5. Four-Bar tune

Read the following:

Example 12 below has four bars.  In the last bar a note has been written in a semibreve C but the other three bars have yet to be completed.  You have to complete the other three bars and write a short tune. Afterwards try to play it on the piano, xylophone or other keyboard instrument.  Perhaps your teacher will play it for you.

To help you to decide which notes to use, a choice of notes has been put above each bar. You can choose the order of the notes. You may also repeat the notes. You can have as many notes as you wish that add up to four beats.

Example 13 was written with the same ‘rules’ as those just explained.

EXAMPLE 12

Exercise 12

Draw a treble clef on the stave below. Write the time signature and write down the notes, with their letter names above as in example 12.

Read the following: 

Example 13 shows another slightly different way of writing this four-bar tune.  As you can see, any of the notes can be repeated in each bar.  Also you can use minims and crotchets in any way in each of the three bars as long as the total number of crotchet beats always adds up to four beats in each bar.

EXAMPLE 13

.

                      Pitch   __   __   __          __  __   __    __     __   __    __          __

Beats    1     2     3     4    1     2     3     4        1     2     3    4     1  2   3  4

Exercise 13a

Write the pitch names of the notes for example 13 on the line under each note. 

Exercise 13b

Fill in the table below as you work out a new tune and then write it on the stave provided.

bar

Notes which can be used

Notes and beats actually used

1

C E G

__   __    __    __

 

2

F A C

__   __    __    __

 

3

G B D

__   __    __    __

 

4

C

C

 

Four bar composition 1     by                                                   . (your name)

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

EXERCISE 3: Four-bar composition

Log on to the computer and load a music notation program

1. Copy the above notes from your four-bar composition.

You can input the notes in one of two ways.

  • Either click the notes in 

  • Or play them using a MIDI instrument (usually a keyboard)

2. When you have finished and checked your notation.

  • Save your work in a folder where you can find it again. Call the program ‘four-bar composition 1’.

  • Play the music through the computer at tempo 70 following the notation.

  • Show the work on screen to the teacher for a visual check.

3. Print a copy of the finished notation then give it to the teacher or store it in a safe place.

Copyright © 2002 David Hayes

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