Assignment #21
- 1Choose a chord progression with no more than four chords in it and never deviate.
- 2Create three distinct song sections by focusing mostly on melody.
- 3No hiding! No effects other than EQ and compression.
- Due Mar 17, 2024
- 12 Submissions
- Created by juliapiker
Other Assignments
Assignment #20
- 1Base your song off of a dream you’ve had—recurring or otherwise.
- 2Feature two interweaving musical elements.
- 3Involve your subconscious by including some amount of improvisation in your recording.
Assignment #19
- 1Set your song at a motel during a meteor shower.
- 2Feature a “cascading” melody.
- 3During your process, spend some time outside at night alone.
Assignment #18
- 1Pulling from any three songs on the all-time Billboard Year-End Chart, borrow a lyric from one…
- 2A melody from another…
- 3And the vibe from a third, to bring a new original song to life.
Discussion
Ben March 18, 2024 4:43pm
lol y’all cheated
Ben March 19, 2024 1:57pm
?
nick March 20, 2024 1:35pm
Cheating might be a harsh way to put it, and “y’all” might be a bit broad. I understand the frustration of challenging yourself to adhere strictly to the parameters while others may be less inclined. I think there’s probably a touch of verb on the tambourine sample I used, but that’s a compromise I had to make while balancing my sanity.
Ben March 14, 2024 9:24pm
I wish there were capos for my vocal chords
nick March 17, 2024 9:28pm
if only this assignment allowed for pitch correction
Ben March 5, 2024 1:32pm
I haven’t even started thinking about my song, but i really do already think this is the most quintessential ncbc prompt yet, and here is why:
It’s prescriptive, yet not narrow.
It’s highly accessible for all musicians at all levels.
It gets everyone out of their comfort zone, while not remotely asking them to do something that’s beyond their abilities.
It has the ability to generate both: songs that sound like an NCBC submission; or songs that sound like regular songs. Or both at once I guess, too!
It has some well-defined hard and fast rules, and while there is certainly plenty of room for interpretation or bending (as always!), the essence of the point of the prompt is abundantly clear and understandable.
If someone asks what NCBC is, I’d use this assignment as my example.
Ben March 5, 2024 1:34pm
oh @@juliapikeri see you submitted this one. hell ya, good thinking. can not wait.
Ryan March 4, 2024 11:57am
Let’s see how this goes 😎
stonewindow March 4, 2024 7:35am
No reverb?
nick March 4, 2024 10:54am
no sir!
nick March 4, 2024 2:44pm
right, @@juliapiker?
juliapiker March 4, 2024 2:46pm
Correct- No Reverb. No hiding behind effects or using them to enhance the quality of your track.
What happens when we strip down to the basics?
Like nick said- follow your heart.
stonewindow March 4, 2024 5:53pm
All good for me. I’m stripped down anyway. Just wanted to clarify.
Carseat March 3, 2024 9:43pm
What aboooouuuuuut….. guitar effects…??? o_0
Ben March 3, 2024 9:59pm
Haha same question! If I turn my amp up too high and my guitar begins to OVERDRIVE is that an effect?!?
nick March 4, 2024 10:57am
Though there’s generally wiggle room with the parameters, I try to identify the spirit of the parameter and work within that. Others may be more compelled to look for loopholes, which is completely allowed. Follow your heart 💫
Rmal March 4, 2024 7:17pm
I’ll take waaaayyyy overdriven amp as a no effort, just as god intended when he created tubes
nick March 5, 2024 10:33am
🤘
Ben March 5, 2024 1:34pm
well said nick