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Ryan Leach

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Ryan Leach is an LA based composer, arranger and producer. His music has been heard on NBC, ABC, CBS and MTV, and other credits include additional music for Jerry Bruckheimer's hit series "Cold Case", technical assistance on "The Simpsons Movie", "Bee Movie", and "The Dark Knight", and original compositions for Disney Interactive. He is also co-owner and producer of Short Order Strings.

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The Basic Functions of Harmony

on May 7th 2012 with 73 comments

“All you need is three chords and the truth.”

At it’s core, all music can be considered an interplay of tension and release. The degree of tension can come from dissonance vs. consonance, orchestration, dynamics, or a hundred other musical elements. The key to using tension and release is balance. With too much tension and no release the tension can become unbearable and the music unlistenable. On the reverse side, if the music is too neutral with little to no amount of tension it can be dull and lifeless.

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This entry is part 2 of 14 in the Creative Session: All About Music Theory Session
Customizing CineBrass

Customizing CineBrass

on Apr 19th 2012 with 1 comment

Up until now I generally haven’t used a lot of brass in my music. Brass instruments are such a prominent force when they’re part of a cue, and I never felt like my samples sounded good enough to stand out front and center. Rather than have bad sounds, I just avoided them.

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Getting to Know Altered Chords Part 6: Altered IV

Getting to Know Altered Chords Part 6: Altered IV

on Feb 1st 2012 with 0 comments

In this series we will learn about altered chords and how we can use them to add harmonic interest to our music. Part 6 of the series will continue with the altered IV chord.

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Quick Tip: Use the Doubling Technique for Quick Drums

Quick Tip: Use the Doubling Technique for Quick Drums

on Jan 5th 2012 with 6 comments

It’s 3:30 in the afternoon when your phone rings. The head of a music library is calling and she needs your help. They have a commercial for an A-list client that needs music, and they want you to submit an entry. You’ll get $10,000 if you land the gig.

Oh, and it’s due by 5:00.

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Getting to Know Altered Chords Part 5: Altered VII

Getting to Know Altered Chords Part 5: Altered VII

on Dec 16th 2011 with 5 comments
This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series Getting to Know Altered Chords

In this series we will learn about altered chords and how we can use them to add harmonic interest to our music. Part 5 of the series will continue with the altered VII chord.

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How to Create Excitement in Your Music with Tremolo

on Nov 7th 2011 with 26 comments

Twice a month we revisit some of our reader favorite posts from throughout the history of Audiotuts+. This tutorial was first published in 2009.

Tremolo was always one of those plug-ins that my eyes completely skipped past. It wasn’t until some experimenting and tips from other composers that I began to see the potential behind this simple device.

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Getting to Know Altered Chords Part 4: Altered III

Getting to Know Altered Chords Part 4: Altered III

on Oct 6th 2011 with 2 comments
This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series Getting to Know Altered Chords

In this series we will learn about altered chords and how we can use them to add harmonic interest to our music. Part 4 of the series will continue with the altered III chord.

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How to Create a Custom Instrument with Logic’s EXS Sampler

on Sep 29th 2011 with 22 comments

Twice a month we revisit some of our reader favorite posts from throughout the history of Audiotuts+. This tutorial was first published in September 2008.

Creating custom sampled instruments using Logic’s EXS24 Software instruments that come jam packed with presets can be bittersweet; there are hundreds of ready-made sounds instantly available at your fingertips, but within months of an instrument’s release the patches become hackneyed and commonplace. What you may have thought was a unique and exciting instrument can soon become the very sound that makes your music feel just like everything else.

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How to Create a Compelling Ostinato

on Aug 16th 2011 with 35 comments

Twice a month we revisit some of our reader favorite posts from throughout the history of Audiotuts+. This tutorial was first published in September 2008.

The ostinato pattern is a staple of modern music; across every genre you’ll find countless examples of pieces that at their core revolve around a single repeating ostinato pattern.

In this tutorial we’ll look at how to create an ostinato pattern from a simple outline, give it a unique and intriguing sound, and use this pattern as a basic building block for creating your own original compositions.

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Getting to Know Altered Chords Part 3: Altered VI

Getting to Know Altered Chords Part 3: Altered VI

on Apr 1st 2011 with 6 comments
This entry is part 3 of 5 in the series Getting to Know Altered Chords

This is the third article in a seven part series on altered chords. In the first part I explained that by lowering or raising a tone of a chord by a half step you can change the color and function of a chord.

Part 1 look at altered V chords, and Part 2 at altered II chords. We will continue the series by exploring various ways to alter the VI chord.

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