Bridges: Yes/No?

[Lrmusic]

sounds good. If were are in C:

I like E7 add 9b - A min 7 - (Gmin7-C7) - Fmaj7 - D7 add 9b - Gmin7 - (Gmin7-C7) - (Fmaj7 - [Fmaj7-Emaj7-Ebmaj7-Dmaj7-Dbmaj7]**) - (chorus starts) Cmaj7

** - Maintain parallel voice leading

where everything between a - is the same length (1 bar or 1/2 a bar) unless it's in parentheses; in that case the dashes don't count. Best if your chorus starts with the Cmaj7

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by Lrmusic

sounds good. If were are in C:

I like E7 add 9b - A min 7 - (Gmin7-C7) - Fmaj7 - D7 add 9b - Gmin7 - (Gmin-C7) - (Fmaj7 - [Fmaj7-Emaj7-Ebmaj7-Dmaj7-Dbmaj7]**) - (chorus starts) Cmaj7

** - Maintain parallel voice leading

where everything between a - is the same length (1 bar or 1/2 a bar) unless it's in parentheses; in that case the dashes don't count. Best if your chorus starts with the Cmaj7

Sounds nice also.

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Heres an easy example of a bridge for a nice,mid tempo 95BPM r&b joint in the key of C...with each chord held for one bar each.

E minor 7flat 5/ E 7#9/A minor 9/A minor 7/Cmajor 7/Fmajor 7 /G sus4/G
Trick is, is that you've gotta figure out the chords for the verse and hook to make that bridge work.
Try it!!

one thing to note guys is especially when you are using more complex chords you really gotta know how to arrange it nice to the sound you are using, or your gonan end up with a hot mess...

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

one thing to note guys is especially when you are using more complex chords you really gotta know how to arrange it nice to the sound you are using, or your gonan end up with a hot mess...

fo'shizzle

[KeMiKaL]

+1 to the dude who said switch to the relative key...

A minor is the relative key of C Major (meaning all notes are used in both keys)

so u might have a simple progression for your hook going

Am Dm Em G

your bridge can go like this

C Dm Em C (Hold C for a bar)

Drop it back to Root chord being Am for your hook

[Michael Khan]

Bridges are my favorite part! Especially on the good ol' N'Sync records. And yeah I think understanding the whole theory of it like that trick the guy said about Max is a good way of interpreting it. I think Danja is pretty versatile and knows how to switch it up. One use of a bridge that he's done is Britney Spears - Hot As Ice. Pretty nice...

[D.L]

I just recently started putting bridges on my beats.

SoundClick artist: Game Productionz - RnB and Hip Hop beats

For me, it just came with time, experience, and using my ear.

What I do is

If im going to put a bridge in my beat, I will use a chord progression that I know is going to transfer smoothly into my bridge. So the last chord in my song chord progression will be that chord that is going to resolve to the first chord in my bridge. Now, if I have a progression that I know is not going to smoothly transfer over, I will substitute a chord in for the 4 chord when the progression loops to the chord before the bridge.

But, whatever my progression is... I know that the 4 chord will lead into the 1 on the bridge. Now when im saying 4 im not talking about 4 as in the scale degree, but 4 as in the number of the chord in the progression.

Its all about knowing where your trying to end up...diminished chords can lead you right into your 1 chord... or a 2 - 5 - 1.

[Lawrence]

Perhaps also go beyond standard most often used pop chords and get into some voicings that are or can be appropriate for some hip-hop/rap if used correctly some of the lesser used jazz chords for tension and release.

Jazz chord - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You (if you don't really play keys) have to voice them out and hear them to get a feel for how some may fit and where for drama or whatever on a bridge ...

Dominant ♯9/♯5 (C7♯5 ♯9)

r 3 ♯5 ♭7 ♯9

Dominant ♭9/♯5 (C7♯5 ♭9)

r 3 ♯5 ♭7 ♭9

[Larry Mal]

Bah... bridges have been done to death. Why not try something new, like a nice fugal interlude? I've heard that some hip hop aficionados are known to smoke marihuana apparently- I read that in Newsweek, and it's a pretty reputable news magazine- and maybe they'd really enjoy that.

[voicegenius]

Originally Posted by Larry Mal

Bah... bridges have been done to death...

Not in Hip-Hop....

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by Larry Mal

Bah... bridges have been done to death. Why not try something new, like a nice fugal interlude? I've heard that some hip hop aficionados are know to smoke marihuana apparently- I read that in Newsweek, and it's a pretty reputable news magazine- and maybe they'd really enjoy that.

lol..love it

[Lrmusic]

Originally Posted by Larry Mal

Bah... bridges have been done to death. Why not try something new, like a nice fugal interlude? I've heard that some hip hop aficionados are known to smoke marihuana apparently- I read that in Newsweek, and it's a pretty reputable news magazine- and maybe they'd really enjoy that.

See I knew more people would be interested in interludes. In fact, when you think of it, the traditional song form has been done to death.

