Since I have to find the music sheet for the melodies I have chosen, it is a wise choice to make the time to do some research on music theory. My music theory is adequate enough for the task at hand however it could use some basic revision to help make the research easier. I did some research on the 20th of November after going into town for some component shopping. Here is what I found.
Scales
Scales are a group of notes arranged by ascending or descending order of pitch. The two most common types of scales used in western music are usually major and minor. The key or pitch the scale is played in determines which notes can be played. For example Imagine by John Lennon is played in the key of C major. These notes include all the white keys on a piano. C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
Major scale
Major scales are defined by there combinations of whole steps and half steps. It goes like this. They have 7 notes Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – Whole – Whole – Half. You may use this with any note on the keyboard. If you start with G it would be a G Major scale and it’s note are G, A, B, C, D, E, F#. Major scales are mostly associated with happy or joyous feeling music.
Minor scale
Minor scales are similar to major scales. The difference is the order of the combination of whole and half steps. Minor scales are defined by having a flattened third. A flattened third means the third note of the scale is three semitones above the first note and not 4 unlike the major scale. The formula for the minor scale is Whole – Half – Whole – Whole – half – Whole – Whole. Music in minor scale tends to be sad and melancholy.
Melody sheet
Now that the basics have been reviewed. Let’s compile a list of the melodies I want to play on my project and their melodie notation.
ABC by Jackson 5:
D E G
“A B C”
B B-A G D E G
It’s easy as 1 2 3
B B-A G D E G
As simple as do re mi
A B G B A G
A B C, 1 2 3
G-G A B B G
Baby, you and me girl
Still Dre by Dr Dre: Right hand A E C x8, A E B, G E B x5. Left hand: A A (First AEC) B B (Seventh A E C) E E (First A E B), E E (Fourth G E B)
What a wonderful world by Louis Armstrong:
C E F A ^C
I see trees of green,
^D ^D-^D ^C
Red roses too
Bb Bb Bb A
I see them bloom,
G G G F
For me and you
F F F F F – F
And I think to myself,
F F E – F – G A
What a wonderful world.
Minor issue
I realised after looking at all the notation that my ability to play a piano is not really up to par. Alongside building the circuit, minor (see what I did there) practice may be required or just playing the melodies constantly until it sounds coherent enough to enjoy.