Lesson 6 - Musical Layers

• Muziek
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1

Musical layers

Learning goals:

After this class you will know the 4 most important layers in music and you will be able to recognize them.

Musical layers

You know most op the pop instruments. But what about their role in a song? We take a look at 4 musical layers: 

Bass - Rhythm - Harmony - Melody

About musical layers

Every instrument has their own role. 

1) Rhythm: The drummer tells you the rhythm, beat and tempo. 

2)Bass: The bass player plays the bass layer.  Supports the beat of the drums and defines the "groove". 

3) De pianist plays chords (Harmony) to support the vocalist 

4) The vocalist sings the melody.  

Pair the instruments with their role

Rhtythm layer

Harmony

Melody

Bass layer

Different layers

In popmusic different musical layers have a different "Pitch". The melody is usually the highest and the bass layer the lowest. De harmony (chords)is usually in between the bass and the melody. The rhythm layer has no pitch and is therefor the easiest to define. 

Can you recognize the different layers?

Pair the fragments with the correct layer

Rhythm 

Harmony (chords)

Melody

Bass

In this video they are added one by one.

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Welke video was dit?

Musical Layers

Sometimes the different layers are played by multiple instruments. Can you recognize the layers in the coming fragments?

Listen to the first 40 seconds of this video

Which musical layers did you hear?

1. Chords and harmony
2. Bass, rhythm, harmony and melody
3. Bass and chords
4. Bass, rhythm and melody

Listen to the first 8 seconds of this song

Which layers did you hear?

1. Melody and harmony
2. Bass and rhythm
3. bass and melody
4. Rhythm only

Listen again if needed: choose the right order

1. Bass - melody - Harmony - Rhythm
2. Rhythm - Bass - Harmony - Melody
3. Melody - Harmony - Bass - Rhythm
4. Harmony - Bass - Rhythm - Melody

Listen to the first 40 seconds of this video

Which musical layers did you hear?

1. Melody
2. Harmony and melody
3. bass and rhythm
4. Melody, rhythm, harmony and bass

Do you understand the 4 different musical layers?

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The End