please help an idiot trying to write music

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:16 am

Hi all,

after spending a couple hours on google trying to find this info, I decided to ask around here.

The image below is an extract of some music we're trying to write on paper. Tempo is 55 bpm using common time. I like the notation of the first chorus where written "bonie et mickey". Problem is with the second one where written "elle voulait...". In this one i had no choice but to use 1/16 tuplets and this has made the thing a bit unreadable:

http://absynthenitouche.tzo.com/Members ... image_view

Do you guys know of another way of writing this second phrase that would make it easier for a musicien to read?

I could use 3/4 and triple the bpm but the feel of it is really tuplets...

Paul? Ken? Eliam?

Anyone?

thanks

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:09 am

12/8 time would probably solve your notation problem. The metronome marking would not change. Be careful to separate the tuplet in the second bar.the first note should be separate from the other 2.

[ This Message was edited by: paulrmartin on 2005-04-22 09:14 ]

wayne · Post by **wayne** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:09 am

Hey, legros

just separate the first semiquaver from the other two - first triplet = rest, rest, note, second is note, note, rest.

Also, get rid of ties within a grouping - these are for joining notes from different groups.

cheers, W

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:15 am

I edited my first post but I need to repeat, the metronome speed would not change

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:25 am

hey guys, thanks for your answers

Paul, I will try what you suggest but isn't 12/8 some sort of a "valse" feel? for me this is more like blues. I remember some friends of mine way back when writing for example 1/8 notes and telling the musicians to interprete the music with a triolet feel.. this simplified the notation a great deal

Wayne, as a musician and provided i apply the changes you suggest, would you consider this readable?

wayne · Post by **wayne** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:37 am

Readable, indeed

Oh - the triplet rest should just be a quaver rest, not grouped as a triplet.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:45 am

yes, i'm trying to figure out finale software at the same time

many thanks!

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:51 am

How's that?

[ This Message was edited by: paulrmartin on 2005-04-22 09:54 ]

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:01 am

good stuff Paul!

How do you count off 12/8? beside the notation, this is the biggest worry for me on changing the notation because i really like to count it slow as 1, 2, 3, 4 on 1/4 notes at 55 bpm.. I just don't want the musicians to throw away the thing saying it's unreadable

wayne · Post by **wayne** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:18 am

It's the same count, just divisions of 3 to the beat.

If the whole band is playing this way, then it would be in 12/8 (known as "compound time")

If this is a tripletty melody over straighter backing, go with the original 4/4 ("simple time")

It is good that you are thinking of ease of reading, it is an oft-overlooked thing.

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:13 am

1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and a ...
Theoretically I know this is wrong but don't think in terms of 12. It'll be easier for you.

_________________
Are we listening?..

[ This Message was edited by: paulrmartin on 2005-04-22 12:14 ]

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:14 am

i want it to work

the idea is to rehearse 3 - 4 times before hitting the stage and we got 15 songs to perform... a tight schedule. but i know it's possible if we make the effort of writing most we can cheers

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:19 am

Paul thx i get it now, this way of counting underlines the triplets (finally got this one right

)
that would occur under 4/4

peace

vive planetz