GB Loops Project

Composing with Favorite Loops

TASK: You are going to choose a form and create a loops-based instrumental composition based on that form. You will demonstrate your ability to...

• Use the Loop Browser to find loops in GarageBand.
• Use your favorite loops to create a project based on ternary (A B A) form
• Reinforce the GarageBand editing tools
• Reinforce concepts related to musical form (measure, phrase, phrase length)

Here is a summary of the steps. Scroll down for detailed instructions.

Step 1: Choose a form (ternary or rondo) and create a new loops project.

Step 2: Label the themes (intro. and outro. is optional, but awesome).

Step 3: Pick instrumental loops for the A theme. You are required to use some kind of drum loop and a bass loop for the rhythm section, plus a piano or guitar loop for chords. Then you can add additional loops as you desire. You want to make sure that the instrument sound good together, and don’t clash with each other.

Step 4: Copy and paste the A theme.

Step 5: Create the B theme (same instruments, but different loops).

Extension:

If you get done early, add more loops (instrumental or effects), or even record your own voice!

2. Click “+” sign that appears next to the word, “Arrangement” (directly below the timeline).

3. Adjust the length of the bar that appears (drag it longer and shorter) so that you create the A theme(s) and the B theme(s), and the intro. and outro., if you decide to use them.

4. Remember - Each theme is 2 phrases (8 measures) in length.

5. Double‐click in the middle of the bar and a text field appears in which you can type the name of the marker/label (theme A, theme B).

Step 3: Start with the A theme - find loops for the rhythm section – drums and bass

One of the best ways to begin your project is to build from the ground up ‐ starting with drum loops, and then bass and other rhythm parts first, before doing anything else.

This allows you to define the rhythmic feel of the project and also build the basic shape by blocking out sections with different grooves. After the rhythm parts are placed you can add the piano or guitar loops, and add other loops to your taste. You could even record your voice!

1. Pick a drum loop for the A theme.

• In the Loop Browser, pick a drum loop and drag it into the main window. GarageBand will create a new track.
• You want the drum loop to be 8 measures in length (since the A theme is 8 measures long). If the drum loop is fewer than eight full measures, extend it so it lasts eight full measures. It should stop at the end of measure 8 (beginning of measure 9).
• Extend the drum loop by pointing your mouse at the upper right of the drum loop region (a curved arrow will appear) and click-hold-drag to the right. The loop repeats as far as you drag it.

2. Pick a bass guitar loop for the A theme.

• In the Loop Browser, experiment with different bass guitar loops to see how they sound with the drum loop. Here’s how...
  1. Hit the space bar to hear the drum loop, and click on the various bass loops to listen to how both instruments sound together. Pick a bass loop that fits well with the drum loop and drag it into the main window.
  2. GarageBand will automatically create a new track.
  3. If the bass loop is fewer than eight full measures, extend it so it lasts eight full measures.

3. Pick a piano or guitar loop for the A theme.

• Listen to piano or guitar loops with the drums and bass. Select a loop that fits with the bass and drums, and drag it into your composition. Extend the loop for the entire A section.

Now the entire A theme should have bass guitar, drums, and piano or guitar from measure 1 through the end of measure 8.

Step 4: Copy and Paste the A Theme.

You are going to copy and paste the first A section (measures 1-end of 8) into the other A section.

• Select all of the loops in the A theme (measures 1-8) by clicking outside of any loop and dragging across all loops. This is called a rubber-band drag (You can also shift‐click to copy more than one track at a time).
• Copy and paste the first A theme into the other A theme areas of the project.
• Now the A theme is finished, unless you wish to add more instruments or effects.

Step 5: Compose the B Theme

• This new section should be similar to the A theme. You want to use the same instruments as in the A theme, but choose different loops within that instrument.
• You can use the track controls (mute button, solo button) to compare specific instruments as you pick loops. When you have found loops for the B section, drag them into your composition, below the previous three tracks, and GarageBand will create new tracks.
• The loops for the B section should last from measures 9 to end of 16. It will end up looking like this:

• Add loops to the intro and outro, if you chose to use them.

There you have it! You have created a composition in A B A (ternary) form!

Save your project, export an mp3, and turn in the mp3 in Google Classroom.

CHECK THE RUBRIC!

Thanks to the Music Tech folks at Brandywine Heights High School for the above project and information. http://bhmusichome.wikispaces.com/