Jason Graves Reveals the Unlikely Garbage Can Lid Behind Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s Soundtrack

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s music composer, Jason Graves has shared the strange secret tool behind the game’s soundtrack, and it is far from ordinary. He explained that the unusual item helped shape the music and added a distinctive edge to the score.

In a chat about his creative process for the game’s multiplayer music, Graves said that this part of the soundtrack is usually treated as something of a late priority, though he still had thoughts about the most interesting gear he used while recording the tracks.

Asked about his hidden trick, Graves said it was not really standard equipment at all, but it was certainly memorable. He then explained that he keeps an aluminum garbage can lid specifically for special uses, and that he had last brought it into action for 2022’s Modern Warfare 2. For Modern Warfare 4, he said he brought it back once more and played it during the recording sessions.

He also spoke about how multiplayer music differs sharply from the campaign score, which leans more on narrative cues and big dramatic turns. According for Graves, the most effective way to grasp the mood involves dedicating a great deal of time to playing multiplayer and noticing how the action unfolds.

The composer explained that the aim was to create the music feel as if anything might happen at any moment. He described the sound as built around forward drive and intense energy, with a style that keeps pushing players onward.

Graves added that the score relies on several elements working together to create its identity, including hard-hitting percussion, warped electronics, and natural textures. He said he enjoys blending real-world sounds with digital processing, especially when the result becomes hard to pin down.

That mix, he said, helps produce a feeling of motion, tension, and unpredictability that suits multiplayer perfectly.