How to Use Chrome Music Lab Song Maker

In Unison Music Lessons
4 Nov 202007:57

TLDRThis tutorial introduces the Chrome Music Lab's Song Maker, guiding viewers through the interface and its functionalities. It explains how to create melodies using different pitches, adjust the tempo, and select instruments like marimba or synth. The video also covers adding percussion, experimenting with chords, and layering melodies. It concludes with tips on recording voice, adjusting composition settings, and encourages viewers to explore and create their own music.

Takeaways

  • 🎼 The Chrome Music Lab Song Maker has a grid layout that represents different pitches which can be played in sequence to create melodies.
  • 🔄 The grid is divided into half beats or eighth notes, allowing for a rhythmic structure that can be counted as 'one and two and three and four'.
  • 🎹 Users can adjust the length of measures and the subdivisions of beats in the settings to customize their compositions.
  • 🎵 The play button allows all selected notes to be played simultaneously, and subsequent notes play from left to right.
  • 🔧 A tempo meter is available to adjust the speed of the melody.
  • 🎷 The instrument sound can be changed, and percussion can be added to the composition.
  • 📐 Holding down the shift key and dragging the mouse allows for the creation of chords by selecting multiple notes at once.
  • 🥁 Percussion patterns can be added to the composition, with options to customize drum hits on different beats.
  • 🎤 There is an option to record your voice on top of the composition using the mic feature.
  • 🛠 Settings allow for extensive customization, including composition length, beats per bar, note subdivisions, scale type, starting note, and octave range.
  • 📝 The Song Maker includes a save function to preserve your work and a restart function to clear the grid for new compositions.

Q & A

  • What is the Chrome Music Lab Song Maker?

    -The Chrome Music Lab Song Maker is an interactive online tool that allows users to create music using a grid layout with different pitches represented by boxes.

  • How does the grid in the Song Maker represent different pitches?

    -The grid in the Song Maker represents different pitches with boxes. Clicking on these boxes in order starting from the C note plays all the natural notes within two octaves.

  • What is the purpose of the 'play' button in the Song Maker?

    -The 'play' button in the Song Maker allows all selected notes to be played at once, with subsequent notes played from left to right.

  • How are the measures in the Song Maker grid divided?

    -The measures in the Song Maker grid are divided by half beats or eighth notes, and there are a total of four measures in the grid.

  • Can the length of measures and beats be adjusted in the Song Maker?

    -Yes, the length of measures, beats, and subdivisions can be adjusted in the settings of the Song Maker.

  • How can you change the tempo of the melody in the Song Maker?

    -You can slow down or adjust the tempo of the melody by using the tempo meter provided in the Song Maker.

  • What instruments can be used in the Song Maker, and how can they be changed?

    -The Song Maker allows users to change the instrument sound, such as from marimba to other instruments, by clicking the instrument button and selecting from the available options.

  • How can you add percussion to your composition in the Song Maker?

    -You can add percussion to your composition by clicking the percussion button and selecting the desired drum instruments, such as electronic kick drum and snare.

  • What is the purpose of the 'restart' button in the Song Maker?

    -The 'restart' button in the Song Maker allows users to clear their current work on the grid and start over with a new composition.

  • How can you create a chord in the Song Maker?

    -To create a chord in the Song Maker, you start with a note, hold down the shift key on your keyboard, and drag the mouse over the rest of the desired tiles to select multiple notes.

  • What additional features can be found in the settings of the Song Maker?

    -In the settings, you can change the length of the composition, the number of beats per bar, the subdivisions of measures, the scale type, the starting note, and the range of notes.

Outlines

00:00

🎼 Introduction to Chrome Music Lab's Song Maker

The script introduces the Chrome Music Lab's Song Maker, a digital music creation tool. The presenter initially finds the grid layout confusing but soon realizes it represents different pitches. By clicking the boxes in sequence, one can play natural notes across almost two octaves. The grid is organized by half beats or eighth notes, with four measures in total, each marked by a different shade for clarity. Users can adjust the length of measures and beat subdivisions in the settings. The presenter demonstrates creating a melody, changing instruments, and adding percussion, suggesting the use of a synth and electronic drum set for experimentation.

