. Would it be different than calling it a chorus?

@MusicMattersGB 5 лет назад

A chorus is used more to describe a section of a song, whereas a riff might refer to a particular melodic line.

@AbhiBass96 5 лет назад

I also believe that Motif is also different from Refrain? Could a song have all these elements? Motif, Refrain, and Chorus. Or is it unlikely to see a Refrain and Chorus together?

@julianho4774 3 месяца назад

thanks sir...............

@MusicMattersGB 3 месяца назад

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@tantedang 6 лет назад

Thank you

@MusicMattersGB 6 лет назад

A pleasure.

@flopondia 2 года назад

Hi, first of all, thank you for all these videos you post, you explain things very clearly! I was wondering if you would mind helping me understand something. I'm looking at the last phrase of the first section (in Dm) of Brahm's lieder vorschneller - Op. 95 -5, which modulates to D Major, in anticipation to the second section, which is in that key. From what I understand, the first 3 phrases are 8 measures long, ending each with a quarter note and a silence; but I'm not sure how to analyze and delineate the structure (form?) of the last phrase (the one that modulates): As the previous phrases and based on where the singing ends, I think it is also 8 measures long. But I'm not sure, first of all because here there is a fermata between bars 4 and 5. Secondly, the modulation to D Major "settles" already in the 7th bar, and after the singing ends (8th bar), there are 2 more measures already in D Major, before section B starts...what I don't know is if I should I consider and mark the end of the last phrase at its 8th bar, where the singing ends (and subdivide it as 4 + 4 because of the fermata), or if the extra 2 measures need to be included and say it's a 10 measure-long phrase, (subdivided 4 + 6). I just don't know enough about these technicalities, and I wonder if the last two bars are simply an extension of the whole section, separate from the phrases containing the verses from the poem and therefore should not be considered part of the last phrase?? I hope I was able to explain myself clearly :\ and thank you for your time.

@MusicMattersGB 2 года назад

Can you paste a copy of this section of the score?

@phuonghong2902 10 месяцев назад

Cám ơn Thầy

@MusicMattersGB 10 месяцев назад

😀

@bitfreedom 5 лет назад

thanks dawg

@MusicMattersGB 5 лет назад

It’s a pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more and to sign up to our newsletter.

@veve2804 Год назад

Thank you teacher ♥ what is a melodic motif?

@MusicMattersGB Год назад

A short melodic idea that forms the basis of a piece or section of a piece

@philipgreenwood3251 4 года назад

Is a motif the same as a melodic cell? I'm interested in practicing using micro melodies (groups of 2-4 notes) instead of scales, as I find ascending and descending an entire octave as being non-musical. I've also seen the term melodic fragments so would like to know if these (motif, melodic cell, melodic fragment) are all the same thing.

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

A motif could be a melodic cell or a melodic fragment but a motif might also be a rhythmic idea, for example.

@philipgreenwood3251 4 года назад

@@MusicMattersGB Thank you ever so much. By the way I really like your motif video, as it really hits the nail on the head, with clarity, making it so much easier to understand than crawling dozens of websites and ending up with confusion. It would be great to have a RU-vid video which gave greater emphasis on WHY a motif works (via music analysis) rather than WHAT a motif is - I know that outlining the harmony using triad notes works, and ending a measure with a tension leads into a new chord, but I'm still missing the ability to create jaw-dropping melodies of the composers (yes, they were and still are exceptional in this craft). I'm in awe by composers who have such mastery of melody so really want insight into what rules or processes have been employed. If you've already created such a video, please let me know.

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

A good reflection. Some of our videos touch on this but we could do something specific.

@philipgreenwood3251 4 года назад

@@MusicMattersGB I do see lots of RU-vid videos showing HOW to play a certain piece (my instrument is guitar but music theory is applicable across multiple instruments). However, there are very few which explain the rationale behind a great melody (some jazz tubes do cover this but use an extremely complicated explanation which is difficult to follow). I've seen a typical comment of "use your ears" but sometimes music theory can put a spotlight on specific scale degrees, and why an individual note can sound very different over a harmony e.g. if I sustain an A note (6th) in a high register over a C major, I can hint at a minor sound, whereas a G will be a slightly muddy sound, not quite resolved. Adding a sustained 9th note above a minor triad can be extremely pleasant but depends upon the previous notes to "set it up"

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

Absolutely

@sabahbubbler 3 года назад

5:53 Based on my understanding of motif, would it be correct to assume that jurrassic park theme follows this motif but on a different tempo and different notes

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

It works on a similar basis. A motivic idea that plays out.

