Fundamental Counterpoint

Fundamental: Music Theory, Counterpoint discusses and dissects the theory of counterpoint and the importance within electronic dance music. Counterpoint plays a significant role in the composition of most forms of music. If you’ve ever composed a melodic lead line (or a bassline) and wanted to produce another melody to complement the original melody – counterpoint offers a simple, yet elegant the solution. In just a few simple steps it’s possible to create numerous melodies that “work” with an original melody.

Although considered by many musicians to be one of the more complex theories, we explain its purpose and use in a simplified manner that most will be able to understand, pick up and use immediately in their music. Armed with this theory, you’ll be able to lay down the foundations musical relationships between different melodies and see how to create a working relationship between a bass and melody (rather than one following the other note for note, pitch for pitch). The techniques discussed here are employed by many artists in the EDM scene, particularly with trance artists but its also employed (somewhat unknowingly through trial and error by almost all EDM artists). Armed with this theory you’ll also be able to produce a complex musical relationship between multiple melodies.

The tutorial begins with the theory of texture, intervals and the principles of consonance and dissonance within music, we then move on to examine and describe the four types of motion and how they can be employed. With practical examples and compositions throughout, we show how to employ single, two, three and four-part counterpoint along with florid and syncopated versions, and of course, how this is all interpreted to create bass lines, harmonies, and melodies that interweave together to produce more complex and interesting, yet fluid, dance music.

Note: Counterpoint can be a complex theory to comprehend and a good understanding of music theory is essential before approaching this subject. We would strongly recommend a prior viewing of Fundamental: Music Theory Bass, Fundamental: Music Theory Harmony & Fundamental: Music Theory Melody before approaching this tutorial.