Re: [LAU] How to write beats

On Sun, 2008-04-20 at 11:59 +0800, Chris McCormick wrote: Interesting that you like to notate in half-time. But wouldn't that make your Hip Hop run at 45 BPM, if one takes it exactly as you write it? I think the examples would be easier to read with vertical grid lines. What helps me writing beats is knowing about "heavy" and "light" beats, pulse, swing, ghost notes ... In 4/4, 1 and 3 are heavy (downbeat), 2 and 4 are light (backbeat). In 3/4 only 1 is heavy. So if you want something that "stomps", you accentuate the backbeats. If you want something light-footed, accentuate 2 and 4 and perhaps play around one of the backbeats (notes before and after, not right on it). Hits on the beats are "stable". Hits right between the beats (offbeats), meaning each second 1/8 note in 4/4, are less stable. Hits on positions available only with an even finer grid are even less stable. These often ask to be countered with other notes, to stay in balance (it's like stumbling and having to do another step to not fall down on your face) The pulse is your basic grid resolution (not necessarily counting flams and rolls). Usually 1/8 or 1/16 notes. An interesting way to build a beat is to start with filling a bar (or several) with 1/16 notes. Edit the velocity, for example 127, 60, 110, 90 for each quarter. Then experiment with erasing single notes and finally move notes to different instruments. Ghost notes are hits with low velocity that can happen in the gaps. They should have such a low level, that they won't catch your attention directly. It's rather something you will only notice if it suddenly disappears. -- Thorsten Wilms thorwil's design for free software: http://thorwil.wordpress.com/