Composing

How do I get started?

Step 1 Select your form

• AB two contrasting sections

• ABA three sections, the first and third sections are the same, the middle section is contrasting

• Call and response question and answer being repeated throughout the composition

Pick your tonality

• Major-bright happier sound– Keys of C, F(1b), G(1#)major

• Minor- dark melancholy sound– Key of a minor

Selecting Your Meter

• Select your meter signature 4/4 or 3/4• 4/4 has four beats (parts) to a measure

(whole). • Otherwise it takes 4 quarters(1/4) to make

a whole (dollar).• 3/4 has three beats (parts) to a measure

(whole). • Otherwise it takes 3 quarters(1/4) to equal

3/4.

Step 2Getting Started

• Draw four boxes – each box creates one measure

• Create your first four measures of a rhythmic question (using lots of repeated patterns) You can use half 1/2, dotted quarter 3/8, quarter 1/4, eighth 1/8, and sixteenth 1/16 notes and rest

• Keep in mind that each box has to equal either 4/4 or 3/4 depending on your meter signature

Sample 4/4

1/2+1/4+1/8+1/8=4/4

3/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/8=4/4

3/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/8=4/4

1/2+1/4+1/8+1/8=4/4

The same

The same

Notice the 1/4 +1/8+1/8 pattern that is in each

block

Step 3Create Your answer

• Follow the same steps to create four measures of a rhythmic answer (using lots of repeated patterns)

• Copy the whole thing over to create sixteen measures

•You have finished the rhythm for the A section

Step 4Repeat

• Repeat the same procedure that you did in step 2-3 creating a new rhythm pattern.

• Draw four boxes – each box creates one measure• Create your first four measures of rhythmic question (using

lots of repeated patterns) You can use half 1/2, dotted quarter 3/8, quarter 1/4, eighth 1/8, and sixteenth 1/16 notes and rest

• Keep in mind that each box has to equal either 4/4 or 3/4 depending on your meter signature

• Follow the same steps to create four measures of a rhythmic answer (using lots of repeated patterns)

• Copy the whole thing over to create sixteen measures

Congratulations

• You now have the rhythm for both the A and B sections of your song

• If your form is AB then you can continue on with step 5

• If your form is ABA copy your entire A section over to create the ABA structure

Melody

• Lets review

• Major-bright happier sound– Keys of C, F(1b), G(1#)major

• Minor- dark melancholy sound– Key of a minor

Melody

• These are the notes that you will use– Key of C – (B)C D E F GA– Key of F – (E)F G A Bb CD – Key of G – (F#)G A B C D E– Key of a minor – (G#)A B C D EF

Step 5Creating our Melody

• You will use only the notes for the key that you pick.

• Your phrase will begin and end with the key tone (1st note)

• Add your pitches (notes) one at a time

• Create patterns that follow your rhythmic patterns

Step 5Melody

• Questions start on a low pitch and end on a high pitch

• Answers start on a high pitch and end on a low pitch

Sample Question

1/2+1/4+1/8+1/83/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/8

3/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/81/2+1/4+1/8+1/8

C + E + D + FE + F + G + F + E

D + F + E + G G + F + E + F + G

Sample Answer

1/2+1/4+1/8+1/83/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/8

3/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/8 1/8+1/8+1/4+1/2

F + D + E + CE + F + G + F + E

G + E + F + DG + F + E + F + G

LET’S COMPARE

Step 5

• Continue to follow the rules

• Finish your melody

Lets Add Harmony

• Harmony is created by playing two or more notes together

• Chords are created by playing three or more notes together

• Triads are three note chords

• Primary triads are the I, IV and the V chords

Check out this table

I(C) C E G

IV(F) F A C

V(G) G B D

I(F) F A C

IV(Bb) Bb D F

V(C) C E G

I(G) G B D

IV(C) C E G

V(D) D F# A

i(a) A C E

iv(d) D F A

V(E) E G# B

Step 6Triads

Select the table that matches the key that you picked

Match the notes in each measure with the primary chord

Sample

• I(C) C E G

• IV(F)F A C

• V(G)G B D

• Most of the notes fit the I(C) chord

C + E + D + F

Step 7

• Finish adding triads to the rest of your song

Sample