Someone is going to write an Rnb song in sonata allegro form someday...only the tempo won't be allegro, it will be more like poco adiago or poco a poco andante.

[phillysoulman]

I just LOVE that Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel...its one bass ass mother****er!!!

[KennyBarto]

Bridges keep a record interesting, period. You have to admit that any record that lasts for more than a few seconds (obviously most) would benefit from some variety somewhere along the way. Bridges can come in whatever length, song postition or level of complexity you desire - from a 4 bar changeup in between a pre-chorus and a chorus, to 8 bars in place of a third verse, to a complete new arrangement within a song. Its all up to you!

The goal, as far as my opinion suggests, is to keep the attention of the listener. My company's work is 80% mainstream hip hop based. Bridges and change-ups are pretty commonplace in our music. In a type of music such as Hip Hop, where repeated loops of drums and instruments are usually the norm, its 50% the producers job to keep the listener from skipping to the next track. Keep it interesting!

Don't be lazy and just copy, paste, copy paste, copy, paste. Intros, bridges, outros are great tools for keeping the listener glued to the speakers for the whole length of the record.

[CRACKPIPE]

I'm so stoked for my music theory class starting next week.

I have a good ear and know when notes/chords clash but it's just by feel, not academic.

Yeah, my ears are my number 1 tool but so are the eyes for a surgeon but I'm not trusting a self taught doctor to cut in my brain. "Hmm, this spot looks good, Nurse! Scalpel!"

[Lrmusic]

Originally Posted by CRACKPIPE

Yeah, my ears are my number 1 tool but so are the eyes for a surgeon but I'm not trusting a self taught doctor to cut in my brain. "Hmm, this spot looks good, Nurse! Scalpel!"

[voicegenius]

Originally Posted by Lrmusic

Someone is going to write an Rnb song in sonata allegro form someday...only the tempo won't be allegro, it will be more like poco adiago or poco a poco andante.

If that happens, R&B =

Not that it hasn't happened already....

[Austria]

Bridges are great, it doesn't have to be a drastic change, kind of a good point in the track to show off the potential feeling of the key your in. A lot of beats no matter how great can flourish at this point which often becomes what the listener hangs out for. Especially with the ever so resourceful/lack of attention span populous on our hands.

[12ax7]

.
Where's that confounded bridge?

[Miles Harding]

LOS Da Mystro usually has some pretty interesting bridges, like on J Holiday "Bed" or Bobby Valentino "Hands On Me"

On this new Christina Milian track ,fast forward to 2:41


The chords sound very familiar, I keep getting Deja Vu when I listen to it, but I cant put my finger on it. I'm thinking of a early or mid 90s R&B track?

[Lrmusic]

Originally Posted by Fat Pat

LOS Da Mystro usually has some pretty interesting bridges, like on J Holiday "Bed" or Bobby Valentino "Hands On Me"

On this new Christina Milian track ,fast forward to 2:41


The chords sound very familiar, I keep getting Deja Vu when I listen to it, but I cant put my finger on it. I'm thinking of a early or mid 90s R&B track?

Haha this is a melting pot.

Drums sound like Los, vibe sounds like the Dream (which is basically an amalgamation of him, Los and Tricky anyway), bass sounds like tricky, keys sound like dream.

But it's a flop.

You mean the chords in the bridge?

[John Eppstein]

If anybody wants to buy a bridge I have several available quite reasonably in the SF Bay Area. The Golden Gate is a fave with tourists, but you hip-hop guys might be more interested in the Bay Bridge to Oakland. For those on a budget we also have a pair of smaller bridges between Oakland and Alameda. The San Mateo and Richmond bridges will be coming on the market quite soon.

Oh, you meant the OTHER kind of bridge...... sorry.......

[rhodesp04]

Originally Posted by KennyBarto

Bridges keep a record interesting, period. You have to admit that any record that lasts for more than a few seconds (obviously most) would benefit from some variety somewhere along the way. Bridges can come in whatever length, song postition or level of complexity you desire - from a 4 bar changeup in between a pre-chorus and a chorus, to 8 bars in place of a third verse, to a complete new arrangement within a song. Its all up to you!

The goal, as far as my opinion suggests, is to keep the attention of the listener. My company's work is 80% mainstream hip hop based. Bridges and change-ups are pretty commonplace in our music. In a type of music such as Hip Hop, where repeated loops of drums and instruments are usually the norm, its 50% the producers job to keep the listener from skipping to the next track. Keep it interesting!

Don't be lazy and just copy, paste, copy paste, copy, paste. Intros, bridges, outros are great tools for keeping the listener glued to the speakers for the whole length of the record.

the Justice League reponds...very nice. I'm a big fan. keep up the good work.

[Nolet]

I know very little of hip hop and r&b, but the bridges the Neptunes did on Justin Timberlake's first record are killing: Like I Love You (the "make me fly...yeah yeah" part) and Rock Your Body have bridges that lift those songs to great heights.