Harris AcademyMusic Department

National 4 & 5 MusicComposing Mini Tasks

CONTENTS1. Building Major Chords and chord patterns Date completed:

______________Teacher initial:_____________

2. Building Minor chords and chord patterns Date completed:______________

Teacher initial:_____________

3. Adding Bass Lines Date completed:______________

Teacher initial:_____________

4. MUSESCORE OR GARAGEBAND TASK Date completed:______________

Teacher initial:_____________

5. Creating a Vamp Accompaniment Date completed:______________

Teacher initial:_____________

6. Playing chords as an Arpeggio Date completed:______________

Teacher initial:_____________

7. Broken Chord Patterns Date completed:______________

Teacher initial:_____________

8. Adding broken chords to your Musescore or garageband recording

Date completed:______________

Teacher initial:_____________

9. Creating a Melody Line & passing notes Date completed:______________

Teacher initial:_____________

10. Creating your own piece of Music and adding to Musescore or Garageband

Date completed:______________

Teacher initial:_____________

EVIDENCE BOOKLET- TO BE KEPT IN CLASS

EVIDENCE FOR COMPOSING MUSIC OUTCOMES1.1 Understanding how a range of compositional methods and music concepts are

used by composers and the influences on their work1.2 Experimenting and using music concepts and compositional methods in creative

ways to develop, refine and create original music1.3 Developing musical ideas which make musical sense and realise their creative

intentions1.4 Self-reflecting on their music and their creative choices and decisions

Task 1: Building Major Chords and Chord Patterns

2

Creating Major Chord Patterns

Using this method to build a major chord, work out the notes in the following major chords and write them in the grid.

Now play the chords on your instrument- if you are a guitarist or ukulele player use the help sheets at the back to assist you! Chord Note 1 (ROOT) Note 2 Note 3C MajorF MajorG Major

1. Try playing these chords in a different order. Create a 4 bar chord pattern starting on C choosing from C major, F major and G major.

Bar 1 Chord Bar 2 Chord Bar 3 Chord Bar 4 ChordC

2. Now try playing the chords in a different order to create a different chord pattern using the same 3 chords. Write this one in the grid below.

Bar 1 Chord Bar 2 Chord Bar 3 Chord Bar 4 Chord

3. Finally try creating a chord pattern from the same 3 chords, which uses 2 different chords in each bar and write it in the grid below.

Bar 1 Chords Bar 2 Chords Bar 3 Chords Bar 4 Chords

Which pattern do you like the best and why?

Task 2: Creating Minor Chords and Chord Patterns

3

Using this method to build a minor chord, work out the notes in the following minor chords and write them in the grid. Now play them on your instrument.

Note, when we use a minor chord we add the letter m after the chord (ie Fm, Cm etc)

Chord Note 1 (ROOT) Note 2 Note 3 D minorA minorE minor

1. Try creating a 4 bar chord pattern starting on C which uses both major and minor chords. Choose from C major, F major and G major and D minor and A minor.

Bar 1 Chord Bar 2 Chord Bar 3 Chord Bar 4 ChordC

2. Now try creating a chord pattern from the same 5 chords, which uses 2 different chords in each bar and write it in the grid below.

Bar 1 Chords Bar 2 Chords Bar 3 Chords Bar 4 Chords

Listening

Listen and watch the “Count on Me” video on you tube, follow the chord pattern and answer the following questions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7k28o-3aiI

a. How many beats are in the bar?___________

b. How many different chords does this piece contain?_________

c. Is the structure of this song strophic or through-composed?____________

d. What does the sign at the end of the 1st line tell you to do?_________

Task 3: Adding Bass Lines A simple way to add a bass line is to use the ROOT NOTE of the chord. The ROOT NOTE is the first note of the chord so for the C Major chord the ROOT NOTE would be C and so on.

Find all the listening questions and You Tube links on Harris Ac Weebly webpage!

4

Create a bass line for the following chord pattern using semibreves (4 beat notes) in each bar. Write the bass note under the semibreve. If you are on keyboard play it along with the chords or pair up with a class mate to perform.

Chord Am G F FBass Line Note

Now try a bass line for the following chord pattern using minims (2 beat notes) and play it.

