Context
This unit is our composition unit for the band composition. For the band composition, we simply had to write a song that would be performed live at the underground in Bradford. Although we had some assistance from tutors in terms of arranging, we had total artistic freedom for this composition.
Research
For our research we individually listened to songs and analysed them to better understand composition and gain inspiration. One of the songs I analysed was ‘all the small things’ by blink 182, which is quite a simple song in terms of its arrangement and composition. It is in the key of C major and uses chords I, IV, V throughout the whole song. This made us understand that a song can use a simple and common chord progression, with simple techniques and still be world famous.
Another couple of songs we looked at and compared were Canon in D – by Johann Pachelbel, and Basketcase –by Greenday. We compared these songs because they use the same 8 chord progression and virtually the same structure but in different keys. The chord progression of Canon in D is: I, V, vi, iii, Iv, I, IV, V. the chord progression for Basketcase is: I,V,vi, iii, iV, I, V, V. this was interesting to learn about since Canon in D is a classical piece, and Basketcase is a high energy pop punk piece but they use the same chord progression. Because of this, we learned a lot about arranging. We learned this through the differences in the songs, such as; Basketcase having a more pushing rhythm, using modern electric instruments (guitar, bass, drums, vocals), and having chords on the main melodic instrument instead of like Canon in D having a melody played on the main melodic instruments.
Practical skills
Our song is called lonely road. The first thing we did for our composition was come up with a musical style. We decided we would go for a slow modern hip-hop feel, trying to go for the same feel as Stan by Eminem. The next thing we did was come up with a key, we chose c major, we then chose the chords for the song, which were: vi, iii, ii, IV, V. we did this randomly by each picking a chord number in order. We decided that the last bar would be split and have two chords in it to give it more variety and make it stand out more. The chords were Am, Em, Dm, F, G. we played through this a couple times and all agreed that it sounded good as a chord progression. I then sat down at the drum kit and played a number of different beats in progression. The first being a 12/8 beat which we agreed sounded too much like a ballad. The next beat I played was a slow and basic 4/4 rock beat which we thought sounded too slow, so instead I played semiquavers on the hi hat instead of playing quavers. This gave it a more classic hip-hop drum loop feel. We agreed that this sounded good for our composition and so we stuck with it. We then jammed through this progression a couple times and veronica improvised a vocal melody over it, which we stuck with. Ant later wrote lyrics to rap during the song. During one session, Cain and I wrote the guitar parts for the guitarist. We had simple bar chords but with a funky strumming rhythm. Throughout the time we were practicing the song I added more ornamentation in the song such as open hi hats and little fills throughout the song. We also added a two beat break on the ninth bar of each verses in sync with the vocal rhythms. Once we had the structure of the song down, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, chorus. We decided that we would have a breakdown section in the song after the second verse. In this section, we agreed that all of the instruments would drop out apart from the guitar, bass, and piano. The bass stays the same whilst the piano and guitar play a harmonised melody, the guitar playing the same rhythm as the piano but the 5th of what the piano is playing. This would go on for two bars before the rapping comes in. after two bars, I came in with a crescendoing beat for four bars before we all come back in for the chorus. This whole section is 8 bars long. The structure after we’d finished writing it was; verse, chorus, verse, chorus, breakdown, chorus, and chorus.
Evaluation
I think that our song went well and sounded good during the final performance. Our composition was in the style of a hip-hop song and it sounded very hip-hop. It was also quite slow moving and moody which suited the meaning of the song, which is about a troubled young boy. The structure we formed was interesting and the different instrument parts worked well together. The lyrics were deep and meaningful and we had a catchy chorus line.
However, I think that we could have improved our dynamics in the song to make it more versatile by being quieter in the verses and louder in the choruses. Also I think the song would have been better if we had some instruments drop out during the verses such as the keyboards and guitar.