Book · Music
Beginner to Composer in 14 Days · Digital edition
The Ultimate Challenge
The Ultimate Challenge
Now that you have worked through this book once and created a composition you’ll be able to make many more, and in no time at all. It’s common in books and films for artists to be portrayed as tortured souls, haunted by unfinished paintings and symphonies, mad as hatters until the job is complete. It doesn’t need to be like that, I’ll prove it to you.
Set aside an afternoon, just one, no more. Work your way through The Ultimate Challenge, a condensed version of this book with zero fat. Don’t get caught up in perfectionism. If you find some parts difficult that’s fine, in fact it’s to be expected. Do what you can at the level you’re at right now, and tell yourself you’ll do that bit a little better next time. Not every composition needs to be ‘the one’. Some will be stepping stones to great works, without which great work would never be made.
In short, just keep moving. Take small breaks to re-energise but don’t lose focus. With the right mindset you can absolutely do this, and when you do you’ll never look back. On your marks, get set, go!
Choose a root note. This is your home key. Write it on your worksheet under the R on the Major Key table.
| R | T | T | S | T | T | T | S |
| C | |||||||
| I | iim | iiim | IV | V | vim | viio | I |
Create a rhythmic phrase for your melody. Write it here on your worksheet.
Write the notes of your home key here under the major scale formula RTTSTTTS. Add the RH finger pattern for this major scale.
| R | T | T | S | T | T | T | S |
| C | |||||||
| I | iim | iiim | IV | V | vim | viio | I |
Add the lowercase m’s and a small o to the notes of your Major Key table on your worksheet. This transforms the notes into the correct chords that belong to your key. Use the bottom row to help you.
| R | T | T | S | T | T | T | S |
| C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | Bo | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| I | iim | iiim | IV | V | vim | viio | I |
Fill in the major key circle on your worksheet. Explore different ways to move through these chords, using the diagram of recommended chord movements to guide you.
Write your favourite four chord progression on your worksheet in the A section.
Take a moment to find the smoothest inversions for your chord progression, write the names of your chosen inversions next to your chords.
Identify the relative minor to your major home key. Add it to the Minor Key table on the worksheet, along with the RH finger pattern for this minor scale.
| R | T | S | T | T | S | T | T |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | A |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| im | iio | III | ivm | vm | VI | VII | im |
Next, create a rhythmic phrase for your B section melody. Write it here on your worksheet.
Add the lowercase m’s and a small o to the notes of your Minor Key table.
| R | T | S | T | T | S | T | T |
| Am | Bo | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| im | iio | III | ivm | vm | VI | VII | im |
Fill in the minor key circle on your worksheet. Explore different ways to move through these chords, using the diagram of recommended chord movements to guide you.
Write your favourite four chord progression on your worksheet in the B section.
Explore LH patterns (e.g. Oom-pah and arpeggiated chords) and when you’ve decided what you want and where you want them, write the names next to the chords.
Create a melody and write it on your worksheet. Remember to experiment with any note from your key, but keep a strong focus on chord tones.
Translate the information from your worksheet to your lead sheet. Use musical notation for your RH melody and add in your LH chords above the stave.
If there are any notes in your melody that sound a little off, try other notes from your key. Small movements between notes often sound better than huge jumps. Make any necessary revisions on your lead sheet. This is also a good moment to add in a tie or two if you think they enhance your melody.
Did you manage it? Did you get to the end in one afternoon? Roll over Beethoven.