ELEMENTS OF MUSIC HOW TO

It's important to consider timbre, especially when recording music. Think of the difference between strumming and palm muting a guitar – same instrument, same notes, but a completely different sound. Others still can sound scratchy, smooth, shiny, dull, airy, or thick.ĭifferent timbres can be achieved even on the same instrument, by playing the instrument differently.

Others, like the trumpet, sound brash and bright. Some instruments like the cello sound dark, moody, and romantic. It is the tonal quality of whatever you are playing. Despite playing the same combinations of pitch and duration, each version would sound completely different. Imagine you play a melody and a rhythm on a saxophone, and then play the exact same thing on a guitar, and then you sing that exact same melody and rhythm. Timbre is what makes different instruments and different voices unique. Timbre (pronounced “tahm-bur”) is more commonly described as the “tonal quality” of an instrument, voice, or overall musical piece. Keep your ears wide open and try to groove with your fellow musicians. When you are jamming with others, don’t focus so hard on what you are playing. Playing with others is also a good way to improve your rhythm. It will also help you in the studio, when you are more likely to end up playing along to a click track (“click track” is another term for metronome). The act of practicing with a metronome will inevitably improve your sense of rhythm. When you are practicing, try to play with a metronome as much as possible. Again, just because you were not a natural, does not mean you will never have rhythm. I always struggled keeping a steady beat. Not everyone is born with a naturally good sense of rhythm and pulse. Great live players also spend years practicing with metronomes to create better grooves and to play with others better. Rhythm is just as important as melody in songwriting. Good songwriters can use a memorable or “hook-y” rhythm paired with a simple melody to write an impactful song. Having a good sense of rhythm is crucial when you are songwriting as well as playing live. Drummers spend their whole lives trying to deepen their sense of rhythm and their understanding of rhythmic patterns. Developing your sense of rhythm is a lifelong practice. It is what makes a song “groovy”, “dance-y”, or “fast and slow”. Rhythm and pitch are the most important elements of music to understand. These notes of varying duration are then grouped into patterns, creating rhythm. Rhythm refers to how long are notes held, and how long the spaces between notes are. What academics call “duration” is more commonly called “rhythm”. Writing often and in different styles will help you diversify your melodies and come up with more interesting melodies.

I would recommend singing along to songs with melodies and hooks you love. Creating interesting melodies is important. Listen carefully to your pitch – where do you get uncertain? Over time you will improve your pitch.īeyond pitch, is melody. When you are at home, record yourself singing or playing your instrument. Warming up before shows and singing your songs a cappella can help your pitch at live shows. People think that pitch is something you’re born with, and this is true to some extent, but there is no question you can improve your pitch over time. Even the best natural singers work for years to develop their pitch both on and off the stage. When you are performing, pitch should always be on your mind. The melody is a huge part of what sticks in your brain, builds and releases tension, and brings interest to the song. In popular music, the melody is incredibly important. In more accessible terms, “pitch” could also be called “melody”. Playing a note on the saxophone also creates pitch. Playing a note on the guitar is creating pitch. Similarly, specific notes on an instrument create pitch. When you sing, you sing at a variety of pitches. When you talk, you talk at a certain pitch. Pitch can be high or low, steady, or changing. Pitch is an easily understandable element of music.

ELEMENTS OF MUSIC HOW TO

These definitions can be useful in your journey to understand what makes good music and how to make good music yourself.

Other types of art have foundational elements as well – if you look up the Elements of Design you will find a similar breakdown of the visual arts. Sometimes, people add reverberation to this list, although from academic articles I’ve read, this is not as widely accepted. The six elements of music are pitch, timbre, texture, volume, duration, and form. The Six (Sometimes Seven) Elements Of Music The Elements Of Music: Putting It All Together.The Six (Sometimes Seven) Elements Of Music.

Elements of music