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Helpful Composition Techniques Tutorial

15-Jan-2024 | 1:11 PM
Hi All,

To share knowledge, and for people to make use of these techniques, I have posted a piece as a tutorial to showcase the following techniques/ tools. They are not confined to a genre and can be used in POP, JAZZ and Classical.
Link: https://ibandstand.com/songs/1317

THE 3 COMPOSITIONAL TOOLS - used here in this composition are:
1) Setting a scene and introducing the theme slowly with a PEDAL TONE (avoiding letting the music/ arrangement or orchestration build quickly and thereby avoid giving the listener everything at once only to repeat a theme/ tune with little space to provide variation). A Pedal tone is an overly sustained route key or a note throughout the sequence that is shared by the chords in your sequence.

2) Polytonality (& pedal Tones)- Polytonality is simultaneous use of 2 or more different (often clashing) keys (chords) played apart from each other in different instrument vibrational ranges. Using this over a pedal tone works .

3) Planing (sounds like plane - ing) which can be used diatonically (same key ) or chromatically (meaning moving up a tone or thirds etc.. in either same minor or major chords but not both).

Now these techniques are often used in film compositions so will be familiar but were derived from the likes of Stravinsky, Debussy etc..where composers like John Williams and the like took their inspiration from.

Hope you enjoy and find useful.

Kind regards
Paul


Comments
artist
Paul has done solid work here. If you ever had a desire to see inside an orchestral arrangement this would be an opportunity. This is a rare experience.
Latest song: Ride Yer Bike
5 months ago
artist
Thanks Paul for sharing your high level composition skill and experience.
5 months ago
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