Analysis by deconstructing beats

In traditional musical analysis,  we leverage the tools of Common Music Notation to better understand the elements that bring a musical work to life.   In computer music, we use another set of tools to understand the elements of an existing piece of music.

In the video linked below.  Pat Cupo uses the practice of deconstructing a beat via pieces of audio to start the processes of rhythmic analysis.    The video: linked here.

You can also practice some basics of analysis on paper by identifying all the elements in a work.  You can start with the number of different instruments or sources.   You can then categorize or classify those sources based on their musical function (rhythm section, background, foreground, melody, harmony).   You can break down a seemingly complex piece into a large collection of simple components or a small collection of moderately complex components.

By breaking down a complex object into simple components, and an arrangement of components in phrases, sections on movements, you can then efficiently emulate or reproduce those components,  explore or expand upon the arrangement and then bring compelling musical ideas to your audience.

Youtuber Freshly Squeezed Samples has produced several analysis videos simply picking apart popular electronic dance music forms.    You can see several of his videos here.

Between now and our next meeting,  be sure to pick a few pieces that are very interesting to you, so that you may further explore methods using computers and DAWs to analyze musical works.

For those of you who would like some review to get more comfortable with Ableton Live,   please  check out the getting started post: here.

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