Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Show off original scores and recordings made with Linux!

Moderators: MattKingUSA, khz

Gps
Established Member
Posts: 1136
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:09 pm
Has thanked: 331 times
Been thanked: 112 times

Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by Gps »

I would like to get some feedback / help.

I Like some of my track, but the main melody does not sound like Jarre to me. :(

It's not mend to be a cover, but something Jarre could have done. ( oxygene, equinox, magnetic fields )

I have no idea on were I went wrong though ?

Or am I too harsh on myself?

Its work in progress.
And I need more sweeps and such, I know that part.

Looking at Oxygene and equinox in synthesia, almost make me feel, I have too much chord progression ?
Or do I need to watch more vids about tonic and domiant and such ?

Edit: oops here is the links


https://soundcloud.com/user586365033/jarre-test2
Last edited by Gps on Sun Feb 09, 2020 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
lilith
Established Member
Posts: 1698
Joined: Fri May 27, 2016 11:41 pm
Location: bLACK fOREST
Has thanked: 117 times
Been thanked: 57 times
Contact:

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by lilith »

Don't try to replicate something and make your own stuff!
tavasti
Established Member
Posts: 2047
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2016 6:56 am
Location: Kangasala, Finland
Has thanked: 369 times
Been thanked: 208 times
Contact:

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by tavasti »

I can't see any linked track to listen?

Linux veteran & Novice musician

Latest track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycVrgGtrBmM

Gps
Established Member
Posts: 1136
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:09 pm
Has thanked: 331 times
Been thanked: 112 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by Gps »

tavasti wrote:I can't see any linked track to listen?
Fixed that. :oops:
Last edited by Gps on Sun Feb 09, 2020 7:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Gps
Established Member
Posts: 1136
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:09 pm
Has thanked: 331 times
Been thanked: 112 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by Gps »

lilith wrote:Don't try to replicate something and make your own stuff!
It's been a long time wish of mine, to make music like jarre.
Like Jarre, I don't want to cover his tracks.

That started years ago when I still had an Atari ST and midi connectors were round. :wink:
Cubase for the Atari ST.

Back then the prices of synthesizers stopped me mostly because I had another also money swallowing hobby.

These days I have LMMS. I can use about every synth from that time, as a vst.

In this track for now though, only used the triple OS and ZynAddSubFX. on openSUSE Tumbleweed. :)
merlyn
Established Member
Posts: 1392
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:13 pm
Has thanked: 168 times
Been thanked: 247 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by merlyn »

Your track starts off like Oxygene 4 -- you got that bit. I was expecting the drums to come in differently. I already heard where I thought the beat was before they came in.

The melody doesn't sound like something Jarre would do. If we take Oxygene 4 as an example the melody starts off with a C minor arpeggio -- the notes from the underlying chord. What makes Jarre's melodies sound 'right' is that they use notes from the underlying chords. So you could keep your chord progression and use notes from the chords for the melody.
Gps
Established Member
Posts: 1136
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:09 pm
Has thanked: 331 times
Been thanked: 112 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by Gps »

merlyn wrote:Your track starts off like Oxygene 4 -- you got that bit. I was expecting the drums to come in differently. I already heard where I thought the beat was before they came in.

The melody doesn't sound like something Jarre would do. If we take Oxygene 4 as an example the melody starts off with a C minor arpeggio -- the notes from the underlying chord. What makes Jarre's melodies sound 'right' is that they use notes from the underlying chords. So you could keep your chord progression and use notes from the chords for the melody.
Thank you.

Yes especially the start is Oxygene inspired, it made me smile how the "wind", sounds like the "wind" from Oxygene.


The melody is what is bothering me most. I am right now not using notes from the underlying chords. ( ZynaddsubFX preset, called jarre strings.)

Lets see how I can fix that. I think you nailed the problem with my melody.
Gps
Established Member
Posts: 1136
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:09 pm
Has thanked: 331 times
Been thanked: 112 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by Gps »

Some progress has been made. It at least sounds much better now.
For melody now using notes from the underlying chord.
Also did a little tweaking on the chord progression.

https://soundcloud.com/user586365033/jarre-test3

Not sure how much it sounds like Jarre, but I am really starting to like what I have now.

Might have to use a different chord with 4 notes instead of 3 notes, then I have more notes to choose from, for the melody. :)
Right now kinda limited with only having 3 notes to choose from.
tavasti
Established Member
Posts: 2047
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2016 6:56 am
Location: Kangasala, Finland
Has thanked: 369 times
Been thanked: 208 times
Contact:

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by tavasti »

Gps wrote:https://soundcloud.com/user586365033/jarre-test3

Not sure how much it sounds like Jarre, but I am really starting to like what I have now.