Chord C G Am FBass Line Notes

Using a 4 bar chord pattern from the last task write a bass line using a combination of semibreves and minims.

HINT: Use repetition and make the rhythm in the first 2 bars the same as the rhythm in the last 2 bars.

ChordBass Line Notes

To make your bass line sound a bit more interesting you can vary the rhythm a bit more to include crotchets (1 beat notes). Using a chord pattern created in task 2 create a root note bass line to go along with this rhythm. Notice that the rhythm in the first 2 bars is repeated in the last 2 bars.

ChordBass Line Notes

You can now add in quavers (1/2 beat notes) to your bass line to make things even more interesting. Add a quaver bass line to this chord pattern and try playing it.

Chord C Dm F GBass Line Notes

If you use octaves you can alternate between the low and high notes to create a dance bass line. Try playing this to see what it sounds like.Here is another common bass line rhythm you can use which uses dotted rhythms. Create a 4 bar chord pattern and add in the bass line notes.

Chord

5

Bass Line Notes

When you use 2 chords in the bar you need to remember to change the root note when you change the chord. Add a bass line to this chord pattern by completing the rhythm and using root notes, and play it.

Chord C F G Dm G CBass Line Notes

Finally, create an 8 bar long chord pattern and add a bass line using a rhythm or combination of rhythms of your choice. Hint: Remember to use repetition!

ChordBass Note

ChordBass Note

Task 4: Now it’s time to record or notate what you have just created.

Your task is to either notate your chord sequence and bass line on MuseScore or Sibelius or record in using garageband on the ipads.

Describe below how you created your chord pattern and bass line. What technology did you use?

Task 5: Creating a Vamp Accompaniment

Ragtime Scottishrhythm/tempo

melody/harmony

instruments and how they

are useddynamics

6

A VAMP is a popular style of piano accompaniment. In a VAMP the bass line plays the root of the chords on the first beat followed by the chord in the right hand on the next beat. Here is an example of a 4 beat VAMP for you to play. Chord C G F GRight HandChord

GEC

GEC

DBG

DBG

CAF

CAF

DBG

DBG

Left HandBass Note

C C G G F F G G

Beat 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Now create your own 4 bar vamp. Make up your chord pattern first and then add in the bass notes and the chord notes. Try playing it or pair up to perform together.

ChordRight HandChord

Left HandBass NoteBeat 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Listening.Listen to these different styles of music that both use a vamp and comment on the rhythm/tempo, melody/harmony/ instruments and dynamic in both.

RAGTIME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPmruHc4S9Q

SCOTTISH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf1ai_XCRpQ

Task 6: Playing Chords as Arpeggios

7

When you split the notes of the chord up and play them in order you create an ARPEGGIO. To play the C Major chord as an ARPEGGIO you start by playing the note C, then play E, then play G and finally play the next C. Look at the diagram below and play the notes highlighted in the order they shown to play a C Major Arpeggio.

C Major Arpeggio = Middle C - E - G - High C

Write out the notes for the following arpeggios and try to play them

C Major C E G CF majorG majorD minorE minorA minor

Here is an example of a chord pattern which is played as ARPEGGIOS. Try playing this.

Chord C Dm F GArpeggio

C E G C C E G C D F A D D F A D F A C F F A C F G B D G G B D G

Now create your own chord pattern and write down the notes of the ARPEGGIOS to go along with it. ChordArpeggio

Listening: Listen to Unchained melody that used an arpeggio accompaniment and answer the following questions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiiyq2xrSI0

a. Is the piece of music in simple or compound time?_______________

b. What instrument is playing the arpeggio accompaniment?___________

c. Identify the correct chord sequence in the song then try to play along with it!

Task 7: Broken Chord Patterns

C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

C F Am C G F C

C Am F G C Am G

8

When you mix up the order of the notes in a chord rather than playing them in order you create BROKEN CHORDS. Try playing the broken chord pattern below that goes with the C Major chord.

You will notice that if we number each note of the chord the pattern is:

1 5 3 5 3 5 3 1

If we use the chord notes in the same order in each bar we can create a better pattern by using repetition. Look at the example below and try to play it.

