Composing a drum beat and contrast in pop song structure
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compose a drum beat and develop musical ideas within a pop song structure.
Key learning points
- The drummer’s main role in the rhythm section is to establish the tempo and rhythmic groove.
- They typically play a backbeat on the snare, beats 1 and 3 on the kick and quavers on the hi-hat.
- Combining a riff with chords, a bass line and a drum beat can create the accompanying parts of pop song.
- A pop song has two main sections, a verse and a chorus.
- It is important that they have both similarities and contrasting ideas.
Keywords
Backbeat - the emphasis of beats 2 and 4 in a drum groove, usually on the snare drum
Quaver - a note lasting half a beat; quavers often come in pairs
Verse and chorus - the two main repeated sections in a song; verse and chorus structure is the term used to describe the structure of a pop song
Common misconception
For musical ideas, such as a riff or melody to contrast, they have to be totally different.
Songs should have to have some continuity between the different sections. Highlight ways in which two melodically different ideas might still have some similarities ie. same rhythm, same shape, same number of notes, same initial motif.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to consider the continuity between their musical ideas past just using the same instruments. The final task could be to complete any initial riff/chord sequence/bass line ideas they have already started, or to compose a contrasting set of ideas.
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