The Chorus

As of last week we have learned the basics of how to make drum beats in Reason using the Redrum. Adding Loops from Dr. Rex. And creating melodies and bass lines using Soft Synths and the Matrix and the Keyboard.

Today, we are starting a new section of the class. We will be turning our beats into full songs, converting them into mp3 format, and then posting them on our blogs.

But first we have to understand the different parts of a song. We will start with the chorus.

The chorus is the theme of a song, where the idea is delivered. Melodically, the chorus is the catchy, repetitious part of a song that you can sing along with. The chorus is also called the Hook because it's the part of the song that "hooks" you in. Lyrically, the chorus' job is to summarize the idea and emotion of the song in a general way and to hammer home its title.

The chorus is typically 8 or 16 bars long, which is 4 or 8 lines of lyrics.

The most important part for the chorus is to have the same melody and the same lyrics each time the chorus is repeated.

1. Open Reason.
2. Create an M-Class Mastering Suite Combi
3. Create a Mixer 14:2
   
4. Make a beat that would be the chorus of a song.
5. Start with your Redrum Drumbeat.
6. Make it either a 16 step or 32 step drum pattern with...
7. A clap, snap, or snare drum on 5 and 13
8. A Bass Drum on 1 and a few other boxes
9. At least two other sounds from the High Hat folder, Percussion Hi, Percussion Other, FX, or Glitch.
10. Copy the Pattern to Track.
11. Create one of the Soft Synth Instruments (Subtractor, Malstrom, NN19...) and either the Keyboard or the Matrix.
12. If you use the keyboard move the Right Loop point to R3.
13. Make a melody, record it and quantize it.
    
14. If you use the Matrix, make a melody with the volume up on between 3 and 7 notes. Make the melody in either Octave 4 or 5.
15. Copy Pattern to Track.
16. Create a Dr. Rex and load a loop to go with your beat.
    
17. Copy Pattern to Track.
18. Add either another part using the Dr. Rex or another Soft Synth with a Keyboard or Matrix using the lower octaves.
19. Record or Copy Pattern to Track.
20. Save the beat in your folder as (Your Name) First Chorus.
    
21. Now, go online and find a song that you like.
22. Open your email, compose a new email, and answer the following questions.
23. What is the title of your song?
24. Write the lyrics of the chorus.
25. Where does the title appear in the chorus?
26. How many lines are there in the chorus?
27. How many bars are there in the chorus?
28. What are the different instruments you hear in the chorus?
29. Send your email to mrprice@ccpaedu.com

Making a Stronger Melody and a Drum Beat

Today, you will be asked to create a melody using notes from the C minor scale that goes along with a drum beat.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo between 70-110 bpm
   
4. Create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap or Snap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
5. On the Redrum, Copy Pattern To Track.
6. Create a Dr. Rex and get the sample from me.
7. Do a remix of the sample and record it.
   
8. Now Create Subtractor: choose any instrument in the Subtractor/Monosynths Folder
   
9. Create a melody using notes from the C minor scale. Use between 3 and 5 different notes.
10. When you have finished making your melody, quantize it.
    
11. Create a Dr. Rex. Load a Percussion Loop and put it "To Track."
12. Try adding some more parts using other Soft Synths (Subtractor, Malstrom, NN19, NNXT)
13. Let me hear what you got.

C Minor

On Tuesday we remade T.I. Rubberband Man, which is a melody in C Major.

Today we are going to create the C minor scale using the keyboard.

The difference between the C Major Scale and the C minor Scale is that the 3rd, 6th, and 7th notes of the C minor scale are one step below those notes in the C Major Scale.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Create a NN19 Digital Sampler
4. Click on the Folder in the upper left hand corner of the NN19.
5. In the Patch Browser, click Reason Factory Sound Bank: NN19 Sampler Patches: Guitar: ACGUITAR.smp
6. Now that we have our sound loaded we need to play the scale on the keyboard.
   
7. We want to use the Keyboard to play a C minor Scale both up the scale and down the scale.
8. Push the Click button on the transport and change the tempo to 80 bpm.
9. Practice playing the scale with the click.
10. When you have it under your fingers it's time to record it.
11. Change the Right loop point from 9 to 3 on the sequencer.
12. Hit Record and Play, let the cursor go through the loop and start playing the scale when it gets back to the L.
13. After you have recorded the scale, highlight the notes and quantize.
    
14. Save the project in your folder as C minor Scale.
15. Now open a new Reason file.
16. Create a Drum Beat on the Redrum.
17. Add a melody in C minor using the NN19.
    
18. On your blog, answer the following questions.
19. How does the C minor scale sound different from the C Major scale?
20. What's a melody that uses the C minor scale?
21. What's your favorite instrument?
22. What's your favorite song right now?
    

