Week 4: Wednesday 7/13
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Objectives:
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Assignments:
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Life Theme / Concept : Familiarity Vs. Contrast
We (humans) Are creatures of Habit
- Take the same route to school/work/home everyday
-Eat at similar things/ similar times of day
- Go to the same restaurants/bars
-Have similar routines (think getting ready in morning...)
We are naturally partial to Consistency
- Take the same route to school/work/home everyday
-Eat at similar things/ similar times of day
- Go to the same restaurants/bars
-Have similar routines (think getting ready in morning...)
We are naturally partial to Consistency
Consistency : When things are consistent, you aren't forced to constantly re-learn and re-figure things out!
Example: Imagine you had to take a different route to work/school/home everyday ..... You are never allowed to take the same route twice
---> This would be exhausting!
--> Everyday we would have to re-learn figure out a new way!
-> it is common sense and human nature to find one way that works and that we like, and stick with it!
In Life, we like what we know, and what is familiar
Example: Imagine you had to take a different route to work/school/home everyday ..... You are never allowed to take the same route twice
---> This would be exhausting!
--> Everyday we would have to re-learn figure out a new way!
-> it is common sense and human nature to find one way that works and that we like, and stick with it!
In Life, we like what we know, and what is familiar
Humans like Familiarity / Consistency = Life Theme
BUT
At some point, we all get bored (also human nature!!) with too much of the same thing/repetition
At this point we NEED some kind of CHANGE or CONTRAST
(remember this comes at a different point depending on the person)
Just as this is a Theme in Life, It is a Theme in Art
BUT
At some point, we all get bored (also human nature!!) with too much of the same thing/repetition
At this point we NEED some kind of CHANGE or CONTRAST
(remember this comes at a different point depending on the person)
Just as this is a Theme in Life, It is a Theme in Art
Stories/Film
Action Film: Good guy alway end up defeating the bad guy at the end = Familiar
How he does it/when he does it = Contrast
Love Story: Prince/Princess always live happily after =Familiar
How they meet, what they overcome etc. = Contrast
Action Film: Good guy alway end up defeating the bad guy at the end = Familiar
How he does it/when he does it = Contrast
Love Story: Prince/Princess always live happily after =Familiar
How they meet, what they overcome etc. = Contrast
Visual Art
There are only so many subjects nature.
Think of how many paintings of mountains there must be (endless) = Familiar
There are also endless styles to paint them in = Contrast
There are only so many subjects nature.
Think of how many paintings of mountains there must be (endless) = Familiar
There are also endless styles to paint them in = Contrast
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Pointallism
Minimallism
Abstract Expressionism
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Realism
Cubism
Imressionism
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Whether it is Film, Stories, Visual art etc. - There will always be certain things in common (familiar) and certain differences (contrast)
The Question is , How are these two things (familiar/contrast) achieved
Example:
In the visual art examples above, Familiarity is achieved by painting the same subject (Mountain), while the Contrast is achieved by painting in different Styles (cubism, realism, etc.)
The Question is , How are these two things (familiar/contrast) achieved
Example:
In the visual art examples above, Familiarity is achieved by painting the same subject (Mountain), while the Contrast is achieved by painting in different Styles (cubism, realism, etc.)
Question: How is this achieved in music?
Repetition
Repetition
Repetitive -------------------------VS.-------------------------Non Repetitive
Class Activity:
For these songs, let's try to chart out all the repetitive characteristics, and non repetitive characteristics
For these songs, let's try to chart out all the repetitive characteristics, and non repetitive characteristics
"Use Me" - Bill Withers
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Repetitive
Drum Groove Electric Piano Riff Guitar Strumming Bass Riff Melody (i.e. notes in lyrics) |
Non Repetitive
Lryics (i.e. the words of melody) |
"Who is He" - Bill Withers
"Lovely Day" - Bill Withers
"Ain't No Sunshine" - Bill Withers
"Lovely Day" - Bill Withers
"Ain't No Sunshine" - Bill Withers
Individual Activity:
Just as we did as a class with Bill Withers Tunes, Make a chart for the required songs listing the Repetitive Characteristics, and Non Repetitive Characteristics. You charts should look like the ones we did together.
Required Songs:
Pick 2 Songs in the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100
The National Anthem
Mozart K 545
1 Song of your choice
Just as we did as a class with Bill Withers Tunes, Make a chart for the required songs listing the Repetitive Characteristics, and Non Repetitive Characteristics. You charts should look like the ones we did together.
