Beginner Songwriter Project

Task: To create a short song using a melody, chord progression, bass line and drum beat.

Objectives:

• To understand and use the primary chords of I, V, vi, and IV in C Major
• To understand the concept of the Pentatonic Scale
• To understand the concept of the Bass Line and how to write one.
• To create a melody using a Pentatonic Scale
• To import a MIDI file into a Mixcraft project.

Previous knowledge required:

• copy, paste and labeling of regions and tracks.
• creation of drumbeats.
• mixing, panning and Master Effect

This is how  your final project should be laid out:

Songwriter Diagram

Bar#

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Track 1: Melody

Premade Melody A

Create your own B melody

End

Track 2:  Harmony RH

C

G

Am

F

C

G

Am

F

C

G

Am

F

C

G

Am

F

C

Track 3: Harmony LH

C

G

Am

F

C

G

Am

F

C

G

Am

F

C

G

Am

F

C

Track 4: Bass Line

Create your own A (see instructions)

Create your own B

End

Track 5: Drums (Cymbal, Snare, and Bass)

Create your own A

Create your own B

End

Steps:

1. Open a Mixcraft Virtual Instrument project and under the Sound menu, select "Add Sound File." Choose the MIDI file "Beginner Songwriter Melody.mid" from the Pickup folder. 
2. Begin recording your Harmony RH and Harmony LH in separate tracks.  Use whatever rhythms you like for your chords. 
3. Create your B part Melody using only the notes of the Pentatonic Scale.  It must be different from the given melody, but still sound like it  is from the same song.
4. Create the Bass Line for each chord using the instructions on the handout.
5. Choose appropriate instruments for each part by choosing a genre or style of music.  Choose your instruments wisely: 
1. Harmony parts are played by Keyboards or Guitars or a group of instruments like Strings or Choir.  Harmony cannot be played by Tambourine! 
2. Melody parts should be played by an instrument that will stand out from the rest of the sounds.  
3. Bass parts must be played by a Bass - not by a Flute!
6. Create the Drumbeat for the A section and then change it and create something different for the B section.
7. Create an ending that sounds intentional.  Don't just cut off the music!
8. ALWAYS QUANTIZE!
9. Add a Master Effect.
10. Pan, mix and balance.
11. Submit as MX6 and MP3 as :"Beg Songwriter Your Name:

Extension ideas for bonus marks:

• Create a 2 or 4 bar intro and outro
• Add drum "fills" to add interest to your drum part.
• Vary the TEXTURE in your assignment so that not every instrument is playing at the same time.  

Handouts:

Beginner Songwriter Exercise

Your task is to use the handouts provided to create short mini song using the popular
I - V- vi - IV chord progression we discussed last class. This is a short exercise to prepare you to write a longer song for the Beginner Songwriter project.

Task:

1. Record the 4 chords in the progression as Harmony RH and Harmony LH.  One bar each.
2. Create a bass line for each chord using the handout provided as a basis for your understanding.
3. Create a very short Melody using the Pentatonic Scale provided in the handout.
4. Create a drum beat for your short clip. 
5. Label ALL regions and tracks like so:
1. Melody
2. Harmony RH : C - G - Am - F
3. Harmony LH :  C- G - Am - F
4. Bass Line
5. Drums (minimum 3 basic sounds)
1. Cymbal
2. Snare
3. Bass Drum (Kick Drum)
6. When done, I raise your hand and I will check your work.  Save it in your H: drive. 

Your final product should be set-up like this:

Some extra help with chords.  Here is a diagram of most of the chords you will need for our upcoming project.  Check the titles of each chord carefully before using this diagram. The first four chords (C Major, F Major, G Major and A Minor) are the chords needed for this assignment. 

Scales, Triads and Chords Lesson

In Western Music, songs are made out of scales and chords.

Here is a C Major Scale:



The 8 notes of this scale are the white keys of the piano, starting on C and ending on C one octave higher.