T.I. Rubberband Man Melody

The song Rubberband Man by T.I. and produced by David Banner uses a melody based off of the C MAJOR scale. Let's recreate the melody and then add our on drums.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo to 82 bpm
4. Click on the "Click"
   
5. Create a NN19 Digital Sampler
6. Click on the Folder in the upper left hand corner of the NN19.
7. In the Patch Browser, click Reason Factory Sound Bank: NN19 Sampler Patches: Organ: Organ1Perc.smp
8. Practice the melody I showed you how to play.
   
9. When you feel comfortable with the melody, record it.
10. Go to the Windows Menu and select the Tools, using 1/16, apply the quantize.
    
11. Now, create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
12. On the Redrum, Copy Pattern To Track and Click on the Pattern button.
13. Save your beat as T.I.
    

The C Major Scale

Today we are going to start a new section on creating melodies in Reason. But first we need to understand a little more music theory. In music, musicians use scales as the frame for their melodies. There are two basic types of scales, the Major Scale, which has a happy sound, and the minor scale, which has a somber sound. You hear the Major Scale a lot in Pop Music. And you hear the minor scale a lot in Hip Hop music. Today we're going to learn the Major Scale. And more specifically the C Major Scale.

The Major Scale is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher. These notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, (Do)". The simplest major scale to write or play on the piano is C major, the only major scale not to require sharps or flats, using only the white keys on the piano keyboard:

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set your tempo to 85 bpm and click the CLICK button.
   
4. Create a NN19 Digital Sampler
5. Click on the Folder in the upper left hand corner of the NN19.
6. In the Patch Browser, click Reason Factory Sound Bank: NN19 Sampler Patches: Piano: BRIGHTPIANO.smp
7. Now we want to use the keyboard to play the scale.
8. Start on the lowest note on your keyboard and play the 8 white notes in a row. Count as you go a long, or say do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do.
9. When you feel like you have the C Major scale under your fingers. Try recording it.
10. Set your loop points at L1 and R3
11. Push the record button and wait for the cursor to get back to the L.
12. Then play the C Major Scale along with each click.
13. If the notes are a little off beat you can use the quantize function (I'll show you this individually)
14. If this is too easy try setting your loop points between L1 and R5 and go up and down the scale!
15. When you're finished, save the scale in your folder as C Major Scale.
16. On your blog write about the following questions:
17. What is a Scale?
18. What does a Major Scale sound like? Who uses it?
19. What is a Melody?

Dora The Explorer Remix Contest

Today we are going to take a sample from the Dora The Explorer theme song and remix it. Change the Tempo and the Pitch to make it sound different from the original.

Make it slap!

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Create a Dr. Rex
4. Click on the "Folder" in the upper left hand corner.
5. Select the Dora sample from the Desktop.
   
6. Click "TO TRACK"
7. Now we want to adjust the PITCH and TIME of the sample.
8. To do this we need to change two things.
   
9. To change the Time, change your Tempo. Set it to anything except what it says on the Dr. Rex.
10. To change the Pitch, use the keyboard on the Dr. Rex to transpose your sample up or down.
11. After you get your sample sounding the way you want it, it's time to add some drums that go with the sample.
12. Create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
13. On the Redrum, Copy Pattern To Track and Click on the Pattern button.
14. Create a Dr. Rex. Load a Percussion Loop and adjust the PITCH. Put it "TO TRACK."
15. Save your beat as (your name) Dora Remix.

Good Life

Today we're going to remix Kanye West's song The Good Life. But before we get started let's listen to the song.

Do you recognize the sample? It comes from the Michael Jackson song PYT.

What did Kanye do with the sample?

So, like Kanye I want you to change the PITCH and TIME of the PYT sample and make it your own.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Create a Dr. Rex
4. Download the sample: http://download.yousendit.com/F928324A5376941B
5. Click on the "Folder" in the upper left hand corner.
6. Select the PYT sample from the Desktop: PYT
7. On the Dr. Rex click TO TRACK
   
8. Now we want to adjust the PITCH and Time of the sample.
9. To do this, you will need to do two things. Change your tempo. And transpose the sample on the Dr. Rex keyboard.
10. If you choose a high tempo you might want to transpose the sample to a higher note.
11. If you have a slow tempo you might want to transpose the sample to a lower note.
12. After you get your sample sounding the way you want it, it's time to add some drums that goes with the sample.
    
13. Create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
14. On the Redrum, Copy Pattern To Track.
15. Create a Dr. Rex. Load a Percussion Loop and adjust the PITCH. Put it "To Track."
16. Save your beat as The Good Life
17. Write a blog post about what the good life means to you.

