My name is Asaf Peres. I founded Top40 Theory in 2018 with the goal of helping artists, songwriters, and producers supercharge their creative toolbox by learning and internalizing the tools used by the greatest hitmakers of our generation.

HOOKS, MELODIC PREVIEWS, AND REPETITION

QUICK TIPS

What hitmakers say about Top40 Theory

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​Asaf Peres' Top40 Theory is a treasure trove of insights into how pop music is made and how it works. 
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Dan Wilson, 2x Grammy winner and 3x Grammy nominated (Semisonic, Adele, The Chicks, Taylor Swift). Co-writer of recent singles by ​Leon Bridges, Mitski, Alec Benjamin, and many others
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​Asaf's tangible examples and in-depth breakdowns of well-known songs make it very easy for me to internalize the tools and tricks of the songwriting greats, and utilize them to improve my own writing and producing. 

Dre The Monarch, multi-platinum songwriter and producer. Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Clarkson, Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled, Rita Ora, and others

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Top40 Theory has helped me take a technical look at why I like the things that I like & it allows me to apply it to what I do. 

  • Charles “Chizzy” Stephens III, Multi-Platinum Producer/Songwriter | Jlo, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, DJ Snake, Gashi, Sevyn, A$AP Ferg, The-Dream, Travis Scott, NCT127, Got7 & more
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When I was in college, my friends and I used to listen to hit songs over and over, trying to analyze what exactly made a hit record. Top40 Theory has taken this approach and perfected it. I read every single post and I've learned a good amount.

Lindgren, platinum songwriter/producer. Dua Lipa, BTS, Halsey, Sia, TWICE, and others  

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THE FUELCORE HOOK

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Asaf is the leading expert on how to use music theory at the micro level to craft memorable hooks, and at the macro level to compose hit songs.

Charlie Harding, co-host of the Switched On Pop podcast and co-author of the book Switched On Pop: How Popular Music Works, and Why it Matters



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In a field too often stuck in the distant past, Dr. Peres's work is a breath of fresh air, engaging with the music of today on its own terms in order to understand how pop music actually works.

12Tone (Cory Arnold), music theorist and creator/host of massively popular music theory YouTube channel


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Asaf has insights for days on what makes pop music tick, and Charlie and I have consulted with him countless times for our podcast Switched on Pop. His perspectives have changed the way we think about pop music.

Nate Sloan, co-host of the Switched On Pop podcast, co-author of the book Switched On Pop: How Popular Music Works, and Why it Matters, and Assistant Professor of Musicology at University of Southern California
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It’s difficult to overstate the importance of Asaf’s work, both in his dissertation and in the Top40 Theory blog. His work has enlightened all of us about what we were missing by only thinking about sectional boundaries in terms of harmony instead of timbre and texture.

Brad Osborn, Associate Professor of Music Theory, The University of Kansas
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MELODIC PREVIEWS

CHARLIE PUTH - HOW LONG
vocal arrangement breakdown