2/24_Keyboard Basics/Finish C-Minor Chord

Basic

There are two goals for today:
1) Learn the keys of the keyboard
2) Continue working with the NN19 Digital Sampler and use it to play the C Major scale.

Keys of the Keyboard

OK, here's one thing you need to understand: there are only 12 notes that you can play!

Here is what they look like:


Now, you may be thinking, "But I've seen a piano before and I know they've got a lot more than 12 of those things on them". Take a look at this picture of a full sized piano keyboard:
Notice any patterns?

So, basically this whole keyboard is made up of sets of these 12 notes repeating. A set of 12 notes is called an octave. As you go to the right, the pitch gets higher, as you go to the left, the pitch gets lower, but there are always just the same 12 notes.

"What are the names of these notes, Mr. Runde?" you ask.

Good question. Today, let's just focus on the white keys:

• The white keys are just the first 7 letters of the alphabet (A-B-C-D-E-F-G) repeating over and over.

What is the name of the first note on the left? What happens when you go 12 notes to the right? What do you think the next white note to the right will be?

So, if you play each of these white keys in order, from C to C, you will be playing what is called the C Major scale. We will be working on this more on Thursday, but for now, just REMEMBER...

The white keys are just the first 7 letters of the alphabet (A-B-C-D-E-F-G).

The NN19

The NN19 is a type of instrument called a sampler. Like we discovered yesterday, it lets you load the sounds of all kinds of instruments and play them with your keyboard. Today I want you to do the following:

1. Start a new Reason file.
2. Create an NN19 Digital Sampler.
3. Now load a patch into your NN19 (piano, guitar, etc.)
   
4. Set the L marker to Bar 1, and the R marker on Bar 5.
5. Now turn on the Click and hit the SPACEBAR to start playback.
6. Adjust the tempo to whatever you're comfortable with.
7. While listening to the click, practice playing the C Major scale (all the white notes, one at a time). Be sure to go up and down the scale. Try to play each note on the the clicks. Play the highest note (C) twice.
8. With the Redrum, create a 32-step drum beat and put it into your Sequencer Window for 4 Bars.  (use Copy Pattern to Track).
   
9. Save this as your name_C Major and turn in a copy to the Dropoff folder.

Advanced

So, all my advanced people need to finish up and turn in their C-Minor Chord assignments. To get full credit, your song must include all of the following:

• A drum beat 8-16 bars long.
• A melodic instrument that you use to play the C-Minor Chord.
• A melodic instrument that you use to play an original melody that goes with the C-Minor Chord.