Look at the following table.
Play either Guitar or Keyboard.
Choose 1 Key- Play 1 chord per bar.
Play in order I V vi IV
Key
I
V
vi
IV
C Major
CEG
GBD
ACE
FAC
G Major
GBD
DF#A
EGB
CEG
D Major
DF#A
AC#E
BDF#
GBD
Improvise using block or broken chords.
You can vary them.
eg: Intro and verses Block. Chorus broken. Listen to examples.
EXTENSION: Use minor
keys or more complex keys
or use chord inversions.
The bass uses the ROOT (first) note of each chord.
Practise a rhythm before you record
EXTENSION: Use passing notes to connect one note to the other
• Example 1: Simple rhythmic bass line
• Example 2: Using passing notes
Drum kit plays the back beat
1
2
3
4
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Compose THREE different chord progressions (VERSE/ CHORUS/ BRIDGE or LINK)
Make use of different harmonic paces (how quickly chords change)
Each section must be 8 bars long (this may mean you need to repeat your chords)
Compose parts for the…
•Drums
•Bass
•Lead guitar
• Singer
Think of ways to vary the playing in each section using the elements of
music…
e.g.
• Texture – all in or drop some parts out completely
• Rhythm – Sustained chords to rhythmic, minim to quaver bass notes
• Harmony – add 7ths to the chords
• Timbre – swap backbeat rhythm from snare to claps
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To keep the DRUMMER awake:
End phrases with a drum fill and crash symbol
Make a pattern of quavers/semiquavers on the snare/toms
Why not try a triplet fill?
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To keep the BASS PLAYER busy:
Add a few passing notes in between
In longer chords alternate between root and 5th of the chord.
Chromatic (semitone) steps can create interesting riffs/fills.
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Your LEAD GUITAR FILLS need variation:
Mix and match ascending (rising) and descending (falling) melodies for each fill.
Why not experiment with the articulation - legato (smooth) or stacato (short and
detached)
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Your RHYTHM GUITAR/ PIANO can focus on harmony:
Try inverted chords (change the order of root, 3rd and 5th)
Add a flattened 7th to any major triads to sound bluesy
Experiment with adding 6ths, 9th, 11ths, and 13ths
• And Finally...Make your song special
• Return to your Drum beat & Bass. Can you develop
them further?
• Middle 8 – create a slightly different chord sequence?
• Can you develop the chords – add extra notes (7ths,
sus)
• Do you want all instruments in from the beginning?
• Can you vary the dynamics?
• Are you happy with the choice of instruments?
• Are all tracks properly edited/quantised?
• Are your instruments balanced?
• Does the song build up musically?
• Is your score complete? Annotated lyrics with musical
intentions.
• Melodic ideas printed/copied on manuscript