Composing

1. Composing How do I get started?

2. 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

3. Pick your tonality • Major-bright happier sound • Keys of C, F(1b), G(1#)major • Minor- dark melancholy sound • Key of a minor

4. 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.

5. 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

6. Sample 4/4 The same Notice the 1/4 +1/8+1/8 pattern that is in each block 1/2+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 3/8+1/8+ 1/4+1/8+1/8=4/4

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Melody • Lets review • Major-bright happier sound • Keys of C, F(1b), G(1#)major • Minor- dark melancholy sound • Key of a minor

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Sample Question C + E + D + F 1/2+1/4+1/8+1/8 3/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/8 1/2+1/4+1/8+1/8 3/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/8 E + F + G + F + E D + F + E + G G + F + E + F + G

15. Sample Answer F + D + E + C 3/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/8 1/2+1/4+1/8+1/8 3/8+1/8+1/4+1/8+1/8 1/8+1/8+1/4+1/2 G + F + E + F + G G + E + F + D E + F + G + F + E

16. LET’S COMPARE

17. Step 5 • Continue to follow the rules • Finish your melody

18. 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

19. Check out this table

20. Step 6Triads Select the table that matches the key that you picked Match the notes in each measure with the primary chord

21. 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

22. Step 7 • Finish adding triads to the rest of your song

23. Sample