Chord C Am F GBroken chord

C G E G E G E C1 5 3 5 3 5 3 1

A E C E C E C A1 5 3 5 3 5 3 1

F C A C A C A F1 5 3 5 3 5 3 1

G D B D B D B G1 5 3 5 3 5 3 1

You will notice that the pattern is the same in each bar so it sounds better because it includes repetition.

Try playing the notes in the C chord in a different order and write them down here in the order you are playing them under each quaver. You will need 8 notes. Label each note of the chord with the number that matches it from the grid shown below:

Write down the 8 numbers in order here:

Now select the notes in the same order from the F Major chord and A minor chords and add them in here:

Now create a 4 bar chord pattern and add in a broken chord pattern in each bar. Use the same pattern of notes in each bar using the numbers in the grid as a guide. Play it on your instrument.

Chord CBroken chord

C G E G E G E C1 5 3 5 3 5 3 1

CHORD 1 3 5C Major C E G

CHORD 1 3 5C Major C E GF Major F A CG Major G B DD minor D F AA minor A C E

CHORD 1 3 5C Major C E G

Chord CBroken chord

Chord F AmBroken chord

CHORD 1 3 5C Major C E GF Major F A CG Major G B DD minor D F AA minor A C E

9

ChordBroken chord

Task 8: Add a broken Chord pattern to your 4 chord sequence and bass line on MuseScore/

Sibelius or garageband

Describe the difference between an ARPEGGIO and a BROKEN CHORD.

10

Task 9: Creating a Melody Line So far you have learned how to write a chord pattern, a bass line and some broken chords. These parts can make up the accompaniment of a piece of music. The MELODY line is very important because it is the tune. It needs to sound good! To create a melody line we can start by using the notes of the chord. Try playing this short melody line which goes along with the chord of C Major.

Chord C CBass Note

C E G G E G C

You can make it sound much better if you also use PASSING NOTES as well as CHORD NOTES in your melody. A passing note is a note which passes between 2 notes in the chord.

In the chord of C Major we use the notes C E G. The passing notes would be D and F because it is in the middle of those notes. The passing notes sound best when used between the notes next to them.

Passing Notes

Work out the passing notes for these chords and add them into the grid below. Use your instrument to help you.

Chord Chord note 1 Passing note 2 Chord note 3 Passing note 4 Chord note 5C C E G

Dm D F AF F A CG G B D

Am A C E

Creating a Melody Line With Passing Notes

When you write a MELODY you can use a combination of chord and passing notes that go along with the chord you have chosen for each bar. Here are some starter rules for you to consider when using passing notes to help you.

1. Only use a passing note ONCE between the 2 chord notes it passes between

2. Don’t use 2 passing notes next to each other

3. Use a chord note at the start of each bar and not a passing note.

C D E F G C D E F G

11

* REMEMBER, AS YOU GET MORE CONFIDENT THE RULES CAN BE BROKEN AS THE ONLY RULE OF COMPOSING IS TO MAKE IT SOUND GOOD*

Creating a Melody Line With Passing Notes

Now that you should have developed a better understanding of the use of passing notes, you are going to try to create your own melody lines.

Add the notes to the rhythm provided for this melody line using the chord pattern provided. Write the chord and passing notes that you can use in each bar in the grid provided (like in the example shown below in bar 1). It might help you to write the chord notes in capital letters and the passing notes in small case letters.

Remember to make sure that you play your melody as you write it to make sure it sounds good.

Chord C F G AmNotes you can use

C d E f G

Melody notes

Here is another example for you to try.

Chord C Dm G CNotes you can useMelody notes

Which of your two melodies you have just composed do you like best and why?

Now you are going to try creating your own 4 bar chord pattern and add a melody line to the rhythm provided below:

ChordNotes you can useMelody notes

CHECKLIST

12

I have used the correct passing notes for each chord:

I have not used 2 passing notes together in a row I have only used the passing notes between the 2 chord notes they are in the middle of

13

TASK 10: Creating Your Own Piece of Music

You are now going to create a melody line for your chords sequence, bass line and broken chord you have already recorded on Garageband or notated on MuseScore.ChordMelody line

ChordMelody line

Follow the below checklist to make sure you have completed the full task.

