CreatingMusic4U

Differences between Canadian and American music terms

2007-09-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

Leading note or leading tone? In Canada, you'll hear the term leading note to refer to the seventh scale degree. In the U.S., you'll hear the term leading tone. It's only a small difference, but a difference, nonetheless.
When I first moved to Canada from the U.S., I was confused by the Canadian system for naming chords. For example, a C Major chord, symbolized as C+ in Canada, means a C augmented chord in the U.S.! (An augmented chord in Canada is symbolized as Cx). A C minor chord is symbolized as Cm or cm in the U.S. but becomes C- in Canada. Fortunately the two countries have agreed about what to call a diminished chord, either C dim or C with a small "o" placed in the upper half of the chord name).
Having studied music in both countries, I have also noticed that Canadians from the U.K. call quarter notes, crochets and eighth notes, quavers. Then it suddenly struck me that, back at college, we used to refer to the sixty fourth note as a hemisemidemiquaver! (Students think they're very clever when they can use this term. It's right up there with "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!")
If any of you discover other differences, please respond to this blog! Also check out my website at lauraweed.com

Augmented chords

2007-08-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Augmented chords are used sparingly, as they stand out like a sore thumb! For more info on the use of chords, click on the Free Tips tab at the website Laura Weed.com In major keys, there are no naturally occuring augmented chords. But, it is interesting and effective to use a I chord (C, E and G in the key of C Major, for example) followed by an augmented I chord (C, E and G#) and then resolve to a IV chord (voiced C, F, A). Augmented chords only occur in the III chord in minor keys. As with diminished chords, you decide whether or not you want to use them as you are creatingmusic4u!

Diminished chords

2007-08-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

Diminished chords are used sparingly (except for ultra modern composers!)because of their harsh sound. For more info on the use of chords, click on the Free Tips tab at the website lauraweed.com
In major scales, they are only found in the VII
chord and should resolve to the I chord, (though some songwriters like to move from the VII chord to the V chord before resolving to the I chord). In minor scales (using a raised leading note), diminished chords are found in both the II and VII chords. Be careful to resolve them to I as quickly as you can (unless you purposely are wanting to call attention to your powerful lyrics). Diminished chords sound like train whistles to me, so I, personally, use them sparingly. When creatingmusic4u,decide whether you want to include a few diminished chords in your songs or leave them out all together. There is no right or wrong answer here. It's totally up to you!

Minor chords

2007-08-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

Minor chords or secondary chords add their own distinct "color" to harmonies. Using a major scale, the II, III and VI scale degrees are all minor chords.
The III chord moves naturally to VI, but progressions become much more interesting when they are combined with major chords. Some possible combinations are: I- III-VI-IV-V-I or I-IV-II-V-III-VI-V-I. For more info on Harmony 101, click on Free Tips while visiting the website lauraweed.com
As you experiment with chord progressions, you're sure to find a combination (or two or three!) that you'll enjoy using while creatingmusic4u.

Major chords

2007-08-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

Major chords sound great! And there are literally thousands of songs using only I, IV and V chords!
A I chord in C Major contains the notes C, E and G. Count up four scale tones (C, D, E, F) so the IV chord contains the notes F, A and C. The V chord contains the notes G, B and D. Further explanations of major chords can be found in the Free Tips section of lauraweed.com

The I chord is the strongest chord as it establishes the major key. The V chord is the next strongest and wants to resolve to the I chord. The IV chord can either move to the I chord or to the V chord.

Possible combinations of I, IV and V chords are: I, IV, V, I or I, V, IV, I or
I, IV, V, IV, V, I. Of course, it is much more interesting to add the minor chords to the progressions...which I'll do in the next blog. Feel free to add your comments and keep creatingmusic4u!

Getting started writing music

2007-08-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

Whether you're sitting in a basement with your guitar and some manuscript paper or using a MIDI keyboard with a music software program, here are some ideas to help you get started creating music4u! For a more in depth look at melody or harmony writing, click the Free Tips section of LauraWeed.com

1) Create a melody using interesting rhythms and a variety of steps, skips and repeated notes.
2) Add harmony. Repeating chord progressions add unity to your piece, but overusing chord progressions is overkill! For example, playing I - VI - IV - V forty times will drive your listeners crazy (unless you're playing a duet of Heart and Soul!)
3) Test your song in a friendly environment of friends or family before rushing off to a recording studio!
4) Learn as much as you can about songwriting, write lots of songs, listen to lots of songs and have fun creating music4u!