05:05

🎵 Customizing and Experimenting with Song Maker

The script continues with the presenter exploring customization options in Song Maker. They explain how to adjust the composition length, beat per bar, and measure subdivisions, including options for different note groupings like triplets and sixteenth notes. The presenter also discusses the choice of scales and starting notes, and the ability to adjust the range up to three octaves. An example of creating a 12-bar blues with a chromatic scale and triplet feel is given. The video concludes with an invitation to experiment with the tool and subscribe for more music education content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Chrome Music Lab

Chrome Music Lab is a suite of web-based tools that Google developed to make music education more accessible and interactive. In the context of the video, it refers to a specific tool within the lab called 'Song Maker,' which allows users to create music using a grid interface. The video demonstrates how to use this tool to compose melodies and chords.

💡Grid

In the video, the 'grid' refers to the graphical interface of the Song Maker tool, where different pitches are represented as boxes. Users click on these boxes to create melodies and chords. The grid is organized by beats and measures, making it easier to visualize the rhythm and structure of the music being composed.

💡Pitches

Pitches in music are the perceived frequency of a sound, determining how high or low a note sounds. The script mentions that the boxes on the grid represent different pitches, and by clicking on them in order, one can play natural notes across nearly two octaves, which is a range of musical notes.

💡Play Button

The 'play button' in the Song Maker tool is used to play the selected notes or sequence of notes. When pressed, it plays all the notes that have been clicked on the grid, allowing the user to hear the melody or chord progression they have created.

💡Measures

In music, a 'measure' is a unit of time corresponding to a specific number of beats. The grid in the Song Maker is sectioned into measures, each with a different shade to visually separate them. The video mentions that the default is four measures, but this can be adjusted in the settings.

💡Tempo

Tempo refers to the speed or pace of a piece of music, typically measured in beats per minute (BPM). In the script, the tempo meter is used to adjust how fast the melody plays back, allowing for slower or faster renditions of the composed music.

💡Instruments

The video script discusses changing the instrument sound used in the composition. The Song Maker tool allows users to select different instruments, such as marimba, synth, or percussion, to add variety to their music.

💡Percussion

Percussion in music refers to the family of instruments played by striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums and cymbals. The script describes adding percussion, like an electronic kick drum and snare, to the composition for a more dynamic sound.

💡Chords

A 'chord' is a combination of three or more different notes played together, creating a harmony. The video demonstrates how to create a C major chord on the grid by selecting more than one note at a time and having them play simultaneously.

💡Settings

The 'settings' in the Song Maker tool allow users to customize various aspects of their composition, such as the length of the composition, the number of beats per bar, and the subdivisions of the measures. The script mentions adjusting these settings to create different musical structures, like a 12-bar blues.

💡Scales

Musical scales are a series of notes arranged in ascending or descending order. The video script mentions the ability to choose between major, chromatic, or pentatonic scales in the Song Maker tool, which affects the range of notes available for the composition.

💡Composition

A 'composition' in music is an original piece of music created by an artist or composer. In the context of the video, the term refers to the music that the user creates using the Song Maker tool, including melodies, chords, and percussion patterns.

Highlights

Introduction to Chrome Music Lab's Song Maker interface.

Exploration of the grid layout and its initial unfamiliar appearance.

Understanding the grid as a representation of different pitches.

Demonstration of playing natural notes in order starting from C.

Explanation of how the play button functions to play selected notes.

Grid sectioning by half beats or eighth notes for rhythmic organization.

Customization of measure length and beat subdivisions in settings.

Creating a melody by clicking on different pitches.

Adjusting the tempo of the melody using the tempo meter.

Changing instruments to marimba and adding percussion.

Experimenting with different drum instruments for percussion.

Creating a chord progression using the C major chord.

Using the shift key to play multiple notes simultaneously for chords.

Adding percussion to the composition with kick and snare patterns.

Experimenting with melody over the chord progression.

Recording voice on top of the composition using the mic option.

Customizing composition settings such as bar length and time signature.

Changing subdivisions from eighth notes to triplets or sixteenth notes.

Selecting different scales and starting notes for the grid.

Creating a 12-bar blues example with alternate settings.

Encouragement to experiment and have fun with Chrome Music Lab Song Maker.

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