Breaking Boundaries: Innovate Your Future Bass Melodies

Exploring Future Bass Music

Introduction to Future Bass

Future bass is a vibrant and evolving genre within electronic dance music that blends elements of dubstep, trap, and a host of other musical influences. It was pioneered by artists such as Rustie, Hudson Mohawke, Lido, San Holo, and Cashmere Cat in the 2010s, and gained significant popularity in the mid to late-2010s with artists like Flume, Martin Garrix, Illenium, Louis the Child, and Mura Masa leading the charge.

The breakout year for future bass was 2016, when the genre experienced a surge in mainstream recognition. Tracks like Marshmello's "Alone," which racked up 1.5 billion plays on YouTube, helped cement the genre's place in the electronic music industry.

Characteristics of Future Bass Music

Future bass is defined by its synth-heavy sound and its ability to incorporate a diverse array of musical influences. Pioneers like Hudson Mohawke and Rustie set the stage by contrasting the emerging commercial dubstep sound with future bass's focus on musicality and jazzy vibes. The genre draws from a wide range of inspirations including trap, 80s funk, chiptune, and happy hardcore.

Key characteristics of future bass include:

• Synth-heavy Instrumentation: Future bass tracks often feature powerful synthesizers such as Serum or Massive, modulating low-pass filters, and layering different oscillators to create rich, textured sounds (Unison).

• Warm, Jazzy Chords: Unlike the harsher sounds of some electronic genres, future bass often employs warm, jazzy chord progressions that give the music a more melodic and emotional feel.

• Dynamic Builds and Drops: Future bass tracks are known for their dynamic builds and drops, which create a sense of drama and excitement within the music. These elements are often accentuated by side-chaining effects and rhythmic pumping.

• Balancing Synthetic and Natural Sounds: Effective future bass tracks balance synthetic elements with more natural sounds, creating a complete and immersive soundscape. This involves experimenting with textures and layers to elevate the music (Unison).

• Wide Range of Influences: Future bass producers draw from various genres, which means elements from trap and dubstep, as well as more eclectic sources like chiptune and happy hardcore, often find their way into future bass tracks (Native Instruments).

By understanding these fundamental characteristics, music producers can begin to craft their own unique future bass melodies and tracks, leveraging the rich and dynamic elements that define the genre.

Creating Future Bass Melodies

Crafting compelling future bass melodies is vital for delivering the emotional essence of a track. It involves techniques and tools that transform simple ideas into musical expressions that captivate listeners.

Emotional Message through Melodies

Creating captivating future bass melodies is essential for conveying the emotional message of the track. A well-constructed melody can evoke a range of feelings, from happiness to mystery. Before starting to write a progression, it is crucial to consider the emotion or mood that the track is meant to convey.

• Major Scales: Suitable for a happier feel.
• Minor Scales: Evoke a more mysterious vibe.

Employing various instruments like plucked or bright lead synths enhances the clarity and impact of the melodies (Unison). Incorporating articulations, dynamic adjustments, and effects like echo or delay can add expressiveness to the melodies.

Sketching Melodies with MIDI

Using MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a fundamental method for sketching future bass melodies. This involves laying out a sequence of notes that rise and fall smoothly.

Steps for Sketching Melodies

1. Starting with Single Notes: Begin by working from just one note and expand on it. This can help in organically developing a melodic structure.
2. Using MIDI Keyboard or Piano Roll: Utilize these tools to plot out notes. This allows for more precise control over the melody's flow and rhythm.
3. Exploring Chord Progressions: Experiment with different chord progressions in Session View to find the best match for your melodies (Production Music Live).

Enhancements and Effects

Adding effects and articulation can enhance the expressiveness of future bass melodies (Unison):

• Echo and Delay: Create a sense of space and depth in melodies.
• Dynamic Adjustments: Vary the volume and intensity to add emotional weight.

Practical Example Using MIDI

Creating future bass melodies requires a blend of technical skills and creative intuition. By understanding the emotional impact of melodies and utilizing MIDI tools effectively, music producers can craft engaging and emotive future bass tracks.

Crafting Chord Progressions

Creating chord progressions is a fundamental aspect of producing future bass music. It forms the harmonic and emotional backbone of the track and plays an essential role in defining its overall vibe.

Foundation of Chords

To create compelling future bass music, it’s crucial to use extended chords rather than simple triads. Extended chords, such as major and minor 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths, contribute to a more sophisticated sound (Native Instruments).

When writing chord progressions, consider the emotion or mood you want to convey. Major scales typically produce a happier, more uplifting feel, while minor scales can evoke a more mysterious or melancholic vibe (Production Music Live).

