Probability in Music

Some riffs and motifs I’ve written are results of controlled randomization. Sometimes I’ve stumbled upon unpredictable yet musical outcomes, that I’ve set up for, but not composed in a more traditional sense. My work then has been more like being an active listener who identify and pick parts to use in a musically structured context.

Set probability conditions when programming sequencers. And combine with randomness, in this way probability introduces increasing amounts of unpredictability to the sequence. The probability parameter determines the chance of being true. For example, how often the randomness will occur.

Some sequencers allow for different aspects of the sequenced notes to be affected, such as playback order, steps on/off, velocity, gate time. Others set probability of the event, pitch, octave, length, rate, note direction and so on.

Anyways, you should really try this, it could also be a way of overcoming writer’s block.

Probability in Music

Some riffs and motifs I’ve written are results of controlled randomization. Sometimes I’ve stumbled upon unpredictable yet musical outcomes, that I’ve set up for, but not composed in a more traditional sense. My work then has been more like being an active listener who identify and pick parts to use in a musically structured context.

Set probability conditions when programming sequencers. And combine with randomness, in this way probability introduces increasing amounts of unpredictability to the sequence. The probability parameter determines the chance of being true. For example, how often the randomness will occur.

Some sequencers allow for different aspects of the sequenced notes to be affected, such as playback order, steps on/off, velocity, gate time. Others set probability of the event, pitch, octave, length, rate, note direction and so on.

Anyways, you should really try this, it could also be a way of overcoming writer’s block.

Yesterday it somehow felt natural to celebrate the release of Monopolx’s Int, our new electronic recording, by going to two concerts. We saw Sodomisery, a local death metal band and a thrash band, General Genocide. It somehow felt like home. I don’t know. We can relate. Music style is mostly a matter of expression. What’s more important is to be able to feel the music.

Yesterday it somehow felt natural to celebrate the release of Monopolx’s Int, our new electronic recording, by going to two concerts. We saw Sodomisery, a local death metal band and a thrash band, General Genocide. It somehow felt like home. I don’t know. We can relate. Music style is mostly a matter of expression. What’s more important is to be able to feel the music.