Creating a zany science fiction retro feel in your music involves more than hiring a handful of cyborgs to man your Nord Modulator. Using the right synthesizers, Halloween sound effects, and melodic material can make your music sound straight out of the next millennium and spook even the Borg.

Use the new Unravelling Music ear training track Halloween Horror 3000 and the samples below to set you on your next space music voyage.

Click to download “Halloween Horror 3000″ Unravelling Music pack (or right-click and “Save as…”)

Contents

• 13-page liner notes PDF with track-by-track info
• 1 full-length MP3 file, “Halloween Horror 3000″
• 5 supporting MP3 files revealing details of the track

Spacey Halloween Sounds

Halloween sound effects can enhance any sci-fi track. For the ear training track HH3K I used a combo of freaky sounds, including creepy female whispers created through EW Symphonic Choirs, alien murmurs from Logic, and a royalty-free scream sample.

Make your own horrific Halloween effects easily with a good set of vocal chords and a mic, or explore your synth banks for some hidden sound gems. Instead of placing them randomly through the track, use the most distinctive sounds for the intro, ending, and transitions in the track. For Halloween Horror 3000, I used UFO takeoff sound effects for the music introduction but saved the freaky whispers for ambience.

• Listen to the MP3 for “Space Whispers”

Ambient effects with a sci-fi flair make way for freaky whispers using EW Symphonic Choirs.

Instrument Choices

Click to read the rest…

You might like to check out the guest post I just wrote over at MusicLessons4YouOnline.com, entitled “Want to play it? Hear it first!”

It’s about how you need to hear music in your head to be able to really bring life to your playing, and create new compositions or improvisations. I outline the steps to doing this, and how you can use ear training to help you hear more complex music in your head and connect it with your instrument. Here’s an excerpt:

“It may sound like a contradiction, but if you want to create music when you play you must be able to hear the music first – in your head. This goes doubly if you want to improvise, compose or play by ear!

Ever noticed how great jazz improvisers often sing along with their own solo? Or how rock guitarists’ mouths move as if they’re singing out each note they play? These players know exactly what sounds their instruments will make before they move their fingers to make it happen. It’s no coincidence that this is a habit shared by many of the greats!”
Read more…

Make sure you check out all the other great posts on MusicLessons4YouOnline.com too, there’s an incredible wealth of information, tutorials, and videos to help you learn music and instruments. Here’s a few starting points:

• How to Play Piano By Ear
• Guitar Practice Tip for Success (Most of these are helpful hints for any instrument, or indeed ear training!)
• 7 Reasons to Learn Music Theory

There’s also an associated site at MusicLessonsOnDVD.com which sells some great instrumental lesson DVDs.

So, take a look at the guest post and let me know what you think – in the comments here or there!