Enhancing Chord Progressions

To make your chord progressions more captivating, incorporate techniques like chord suspensions and extensions. Utilizing seventh and ninth chords can add depth and complexity, creating lush and expansive sounds (Unison). Here are some methods to enhance your chord progressions:

1. Chord Inversions: Invert the chords by changing the order of the notes. This can make the progression smoother and more interesting.
2. Octave Shifting: Pitch some chords up or down an octave to introduce variety and excitement.
3. Suspended Chords: Use suspended (sus) chords to create tension and release within your progressions.
4. Voicing Variations: Experiment with different voicings for the same chord to add richness and texture.

By mixing these techniques, you can give your future bass tracks a unique character and make them stand out. Here is an example table showcasing some progressions using 7th and 9th chords:

Creating evocative and dynamic chord progressions is a key element in making future bass melodies. These enhanced techniques will allow you to craft engaging and memorable tracks.

Sound Design in Future Bass

Sound design is a crucial aspect in defining the unique sonic character of future bass tracks. By carefully crafting and balancing synthetic and natural sounds, music producers can create a rich and immersive sonic landscape. This section explores the elements that contribute to the signature sound of future bass music.

Defining Sonic Character

The sonic character of future bass is often defined by its lush, vibrant, and energetic soundscapes. Creating signature future bass synths involves using powerful synthesizers such as Serum or Massive. These tools allow producers to shape their sound through various methods and techniques:

• Modulating Low-Pass Filters: By modulating low-pass filters, producers can create sweeping and evolving sounds that add motion and depth to their tracks.
• Layering Different Oscillators: Layering multiple oscillators can produce a fuller and more complex sound. Each oscillator can be tuned and modulated differently to add richness and texture.
• Applying Pitch Modulation: Pitch modulation involves subtly altering the pitch of a sound to create vibrato or more dramatic pitch bends. This technique can give the synths a more dynamic and expressive quality.
• Experimenting with Textures and Layers: Combining various textures and layers, such as lush pads, bright leads, and gritty basses, can elevate the overall sound of the track.

Balancing Synthetic and Natural Sounds

Balancing synthetic and natural sounds is another key component in creating a complete soundscape in future bass tracks. This balance ensures that the music has both the richness of electronic elements and the organic feel of natural instruments:

• Synthetic Sounds: Synthesized sounds are essential in future bass. These include the rich, textured synths that define the genre. Utilizing tools like Serum or Massive, producers can create a wide range of synthetic sounds that are both robust and versatile.
• Natural Sounds: Incorporating natural sounds, such as acoustic instruments or field recordings, can add warmth and authenticity to a track. This might involve using samples of pianos, guitars, or even environmental sounds to add an organic layer to the music.
• Blending Elements: Achieving the right balance between synthetic and natural sounds often involves blending elements seamlessly. For example, layering a synthetic pad with a recording of a piano can create a sound that is both lush and realistic.

Producers should experiment with different combinations of synthetic and natural elements to create their unique sonic character. By carefully designing sounds and balancing elements, they can craft future bass tracks that stand out and resonate with listeners.

Drum Programming Techniques

Crafting the perfect drum patterns is an essential part of making future bass melodies. This genre combines the punch of hip-hop with the hypnotic qualities of EDM to create a signature sound. Understanding the elements of drum programming and developing a groove can take your future bass tracks to the next level.

Elements of Drum Programming

Drum programming in future bass involves selecting and layering various drum sounds to create dynamic and engaging rhythms. Key components include:

Kick Drums: Look for punchy kicks that provide a solid foundation. They should be strong and clear to cut through the mix.

Snare Drums: Snappy snares are crucial. They should offer a sharp contrast to the kick and support the groove.

Hi-Hats: A combination of open and closed hi-hats adds texture. Experimenting with different velocities for hi-hat hits can create more natural-sounding rhythms.

Percussion: Miscellaneous percussion elements, such as claps, snaps, and toms, add complexity and interest to the drum pattern.

Side-Chain Compression: This technique can create the "pumping" effect synonymous with future bass. It helps in making other elements duck in volume, letting the kick drum punch through more prominently (Unison).

Rhythmic Creation for Groove

Creating a compelling groove in future bass requires more than just placing drum hits on a grid. It involves:

Layering: Combine different hi-hats and percussion elements to create intricate patterns. Layering can provide depth and richness to your drum arrangement.

Swing and Humanization: Apply swing to your hi-hats and snares to break the monotony and give a more relaxed, human feel to the rhythm. Humanization can be achieved by varying the timing and velocity of each hit.

Velocity Variation: Adjusting the velocity of hi-hat hits and other percussive elements can make the rhythm feel more dynamic and less robotic.

Rhythmic Placement: Experiment with off-beat hi-hat placements and syncopated snare hits to keep the groove interesting. Future bass often features unconventional rhythms that surprise the listener.

