Composition Studio
Welcome to Your Composition Studio!
This is your interactive, "hand-holding" resource designed to help you review, practice, and master core music composition concepts.
We've translated a standard music theory roadmap into an interactive experience. This widget is fully responsive and designed to work on both desktop and mobile. You'll find:
- Interactive Tables: Click buttons to see common chord progressions and how they work.
- Dynamic Charts: Visualize the "energy flow" of different song structures.
- Working Practice Terminals: Test your knowledge in each section with hands-on questions and get instant feedback.
- Tricky Stuff: A special section dedicated to advanced concepts, like Counterpoint, explained with clear examples.
Use the menu to navigate between topics. Let's get started!
1. The Basics (Rhythm & Pitch)
These are the two fundamental building blocks of all music: *when* a note is played (rhythm) and *what* note is played (pitch).
Rhythm & Meter
Rhythm is the pattern of sounds in time. Meter (or Time Signature) organizes this into regular pulses called "beats."
4/4(Common Time): FOUR beats per measure. The Quarter note gets one beat. (Most pop, rock, and hip-hop).3/4(Waltz Time): THREE beats per measure. (e.g., "Happy Birthday").- Note Values: Whole Note (4 beats), Half Note (2 beats), Quarter Note (1 beat), Eighth Note (1/2 beat).
Pitch & Scales
Pitch is the "highness" or "lowness" of a sound. Most Western music uses 12 repeating tones (A, A#, B, C, C#, etc.). A Scale is a selection of these tones that sound good together.
The C Major Scale:
C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
These are the "white keys" on a piano. They form the building blocks for melodies and chords in the "Key of C."
Intervals
An interval is the distance *between* two pitches.
# In C Major (C D E F G A B):
# C to E (C, D, E) is a 3rd
# ("Oh, when the...")
# C to F (C, D, E, F) is a 4th
# ("Here comes the...")
# C to G (C, D, E, F, G) is a 5th
# ("Twinkle, twinkle..." or Star Wars)
Practice Time
Q1: How many beats are in one measure of 4/4 "Common Time"?
> Terminal ready. Awaiting answer...
2. Melody & Harmony
Melody is the "tune" you hum. Harmony is the stack of notes (chords) that supports the melody. Roman numerals (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi) are used to describe a chord's "job" in a key.
| Chord (Roman) | Chord (Name) | Notes | Feeling / "Job" |
|---|
Practice Time
Q1: In the key of C, what three notes make up the I chord (C Major)?
> Terminal ready. Awaiting answer...
3. Form & Structure
Form is the "blueprint" of your song. It's the arrangement of different sections to create a journey for the listener. We use letters (A, B, C) to label these sections.
Verse-Chorus (A-B) Form
The most common form in pop, rock, and country music.
# A = Verse # (Lyrics change, music is similar) # (Tells the story) # B = Chorus # (Lyrics and music are the same) # (The "big idea" or "hook") # C = Bridge # (A new section for contrast) # Common Structure: # A - B - A - B - C - B # (Verse - Chorus - Verse - # Chorus - Bridge - Chorus)
AABA Form
Used in many older standards, jazz tunes, and classic pop. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a perfect example.
# Section A
# The main melody ("Somewhere...")
#
# A (repeated)
# The main melody again ("...way
# up high...")
# Section B (The Bridge)
# A contrasting idea
# ("Someday I'll wish upon a
# star...")
#
# A (return)
# Back to the main melody
# ("...birds fly...")
Practice Time
Q1: The section of a song that repeats with the *same* lyrics and music, (the "hook"), is the...?
> Terminal ready. Awaiting answer...
4. Instrumentation
Instrumentation (or orchestration) is the art of choosing *which* instruments play *what* parts of your composition. This has a huge impact on the final sound and emotion.
The 4 Orchestra Families
# 1. Strings # (Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass) # The "core" of the orchestra. # Very expressive. # 2. Woodwinds # (Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon) # Add color and melodic solos. # 3. Brass # (Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Tuba) # Powerful, majestic, and loud. # 4. Percussion # (Timpani, Snare, Cymbals) # Provides rhythm and impact.
"Sonic Space" Explorer
Think of your song's "space" from low to high:
A good composition makes use of the *full* sonic space without being too crowded in one area.
Practice Time
Q1: The Violin, Cello, and Viola belong to which instrument family?
> Terminal ready. Awaiting answer...
5. The "Spark" (Energy)
You can't just wait for inspiration! A key part of composition is *planning* the emotional journey, or "energy," of your song.
Visualizing a Song's Energy Level (1-10)
Practice Time
Q1: In the Verse-Chorus chart, which section is typically the *highest* energy point?
> Terminal ready. Awaiting answer...
6. Tricky Stuff: Counterpoint
This is an advanced but powerful technique. Counterpoint is the art of combining two or more independent melodies *at the same time* so they still sound good.
What It Is (Melody vs. Melody)
Harmony vs. Counterpoint
Most pop music is Homophonic: one clear melody, supported by blocky chords (harmony).
Music with counterpoint is Polyphonic: multiple, independent melodies weaving together. Think "melody vs. melody."
# Example: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" # sung as a "round". # Voice 1: "Row, row, row your boat..." # Voice 2: " Row, row, row..." # # Both are the *same melody*, but # they are independent and sound # good together. This is counterpoint.
Species Counterpoint (The "Training")
These are the traditional "training wheels" exercises, created in 1725, to learn how to write counterpoint.
The "Species"
# 1st Species: Note-against-note # (One note in Melody 1 for every # one note in Melody 2) # 2nd Species: Two-against-one # (Two notes in Melody 1 for every # one note in Melody 2) # ...and so on (3rd, 4th, 5th) # Each one adds more complex rhythms.
Fugue (The "Big One")
A fugue is the ultimate test of counterpoint, made famous by J.S. Bach. It's a complex, polyphonic piece built from one main idea.
The Process
# 1. Subject (Voice 1) # One voice introduces the main # melody (the "subject") all alone. # 2. Answer (Voice 2) # A second voice enters, playing the # *same melody* (the "answer"), # while Voice 1 continues with # a *new, independent melody*. # 3. More Voices... # This continues as 3, 4, or even 5 # voices all chase each other with # the same idea, weaving a complex # musical tapestry.
Practice Time
Q1: The art of combining two or more independent melodies is called...?
> Terminal ready. Awaiting answer...