Session 5 Year 2 Production Project
SUMMARY
Role
Composer / Engineer
Intention (SMART Goal) for the Session
By May 10, as part of TEAM 3, I will have evidence of a completed song following the theme by following this tutorial for Session 5.
PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY
Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)
Primary Source
My primary source is a dungeon theme from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Based on the theme for this session, I was inspired by its industrial sound effects and eerie vibe.
0:05 – Metallic drumbeat
0:11 – Clanging sound effect, repeats every two measures
0:20 – 3-note descending arpeggio that fades in and out
0:38 – Different 5-note ascending arpeggio, overlayed atop the 3-note melody
1:10 – Chords
1:47 – Creepy synth
Secondary Source
My secondary source is a video analyzing my primary source – specifically, what causes it to come across as eerie.
6:19 – The clanging sound effect surprises the listener by appearing during the third measure of the drumbeat
6:45 – ^ Afterwards, it repeats every two measures to further throw off the listener’s expectations
7:04 – Weird percussive synth adds depth to the song’s rhythm
8:00 – The 3-note melody doesn’t fit perfectly into the song’s 4/4 time signature, muddying the perceived tempo
8:49 – ^ The 5-note melody does the same, also not fitting into a 4/4 measure, and sounds stranger when overlayed on the other melody
11:15 – The song’s melodies and chords function on a “whole-tone scale”, which is composed entirely of tritones that give an unsettling vibe
Training Source(s)
My training source is by a Youtuber who makes tutorials related to music theory, going over common weaknesses in composition and how to improve. This video focuses on making more interesting bass lines, something I struggle with when writing music.
1:41 – “Melodic contour”: the example bass line makes constant rapid jumps between octaves, rather than having a solid ascension/descension
2:00 – The bass never plays notes outside the main harmony, only roots and fifths
2:06 – “When the bass only plays notes that are in the accompanying chord, it blends into those chords because there’s nothing that makes it stand out from them.”
3:15 – “The third of each chord is what creates its major or minor emotion.”
4:20 – Non-diatonic can be used in a bass line if done carefully
5:01 – A melodic bass line and lead melody aren’t the exact same
Project Timeline
Pre-production Milestones
- Come up with a vibe
- Research chords
- Find sound effects
Production Milestones
- Have all of the parts completed
Post-production
- Mix it to a satisfying level
- Add sound effects
- Export & make adjustments
Proposed Budget
A budget will be completed during Session 5, 2024