Here is an example of a basic but effective future bass drum pattern:

Combining these programming techniques can create engaging and compelling rhythms for your future bass tracks. Implement these elements wisely, and always remember to experiment and find your own unique sound within the genre.

Incorporating Vocal Chops

Human Touch in Electronic Texture

Vocal chops play a significant role in future bass music, bringing a human touch to the electronic texture of the genre. They add an organic, emotive element that can enhance the overall feel of a track. To create compelling vocal chops, producers often start by chopping vocal samples into playable segments.

Steps to Incorporate Vocal Chops:

• Chop Vocal Samples: Cut a vocal sample into smaller segments.
• Sequence into Rhythmic Patterns: Arrange these segments to complement the track’s melody and rhythm.
• Apply Effects: Enhance vocal chops with effects like reverb, delay, and distortion.

Effects and Automation for Vocal Chops

Automation of parameters and timing adjustments are key to creating dynamic and evolving vocal chops for future bass tracks (Unison).

Producers can use software automation to control these effects over time, making the vocal chops more engaging and evolving throughout the track. Here are a few techniques:

• Automate Reverb and Delay: Change reverb and delay parameters to match the intensity or drop of the song.
• Pitch Shifting: Adjust the pitch of vocal chops for melodic variation.
• Volume Automation: Create swells and fades for additional dynamics.

Manipulating these parameters can transform simple vocal samples into intricate, emotive elements that elevate future bass melodies. Remember, the artistry in making future bass melodies lies in both the details and the broader sound design choices.

Emotional Influence on Music

Creating emotionally impactful future bass music requires a keen understanding of how different musical elements can influence the listener's feelings. Two significant aspects in this regard are the choice between major and minor scales and the techniques employed to enhance chord progressions.

Major vs. Minor Scales

The scale used in a track plays a crucial role in setting its emotional tone. Major scales are often associated with a brighter, more uplifting mood, whereas minor scales tend to evoke deeper, more mysterious emotions (Production Music Live).

In future bass music, the choice of scale can drastically alter the track's atmosphere. Major scales are great for creating an energizing, feel-good vibe, while minor scales can add depth and intensity to the music, making it more emotionally resonant.

Enhancing Chord Progressions

Chord progressions are the backbone of any track and play an essential role in conveying emotion. Techniques like inverting the chords, pitching them up or down an octave, and using extended chords (such as 7th or 9th chords) can significantly enhance the progression's interest and emotional impact. For example, a minor 7th chord consists of a triad with an added minor third, while a major 7th is extended by a major third.

Exploring and experimenting with multiple chord progressions can help in finding the best match between melodies and harmonies for future bass tracks. Techniques like starting from a single note and expanding the melody, as well as utilizing MIDI packs to modify and personalize pre-existing progressions, can be incredibly useful in the creation process (Production Music Live).

By understanding the emotional influence of scales and employing chord progression enhancement techniques, music producers can effectively craft future bass melodies that resonate deeply with their audience.

Melody Creation Techniques

Creating future bass melodies takes a mix of creativity and technique. This section outlines effective methods to craft captivating melodies.

Starting with Single Notes

One efficient approach to making future bass melodies is beginning with single notes. It's a straightforward technique that allows for spontaneous creativity.

When starting with a single note, it's important to consider the emotional tone you want to convey. Major scales are suitable for a happier feel, while minor scales evoke a more mysterious vibe (Production Music Live). Here is a breakdown:

Once you've chosen your scale, start playing around with single notes within that scale. Pay attention to how the notes interact with each other and play around with different articulations and dynamics to create interest. Plugins like MIDI keyboards or piano rolls can facilitate this process by offering a visual layout of the notes.

Utilizing MIDI Packs for Inspiration

When inspiration is hard to come by, utilizing MIDI packs can be a game-changer. MIDI packs offer pre-made melody patterns that can be a starting point for your own creativity. These packs often include a variety of styles and patterns, helping to spark new ideas and improve your workflow.

Key benefits of MIDI packs include:

1. Time Efficiency: They save time by providing a foundation to build upon.
2. Diverse Inspiration: Offer a range of melodic ideas that can be customized.
3. Learning Tool: Provide insight into the structure of professional melodies.

To incorporate MIDI packs effectively, drag and drop the files into your digital audio workstation (DAW), then tweak the notes to fit the emotional tone and structure of your song. Using instruments like plucked synths or bright lead synths can add clarity and impact to the melodies (Unison).

Below is an example table outlining types of instruments commonly used in future bass melodies:

These melody creation techniques provide a solid foundation for making future bass melodies. By starting with single notes and utilizing MIDI packs, music producers can craft emotional and engaging melodies that resonate with listeners.

For further reading, detailed information, and to find additional tips, you can refer to Production Music Live and Unison.