Learn composition techniques from Oasis: when in doubt, repeat two notes of the pentatonic scale!

Last updated:2017/4/21

There aren’t many “how-to” guides on constructing a melody line.

Composers pour their hearts and souls into crafting better phrases, but it’s tough…

Still, the masters keep creating them regardless.

So if there’s anything we can learn from our predecessors, it never hurts to learn it!

With that in mind, here’s a tip from the great Oasis, who embody the idea that simple is best.

Repeat two sounds

Let me get straight to the point.

Repeat two notes on the pentatonic scale

It is.

For example, this.

The chorus is famous, of course, but this B-melody.

You’re making good use of repeating the two notes.

Is it hard to understand?

Alright, then the A-melody for this.

And the A melody of this

I’m sure there are plenty of other examples, but for now, what the three songs listed above have in common is

Are those the two points?

The three songs above all repeat the sixth and the root.

Rather than being used as striking phrases, they’re characterized by being used like glue that links things together.

I think it works well when you’re stuck connecting phrases, or for use in sections like the B-melody.

In that case, it's good to use some pretty hardcore code in the backend.

The simple subdominant minor like the one in 'Don't Look Back in Anger' above is good too, but...secondary dominantIt might be kind of interesting.

I’m secretly using it in the chorus of the song below as well.

Be careful not to overdo it, or you’ll end up with a lot of similar-sounding songs—but why not give it a try yourselves as well?