Popular Music & Composition – Arranging Songs

A song is an informal musical work intended to be played on the singer’s voice. It normally has no vocal or accompaniment but may incorporate instruments other than the voice. Songs are different types, including those featuring the repetition of basic sections and others that feature the creation of new sounds. Sometimes the song is recited in a single take, sometimes it is repeated in sections, and at other times the singer speaks during the song. A number of variations have been used in songs, including meter, key, and lyrics.

song

A number of factors go into creating a song. The melody, which is the central musical theme or idea of a song, consists of all the parts together and is repeated throughout the song. Different melodies can be highlighted through various methods. The invention is a method in which the melody is developed from small elements in the song, most commonly sung or played notes, and this can also be applied to chords in a song.

In classical music, the melody is played as accompaniment or a counterpoint to the main theme or message of the piece. When the words are sung, they accompany the melody. The melody is also marked through the use of various instruments such as the piano, violin, and flute. Examples of popular songs that contain the use of an accompaniment are “Give Me the Reason” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “White Room” by The Beatles, and “Goodnight, Love Goodbye” by Eric Clapton.

The theme or thematic content of the song is not only the subject matter of the melody, but is also the basis for the arrangement of the melody. Theme ideas can be built upon by varying the melody, pitch, rhythm, harmony, and texture of the melody. For instance, the basic beat of a song, or a figure that occurs throughout the song, can be varied by adding or removing accents, treble clef notes, bass notes, and other rhythmic shifts. A variation can be done by changing the rhythm, melody, or instruments. Themes are also widely used in advertising.

An additional form of accompaniment in popular music is stringing. There are many forms of stringed instruments ranging from the banjo to the guitar. Examples of stringed instruments that might be used as an accompaniment are: the coronet, mandolin, fiddle, flat-top guitar, bass guitar, and the like. Art songs that contain stringed instruments are quite common. Some examples of popular art songs that contain stringed instruments are: Freedom, igo, Home, Horse With No Name, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Take it Easy, etc.

These examples show how an accompaniment can vary a song from being simple to being very complex. Different types of accompaniments provide different effects, depending on the arrangement of the song and the lyrics. Additionally, these songs can be romantic and comical, serious and light-hearted, or it can be a combination of all of these. In fact, you cannot talk about the song “Pop Song” without mentioning some of the most famous variations of the melody.