Groove3 Arranging Chords for Strings Explained TUTORIAL
Creating compelling string arrangements goes far beyond stacking notes. It’s about choosing the right chords, understanding how they function, and arranging them so every line moves naturally and musically. In this in-depth video course, arranging specialist Stephen O’Connell presents a clear, accessible approach to building chord progressions and transforming them into expressive, realistic string arrangements. Once you complete the course, you’ll be ready to apply these techniques immediately in your own productions. The lessons are ideal for beginning arrangers.
You’ll start by revisiting the fundamentals of chord theory—intervals, triads, and inversions—giving you the tools to build strong, confident harmonic foundations. From there, Stephen introduces functional harmony, showing how chords relate to one another and how to write purposeful progressions instead of relying on guesswork.
The course then moves into voice leading and melodic movement, teaching you how individual lines connect smoothly from chord to chord. Finally, you’ll bring everything together by arranging your progression for a full string ensemble—assigning parts across sections, shaping voicings for balance and clarity, and enhancing realism with MIDI CC expression and dynamic programming.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to turn simple chord ideas into rich, cinematic string arrangements with confidence and musicality. Explore the individual Arranging Chords for Strings video tutorials for a detailed breakdown of each topic and practical ways to apply these concepts in your own tracks, songs, and scores. Unlock a new level of musical expression—watch “Arranging Chords for Strings Explained®” today.
What You Will Learn:
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Core chord concepts, including intervals, triads, and inversions
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How to use functional harmony to write intentional, flowing progressions
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Voice-leading techniques for smooth, lyrical movement between chords
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How to arrange chords across string sections and add realism using MIDI expression
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And more
Software Used:
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Logic Pro
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Kontakt Sampler
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NI Session Strings Pro 2
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Spitfire Audio Appassionata Strings