The scale follows a specific pattern of intervals which is Whole Step, Whole Step, Half Step, Whole Step, Whole Step, Whole Step, Half Step. Every major scale follows this pattern, no matter what note the scale starts on.  More on that later.

A TRIAD is made up of three notes like this:

Triads look like snowmen!

Each triad is made up of a Root, a Third, and a Fifth

The triad is always named after the ROOT.
This Triad has a C as the Root, so this is a C Triad.

Triads are what make up Chords that we use to write our music.

Triads can be written on any degree of the scale.




The triad is always named after the ROOT note.

Practice: Now practice your Triads and Scales on the worksheet distributed by Ms. Moynihan.

Beginner Songwriter Project Prep

You will be using only four chords for your composition project.  But that is really all you need!

After you watch this video, do these theory exercises to prepare for our next project.
1. Note Naming Review (Complete 25 Correct)
2. Keyboard Note Naming Review (Complete 30 Correct)
3. Reverse Keyboard Note Naming Treble Clef (Complete 25 correct)
4. Reverse Keyboard Note Naming Bass Clef (Complete 25 correct)



SONGS in 4 CHORDS
Journey -- "Don't Stop Believing"
James Blunt -- "You're Beautiful"
Black Eyed Peas -- "Where Is the Love"
Alphaville -- "Forever Young"
Jason Mraz -- "I'm Yours"
Train -- "Hey Soul Sister"
The Calling -- "Wherever You Will Go"
Elton John -- "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" (from The Lion King)
Akon -- "Don't Matter"
John Denver -- "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
Lady Gaga -- "Paparazzi"
U2 -- "With Or Without You"
The Last Goodnight -- "Pictures of You"
Maroon Five -- "She Will Be Loved"
The Beatles -- "Let It Be"
Bob Marley -- "No Woman No Cry"
Marcy Playground -- "Sex and Candy"
Men At Work -- "Land Down Under"
Theme from America's Funniest Home Videos
Jack Johnson -- "Taylor"
Spice Girls -- "Two Become One"
A Ha -- "Take On Me"
Green Day -- "When I Come Around"
Eagle Eye Cherry -- "Save Tonight"
Toto -- "Africa"
Beyonce -- "If I Were A Boy"
Kelly Clarkson -- "Behind These Hazel Eyes"
Jason DeRulo -- "In My Head"
The Smashing Pumpkins -- "Bullet With Butterfly Wings"
Joan Osborne -- "One Of Us"
Avril Lavigne -- "Complicated"
The Offspring -- "Self Esteem"
The Offspring -- "You're Gonna Go Far Kid"
Akon -- "Beautiful"
Timberland featuring OneRepublic -- "Apologize"
Eminem featuring Rihanna -- "Love the Way You Lie"
Bon Jovi -- "It's My Life"
Lady Gaga -- "Pokerface"
Aqua -- "Barbie Girl"
Red Hot Chili Peppers -- "Otherside"
The Gregory Brothers -- "Double Rainbow"
MGMT -- "Kids"
Andrea Bocelli -- "Time To Say Goodbye"
Robert Burns -- "Auld Lang Syne"
Five for fighting -- "Superman"
The Axis of Awesome -- "Birdplane"
Missy Higgins -- "Scar"

School Play Music

Your new project is to create some music needed for the school play in the moods listed below.  The play is about suicide and recovering from attempted suicide to make a brighter life.

Choose either the 20-30 second scene-change clip:

1. intense
2. dark and dreamy
3. old-fashioned and sad
4. elevator music
5. hopeful

Or the 1:30 to 2:00 full song in ABA form.

1. thoughtful, but not too depressing pre-show music
2. hopeful and upbeat post-show music

• Use loops from the library or your own MIDI creations.
• Consider using MINOR keys (min) for the sad and dark music and MAJOR keys (maj) for the happy and hopeful songs

SUBMIT MP3 with "Play Music Your Mood Your Name" in the title

Due Tuesday, Feb. 10

Here is a photo of the sign-up Gideon by the class.