Your lead is the part people remember, whistle and sing along to. It is also the hardest part of a track to get right. So we took 19 leads inspired by artists like Ben Böhmer, ARTBAT, Stephan Bodzin, Bicep and Anyma, reverse engineered every single one in Ableton Live and Serum 2, and looked for what makes them work.
Here are the 8 tricks that kept coming back: melody, harmony and sound design.
1. Descending feels mellow: use a pedal tone
The Ben Böhmer move. One note keeps repeating underneath, the pedal tone, and above it a short motif walks down step by step. The steady note gives stability, the falling notes pull you into that mellow, emotional feel.
Key settings:
- Pedal tone: E3, repeating steadily through the whole phrase
- Motif: B3 → A3 → G#3 → F#3, each step played three times
- Keep the rhythm identical while the motif descends
2. Ascending lifts the energy
Flip the direction and the same idea turns uplifting. This ARTBAT inspired lead climbs in short runs, and small note variations at the top of each run keep the repetition interesting. Pair it with an energetic sound so the patch matches the upward motion.
Key settings:
- Runs climb G2 → A2 → A#2
- Vary the top note of each run (C3, D3, A#2)
- Choose a bright, energetic patch to support the lift
3. The half step: where the emotion lives
Two notes a half step apart. Played together they sound intense, played one after the other they sound emotional. In the right context it sounds beautiful, not dissonant, and it gives your lead instant tension.
Key settings:
- Alternate G2 and F#2, a half step apart
- Keep a low B1 underneath for context
- Want maximum emotion? Ride on the half step
4. Let the sound move with the melody
Back to the Ben Böhmer lead, this time the sound design. Two small moves make a repeated pattern feel alive: every note hits slightly differently, and the brightness follows the melody.
Key settings:
- Serum 2: ENV 1 attack modulated by LFO 9 set to Chaos: Lorenz, so every note gets a slightly random hit
- Automate Filter 1 Freq along the melody: it closes as the line falls and opens as it climbs
- Result: more movement and energy without touching a single note
5. The tenth trick: the third an octave up
The third is the most emotional note in a chord, because it decides major or minor. Move it an octave higher and the voicing stretches open: wider, more spacious and instantly emotional. This chord pluck lead is inspired by Oskar Med K.
Key settings:
- Root at the bottom (G0)
- Fifth in the middle (D2)
- Minor third on top (A#2), stretched far above the root
6. Lock the rhythm first, then change the notes
Stuck on a melody? Do it like Ben Böhmer: find a rhythm you like and keep it. Then hold one note and only move the others. The repeating rhythm makes the lead catchy, the changing pitches tell the story.
Key settings:
- Write a short rhythm group first, without worrying about pitch
- Repeat it through the phrase
- Change the pitch per group, never the rhythm
7. Pick complementing tones, not just the root
Basic chords underneath, and the question is which notes to play on top. The root or the fifth is the safe answer, and also the boring one. Pick tones that add colour to each chord and the harmony comes alive.
Key settings:
- Keep the chords simple and long
- Place short lead notes between the chord hits
- Choose tones that sound good with the chord but are not its root
8. One MIDI note, a full lead
The most minimal lead on the list, inspired by Anyma. Every note sits on the same pitch, and all the movement comes from pitch modulation. Simple, easy to dance to, full of energy.
Key settings:
- One note in the MIDI clip, repeated rhythmically
- Automate Pitch Bend on Serum 2: a slow ramp up, then a drop back
- Let the bass or the chords carry the harmony
Get the projects behind all 19 leads
Every lead in this post comes from a project file in the Everything Bundle Collectors Edition. You do not just get the leads: you get the full tracks, arrangements, drums, presets and samples across every genre, plus the courses that walk you through each one step by step.
Watch the full breakdown
Hear all 19 leads played, soloed and explained in context:
FAQ
What makes a lead melody emotional?
Mostly direction and intervals. Descending lines feel mellow, half steps add tension, and the third of the chord is the most emotional note you can play.
What is a pedal tone?
A note that keeps repeating while the melody moves around it. It anchors the lead and makes the moving notes stand out.
How do I write a lead when I am stuck?
Start with the rhythm. Once you have a rhythm you like, keep it and only change the pitches.
Reference artists
The leads in the video are inspired by:
- Ben Böhmer
- ARTBAT
- Stephan Bodzin
- Anyma
- Bicep
- Oskar Med K
- Kiasmos
