Checking My Target
I don't think that i accomplished my target i set myself as i have not checked but i have been playing the scales occasionally and i have progressed, but very slowly as i forgot about the target i set myself.
My target for this term
I would like to improve my terminology for music theory. i will revise
the notes i have made since the start of the course and test myself at
the end of this term. Hopefully i will remember this target and revise
them as it will sound more professional if i used proper terminology.
Tuesday 25 February 2014
Thursday 6 February 2014
5 Styles: Listening
5 Styles: Listening
Reggae Songs
1. Mike Brooks - Money Is Not All + Dub
2. King Tubby - Waterhouse Rock
Question 1: In the first song, describe the melody (especially saying what notes it uses - feel free to use a keyboard to help you with this).
Answer 1: The melody for the 1st song is skanked. This is a common attribute in reggae music. It also creates a calm atmosphere as no instruments are right in your face, they blend well with each other.
Question 2: For each song, name the style/genre of the song and list three things (musical and/or sonic) that support your assertion.
Answer 2: Song 1 is in the Reggae genre. You can tell this because of the way the instruments are being played (the guitar is being skanked) which is a very common factor of a reggae song, It also has a slow tempo that gives it a relaxing vibe which is typical of an old reggae song. Song 1 has two types of genre though as half way through it changes into Dub, you can tell this because the drums become a more prominent factor of the song and the bass becomes more clearer as the vocals are not present and you can hear more effects without the vocals, these are all attributes that make a Dub song.
Funk Songs
1. Parliament - Flashlight
2. Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay
Question 1: Describe the mixing and panning in this track. (Which instruments are prominent and which are in the background; which are central, which are left and which are right?) Make some suggestions about why the track has been mixed and panned in this manner.
Answer 1: Out of all the main instruments i can hear the most prominent one is the bass guitar followed by the trumpet and then finally the piano. There also appears to be an organ beneath the instruments it can be briefly heard at 1:00 - 1:08. It is mixed in this way because the producer wants the most important sound (main melody) to be prominent to the listener. The bass guitar is in the mono setting and is panned to both sides this creates a more fuller and rich sound. It also allows instruments to be behind it without any interference.
Question 2: Is this track a funk track? What musical / sonic components of the track suggest that it is and which suggest that it is not?
Answer 2: The track is a funk track but not a typical funk track but like many genres there are different styles. A Typical funk track would normally have a melody mainly that consists of a guitar & a brass instrument E.g Trumpet/ or a woodwinds instrument (sax) although this track has those it is not at the same tempo as a regular funk song.. E.g. James Brown - Get Up Is a faster, louder and traditional funk track. With that being said the song still has the composing styles of a funk song. E.g. the chords, the notes, duration etc.
Latin Songs
1. The Girl from Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto and Stan Getz
2. The Girl From Ipanema - Amy Winehouse
Question 1: Give an account of the vocals in this track. Things to consider: effects, timing, style, articulation/phrasing, improvisation etc.
Answer 1: The vocals have been given a soft bit of reverb, Also the singer pronounces words different to make the lyrics match the instrumental this is because the remade instrumental is faster than the original and the words must be either said slower or faster and in this case they are said faster. With the instrumental being faster the singer has had to improvise quite alot as the normal duration of a verse/chorus is shortened due to the speed of the instrumental.
Question 2: Compare this track with the other version above. Does the track feel different? If so, why?
Answer 2: The remake is made in a different speed so the feel is different but the original concept of BossaNova is still kept, The Lyrics have been changed slightly aswell to fit the singers preferences. But the way the singer sings in the remake is the same as the original, Slow and soft.
Blues Songs
1. Jimi Hendrix - Red House
2. Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
Question 1: Describe the harmony in this song. (Try and describe the pattern even if you cannot pick the chords - eg. the first chord lasts for two beats then it changes to a chord that last for 8 bars). Is the pattern familiar at all?
Answer 1: The song has a rock n roll feel to it (fast paced) the song is upbeat. The main melody of the song is the guitar which is repeated throughout there is a change in the song where a harmonica becomes the main focus. This is to break up each of the verses. The vocals are done in laid back fashion this is to make the lyrics stand out & be memorable. i would describe this song as a "sing along" song, as its a worldwide known song.
Question 2: This song has "Blues" in the title. Is it a blues song?
Answer 2: Yes & No, it is classed as blues because of the opening sequence of the melody
and also because Bob Dylan is defined as a blues artist. But the main melody reminds me of a rock and roll style and the fast paced style of the instruments and vocals is unusual for this type of genre.
Electro Songs
New Order - Blue Monday Original 12" Version
Question 1: Give as clear as possible an account of all the different sounds and instruments in the first 3 minutes and 35 seconds. You probably won't know exactly how each sound is made but you should be able to make an educated guess whether something is sampled, synthesized or actually recorded in.
Answer 1: Some of the sounds have been recorded live and then manipulated for example the kick drum is recorded live and then manipulated to be added several times because it cant be played that speed by a human. The synths and all the rest of the other instruments are recorded live.
