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http://www.bketech.com/bkeblog/beat-making/part-3-beats-tutorial-song-structure/

Song structure and construction of music concepts

There are a few key concepts youll have to get familiar with if you want to create music.
After I introduce these topics, well build upon them by discussing basic song structure.
Then, well move on to actually creating these elements in various genres of music.
Tempo: is the speed of the music. It is the beat, or constant pulse, of a song and it
influences how the song feels. Tempo is measured in BPM, or beats per minute. For
example, techno or Dubstep might be a 120 to 150 beats per minute; whereas R&B or
hip hop will be closer to 70 to 90 BPM.
Keeping rhythm is very important to creating a harmonious song something that
sounds appealing.
Bars: In 4:4 time, one bar is four beats, which equals one measure. When you tap your
foot or bob your head to music, you are usually keeping time with the beat.
An example of a very basic one bar hip-hop loop would be a high hat on every half step
of the beat, with a kick on the first beat and a snare on the second.
Melody: is a tune, or the simplest series of single notes and chords that sounds good.
Its the core element of your song, and the basic element youll build around. Often
times, its the hook or chorus of a song that gets stuck in your head, and its usually
based off the melody. Think of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star as just a melody.

Rhythm: The rhythm section of a song is usually comprised of percussion instruments,

like drums and synthesized bass. It can also be made up of string bass instruments, like
a bass guitar.
Harmony: Are complimentary instruments, sounds, or vocals that blend with the main
melody and add depth to the song. Vocal harmony would be back up singers, or you
might add additional instruments to create a more complex sound.
Think of the sound of an entire orchestra of instruments, and mentally compare it to the
melody played by a single violin. A harmony effect is also achieved when a guitar player
plays a melody with chords instead of single notes. (A chord is several complimentary
notes in the same key.
In order to arrange music you have to know what kinds of elements youll be creating.
Most songs you hear are patterns that loop over and again, with either minor or major
variations in each repetition. Think of a song like a movie it has a beginning, a
middle, a climax, and an ending.
Intro: First part of the song. Usually it is a melody of the song, just without some of the
additional harmony elements. Or it can be a basic melody with the basic rhythm, but
without all the fill components. The basic idea of the intro is to create an energizing
effect that leads toward the main beat dropping or bringing in of the full harmony. An
intro might be a 2 to 4-bar loop that repeats in the beginning of the song.
Chorus (or hook): This is part of your track that you want people to remember. Its the
catchy part that hooks people into the song. You can create a hook by adding in more
harmonic elements like drums, bass, or instruments. You can also take them away by
stripping down your track to bare sections. You can also bring in instruments or melody
sections that only last during the chorus. The chorus might be about 8 bars long two
4-bar verses or loops repeated.
Verse: Is the substance of the music. A standard hip-hop verse is usually 16-bars, with
an 8-bar chorus. There is no strict format here though; after all, music is supposed to be
art.
Bridge: The Bridge is an important element in the beat as it helps the song become
more distinct. Sometimes, the bridge is overlooked when too much focus is placed on
creating a hook (chorus). The bridge is conducted by altering the main melody. In

contrast to the hook, elements are removed from the bridge to create a kind of break in
the music.
A bridge can also be something like an instrument solo. Often, the bridge comes right
before the hook and can create a calm before the storm affect that helps to further
accentuate the chorus or hook. It can also come after the chorus as a way to calm
the song down before another verse. Think of the bridge as a way to transition from one
section of the song to another. A bridge can also be called a break. Where you place
the bridge, or even if you use one at all, is a matter of what kind of affect or mood you
are working towards.
Outro: is the melody you hear as the songs ends. You can just fade out the volume, do
a crash ending, or pull out various song elements in succession. Its really your personal
preference with the outro.
Continue to the next section of this tutorial for more on how to make your own beats, or
you can download BTV and try it for free here. Once you download the demo, you can
use this tutorial to help you create your first song in just minutes.

www.bketech.com/bkeblog/beat-making/part-6-beats-tutorial-making-rock-beat/

Make a modern rock beat and basic rock song composition

Tempo range: 120 BPM and up, for fast-paced hard rock music. Slow rock music can
be well under 100 BPM.
The underlying pattern for a rock beat is often a loop consisting of 8 or more bars.
Typically, it is more instrumentally sophisticated, intricate, and will have greater variation
than hip-hop, rap, or dance music loops. Rock has a more melodic and organic feel that
is more lively and less repetitive. It should also be less robotic and mechanical than
other types of music that can be made electronically.
A rock song might consist of:

A longer intro usually much longer than 8-bars.

Verses that are around 16 to 32-bars.

A chorus that is less mechanical.

There is no pre-defined duration for a solo. The main deciding factor is that its cool,
and sounds great. Its an opportunity for a single musician to show off their skill with an
instrument.

Many rock songs include at least one bridge, or transition point, between verses where
the music fill changes.
Well BKE readers, this is the sixth and final installment to my tutorial on how to make
your own beats. I hope I helped you learn a little something. Feel free to check out the
first five posts in this tutorial series here. Remember, you can download BTV and try it
for free here. Once you download the demo, you can use this tutorial to help you create
your first song in just minutes. Have fun!
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A virtual replica of Beat Thang hardware so you can make complete grooves and beats on your
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www.bketech.com/bkeblog/makebeats/introduction-making-hip-hop-beats/

The birth of hip hop occurred sometime in the early 1970s. The earliest hip hop utilized
two copies of a funk record on two turntables. By using identical records to loop the
breakdown of funk songs, or the break, DJs were able to create a steady beat for MCs
to rhyme over.
Originally, DJs used beats at the tempo of the records they sampled but at some point,
they started to slow the beats down, using the vari-speed function of the turntable. We
now think of most hip hop being somewhere between 80 and 100 BPM, though there
are plenty of exceptions in either direction.
Rhythms modeled around older funk beats gave way to beats that can only be identified
as hip hop, which is one of the most popular genres of music around the globe. Hip hop
is capable of instantly fusing with most other styles of music, making it extremely
adaptable.

www.bketech.com/bkeblog/protalk/drum-machine-death-metal-band/
Using a drum machine is an answer to the ageless quest for a drummer that plays exactly what
the lead guitarist wants to hear, a task that few human drummers are capable of. Say goodbye
to missed notes and dropped beats. Say hello to Robotron, the drummer from the future.