@sabahbubbler 3 года назад

@@MusicMattersGB thank you :) i enjoyed the video. Helped me a lot

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

That’s great. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

@templemu 5 лет назад

I wonder if a motiff is a bit like a scene or a picture; then you gotta ask how did the narration get there, where is the story going next. Like 'I am sitting here because of my pas actions' and there will be a consequence to my action of sitting here. In the case of the Messiah, what happens after you have praised God; why would you want to do that? How will that praise develop? I now ant to listen to the entire piece to find out. Great tutorial, just one point which we can take away and run with - a long way.

@MusicMattersGB 5 лет назад

Good thinking. Thought provoking.

@templemu 5 лет назад

@@MusicMattersGB apart from the fact I thought the passage from the messiah you featured comes at the beginning of the piece, when in fact it is sort of near the end, lol.

@MusicMattersGB 5 лет назад

It’s at the end of part 2. Fantastic moment in the work.

@templemu 5 лет назад

@@MusicMattersGB Just starting my motivic development piece; a load of material, too much; like when i write and essay; now have to get the simple, from which the complex grows or evolves or emerges. I am nrervous

@edgenovese 6 лет назад

Funny how Bach's fugue #2 @5:48 Sounds like Jurassic park ! ha ha ha. I'm so enjoying you and the generous teaching. I'll diving into you classes soon. Thanks again! Besides owning many 'Motifs,' I now know how to pronounce 'Baroque' We say ~Ber~roke You say 'Ber~rock' Cheers !

@MusicMattersGB 6 лет назад

I like that connection! Baroque - yes, there are differences across the pond! Enjoy....

@darsh6322 6 лет назад

Also the Ending phrase sounds like the fellowship of the ring sound track

@babackd.6485 2 года назад

How there are people disliking this? This was fantastic, thanks you sir

@MusicMattersGB 2 года назад

There are always a few but I’m encouraged that the overwhelming majority of people take the opposite view.

@babackd.6485 2 года назад

@@MusicMattersGB When you teach people sincerely and this beautifully, of course the majority will like and take up your classes. I wish I could too. I live in Iran and inflation and sanctions are literally killing us

@MusicMattersGB 2 года назад

I’m so sorry you are facing such challenges.

@babackd.6485 2 года назад

@@MusicMattersGB yeah, life ain't fair. Music is my passion but so many things are always in the way in this country.

@MusicMattersGB 2 года назад

Sorry to hear that

@tomcuthbert-sayers1451 Год назад

Fantastic explanation -indeed, teaching! I am not a musician at all, but I was reading some philosophy (Henri Bergson) that relies on musical theory metaphors to explain consciousness.

@MusicMattersGB Год назад

A fascinating area.

@rickyjones7282 4 года назад

Could you please explain negative harmony?

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

Could be the theme of a video. Will add to the list.

@Danumurti18 3 года назад

I have question though, why motifs always go to higher notes? rarely we knew a song that's start from high notes and going lower and lower notes?

@MusicMattersGB 3 года назад

Music often builds to a peak in a phrase, often painted with rising notes but there are examples of falling motifs.

@shimonhansda6908 4 года назад

Is Motif is part of a Theme/Phrase in music?

@MusicMattersGB 4 года назад

A motif is a short musical idea.

@posic3073 Год назад

In the intro, after the first motif, the second motif is played with different notes in the beginning of that motif

@MusicMattersGB Год назад

Absolutely

@rosaliedeneubourg3225 2 года назад

Hello. Is a motif comparable with a phrase? Or not?

@MusicMattersGB 2 года назад

A motif is a shorter idea within a phrase

@twiglet2214 9 месяцев назад

Someone asked why i had a toy lawn mower in my mouth - i replied " I want to mow teeth ".....i'm ambitous and hoping to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the worlds worst joke - it;s a contender.

@MusicMattersGB 9 месяцев назад

😀