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Music Composition

Some ideas

There are two main ways to compose: c

  • A. Create first lyrics & melody. Then compose the musical base.
  • B. Compose by layers and loops:

            -From a rhythmic or harmonic base (loop), layers are added:

            - Musical base (rhythm, bass line and chords), structure, melody and lyrics.

            - You can mix many layers simultaneously.     

Our inspiration will show us the appropriate way.


The following steps will guide the process of musical creation:

1.- INSPIRATION

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  • It can appears anywhere: in a song we've heard in a video game, a movie or even the supermarket.

           It can also arise from a melody in our head.

  • Every time thatwe have a musical idea, it is very useful to record it immediately.

A good resource is the mobile recorder, which always goes with us.

The inspiration is usually an individual process, although playing with friends can get to inspire much and create very good songs.

2.- MUSICAL STYLE

  • Think about what musical style we like most as a band.

          We must listen to different music, so we can decide on what style we would like to compose.

          In  task 1 we investigated numerous musical styles; here are some examples of modern musical styles.
    

  • The style you choose will indicate us:


                    - Rhythmic & harmonic patterns (riffs), helping to create the musical bases or loops.

                    - Instruments and voices.

                    - General dynamics of the song

3.- SPECIFY MUSICAL ELEMENTSway

When composing our song wecan start with any musical element, all depend on how the inspiration is coming.

Here is where we will choose one of the ways:

A.- Create first lyrics & melody

B.- Compose by layers and loops

A1. MELODY & LYRICS

Inspiration can appear in melody form.

But it can also come with embedded lyrics, because songs are still sung poems on topics that affect us personally or socially.

In group, we will expose our "melodic and poetic inspirations" and choose the one that will convince us.

Even we can join and mix the ideas of several members, it would be great!

We must think about:

  • Title: attractive and connected with the theme (topic) of the song.
  • Verses: give information about the story we're telling, places and characters, going into details.
  • Chorus: catchy, expose the feelings of the song.
  • Consider that each note of the melody sound is equivalent to a syllable of the text, and that the word stress should be with the music.

A2. MUSICAL BASE: RHYTHM & HARMONY

We have to choose the music style for our song and study what chords and rhythmic patterns are suitable to our tune.

In music styles  there are musical bases that we can use to compose our song.

A3. STRUTURE

Specify the sections of our song and how they are organized (see below).

 

B1. MUSICAL BASE: RHYTHM & HARMONY

The chosen musical style will be the starting point of our song. Choose the rhythmic & harmonic patterns that are suitable create loops.

In music styles  there are musical bases that we can use to compose our song.

B2. STRUTURE

Specify the sections of our song and how they are organized (see below).

B3. MELODY & LYRICS

On the musical base we are composing a tune in the same key and scale, adapting the preset structure.

Finally, enterlyrics with a theme that suits the melody and the style of our song.

We must think about:

  • Title: attractive and connected with the theme (topic) of the song.
  • Verses: give information about the story we're telling, places and characters, going into details.
  • Chorus: catchy, expose the feelings of the song.
  • Consider that each note of the melody sound is equivalent to a syllable of the text, and that the word stress should be with the music.

Song Structure

The musical structure or form of the songs in popular music is made up of sections that are repeated.

Verse and Chorus are the main sections.

chain

  • INTRODUTION (Intro): optional and usually instrumental. It can be:

                                           - Some bars with the main chord (I)

                                            - Chords from verse or chorus

                                           - Drumkit solo introducing the rhythm

                                           - Voice or instrument solo with the main melody

  • VERSE: all verses usually have the same melody, but change lyrics. 

        They give information about the story we're telling, places and characters, going into details.

  • PRE-CHORUS: optional, join verse with chorus using chords transition.

  • CHORUS: its melody & lyrics are repeated along the song.

          it usually contrasts with verse, different melody, rhythm & harmony

          and increasing intensity with more instruments.

         Lyrics are easy to make catchy chorus, and expressed the feelings of the song.

  • BRIDGE: it joins verse with chorus using a chord progession.

         There may be one or several instrumental bridges along the song.

  • SOLO: an instrument plays the main melody or improvises on a rhythmic & harmonic base.

               It can be improvised.

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  • CODA: The end of the song. It can be:

                     - main chord repetition (I)

                     - Harmonic progressions: ii-V7 ou I-IV-V7 or from chorus

                     - Solos improvisations.

                     - fade out : decrease in intensity.

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