Question 2: What is this song about? How do the electronic instruments / sounds help to create the mood?
Answer 2: The Electronic instruments have an upbeat tempo which creates a sense of joy and puts the listener in a dancing mood.
- Reggae
- Funk
- Latin
- Blues
- Electro
Reggae Songs
1. Mike Brooks - Money Is Not All + Dub
2. King Tubby - Waterhouse Rock
Question 1: In the first song, describe the melody (especially saying what notes it uses - feel free to use a keyboard to help you with this).
Answer 1: The melody for the 1st song is skanked. This is a common attribute in reggae music. It also creates a calm atmosphere as no instruments are right in your face, they blend well with each other.
Question 2: For each song, name the style/genre of the song and list three things (musical and/or sonic) that support your assertion.
Answer 2: Song 1 is in the Reggae genre. You can tell this because of the way the instruments are being played (the guitar is being skanked) which is a very common factor of a reggae song, It also has a slow tempo that gives it a relaxing vibe which is typical of an old reggae song. Song 1 has two types of genre though as half way through it changes into Dub, you can tell this because the drums become a more prominent factor of the song and the bass becomes more clearer as the vocals are not present and you can hear more effects without the vocals, these are all attributes that make a Dub song.
Funk Songs
1. Parliament - Flashlight
2. Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay
Question 1: Describe the mixing and panning in this track. (Which instruments are prominent and which are in the background; which are central, which are left and which are right?) Make some suggestions about why the track has been mixed and panned in this manner.
Answer 1: Out of all the main instruments i can hear the most prominent one is the bass guitar followed by the trumpet and then finally the piano. There also appears to be an organ beneath the instruments it can be briefly heard at 1:00 - 1:08. It is mixed in this way because the producer wants the most important sound (main melody) to be prominent to the listener. The bass guitar is in the mono setting and is panned to both sides this creates a more fuller and rich sound. It also allows instruments to be behind it without any interference.
Question 2: Is this track a funk track? What musical / sonic components of the track suggest that it is and which suggest that it is not?
Answer 2: The track is a funk track but not a typical funk track but like many genres there are different styles. A Typical funk track would normally have a melody mainly that consists of a guitar & a brass instrument E.g Trumpet/ or a woodwinds instrument (sax) although this track has those it is not at the same tempo as a regular funk song.. E.g. James Brown - Get Up Is a faster, louder and traditional funk track. With that being said the song still has the composing styles of a funk song. E.g. the chords, the notes, duration etc.
Latin Songs
1. The Girl from Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto and Stan Getz
2. The Girl From Ipanema - Amy Winehouse
Question 1: Give an account of the vocals in this track. Things to consider: effects, timing, style, articulation/phrasing, improvisation etc.
Answer 1: The vocals have been given a soft bit of reverb, Also the singer pronounces words different to make the lyrics match the instrumental this is because the remade instrumental is faster than the original and the words must be either said slower or faster and in this case they are said faster. With the instrumental being faster the singer has had to improvise quite alot as the normal duration of a verse/chorus is shortened due to the speed of the instrumental.
Question 2: Compare this track with the other version above. Does the track feel different? If so, why?
Answer 2: The remake is made in a different speed so the feel is different but the original concept of BossaNova is still kept, The Lyrics have been changed slightly aswell to fit the singers preferences. But the way the singer sings in the remake is the same as the original, Slow and soft.
Blues Songs
1. Jimi Hendrix - Red House
2. Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
Question 1: Describe the harmony in this song. (Try and describe the pattern even if you cannot pick the chords - eg. the first chord lasts for two beats then it changes to a chord that last for 8 bars). Is the pattern familiar at all?
Answer 1: The song has a rock n roll feel to it (fast paced) the song is upbeat. The main melody of the song is the guitar which is repeated throughout there is a change in the song where a harmonica becomes the main focus. This is to break up each of the verses. The vocals are done in laid back fashion this is to make the lyrics stand out & be memorable. i would describe this song as a "sing along" song, as its a worldwide known song.
Question 2: This song has "Blues" in the title. Is it a blues song?
Answer 2: Yes & No, it is classed as blues because of the opening sequence of the melody
and also because Bob Dylan is defined as a blues artist. But the main melody reminds me of a rock and roll style and the fast paced style of the instruments and vocals is unusual for this type of genre.
Electro Songs
New Order - Blue Monday Original 12" Version
Question 1: Give as clear as possible an account of all the different sounds and instruments in the first 3 minutes and 35 seconds. You probably won't know exactly how each sound is made but you should be able to make an educated guess whether something is sampled, synthesized or actually recorded in.
Answer 1: Some of the sounds have been recorded live and then manipulated for example the kick drum is recorded live and then manipulated to be added several times because it cant be played that speed by a human. The synths and all the rest of the other instruments are recorded live.
Question 2: What is this song about? How do the electronic instruments / sounds help to create the mood?
Answer 2: The Electronic instruments have an upbeat tempo which creates a sense of joy and puts the listener in a dancing mood.
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