Week 7 – Blog

Date May 6^th

This week in our songwriting and performing class we explored the topic rhythm. This included rhythm element “(pulse, tempo, metre, time signature), subdivisions, syncopation and rhythmic subdivision” relates to musical styles 1. I learned that tempo has a big impact on songwriting, this is because if you change the tempo of a song it can change the outcome of song and how someone perceives it.  An example that was shown in class by Robyn was “Can’t buy me love”( original) by The Beatles 2. This was shown because “Michael Buble’ did a cover of this song where he changed the tempo and made it more jazz-like 3. This shows that a song can sound different when the tempo is changed

Videos

The Beatles

(Lennon, 1964)

Michael Buble’

(Lennon, 2005)

In our practical part of the lesson, students were asked prior to this lesson to write out the chord progression of a popular song that everyone would know we were also asked to use Roman numerals and chord symbols. I chose the “Royals” 4  By Lorde, this song had a common progression of 5,4,1. I found this beneficial as it helped me understand how common chord progression help creates songs.

Images of sheet music

Written Chord Progression

Sheet Music

Chords for Guitar and Piano

References

1Robyn Habel, “Rhythm” (lecture presented at the course Song Writing and Performance 1A, Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide, May 6, 2019).

2 Lennon, P. M. a. J., 1964. Cant buy love. [Sound Recording] (The Beatles).

3 Lennon, P. M. a. J., 2005. Cant by love. [Sound Recording] (Michael Buble).

4 Yelich-O’Connor, E. M. L., 2013. Royles. [Sound Recording] (Lorde)

 5 Music Notes , 2019. Royals. [Online]
Available at: https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0121796
[Accessed 2019].

6 Ultimate Guitar.com, 2019. Royals Chords. [Online]
Available at: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/lorde/royals_chords_1418611
[Accessed 2019].