We’ve established our goal - we want to craft a playlist that captures the highs and lows of our thematic journey and use AI as a tool to dissect and amalgamate their musical styles. So where do we start? What are the elements of music composition that would be important to consider in this exercise?
What is Music
Here are some key elements to consider when using generative AI to create music:
Melody
The melody is the most memorable part of the song. It should have a clear shape and structure, with peaks and valleys in pitch and rhythmic variety. When combining styles, look for melodic features characteristic of each - such as the smooth contours of jazz versus the sharp syncopation of funk. Blend them in creative ways.
Harmony
The chord progressions establish the mood and reinforce the melody. Look at the typical chord changes in each style - jazz uses more complex extended chords while pop stays simple. Find an interesting balance, like a pop melody over jazz harmonies. Also play with modulations between keys.
Rhythm
The rhythmic groove is vital. Analyse the drum patterns and rhythmic feels - swing versus straight 8th notes, syncopation, etc. Synthesise elements from both styles - maybe a swinging hi-hat pattern with a funk bassline. Add rhythmic variety.
Structure
Song forms provide familiarity. Study common lengths and repetitive patterns - verse-chorus structure in pop versus 12-bar blues. Combine familiar structures in unexpected ways, like a funk groove within an AABA jazz form. Have contrasts between sections.
Lyrics
Lyrics must complement the melodic accents. Maintain stylistic conventions from each genre - storytelling in country or rhyme schemes in hip-hop. Cleverly integrate different lyric techniques.
Instrumentation
Arrangement and tones hugely impact the sound. Capture distinctive instruments like saxophones in jazz or banjos in bluegrass. Blend instruments and playing styles from both genres.
Genre Conventions
Each genre has cliches to avoid. For country avoid overusing steel guitar slides, in jazz avoid excessive noodling. Combine genres thoughtfully not haphazardly. Research conventions.
Emotional Expressiveness
Music often conveys identifiable emotions. Study how each genre achieves poignancy, joy, relaxation, or excitement. Isolate those techniques and blend them thoughtfully.
Originality
With knowledge of conventions, purposefully bend the "rules" to create something new. Surprise the listener by subverting expectations. Keep parts familiar while exploring new territory.
Summary
When combining different musical styles, there is great potential for innovation by thoughtfully fusing together key elements. Over the course of exploring music composition, we will analyze each element in depth - from melody, harmony, and rhythm to lyrics, instrumentation, structure and emotional expressiveness.
By studying the conventions of each style, while being unafraid to bend the "rules", we can blend styles in novel ways. For example, we could fuse a pop song structure with a soulful R&B groove, jazz harmonies, and classical-inspired modulations between keys.
The goal is to synthesise elements from across styles and genres to produce something familiar yet new, progressive yet pleasing. By digging into the nuances of each component and finding the right fusion, we can work towards truly innovative musical creations. In the coming articles, we will methodically break down each element and provide techniques to combine them in musically meaningful ways.