Groove3 Arranging Chords for Strings Explained

Writing great string parts isn’t just about stacking notes; it’s about choosing the right chords, understanding how they function, and arranging them so each line flows naturally and musically. In this video course, arranging expert Stephen O’Connell walks you through a clear, approachable method for building chord progressions and transforming them into expressive, realistic string arrangements. After completion, you'll be ready to start applying these ideas and concepts on your very next production. These videos are designed for beginning arrangers.

You’ll begin by reviewing the essentials of chord theory, including intervals, triads, and inversions, so you can confidently construct strong harmonic foundations. From there, Stephen introduces functional harmony, helping you understand how chords relate to one another and how to craft progressions with purpose rather than guesswork.

Next, you’ll explore voice leading and lyrical movement, learning how each individual line connects horizontally from chord to chord. Finally, you’ll bring everything together by arranging your progression across the full string ensemble, dividing parts between sections, shaping voicings for clarity and balance, and adding realism with MIDI CC expression and dynamics 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. See the individual "Arranging Chords for Strings" video tutorial descriptions for more on all that's covered and how you can implement these techniques in your own tracks, songs, and scores. Open a whole new world of musical expression ... Watch "Arranging Chords for Strings Explained®" now!

What You Will Learn:

-Understanding chord basics, intervals, triads, and inversions for stronger harmony.
-Applying functional harmony to write intentional, flowing progressions.
-Using voice leading to create smooth, lyrical movement between chords.
-Arranging chords across string sections and adding realism with MIDI expression.
-And more!

Software Used:

- Logic Pro
- Kontakt Sampler
- NI Session Strings Pro 2
- Spitfire Audio Appassionata Strings