Using Music Loops "Ian Style"

Ian was the TA for this class last trimester. Ian makes beats using his secret stash of loops. Today we're going to use these loops and make a beat "Ian Style"

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Create a Dr. Rex
4. Click on the "Folder" in the upper left hand corner.
5. To get to Ian's secret loops... go to: Reason Factory Sound Bank: Music Loops: Variable Tempo: Downtempo Loops.
6. Choose a loop and then click "TO TRACK"
7. Now set your tempo to the same tempo as your loop.
8. Create a Redrum.
9. Change the Steps to 32.
   
10. In Sound 1, load a clap and put it on boxes 5 and 13.
11. Now toggle "EDIT STEPS" to 17-32
12. Put the clap on boxes 5 and 13
13. Toggle "EDIT STEPS" back to 1-16
14. In Sound 2, load a bass drum and put it on 1 and a few other boxes that go with your loop.
    
15. Now toggle "EDIT STEPS" to 17-32
16. Put the bass drum on 1 and a few other boxes that go with the loop.
    
17. Toggle "EDIT STEPS" back to 1-16
18. In Sound 3, load a high hat and put it any boxes...make sure it goes with your loop.
    
19. Now toggle "EDIT STEPS" to 17-32
20. Click on boxes that go with your loop.
    
21. Toggle "EDIT STEPS" back to 1-16
22. In Sound 4, load either a percussion-hi or percussion-other and put it any boxes...make sure it goes with your loop.
    
23. Now toggle "EDIT STEPS" to 17-32
24. Click on boxes that go with your loop.
    
25. Once you're happy with how your drums sound right click on the Redrum and select Copy Pattern To Track.
26. Don't forget to click on the Pattern Button.
27. Now let's add a Dr. Rex Percussion Loop.
28. Go to the Create menu and Create a Dr. Rex Loop Player.
29. We need to load a loop, so click on the folder in the upper left hand corner of the loop player.
30. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank: Dr. Rex Percussion Loops: and select any of the folders: choose a loop.
31. On The Dr. Rex, click "TO TRACK"
32. Save your beat in your folder as "Ian Style"
    

The Return of Dr. Rex

Today we are going to review what we learned last week. We are also going to add another kind of loop, a Dr. Rex Percussion Loop!

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo between 80-110
   
4. Create Redrum
5. In Sound 1 on the Redrum, load a Clap and put it on 5 and 13.
6. In Sound 2 on the Redrum, load a Bass Drum and put it on 1, and a few other boxes (except 5 and 13).
   
7. In Sound 3 on the Redrum, load a Hi Hat and put it on boxes that sound good.
8. In Sound 4 on the Redrum, load a Percussion sound and put it anywhere.
9. Now, we want to edit steps 17-32.
10. Change the steps of the Redrum from 16 to 32.
11. Move the Edit Steps from 1-16 to 17-32.
12. Select Sound 1 and click on boxes 5 and 13
13. Select Sound 2 and click on boxes 1 and a few other boxes.
14. Select Sound 3 and click on the boxes that sound good.
15. Select Sound 4 and click on any boxes!
    
16. Now that you've finished making your pattern, it's time to Copy Pattern To Track.
17. Right click on the Redrum and select Copy Pattern to Track.
18. Click on the PATTERN button on the Redrum so that they don't play at the same time.
19. Now we want to Create a Dr. Rex instrument loop.
20. Go to the Create menu and Create a Dr. Rex Loop Player.
21. We need to load a loop, so click on the folder in the upper left hand corner of the loop player.
22. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank: Dr. Rex Instrument Loops: and select any of the folders: choose a loop.
23. On The Dr. Rex, click "TO TRACK"
24. Now, let's add a Dr. Rex Percussion Loop.
25. Go to CREATE: Dr. Rex.
26. Click on the Folder in the upper left hand corner of the Dr. Rex.
    
27. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank:Dr. Rex Percussion Loops: Choose any of the folders: choose any of the loops.
28. Click "TO TRACK" on the Dr. Rex
    
29. Save your beat in your folder as The Return of Dr. Rex

Introduction to Dr. Rex

Today we are going to introduce a new instrument: The Dr. Rex Loop Player!

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo to 95 bpm
4. For this exercise, let's make a 32 step beat!
   
5. Create Redrum
6. In Sound 1 on the Redrum, load a Clap and put it on 5 and 13.
7. In Sound 2 on the Redrum, load a Bass Drum and put it on 1, and a few other boxes (except 5 and 13).
   