Checklist I HAVE: Created an 8 bar chord pattern Created a bass line rhythm which repeats and uses the root note of the chord on at least the

first beat of every bar Created the bass line notes making sure I have used the root note of the chord on at least the

first beat of every bar Created a broken chord pattern which follows the same order of chord notes in every bar. Created a melody line rhythm which uses repetition Created the melody for my melody line using chord and passing notes which uses passing

notes in the correct way and sounds good

Reflection

Describe the process you have just undertaken and the musical choices you made and write it in a paragraph below:

14

EXTENSION TASK 1: Adding a CountermelodyA countermelody is a second melody to be played along with the main melody. In order to do this you create a second different rhythm and melody using chord and passing notes, to go along with your melody line. To start off with keep the countermelody line simpler than the melody line and only use crotchets and minims in your rhythm.

Now add a countermelody to your piece.

Remember to use the same rhythm in at least 2 of the bars for your melody and countermelodyChordMelody line

Countermelody

Bass Line

Describe what you just did and how you created your melody and countermelody

Listening: Listening to Scarborough Fair where you can clearly hear a countermelody being sung and answer the following questionshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BakWVXHSug

a) Choose one work to describe the accompaniment pattern played on guitarWALKING BASS BROKEN CHORD VAMP

b) What tuned percussion instrument plays a basic countermelody in verse 1? ____________

c) In verse 2 when the backing group sing the “countermelody” are they in UNISON or HARMONY?____________

d) What is the time signature of this piece of music?__________________

15

EXTENSION TASK 2 :Using Imitation and SequenceNow that you have learned how to create basic melodies and countermelodies, here are some ways you can make them more interesting. A good technique is to use imitation which works when you use the same chord for 2 bars in a row. Create a melody line to go with this 8 bar chord pattern. Then copy the first bar of the melody line into the second bar of your countermelody to create imitation. Fill in the other bars with a different rhythm and remember to keep it simple.

Using IMITATION in countermelodiesChord C C Am AmMelody line

Countermelody

Chord F F G GMelody line

Countermelody

A sequence is another useful technique you can use. This works when the chords are next to each other on the keyboard. You copy the first pattern into the next bar but make every note either one note higher or one note lower.

Copy this pattern of notes in each bar to make a sequence. As the chords get higher or ascend your sequence will also need to get higher or ascend.

Using SEQUENCE in melodies or countermelodies Chord F G Am CMelody rhythm

MELODYAscending sequence

F G A G F

What you Should Have Learned

16

Now that you have completed this skills portfolio you should have learned some basic compositional techniques you can use when writing your own music. Assess your confidence with each composing technique you have covered here in the grid below.

TechniqueI have learned how to:

GREEN AMBER RED

Work out major and minor chords

Create a chord pattern

Create a broken chord pattern

Create arpeggios using chords

Create a vamp accompaniment

Create a bass line

Create a rhythm line

Use repetition in compositions

Create a melody line

Use passing notes

Create a countermelody

Use imitation in compositions

Use sequences in compositions

RED I need to spend more time on thisAMBER I am beginning to do this wellGREEN I am confident at doing this

CONCEPTS YOU HAVE COVEREDCONCEPT MEANINGChord 2 or more notes played together at the same timePassing Notes The notes in between the chord notes which pass between the chord notesBass line The low part of a piece of music.Melody The tuneBroken Chords The notes of a chord played broken upArpeggio The notes of a chord played broken up but in the order of the chordSequence A pattern which is repeated but moves higher or lower with each repetitionImitation Parts which copy (or imitate) each otherCountermelody A second melody which goes along with the main tuneRepetition Parts of the tune which are repeatedVamp An accompaniment where the bass note is played on the beat and the chord is played

off the beatRhythm The length of the notesPedal A repeated or sustained note in the bass lineInverted Pedal A repeated or sustained note in the higher parts

17

Evaluation and Reflections..................................Comments on my learning journey

My music Tick

My creative choices and decisions — including my use of composition and music concepts.

How well have I experimented with and developed my musical ideas?

How effective and imaginative is my music?

Does it make musical sense/conveymy intentions?What I would do differently next time and why?

Concepts used in my composition tasks

(you must have at least 5)

18

NOTATION HELPSHEET

19

GUITARTISTS HELPSHEET

UKULELE HELPSHEET

20

MANUSCRIPT PAPER

21

GUITAR TAB