Q. I know how to play the piano and have lately wrote some lyrics. But, I need help. How do you transpose lyrics into a piano song. I have picked E Major as my key.
My chord progression is: E - G# - B - A
Could anyone help me, I'm stuck?
A. While there are no rules, there are premises, fundamental ideas on how it works best, which have been written about and are helpful.
Do yourself a very big favor, and purchase a Harvard dictionary of music and music terms, available in a low cost paperback edition. You are clearly working on your own, and if you looked up transpose, for example, you would find it does not at all apply to SETTING text to music.
Also look up Prosody, which is the subject best for you to learn something of if you are to set words to music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosody
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosody_(linguistics)
Since you are doing this so on your own, finding out what prosody is, as a general concept, will already be a great help in how to think about the problem in front of you.
I am certain there are either articles or books, or a chapter of a book, dedicated to Prosody as it relates to the craft of setting words to music. I leave it to you to research that.
For a good beginning, go through some exercise in setting text to a simple melodic line, without adding chords or any other kind of accompaniment. Setting both words and line in a manner closer to personal daily speech, with pauses (rests) and not trying to fit it into a metric verse format, while avoiding convential pop song formats, will give you that much better an understanding of how to effectively but it into the more conventional metric forms as used in popular song.
I suggest some nursery rhymes or short poems for children. If there is a tune associated with the nursery rhyme, as is often the case, take the text, forget the old tune, and write a new one for it. Setting prose, unrhymed and not metric text, is also a great and informative exercise. Again, concentrate only on words and musical line, without accompaniment.
The direct experiences will give you a much better idea how it works, the exercises should be short, which allows your beginning and ending it quickly so you can go to another for further practice.
Since your project is likely to come out less well and / or take much longer unless you have some prior experience, that series of short exercises is a good preliminary work prior your directly attempting a moderate length pop song, the practice giving you a much better chance for 'success' when you start to work on your song.
At least Prosody will give you some very worthwhile 'generalities,' and help you in understanding how to think about the problem (In one regard, making art is solving problems you have set up for yourself.)
With little or no background or experience, other generalities from the most well-intended contributor will offer you very little in the way of concrete guidance.
Best regards.
How do I study aural harmony without repeating questions?
Q. I've been studying music in school and I've recently been focusing on ear training, and I've become quite confident in intervals, melodic dictation, and a few other things, but I'm hitting a wall when it comes to chord progressions, inversions, and harmony.
The software we use only asks us questions over and over again and I don't feel like I'm going anywhere with it. Is there some other way I study without all the trial and error?
A. It is to be hoped there is some individual within your reach, an advanced or graduate student, whom you could ask for help or even (gasp!) hire for several tutorial sessions. This sounds / seems like a small 'speed bump' and I think you would only need two or three sessions to get over it.
The tutor could play the problematic chords and progressions on the piano, 'drill you' just as you would be tested or as asked of you in class, and they can see more precisely what you are having trouble with.
Your question is demonstrable proof there is no real interaction with a video or DVD.
Most importantly, and the best reason for a tutor for you:
From individual to individual, we perceive the same object or problem differently. Often (I suspect it here) it is more a matter of what you are thinking about it and how you think about it which first needs to be understood to better advise you of another approach as to 'how to think about it,' and that will then change how you listen to allow you to 'get it.'
So here we are on line, the non-interactive DVD no worse really than any other advice you could be given about training your ear, also on line, and in words. That's the trouble when the medium is sound.
If there is anyone who is four years ahead, has completed the set of courses, they might be able to help as I've described above.
Best regards.
What are some piano composing techniques?
Q. so i was curious about some different composing techniques to maybe help writing piano music a little easier. i was curious if there was specific composing techniques (like the 'mannheim rocket' used in Beethoven's 1st piano sonata), or maybe just common strategies used with scales (not chord progressions though, i already understand that).
i kinda wanna play around with different types of techniques and experiment with them, rather than just writing line after line with no real variation and the sheet music itself doesnt look very interesting
A. One way is to start with a nice texture in the left hand. You can play the notes in the chords in an interesting rhythm that gives the piece some movement.
Then add the melody with your right hand. The melody should follow the chords and rhythm.
Also, you should add a part that breaks up the rhythm with chords in both hands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nBSGi86r-c
Some melody writing techniques:
Compose a sequence by taking a few notes and repeating them, starting on different notes sequentially. Many times, a full melody is just two successive sequences.
Have notes sustain over barlines with tied notes. This breaks up rhythm.
Start with an arpeggio of a chord - one note on the first beat of each measure. Then fill in the notes in between.
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Title : How to transcribe lyrics to the piano?
Description : Q. I know how to play the piano and have lately wrote some lyrics. But, I need help. How do you transpose lyrics into a piano song. I have ...