Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Small Ternary is a fantastic musical form for composers of game music and short works to know.
🎹 how to tell as story as a composer youtu.be/kGCztkhPcRU
The Small Ternary starts with an A section, usually in Sentence or Period form or a hybrid. The A section can end with a half cadence or an authentic cadence.
It's followed by a contrasting B section, usually in a different harmonic space (either a modulation or just starting on a different chord). The B section is motivically similar to the A, so although it is "contrasting", the contrast is not too strong.
The B section ends with a half cadence to prepare for the return of the A, usually in the home ket. In the case of video game music this can go on to be an endless loop.
All 8 themes in this video come from Yasunori Nishiki's beautiful score to the game Octopath Traveler.
🥳 Check out my new course Pillars of Composition! tinyurl.com/pillarsofcompositioncourse
🏛 Learn how to compose music! ➔ tinyurl.com/pillarsofcompositioncourse
🧙 Compose in the style of Harry Potter: tinyurl.com/magicmusiccourse
🎓 Study with me ➔ ryanleach.com/lessons
🎼 Early access, exclusive content and more on Patreon ➔ patreon.com/ryanleach
📫 Join my newsletter for updates and more ➔ tinyurl.com/ryanleachnewsletter
🤖 Come join us on DISCORD! discord.gg/YCpmQVepu9
🏆 Composing Competitions every 3 months! youtube.com/@composingcompetitions
_____________________________________
FOR MUSICIANS
🎶 ScoreClub - tinyurl.com/scoreclubryan
*OUTSTANDING* composition courses including “Orchestrating the Line” which completely changed my approach to writing music.
Master the Score
🎻 20th Century Orchestral Writing - master-the-score.teachable.com/a/aff_kdbj7w4q/external?affcode=827102_zlce6r1r
🎚 Mixing Cinematic Music - master-the-score.teachable.com/a/aff_krxyb085/external?affcode=827102_zlce6r1r
💥 Hybrid Orchestral Composition and Sound - master-the-score.teachable.com/a/aff_wdltvt0m/external?affcode=827102_zlce6r1r
🤖 Syntorial - tinyurl.com/syntorialRL
The ABSOLUTE BEST way to learn how to use a synthesizer. It makes learning how to program a synth feel like a video game!
🎹 Master the Score masterthescore.com
🎵 Sound Stripe tinyurl.com/soundstriperyan
Where I get my background music (awesome for YouTubers).
STAY IN TOUCH
🤖Come join us on DISCORD! discord.gg/YCpmQVepu9
🌍 Website — ryanleach.com
✉️ email — ryanleachmusic at gmail.com
GEAR I USE EVERY DAY
🎹 M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3 geni.us/oTCT
🖥 LG 34” UltraWide Monitors geni.us/dux3mE
⌨️ Logitech MX Keys Keyboard geni.us/PkPvYs
🖲Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse geni.us/QKnLbJ
🎧 Apple AirPods Max geni.us/jzYq5
________
PS: Some links may be affiliate links which I receive a small kickback at no extra cost to you.
#musicalform #videogamemusic #octopathtraveler
0:00 Primrose, the Dancer
1:05 Cyrus, the Scholar
1:38 Therion, the Thief
2:38 Olberic, the Warrior
3:54 Clearbrook, by the Pristine Waters
5:36 A Settlement in the Red Bluffs
6:48 Ophilia, the Cleric
8:24 Tressa, the Merchant
The Small Ternary is a fantastic musical form for composers of game music and short works to know.
🎹 how to tell as story as a composer youtu.be/kGCztkhPcRU
The Small Ternary starts with an A section, usually in Sentence or Period form or a hybrid. The A section can end with a half cadence or an authentic cadence.
It's followed by a contrasting B section, usually in a different harmonic space (either a modulation or just starting on a different chord). The B section is motivically similar to the A, so although it is "contrasting", the contrast is not too strong.
The B section ends with a half cadence to prepare for the return of the A, usually in the home ket. In the case of video game music this can go on to be an endless loop.
All 8 themes in this video come from Yasunori Nishiki's beautiful score to the game Octopath Traveler.
🥳 Check out my new course Pillars of Composition! tinyurl.com/pillarsofcompositioncourse
🏛 Learn how to compose music! ➔ tinyurl.com/pillarsofcompositioncourse
🧙 Compose in the style of Harry Potter: tinyurl.com/magicmusiccourse
🎓 Study with me ➔ ryanleach.com/lessons
🎼 Early access, exclusive content and more on Patreon ➔ patreon.com/ryanleach
📫 Join my newsletter for updates and more ➔ tinyurl.com/ryanleachnewsletter
🤖 Come join us on DISCORD! discord.gg/YCpmQVepu9
🏆 Composing Competitions every 3 months! youtube.com/@composingcompetitions
_____________________________________
FOR MUSICIANS
🎶 ScoreClub - tinyurl.com/scoreclubryan
*OUTSTANDING* composition courses including “Orchestrating the Line” which completely changed my approach to writing music.
Master the Score
🎻 20th Century Orchestral Writing - master-the-score.teachable.com/a/aff_kdbj7w4q/external?affcode=827102_zlce6r1r
🎚 Mixing Cinematic Music - master-the-score.teachable.com/a/aff_krxyb085/external?affcode=827102_zlce6r1r
💥 Hybrid Orchestral Composition and Sound - master-the-score.teachable.com/a/aff_wdltvt0m/external?affcode=827102_zlce6r1r
🤖 Syntorial - tinyurl.com/syntorialRL
The ABSOLUTE BEST way to learn how to use a synthesizer. It makes learning how to program a synth feel like a video game!
🎹 Master the Score masterthescore.com
🎵 Sound Stripe tinyurl.com/soundstriperyan
Where I get my background music (awesome for YouTubers).
STAY IN TOUCH
🤖Come join us on DISCORD! discord.gg/YCpmQVepu9
🌍 Website — ryanleach.com
✉️ email — ryanleachmusic at gmail.com
GEAR I USE EVERY DAY
🎹 M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3 geni.us/oTCT
🖥 LG 34” UltraWide Monitors geni.us/dux3mE
⌨️ Logitech MX Keys Keyboard geni.us/PkPvYs
🖲Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse geni.us/QKnLbJ
🎧 Apple AirPods Max geni.us/jzYq5
________
PS: Some links may be affiliate links which I receive a small kickback at no extra cost to you.
#musicalform #videogamemusic #octopathtraveler
0:00 Primrose, the Dancer
1:05 Cyrus, the Scholar
1:38 Therion, the Thief
2:38 Olberic, the Warrior
3:54 Clearbrook, by the Pristine Waters
5:36 A Settlement in the Red Bluffs
6:48 Ophilia, the Cleric
8:24 Tressa, the Merchant
