How to Compose Fantasy Music: Elfman-Style Techniques

Modes are variations of the major scale created by starting on different degrees while following the same interval pattern (whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half), resulting in seven distinct modes: Ionian (major scale), Dorian (minor with raised sixth), Phrygian (minor with lowered second), Lydian (major with raised fourth), Mixolydian (major with lowered seventh), Aeolian (minor scale), and Locrian (diminished sound). The three most musically useful modes are Lydian (raised fourth), Mixolydian (lowered seventh), and Dorian (raised sixth), which offer unique harmonic possibilities beyond the standard major and minor scales.

Modes are scales derived from the seven notes of a parent scale, each starting on a different degree; the seven modes of the major scale include Ionian (major), Dorian (minor with flat 3 and 7), Phrygian (minor with flat 2 and 3), Lydian (major with sharp 4), Mixolydian (major with flat 7), Aeolian (natural minor), and Locrian (diminished), while the seven modes of the melodic minor scale include Melodic Minor, Dorian Flat 2, Lydian Augmented, Mixolydian Sharp 11, Mixolydian Flat 6, Locrian Natural 2, and Altered Dominant (Super Locrian), and they are used to color different chord types—major modes over major chords, minor modes over minor chords, and Locrian over diminished/half-diminished chords.

The major family of modes includes Lydian, Ionian (major), Mixolydian, and Dorian. Lydian is the brightest mode with a raised fourth degree, creating triumphant, playful sounds (The Simpsons). Ionian is the standard major scale. Mixolydian is slightly darker with a flat seventh, producing chill, spacey qualities (Star Trek). Dorian is slightly brighter than minor with a raised sixth, creating fantasy-like sounds (Lord of the Rings). These modes demonstrate how small pitch alterations dramatically change a scale's emotional character.

The Dorian mode is a minor scale with one note out of place. To get the Dorian mode from the A minor scale, move the 6th note up to the 7th (on the second string). This creates a hopeful, optimistic sound instead of the natural minor sound. The Dorian mode is equivalent to the Lydian mode three frets down. The Lydian mode is a major scale with one note out of place. To get the Lydian mode from the A major scale, move the 3rd note up to the 4th (on the second string). This creates a major sound with a distinctive characteristic. The Lydian mode is characterized by its raised 4th note, which gives it a unique, dreamy quality.

An orchestra consists of four main instrument families: strings (produced by bowing or plucking, including violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp), woodwinds (produced by blowing into a mouthpiece with or without reeds, including saxophone, flute, oboe, bassoon, and clarinet), brass (produced by buzzing lips into a mouthpiece, including trumpet, tuba, and french horn), and percussion (produced by hitting, scraping, or rubbing, including unpitched instruments like snare drums and pitched instruments like xylophones and orchestral bells; notably, pianos are classified as percussion because hammers strike strings rather than being bowed or plucked).

A symphonic orchestra is divided into four main families of instruments: (1) Strings (cordas) - including violin, viola, cello, and double bass; (2) Woodwinds (madeiras) - including clarinet, oboe, and bassoon; (3) Brass (metais) - including trumpets, trombones, and tubas; (4) Percussion (percussão) - including timpani and various percussion instruments. Each family contributes unique timbres to the overall orchestral sound.

The orchestra consists of four main instrument families: the string family (violin, viola, cello, double bass), the woodwind family (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon), the percussion family (hi-hat, tom-toms, snare drum, timpani), and the brass family (trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba). The string family is the largest group in the orchestra.

An orchestra is organized into four main families of instruments: strings (cuerdas), woodwinds (maderas), brass (metales), and percussion (percusiones). The string family includes violins, violas, cellos, and double basses, producing sound when musicians bow or pluck the strings. The woodwind family includes flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons, producing sound when musicians blow air through them. The brass family includes French horns, trombones, trumpets, and tubas, producing sound when musicians blow air through the metal. The percussion family includes timpani, triangle, bass drum, and marimba, producing sound when struck. Each family has complementary instruments with similar timbres but different pitch ranges. The piccolo is the complementary instrument to the flute (higher pitch), the English horn complements the oboe, the bass clarinet complements the clarinet, and the contrabassoon complements the bassoon. The tuba is the lowest brass instrument.

An orchestra consists of four main instrument families: the string family (violin, viola, cello, double bass) produces sound through vibrating strings and provides the foundation of orchestral music; the woodwind family (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon) uses reeds or holes to create melodies; the brass family (French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba) generates sound through vibrating lips against cup-shaped mouthpieces; and the percussion family (timpani, various struck/scraped/rubbed instruments, piano, harp) provides rhythm and color through diverse playing techniques.

Keyboard geography should be practiced progressively across skill levels. Entry-level exercises involve finding notes by name (G, D, E) or landmark notes (treble G, middle C, bass F). Intermediate exercises add finger positioning, where students find a note and play it with a specific finger number, then play other notes within that hand position. Advanced exercises incorporate interval concepts, requiring students to find a starting note and play specific intervals above or below it (perfect fourth, major third, major second), then identify the resulting note.

This section covers the foundational skills of keyboard geography. Students learn to find middle D by locating the two central black notes and the white note between them. The keyboard is organized into groups of two and three black notes that serve as visual landmarks. Students practice playing groups of two and three black notes with their hands, crossing over and under. The finger numbering system is introduced: thumb is 1, pointer is 2, middle is 3, ring is 4, and pinky is 5. These skills form the basis for all subsequent piano instruction.

Students systematically learn to locate notes on the piano keyboard by counting and identifying groups of black keys (two-black-key and three-black-key patterns). Finding all C notes from low to high reinforces keyboard geography. Playing scales with alternating hands builds muscle memory. Students practice maintaining finger solidity, keeping fingers firm and arched like bridges rather than collapsing like brushes. This systematic approach develops independent note-finding abilities essential for sight-reading. Students practice finding notes by touch with eyes closed, developing sensitivity and coordination. Playing scales with five fingers emphasizes tonal centers like C major. Students practice playing polychords (groups of notes) and recognizing note positions by ear, developing interval recognition skills.

Chords use standardized notation: major chords show only the root letter (C), minor chords add 'm' or a minus sign (Cm). International notation uses H for B and Bb for B flat. Practice reading chord symbols and playing them using finger combinations like 1-3-5 or 1-2-4. Develop hand balance by training weaker fingers. This notation system works globally, enabling musicians worldwide to communicate chord information consistently.

This tutorial teaches 14 basic keyboard chords (C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Cm, Fm, Gm, D, E, A, Bm, B) by explaining that chords are combinations of three notes (root, third, fifth) where major chords have a bright sound and minor chords (indicated by 'm') have a darker sound; the lesson demonstrates how to convert between major and minor chords by raising or lowering the third note by one semitone, and introduces two common chord progressions (F-G-C-Am and C-G-Am-F) for practice.