Song Writing for Beginners 2017
Evaluation
Watch your final project (link above).
1) What are at least three things that you thought were good about this project?
2) What are at least three things that could be improved on this project?
3) Please write and submit an evaluation to [email protected]. The evaluation should talk about the following:
-What did you do in this project?/What was your role in this project?
-What did your peers do?/Who do you think did the most work in this project?
-Give a grade to everyone and say why they should get that grade.
-Give a grade to yourself and explain why you should get this grade.
Watch your final project (link above).
1) What are at least three things that you thought were good about this project?
2) What are at least three things that could be improved on this project?
3) Please write and submit an evaluation to [email protected]. The evaluation should talk about the following:
-What did you do in this project?/What was your role in this project?
-What did your peers do?/Who do you think did the most work in this project?
-Give a grade to everyone and say why they should get that grade.
-Give a grade to yourself and explain why you should get this grade.
Introduction
Song writing is a creative art form that has been around for thousands of years. While this form has evolved over time, the essential structure has remained the same. In this lesson, you will learn the basic elements of a song and you will follow a step by step guide to help you write you first song.
Before you write a song you should learn about some of the different song forms available. Please read the following websites:
http://www.songstuff.com/song-writing/article/song-form-overview/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_structure
Notice that there are a lot of different song forms. For this project, you only need to have AA. This is by far the simplest song form! Be thankful....
Before you write a song you should learn about some of the different song forms available. Please read the following websites:
http://www.songstuff.com/song-writing/article/song-form-overview/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_structure
Notice that there are a lot of different song forms. For this project, you only need to have AA. This is by far the simplest song form! Be thankful....
Part 1- Pick your People
Find a group of people that you want to work with. Be sure you can all work well together and can play a wide range of instruments.
Part 2- Find Your Chord Progression
Picking your chord progression is the most important step. Your chord progression is the backbone of your entire piece. For this project, you can pick any key you want to play in, however, be aware that your vocals may require you to change key due to vocal range.
For this project, your chord progression MUST BE 4 MEASURES LONG and your harmonic rhythm MUST BE WHOLE NOTE!! Anything more or less will result in a grade of C.
Here are a few chord progressions for you to try. You do not have to use any of them however, they are all good and could work for you.
Standard 4 Measure Chord Progressions:
I would highly recommend you practice your chord progression a number of times before you continue so you know exactly how it goes. There are a lot of things you can do with these chord progressions. Just watch the video below....
For this project, your chord progression MUST BE 4 MEASURES LONG and your harmonic rhythm MUST BE WHOLE NOTE!! Anything more or less will result in a grade of C.
Here are a few chord progressions for you to try. You do not have to use any of them however, they are all good and could work for you.
Standard 4 Measure Chord Progressions:
- C-Em-F-G(7)
- C-Dm-F-G(7)
- C-Am-F-G(7)
- C-G-Am-F
- C-Em-Am-F
I would highly recommend you practice your chord progression a number of times before you continue so you know exactly how it goes. There are a lot of things you can do with these chord progressions. Just watch the video below....
Part 3- Know Your Form
Your song form must be AA and it must follow this format...
First A=
VERSE 1
8-16 measures
CHORUS
8-16 measures
Second A=
VERSE 2
8-16 Measures
The notes in Verse 2 should the the same or similar as Verse 1 but your text should be completely different.
CHORUS
8-16 Measures
The notes AND text for this section should be exactly the same (or almost exactly) the same
Introduction/Conclusion
An introduction and conclusion are optional for this project however, you piece must sound like it has an appropriate entrance and ending. This means that it cannot start awkwardly or end strangely.
For your ending, fading out is not an option.
Any projects that use fade out as their ending will get an automatic C.
First A=
VERSE 1
8-16 measures
CHORUS
8-16 measures
Second A=
VERSE 2
8-16 Measures
The notes in Verse 2 should the the same or similar as Verse 1 but your text should be completely different.
CHORUS
8-16 Measures
The notes AND text for this section should be exactly the same (or almost exactly) the same
Introduction/Conclusion
An introduction and conclusion are optional for this project however, you piece must sound like it has an appropriate entrance and ending. This means that it cannot start awkwardly or end strangely.
For your ending, fading out is not an option.
Any projects that use fade out as their ending will get an automatic C.
Part 4- Lyrics
Once you have picked your chord progression and you know how it works within your form, you are now ready to create lyrics.
Your lyrics can be about (almost) anything. I don't care what type of song you are making but it should match your chord progression. Your chord progression is major so at the very least, your lyrics sound sound happy... unless you are trying to make a parody of some sort.
As you play your chords, try to fit your lyrics in so that everyone in your group is singing the right lyrics with the right chords.
Once you have finished your lyrics, you should create a "Lead Sheet." Here is a sample lead sheet...
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/s/sam_smith/stay_with_me_crd.htm
Notice now it has the chords for the introduction, then typed lyrics with the chords on top? You want that! This is a good thing!! You will want to do your lead sheet in Google Docs so you can share it with everyone (unless GDocs doesn't work for you.... then use some other program.) You will need to turn a lead sheet in at the end of this project with all of your names on it.
Your lyrics can be about (almost) anything. I don't care what type of song you are making but it should match your chord progression. Your chord progression is major so at the very least, your lyrics sound sound happy... unless you are trying to make a parody of some sort.
As you play your chords, try to fit your lyrics in so that everyone in your group is singing the right lyrics with the right chords.
Once you have finished your lyrics, you should create a "Lead Sheet." Here is a sample lead sheet...
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/s/sam_smith/stay_with_me_crd.htm
Notice now it has the chords for the introduction, then typed lyrics with the chords on top? You want that! This is a good thing!! You will want to do your lead sheet in Google Docs so you can share it with everyone (unless GDocs doesn't work for you.... then use some other program.) You will need to turn a lead sheet in at the end of this project with all of your names on it.
Part 5- Acapella Recording
Once you have a lead sheet, all the members of your group will need to figure out who is going to perform which part.
You can play just about any instrument you want however, if one of the following rules are not met, your grade will instantly be a C:
You can also meet the following criteria for extra credit:
You can play just about any instrument you want however, if one of the following rules are not met, your grade will instantly be a C:
- You must have at least 4 instruments and one of these instruments must be bass.
- Every member of the group must contribute at least one instrument that is NOT vocals.
- Every member must sing. It can be either group or solo.
You can also meet the following criteria for extra credit:
- You have a drum part performed by a live person. (+2)
- You have drums, guitar/keyboard/ukulele, bass, strings, and vocals in your performance. (+2)
- You use one of the other composition devices found in the website such as bridge, coda, per-chorus in your music AND label it correctly in your lead sheet. (+2 for each CORRECT use of device in your music.)