For this composition, I used the Music Box and Film Piano sounds as the echoes create a ghostly atmosphere, and the layering of the sounds adds to this effect. I used the harmonic minor scale in the key of A because it sounds eerie and horror-like; the notes I used were A, B, C, D, E, Ab and F, and I played it at 110 beats per minute. I played it high up on the keyboard to add to the horror-like effect, and played some notes on a higher octave towards the end to add variation. To inspire my melody, I looked at musical sources such as piano scale sheets and watched non-musical sources such as horror film trailers.

Horror Melody

To create this composition, I used the chord progression Am, C, F and E because these chords have a dark and slow ballad-like feel to them. I played the chords in my right hand and the octaves of the root notes of the chords in my left to add depth to the piece. I played the composition on a keyboard on the Bright Piano 2 setting at 105 beats per minute.

Ballad Chords

My bass riff was composed using the Electric Bass VX sound on Cubase as it fits the rock genre.  I composed it at 200 beats per minute because this meant that it would fit with an up-tempo rock track, and I used the notes Gb, A, E, Ab, Eb, C# and B to create this riff. I repeated the first section of the riff because this made it more memorable and fitting for the genre.

Bass Riff

My drum pattern was composed to accompany my bass riff. I used the Stereo GM Kit on Cubase, and I placed a bass drum sound on every other beat and a snare drum sound on every beat in between the bass drum sounds, as well as a cymbal sound on every eighth beat. The pattern is played at 200 beats per minute to match the bass riff that it accompanies. My drum beat is relatively simple and repetitive, and this fits into the genre of the bass riff that goes with the drum pattern.

Drum Pattern

I chose the Cubase synth bass sound Hard Times for this composition because it sounds very synthesised, which is a common sound in EDM music. I played it at 130 beats per minute using the notes Gb, A, D and B. The first section of the composition is repeated, and the notes are played on a higher octave towards the end to signify the end of the melody. The repetitive nature of the composition fits in well with the EDM genre, making it fairly simple yet catchy. I looked at musical sources such as EDM songs to inspire this composition.

EDM Melody

To create this minute long composition, I used my original chord sequence of Am, C, F and E at 100 bpm.
I used decoration at 11 seconds by playing each note in the chords individually before moving onto the next chord; this makes the progression sound fuller and more interesting.
I added retrograde at 19 seconds by playing the chord sequence backwards - the sequence became E, F, C and Am. This gave the piece a slightly more uplifting effect, however it still retained the dramatic tone created by the original sequence.
I also added a contrast/juxtaposition at 37 seconds, as I played the retrograded chords softly, creating a contrast in the volume of the piece. The contrast between loud and quiet creates an emotional effect and grabs the listener's attention.
I added an inversion at 38 seconds by moving the original chords in the opposite direction, resulting in the chord sequence Am, F, C, D. This creates a melancholy feel, however the progression from the C chord to the D chord may inspire a sense of hope.
I used rhythmic augmentation at 48 seconds by shortening the notes to give the effect of the music increasing in speed and tempo. This adds tension and drama to the piece, as the sudden increase in speed contradicts the slow, quiet chords that come before it.

Ballad - 1 Minute

To make this composition, I used my original notes of Gb, A, E, Ab, Eb, C# and B at 200 beats per minute.
I extended my composition by using repetition at 9 seconds by repeating the main riff. This develops the composition by allowing me to add other elements such as accompaniment over the top of the main riff.
I also added variation at 27 seconds by changing the last few notes in the riff to go upwards by playing the notes Gb, Ab and A. This variation ensures that the riff doesn't become boring and makes it clear that the composition is moving forward, allowing me to transpose the piece.
I used chromatic additions at 48 seconds by playing the notes D, D#, E and F in order. This creates a sense of anticipation, and also leads perfectly into a key change back into the original key.

Bass Riff - 1 Minute

For this composition, I used my horror melody using the notes A, B, C, D, E, Ab and F at 110 beats per minute.
I used both texture and accompaniment at 0 seconds by adding more instruments to support the melody, therefore increasing the amount of notes playing at the same time. I added the Cello Duo sound on Cubase, playing the notes A, D, E and Ab behind the melody. This makes the overall piece sound stronger and also adds to the eerie sound by emphasising certain notes such as the Ab, which adds to the horror idea.
I also added canon at 17 seconds by overlapping the section with the notes E, D and C. This created an echo effect; the overlapping notes build up and this creates a perhaps overwhelming effect, adding the the element of horror in the piece.
In addition, I used both sequence and transposition at 22 seconds by transposing the piece into the harmonic minor scale in the key of D. The notes then became D, E, F, G, A, Ab and Gb. I did this by playing the melody 3 notes higher than in the original melody. The higher key builds a sense of anticipation and creates tension.

Daisy Kenway

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