8. In Sound 3 on the Redrum, load a Hi Hat and put it on boxes that sound good.
9. In Sound 4 on the Redrum, load a Percussion sound and put it anywhere.
10. Now, we want to edit steps 17-32.
11. Change the steps of the Redrum from 16 to 32.
12. Move the Edit Steps from 1-16 to 17-32.
13. Repeat steps 6 through 9.
14. Now that you've finished making your pattern, it's time to Copy Pattern To Track.
15. Right click on the Redrum and select Copy Pattern to Track.
16. Click on the PATTERN button on the Redrum so that they don't play at the same time.
17. Now we want to Create a Dr. Rex instrument loop.
18. Go to the Create menu and Create a Dr. Rex Loop Player.
19. We need to load a loop, so click on the folder in the upper left hand corner of the loop player.
20. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank: Dr. Rex Instrument Loops: Various Hip Hop Loops: HHP_Blimpee_95.
21. On The Dr. Rex, click "TO TRACK"
22. Save your beat in your folder as Dr. Rex
23. Now create a new Reason Document and make a new beat following the steps in this excercise and select your own Dr. Rex Instrument Loop.
    

Baby Don't Go 100 bpm

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo to 100 bpm
4. Create Redrum
5. In Sound 1 on the Redrum, load Clap (clp_photek) and put it on 5 and 13.
6. In Sound 2 on the Redrum, load Bass Drum (bd_basic) and put it on 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9.
7. In Sound 3 on the Redrum, load Hi Hat (hh_basic) and put it on all the boxes.
8. Now, we need to do the second bar of the beat.
9. Change the steps of the Redrum from 16 to 32.
10. Move the Edit Steps from 1-16 to 17-32.
11. Now push Select on Sound 1. Put it on Boxes 5 and 13.
12. Now push Select on Sound 2. Put it on Boxes 1, 4, 7, and 9.
13. Now push Select on Sound 3. Put it on all the boxes.
14. Right Click on the Redrum and select Copy Pattern To Track.
15. Turn the Pattern button off on the Redrum.
16. Save your beat as Baby Don't Go.
17. Listen to the real Baby Don't Go
18. What are three things that sound different between your version and the original? Leave your answer in the comments.

Busta Rhymes Turn It Up

Today we are going to remake a beat that Busta Rhymes used. We will be loading in our own sounds from the folders at the top of the Redrum, Making Two Patterns, and Copying Them To Track.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo to 102 bpm
4. Create Redrum
5. In Sound 1 on the Redrum, load Clap (clp_beltram) and put it on 7 and 13.
6. In Sound 2 on the Redrum, load Bass Drum (bd_boomer) and put it on 1, 4, 5, and 11.
7. In Sound 3 on the Redrum, load Percussion Hi (sh_brat) and put it on boxes 7, 8, 9, 11, and 13.
8. Now change your pattern to Pattern 2.
9. In Sound 4 on the Redrum, load Snare (sd_optical) and put it on boxes 7 and 13.
10. In Sound 5 on the Redrum, load Bass Drum (bd_brassic) and put it on boxes 1, 4, 5, and 11.
11. Select Sound 3 on the Redrum and put it on boxes 7, 8, 9, 11, and 13.
12. Now, select Pattern 1. Move the "R" on the sequencer to 5. Right Click on The Redrum and Copy Pattern To Track.
13. Now, select Pattern 2. Move the "R" to 9 and the "L" to 5. Right Click on The Redrum and Copy Pattern to Track.
14. Click on the Pattern button on the Redrum
15. Save your beat as "Turn It Up"
16. Listen to the original What sounds does Busta Rhymes have in his song that you don't? Leave your answer in the comment section.

Tell Me When To Go

1. Open Reason
2. If you don't see it, CREATE:Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo to 107 BPM
4. Create Redrum
5. On the Redrum: click on the Folder on Sound 1
6. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank:Redrum Drum Kits: Xclusive Drums Sorted: 04_Claps
7. Select Clp_Beltram and put it on BOXES 5 and 13
8. On the Redrum: click on the Folder on Sound 2
9. Go to Xclusive Drums Sorted: 01_Bass Drums
10. Select BD_Heavy Dub and put it on BOXES 1,4,7,9,11, and 12.
11. On the Redrum: click on the Folder on Sound 3
12. Go to Xclusive Drums Sorted: 07_Perc-Hi
13. Select Tmb_Chemical and put it on BOXES 9 and 13.
14. SAVE YOUR BEAT AS Tell Me When To Go
15. Now, Right Click on The Redrum and Click on COPY PATTERN TO TRACK.
16. You now have the pattern playing on the sequencer so you need to click on the PATTERN button on the Redrum so that they don't play at the same time.
17. Go to the File menu and select Save.
    
18. Now listen to this instrumental of Tell Me When To Go
19. How does your version sound different from E-40's? Write three things that are different in the comments
20. Close the Tell Me When To Go Reason File.
21. Open a New Reason File.
22. Make a beat by using the folders for each sound to choose your sounds.
23. Remember, start with your Clap on 5 and 13.
24. Add a Bass Drum on 1 and some other numbers.
25. Add a HiHat anywhere.
26. Add a Percussion sound anywhere.
27. Copy your Pattern To Track.
28. Click The Pattern Button.
    
29. SAVE YOUR WORK!