Featured project #1: Abyss of Abundance by sactorocker
Plan C Project is a collaboration between Kim and Kevin, who played together in the band Plan B during the 1980s in Sacramento, California. Plan B covered artists like Tom Petty and performed at venues such as Lord Beaverbrooks and private parties. A few years ago, Kim and Kevin reconnected and decided to collaborate again—this time with Kim focusing on composing and producing, while Kevin handles guitar and bass. However, Kevin now lives 1,000 miles away, making it a long-distance partnership.
Kim uses Hookpad for composing. It provides an excellent demo of the song, exports lead sheets and guitar tabs, and generates stems for use in a DAW (in our case, FL Studio). Hookpad's style suggestions, such as bass patterns and the intro synth-jabs in "Abyss of Abundance," often become part of the final production.
Beyond being a composition tool, Hookpad is a fantastic educational resource. While traditional music theory may teach concepts like sus2 and sus4 chords, it often doesn't address when to use them as a composer. Kim applies two practical criteria – and Hookpad supports easy auditioning of the result:
If the melody centers on a note in the sus chord, consider using the sus. A sus chord can anchor a melody note during chord changes. For example, in the progression [Em, Dsus4, C], the note "G" remains constant throughout, creating a sense of continuity.
This collaborative effort combines modern tools with creative insights, making the Plan C Project both innovative and grounded in music theory.
Learn more about the Plan C Project on their website and listen to their music at their SoundCloud.
Song Description
Abyss of Abundance is a hard rock composition.
Hookpad Process
Hookpad plays a central role in our "Plan C Project" compositions. This year I've used ChatGPT to generate preliminary lyric ideas: "Generate rock lyrics for Abyss of Abundance." I refine the lyrics with a focus on rhythm, then input the melody into Hookpad, initially using the same note for all syllables. Once the lyric rhythm feels right, I assign notes to each syllable. With the melody established I utilize Hookpad to explore various chords and progressions that complement the melody. When the Hookpad arrangement is finalized, I share the URL with my remote collaborator for his input. If we agree to proceed with the composition, I export the individual tracks as WAV files. This provides my collaborator with the necessary tracks to develop guitar and bass elements. Simultaneously, I work on vocal tracks using the exported files. Additionally, I generate Lead and Tab sheets for reference (accessible at www.plancproject.com). Finally, I utilize FL Studio to build the tracks and handle the mixing process.