Required Songs:
Pick 2 Songs in the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100
The National Anthem
Mozart K 545
1 Song of your choice
Questions:
1. Which is Better - A song that repeats a lot, or a song that never repeats
2. Does it take away from the originality of a song it it repeats a lot?
3. Which has more Musical Value - A song that repeats a lot, or a song that never repeats
4. Which has more Social Value - A song that repeats a lot, or a song that never repeats
1. Which is Better - A song that repeats a lot, or a song that never repeats
2. Does it take away from the originality of a song it it repeats a lot?
3. Which has more Musical Value - A song that repeats a lot, or a song that never repeats
4. Which has more Social Value - A song that repeats a lot, or a song that never repeats
Bass
Simple Definition : The lowest Part of the harmony
Bass is really part of the harmony, as it provides the lowest notes we are hearing in a song (hence the literal name; bass).
The lowest sound during a performance
This can be confusing, as it is generally played by and instrument called the Bass (see below) but there is always bass in songs even if there isn't one of these present.
Why does it exist?
-Has a Grounding effect on the Harmony
-When we add that low note, it fills out the chord, give it more body
Lower = More POWERFUL sounding
-Physically, we hear a wider range of frequencies
What instruments can provide the BASS?
-Upright Bass
-Can be Bowed or Plucked
-Electric Bass Guitar
- Can be Plucked or Strummed, like a regular guitar
-Synthesizer
- Electronically generated sounds, usually played on a keyboard
-Some instruments like piano and guitar can play their own bass notes
because the have a wide range already on their instrument
Types of Bass-lines
Bass lines Can have a profound effect on the groove/style/genre of the the music. This stems from its rhythmic qualities.
Stagnant Bass
-Very little linear movement
-Only changes notes with the harmony
-not very many notes
-Usually only 1 note per chord played
-Usually not very rhythmic, except for repetition of same note
-Often Synthesized, not live instrumentation
Examples:
Blink 182 Sheet Music
Blink 182 Video
Beyonce Sheet Music
Beyonce Video
Walking Bass
-Opposite of Stagnant
-Constantly moving Notes
-Always moves at a steady Rhythm/Pace, Usually every beat or every other beat (rhythmically repetitive)
-Provides motion for the music (hence 'walking')
Walking Bass Examples:
Ray Brown
Bob Dylan Sheet Music
Bob Dylan Video
Stevie Sheet Music
Stevie Sheet Music
Stevie Video
Riffed Bass
-A Riff is a repetitive rhythmic and melodic pattern
-Repetitive bass line looped many times, sometimes for the duration of the song
-provides lowest part of harmony, as well as the rhythmic basis for the song
-Important part of the groove/beat
Riffed Bass Examples:
Jet Sheet Music
Jet Video
Cee Lo Sheet Music
Cee Lo Video
Pink Floyd Sheet Music
Pink Floyd Video
Bass lines Can have a profound effect on the groove/style/genre of the the music. This stems from its rhythmic qualities.
Stagnant Bass
-Very little linear movement
-Only changes notes with the harmony
-not very many notes
-Usually only 1 note per chord played
-Usually not very rhythmic, except for repetition of same note
-Often Synthesized, not live instrumentation
Examples:
Blink 182 Sheet Music
Blink 182 Video
Beyonce Sheet Music
Beyonce Video
Walking Bass
-Opposite of Stagnant
-Constantly moving Notes
-Always moves at a steady Rhythm/Pace, Usually every beat or every other beat (rhythmically repetitive)
-Provides motion for the music (hence 'walking')
Walking Bass Examples:
Ray Brown
Bob Dylan Sheet Music
Bob Dylan Video
Stevie Sheet Music
Stevie Sheet Music
Stevie Video
Riffed Bass
-A Riff is a repetitive rhythmic and melodic pattern
-Repetitive bass line looped many times, sometimes for the duration of the song
-provides lowest part of harmony, as well as the rhythmic basis for the song
-Important part of the groove/beat
Riffed Bass Examples:
Jet Sheet Music
Jet Video
Cee Lo Sheet Music
Cee Lo Video
Pink Floyd Sheet Music
Pink Floyd Video
Bass Line Homework
Find 3 Songs that you think have different kinds of bass-lines.
Describe WHY and HOW the bass lines sound like they differ from each other.
So you will give me: Song and Artist, Explanation of WHY and HOW the bass lines are different from each other
x 3
Describe WHY and HOW the bass lines sound like they differ from each other.
So you will give me: Song and Artist, Explanation of WHY and HOW the bass lines are different from each other
x 3