# All about ear candy Ear candies are hits, fills, licks, or effects that add subtle interest to a track. They are typically added at the end of a production. Maribou State calls these "silver sounds."[^1] That may be because high-pitched, tinsel-y sounds work well as ear candy.[^2] They are best suited for silences as call-and-response or for transitions. As call-and-response, it's useful to pay mind to the lyrical imagery and take it as an opportunity to do some tone painting.[^3] Combine for unique results. Traditionally, fills would play the role of ear candy and transitions. ## Fills - Fills don't have to be complicated—just different from the usual groove - Counter-melodies or call-and-response[^4] - Slides and glissandi[^2] - Stabs, like horns, keys, or guitar[^5] [^6] - Arps[^2] [^6] ## One shots - Aux percussion[^5] - Risers, swells,[^3] and turnarounds[^7] - Reverse cymbals, [[Reverse reverb]], etc.[^5] - Noise risers[^8] - Dynamic claps[^9] - See [[How to create transitions in your arrangements]] - Impacts, crashes,[^3] and markers[^7] - Exhausts[^10] - Tonal hits (just a single note a long decay)[^10] - 808 drops - Sirens and zaps - Sound effects, foley, found sound, and ambience - Vocal ad libs[^5] - Refer to [[Sound design and ambient music production techniques]] for more ## Throw effects - Formant-shifting[^5] and pitch-shifting[^10] - Delay - Reverb[^5] - Shimmer reverb[^5] - [[Reverb wash-out]][^3] - Mutes and stutters[^5] [^10] - Flanging - [[Granular synthesis and effects]] - Tape stops and starts[^2] - Lofi effects - Bandpasses - Bitcrushing[^10] - Sidechain compression/ducking[^11] - Try any effect! [^1]: [Maribou State's secret ingredient: Silver Sounds ✨ - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9zCYwwDVpPk) [^2]: [every trick to EAR CANDY - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqqKtwdHAGw) [^3]: [This always makes a huge improvement on any song - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96csLYzPN8) [^4]: [SIX EAR CANDY TRICKS that all the PRO's are using - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRyqQ9N3RH4) [^5]: [Perfect Ear Candies That Matter - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOQc7B8HRx0) [^6]: [EAR CANDY tricks that will make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in your song - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci-7i25fdEM) [^7]: [turn your loop into a story: an arrangement masterclass - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY7vRHiSJSM) [^8]: [How To Make EAR CANDY - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugy5KbVGuZY) [^9]: [How To Make Future Garage In Ableton like Azaleh - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB_npsE1j6w) [^10]: [Use Ear Candy To Create Special Moments In Your Songs! \| Make Pop Music - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3R4TKoZC8A&t=792s) [^11]: [10 Ways To Create Lifts & Drops In Ableton Live - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaMf4yJA6_s&list=PL9oiyAGA6zOREkZq-JlvqmugH369pArzv&index=3)