BandLab
1-6-4-1 song project

STEP 1

Make sure that your MIDI controller is connected to your Chromebook, then open a new project in BandLab.  For your first track, select "Virtual Instruments."  Set the key (top of the screen, near the middle) to G-flat Major.

STEP 2

Turn the metronome ON.

Record yourself playing the first chord (it's a G-flat Major chord).  It should last for one measure.  If you accidentally go past one measure, just trim the region so that it is only one measure.

HINT:  Be sure to press the keys with a little bit of force.  The keyboard records how hard you press the key; the harder you press, the louder the notes are.  If your touch is too soft, the volume of the notes will be too soft.

ANOTHER HINT:  Make sure each note starts right at the beginning of the measure.  You can check this in the MIDI Editor.  If you need to, you can click and drag the note into place.  We learned how to do this several weeks ago, so if you don't remember, ask for help.

STEP 3

Record yourself playing the three more chords.   Each one should last one measure.  They need to be IN ORDER.

The second chord is an E-flat minor chord.

The third chord is a C-flat Major chord (also known as a B Major chord).

The 4th and final chord is a D-flat Major chord.

Your project should now look something like this:

STEP 4

Click the + Add Track button to add a new track.

Use the Octave/Transpose buttons on your MIDI controller to set the octave to -2.  

In BandLab, find the Octave selector.  (It says  -  Octave  2  + ).  Click the '-' (minus) to change the octave to 0 (zero).

Record yourself playing the four bass notes.  Each note should last for one measure.  If you accidentally go past one measure, just trim the region so that it is only one measure.

Your project should now look something like this:

STEP 5

Merge the regions together into one region.
To do this, click and drag a box around the four green regions.  All four should be outlined in white once you let go of the mouse button.  

Next, move to mouse over one of the green regions and do a 2-finger tap on the trackpad.  This brings up a menu.

Select "Merge Regions" from the menu.

Repeat this for the 4 bass notes (mine are gold, but yours might be a different color.)

When you're done, your project should look something like this:

STEP 6

Rename the tracks so that we can easily see what they are.

The first track (green in my example) is CHORDS.  If you double-click the word "Instrument" on the green track, you can edit it.  Or, do a 2-finger tap near the track name, and one of the options in the menu is "Rename."  Rename the first track to "CHORDS."

Rename the second track (gold in my example) to BASS.

While we're renaming things, if you haven't done so already, change the project name (top of the screen) to 1 6 4 5 Project.

STEP 7

Use the loop tool to make your chord and bass regions 8 measures long.

Now your project should look something like this:

STEP 8

Make it your own!

1. Change the voices/instruments!  In the CHORDS track, pick an instrument that you like.  (Make sure it is an instrument that can play more than one note at a time.  Some "Lead" instruments can only play one note at a time, so don't use those.)  For the BASS track, pick an instrument that you like.  It can be a bass voice, but it doesn't have to be.  Make sure you LISTEN to the project to make sure your selections work well together.

2. Find a drum loop that you like and that fits the chords/bass that we are using.  If it isn't already 8 measures long, loop it so that it is 8 measures.

Now your project should look something like this:

STEP 9

Now we're going to create a Chorus.  (The first 8 measures are going to be Verse 1.)

Step 1 - Find a drum beat loop that is more intense than the one you used for the verse.  If your loop is not already 8 measures long, loop it so that it is 8 measures long.

NOTE/HINT:  You want a drum beat here that works with the drum beat you picked for the verse.  Drums in the chorus are USUALLY more intense or have more going on.  Choose wisely.

Step 2 - Put your playhead at measure 9.

Reset your MIDI controller octave to 0 (zero).

Click on the CHORDS track.  Record yourself playing the first chord (scroll up to remind yourself what notes to play), but this time instead of just one long note, make up a rhythm.  It still should only be one measure long.  Here's an example of what it might look like when you're done:

Repeat this for the other three chords.

STEP 10

Now we have a chord structure for the chorus, so it's time to add the bass.

OPTION 1:  Loop the previous bass part into the chorus (measures 9-16).  This is a boring option.

OPTION 2:  Create a new, more interesting bass part.  Record yourself playing the same bass notes, but with a more interesting rhythm.  It doesn't have to be complicated.  Here's an example:

STEP 11

Merge regions for both the CHORDS and the BASS in the chorus (measures 9-12), just like you did in the verse.  

Then, loop the CHORDS and the BASS so that both are 8 measures.

Finally, loop your drums so that it is 8 measures.

At this point, your project should look similar to this:

Be sure to SAVE OFTEN!