Might have to use a different chord with 4 notes instead of 3 notes, then I have more notes to choose from, for the melody. :)
Right now kinda limited with only having 3 notes to choose from.
It is pretty nice! Melody might be bit too active compared to Jarre?

What about using in melody those extra notes you would put to chord, but not adding them to chord?

Linux veteran & Novice musician

Latest track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycVrgGtrBmM

merlyn
Established Member
Posts: 1392
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:13 pm
Has thanked: 168 times
Been thanked: 247 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by merlyn »

I used Musescore to notate Oxygene 4:

Image

The first thing you notice is it's in 12/8 and the As are natural so it's C dorian. I used the key signature for C minor because that's the way I do it :D Some people would use Bb. Never mind about that. :D

To get an idea what Jarre is doing : The first phrase over the C minor chord uses only notes from the chord. It goes 1 5 3 5 1. The second phrase is over a G minor chord and analysing that relative to the chord it goes 3 2 1 2 5. Jarre is using a second. The last phrase is over F and goes 3 2 1 5.

The chords are triads so Jarre has added a second, also known as a ninth that isn't in the chord and that's fine because the phrases end on a chord tone.
Gps
Established Member
Posts: 1136
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:09 pm
Has thanked: 331 times
Been thanked: 112 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by Gps »

tavasti wrote:
Gps wrote:https://soundcloud.com/user586365033/jarre-test3

Not sure how much it sounds like Jarre, but I am really starting to like what I have now.

Might have to use a different chord with 4 notes instead of 3 notes, then I have more notes to choose from, for the melody. :)
Right now kinda limited with only having 3 notes to choose from.
It is pretty nice! Melody might be bit too active compared to Jarre?

What about using in melody those extra notes you would put to chord, but not adding them to chord?
Its worth a try :)

But I do not know any chord from the top of my head.
I just understand enough of chords, that I can use the scale and chord tools in LMMS.

And know how to change a minor to a mayor chord to stay in scale in a chord progression.
User avatar
ufug
Established Member
Posts: 525
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:28 am
Has thanked: 71 times
Been thanked: 22 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by ufug »

Soundcloud says the track was removed. :(

I think emulating is a great exercise. You learn how something works by taking it apart, and then you make it your own when you put it back together.
listenable at c6a7.org
Gps
Established Member
Posts: 1136
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:09 pm
Has thanked: 331 times
Been thanked: 112 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by Gps »

merlyn wrote:I used Musescore to notate Oxygene 4:

Image

The first thing you notice is it's in 12/8 and the As are natural so it's C dorian. I used the key signature for C minor because that's the way I do it :D Some people would use Bb. Never mind about that. :D

To get an idea what Jarre is doing : The first phrase over the C minor chord uses only notes from the chord. It goes 1 5 3 5 1. The second phrase is over a G minor chord and analysing that relative to the chord it goes 3 2 1 2 5. Jarre is using a second. The last phrase is over F and goes 3 2 1 5.

The chords are triads so Jarre has added a second, also known as a ninth that isn't in the chord and that's fine because the phrases end on a chord tone.
This is what I need, but I would be lying if I said I understand you're post 100%. :)

Nothing some googling and watching again some you tube vids on chords will fix


For now one question though.

You typed : Jarre is using a second and added a second.

You totally lost me there, a second what ? :)

I am guessing a second chord ? But do not really undertand what that means. or how to do that.

Last night watched again a synthesia vid, that has the note labels in it.

You can easily see, the notes for the melody are the notes from the 4 note chord that is being played.
And the first part were those notes are used are in the arpeggio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWC-CZd0AEU

At least the 12/8 part makes sense to me there is still hope for me :wink: .
125 bpm is too fast though, but vid illustrates nicely what you said,
merlyn
Established Member
Posts: 1392
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:13 pm
Has thanked: 168 times
Been thanked: 247 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by merlyn »

Gps wrote:You totally lost me there, a second what ? :)
In C minor the second is D. In G minor the second is A. In F the second is G.

If you use four note chords like Cm7 it'll end up sounding more jazzy than Jarre. Could be good.

A pattern Jarre is using is 1 2 3 5. In C minor that's C D Eb G. In G minor G A Bb D. In F major F G A C.

Hope that helps.
rghvdberg
Established Member
Posts: 1067
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 7:11 am
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 36 times

Re: Trying to make something Jean Michel Jarre could have made.

Post by rghvdberg »

Oxygene4 is inspired by this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjxNnqTcHhg
:D
Post Reply