Rock is a genre of so-called pop music that uses mainly electronic instruments: guitar, bass, synthesizer. For this reason, acoustic instruments (voice, percussion) need to be "mirrored" with microphones. Most of the repertoire of a rock band is original works, but before starting work as a composer, a rock musician must understand the basic principles of composition for each instrument in the group.
Instructions
Step 1
When composing any piece, be sure to consult with the musicians who will be playing the piece. Listen to their comments and correct the score. It is better to write down the musical variant in a special editor: Guitar Pro, Sibelius, and so on.
Step 2
The electric guitar is a universal instrument, that is, you can play both solo melodic parts and chords (rhythm parts) on it. As a rule, in groups, the lead guitar part is performed by one person, and the rhythm guitar is assigned to another person who has less experience and skill in performance. The range of a guitar, regardless of function, is a large octave mi - approximately B second. Notes on it are recorded one octave higher than the sound.
Step 3
The number of passages, scales and techniques for playing the guitar is huge: tapping, slap (less common than on bass, but also used), glissando, tremolo, all kinds of timbre changes, bends, pizzicato and much more. In many ways, the use of these techniques is limited only by the performer's skill, so be guided not by the latest developments in guitar technique, but by your friend: he may not play sixteenths at a tempo of 160.
Step 4
A bass guitar has a contracted E range - the first octave E if it has four strings. The five-string expands its range down by a fourth, and the six-string expands another fourth down. The function in the group is harmonic support, playing the lowest notes, soloing is allowed in some genres. The technique of playing the bass guitar is also very diverse and, in fact, includes all the same techniques as the usual guitar technique, with one exception: the strings of the bass guitar are thicker, it is impossible to play sixteenths on them, especially at a fast tempo. In addition, with some methods of playing, the sound quickly “fades out” and cannot drag on, therefore, in pizzicato and slap, do not use durations longer than a quarter - replace the voids with pauses.
Step 5
Keyboard parts are played on the synthesizer and are usually associated with a melody. In some cases, stretching sounds play the role of a harmonic substrate, and short motifs play the role of back voices. The synthesizer range can be from five to seven octaves, depending on the model. Simultaneously, with each hand, the keyboardist can play up to four or five notes, the distance between the extreme is an octave-non. Sharp jumps for an interval greater than an octave and an abundance of jumps in one direction are unacceptable. Possible techniques: glissando, sustain, legato, staccato. The number of timbres in a song can vary, but there should be small pauses between changes so that the musician has time to tune in.
Step 6
The voice is the most important instrument in rock music. The working range of the middle singer is two octaves, and the height position depends on the gender and timbre of the performer. As a rule, the range of one song does not exceed an octave. The writing of the vocal part is completely dependent on the capabilities of the future performer, therefore, during the composition, consult with him constantly.
