Arranging Pop Songs
Jyun-Ming Chen
Fall 2007
1
Motivations
How do I create a melody?
 How do I harmonize the melody?
 What rhythms are available?
 Can I arrange a song from 簡譜？

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Scale Tones
每個音符在音階中扮演不同的角色
主音
上主音
中音
下屬音
屬音
下中音
以C大調為例：
Tonic(I)
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導音
Dominant (V)
Subdominant (IV)
Leading note (VII)
3
Consonant Interval
Name of interval
Notes in Key of C
Ideal Freq. Ratio
Octave
C-C
2
Fifth
C-G
3/2
Fourth
C-F
4/3
Major third
C-E
5/4
Minor third
E-G
6/5
Major sixth
C-A
5/3
Minor sixth
E-C
8/5
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Scale Tone 範例
V
I
小星星
（C大調）
I
V
生日快樂
（C大調）
愛你一萬年
（e小調）
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V
VII
I
I
V
I
5
Melody Contour

Contour - this is the shape of the line. Usually, there
is only one highest or lowest note, called the peak.
–
–
–
–

Arch contour
Inverted arch contour
Ascending ramp contour
Descending ramp contour
A Smooth Connected Line - Our ear more easily
hears a series of notes as belonging together when
they proceed smoothly and without leaps of larger
intervals.
– use about 80% step wise motion (i.e. only the interval of a
second) and 20% intervals large than a second.
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Arch
Inverted arch
Ascending ramp
Descending ramp
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Interval Review
0 semitone
Perfect 5th
7 semitones
1 semitone
Minor 6th
(augmented 5th)
8 semitones
2nd
2 semitones
Major 6th
9 semitones
Minor 3rd
3 semitones
Minor 7th
10 semitones
Major 3rd
4 semitones
Major 7th
11 semitones
Perfect 4th
5 semitones
Octave
12 semitones
Tritone
(diminished 5th)
6 semitones
Unison
Minor
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2nd
8
Degree: 以C大調為例
b5 #5 b7
b3
1
2
3
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4
5
6
7
8
9
Degree: 另一種表示法
9
Triad Chords （三音和弦）
maj
1
3
5
major
m
1
b3
5
minor
dim
1
b3
b5
diminished
C大調
Cmaj
a小調
Am
G大調
Gmaj
e小調
Em
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Scale and Chords
每個調中，因音程的不同，可組成7個三
音和弦
 以C大調為例：

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其他常用和弦
三音和弦
Harmonic
extension
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Chords variation in playing

Inversion
 Slash chord
 open position/close
position
 repeating/missing notes
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Harmonizing a Melody

Try to determine what the harmonic pulse is.
 For each beat of the harmonic pulse, list all
possible chords that could contain most if not
all of the notes within that beat.
 When completed, begin at the end, try to
compose a harmonic cadence that fits the
melody. Complete the last two or three beats.
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花心
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Three-Chord Song (Wikipedia)



A three-chord song is a song whose music is built
around three chords that are played in a certain
sequence.
Typically, the three chords used are the chords on the
tonic, subdominant, and dominant (noted as I, IV and
V): in the key of C, these would be the C, F and G
chords. Sometimes the V7 chord is used instead of V,
for greater tension.
There are literally tens of thousands of songs written
with I, IV and V chords: country, blues, rock and roll,
pop songs
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Chord Progressions

Create a harmonic backing for melody
 Infinite possibilities. Rely on your ears to
decide which chords are good for the melody,
and in what order
 General principle of harmonic movement:
– build up tension, resolve at the end
– many popular chord progression that does this:
V7-I (a popular cadence)

Triads are sufficient; use 7-chord & 9-chord to
enrich the harmony
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Progressionator
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Chord Progression

A chord progression
map suggested by
this reference
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Chord Progression Game (ref)
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簡譜（Wikipedia）



簡譜（Numbered musical notation）為記譜法之一，
主要以數字作表達，故亦稱為數字譜。今天在中國等
地較為常見。其起源於18世紀的法國，後經德國人改
良，遂成今日之貌。在1904年引入中國，並大行其道。
簡譜的全盛時期是在校園民歌時期。
二代簡譜：近代卓著出版社更將簡譜發揚光大且建構
到最完整的標示機制，適用於現在各式各樣的流行音
樂。許多職業琴師，只要看著簡譜，即使是沒有聽過
的歌曲，也能夠將原曲呈現到90%~100%以上的相似
度。這項發明是流行音樂界的創舉。
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Points in Reading Guitar Sheet
Strumming pattern
e小調（關係大調：G大調）
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首調與固定調
簡譜記譜為首調。
e小調(G大調)時，123 … 是固定調的 GAB…
『寒風吹起。。。』在固定調如下：
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常常聽到人家說“一塊半”或“三塊
半”…
那是怎樣的調號??
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Topics
BB: appreciate what computer has done
for you (pattern, solo, )
 Goldwave: digital audio primer
 CoolEdit: multitrack
 Vocaloid: virtual singer
 Final work: video spot (flash +
powerpoint)

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Homework
Verify chord progression by marking
melody notes in chords
 Write chords (in NWC)
 Seek chord center (modulation)
example

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