Composing Skills

Task 1:

• I used Flex Pitch to change a vocal melody by adjusting what notes were being used to match piano chords in a way that would make the harmonic and melodic elements of the separate parts work well together.

Task 2:

• I analysed a vocal melody to find notes to help me build a series of chords that would fit those vocals, I used a combination of major chords and minor chords alongside diminished chords to make an interesting piano part to accompany the vocals.

Lesson 2:

Task 1:

• Usage of 2-5-1 chords to change the melody and add more movement. Example: F#-C#-G# for one bar rather than 2.

Task 2:

• Usage of chord voicings to change a chord, I used 5 b3 9 b7. Small sample due to difficulty understanding the topic at first. Example: G#-C#-F-C.

Task 3:

Usage of tonal centres to take chords and change one note to turn them into new chords, for example; I changed the first Dm chord from A-F-D to A-F-C.

Lesson 3:

Task 1:

• Usage of a time signature change from 4/4 to 5/16 to experiment with different rhythms and accents.

Task 2:

• Usage of metric modulation to experiment with both compound and simple time using the equation to find a new tempo so that both rhythms match.

Lesson 4:

Task 1:

• I found the notes within some vocals and used that to find a few chords that would fit well with it, once that was done I began editing the vocal harmonies with Flex Pitch, altering one to change chords over time, and using the ‘John Lennon technique’ on the other two, making each stay at C in different octaves.

Task 2:

• I experimented with harmonic rhythm by creating an irregular MIDI pattern and then changing various parts of a track to either match that pattern or remain consistent to make an interesting grove and flow which felt unpredictable and experimental.

Lesson 5:

Task 1:

• I experimented with the use of polyrhythms and polymeters as well as the combination of the two in a single track; for example, I had one section where a bass was playing 5 notes, a synth was playing 8, a shaker in the drum kit was playing 9 notes, and the kick was playing 4, all in one bar which makes it a polyrhythm.

Task 2:

• I used a Euclidean rhythm generator to make some MIDI files I could utilise in a track in order to experiment with the concept, for example; I had a section of the track where a tom and kick have 32 steps and 23 pulses, a synth and piano have 21 steps and 12 pulses, a bass has 12 steps and 3 pulses, another bass has 19 steps and 11 pulses, another piano has 14 steps and 7 pulses, a percussion instrument has 32 steps and 19 pulses, another piano has 20 steps with 8 pulses, and a fourth piano has 5 steps with 4 pulses.

Lesson 6:

Task 1:

I explored modes by creating a piece where I found the notes for G Locrian and started making some melodies in that mode using relevant chords and adding a rhythmic element with drums to accompany it.

Task 2:

I added onto that piece by creating a second half which explored using multiple modes in a single track, I did this with E Ultraphrygian, C Super Locrian, and D Half-Whole Diminished. I took these modes and applied them to the different instruments, each one focusing on its own mode, then experimented by switching out the modes, making it so the instruments switch roles in the song for an interesting amount of variation.