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PROJECT 3.4 OVERVIEW
PROJECT 3.4 OVERVIEW
For this project, you are going to:
create a drumbeat (can be one you used before)
create a bass line per the recommended guielines
record a bass lines that follows our bass line criteria and follows your chord progression.
Creating Chords Progressions
Creating Chords Progressions
For our next project, we're going to create our own chord progression. As always, there are no "wrong" answers, but there are some best practices we can follow. Let's start with the basics of chord construction:
Chords, Qualities, Roman Numerals, etc.
Chords, Qualities, Roman Numerals, etc.
There are seven basic chords in the C Major scale. Each chord has a name, a quality, three pitches that define the chord, and a Roman numeral to go with them:
Note that the chords are named by their root note. When thinking of chords, we always think of building UP from the root of the chord. There are different ways that we can write chords called inversions, but for now we are going to just work with chords as they are shown in here (known as root position.)
The Roman numerals you see on the bottom row are shorthand for chords and their qualities. The capitalization of Roman numerals is important - we always use uppercase for major chords, and lowercase for the minor and diminished chords.
Why Roman numerals? It's based on analyzing classical music in music theory, and dates back hundreds of years. Now, it's pretty common for someone to describe a chord progression by number, such as "2-5-1" for a jazz tune, or "1-5-6-4" for a pop tune. These numbers derive from those same Roman numerals.
Constructing Chord Progressions
Constructing Chord Progressions
Now we have seven chords to work with. Great! But what do you do with them?
As always, there are no 100% right or wrong answers, but there are best practices. This is true for writing chord progressions. Here is a chart that we will use to get us started:
Notice that the chords are arranged from most stable to least stable.
Also, there are suggested "next steps" to take after each chord. We can use these to build a progression.
And no, I didn't forget to include the vii° chord. It's the most unstable chord, and sounds too much like the V chord to make it worth using right now. It's a valid chord, but we're omitting it for the time being.
Building a 4-chord progression
Building a 4-chord progression
We will use the above chart to build our first four bar chord progression. The rules for building this progression are:
You must start or end on a stable chord. For our purposes, stable chords are I, vi, and IV.
Follow the chart suggestions for the next chord.
Here's an example of how I go about building a progression:
Pick a stable chord to start. I'm going to pick vi.
From vi, I have four options of where to go. I choose IV.
Now, looking at IV, I have four new options. I choose to go to the most stable chord, I.
The I chord allows me to go anywhere. To finish out my progression, I'm going to choose a chord that will allow me to circle back to my starting chord. In this case, I'm choosing the iii chord (which will allow me to transition to the vi chord when I loop the progression).
Always keep in mind that chord progressions repeat over and over again in a pop song. When you come to the end of your progression, make sure your final chord will transition smoothly to the first chord.
Assignment 3.4 - Part 1 (Organizers)
Assignment 3.4 - Part 1 (Organizers)
For assignment 3.4, you will need to complete two different organizers.
The first is the chord progression organizer. You will fill out the bottom two rows on the chart only. We will use the rest of the information later. Your completed sheet will look something like this:
The second organizer is the 3.4 Bass Line Organizer. This is similar to what we used in project 3.3, but has extra information for you to fill in. Here's how to complete the organizer.
Write a drum groove observing our usual rules.
Transfer the chord name and Roman numerals from your chord progression organizer to the bass line organizer (see graphic to the right)
Write a bass line that follows one of three rules for relating to the kick drum (play at the same time, more frequently, or less frequently). Use the chord name (with octave number) to indicate the attack, and don't forget to use dashes to indicate sustain.
Assignment 3.4 - Part 2 (Recording in Logic)
Assignment 3.4 - Part 2 (Recording in Logic)
Now that you have completed your organizers, create a new Logic Project called 3.4 LASTNAME and record all of your parts. It should consist of:
Your drum groove, played 4 times in a row
A bassline that has the same rhythm in each measure, but the pitch in each measure should reflect your chord choice.
Upload the project to Schoology.
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