In order to make decision about how to develop a composition it is vital to know what style(s) you are working in.
To begin your composition please find TWO reference tracks on youtube in the style that you would like to work in.
Please complete the form below with detailes of your two choices..
If you have a clear stylistic aim in mind you can then listen to example of music in that style and analyse the composition in terms of:
- INSTRUMENTATION – what instruments are typical of the chosen style?
- RHYTHM – what time signature(s) are common to the style? What tempo would be appropriate? What kind of drum tracks are used, are they live drums, electronic drums, samples, percussion? What are the grooves like – practice copying beats that you like from other tunes.
- HARMONY – what kind of feel do you want, major (happy) or minor (sad)? How many chords do you hear in your reference track chord sequences?
- MELODY – what kind of melodies are used? Are they songs with male or female singers? Are the phrases short or long? Are big interval jumps used or small stepwise?
- TEXTURE – how do your examples create variety in texture? One way to explore this is to look at two similar sections in a song (i.e. verse one and verse two) and listen to how they vary…maybe there is a new guitar part in the second verse, perhaps the drum groove changes, the melody might develop.
- PRODUCTION/FINAL MIX – are any FX used like delay (echo), reverb or distortion in your reference tracks? Which instruments are loudest, which are quietest? Does this change during the piece?
Click HERE to see your answers..
Simon Balle Music GCSE 