Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Writing an arrangement

#1

I am Writing out my own arrangement for I’ll fly away. I was wondering if there were things I should know before I continue.

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#2

Knowing the melody would be important

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#3

Timing. It is often hard to put the notes you want in the right places. Play along with a rhythm track and make sure you are within the right timing. Like @Archie said, knowing the melody super well will help with that.

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#4

“oh yeah! silly me right?”:smirk:

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#5

thanks guys, been trying to play by ear lately and thought I’ll fly away would be great considering I’ve never did the song before. timing will be tough. I got the melody down. its just writing it out one maybe 2 notes at a time.

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#6

Hi @Harley Ian you’ll find the alternating thumb roll fits well with that tune, you can slip in a few slides and pull offs, just don’t rush it. If your playing by ear you don’t want to be writing it down it defeats the purpose.

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#7

Understandable! Thanks!!

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#8

@Harley also knowing and practicing the scale of the key you are playing in is very helpful when trying to make up your own arrangement.

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#9

how can you tell what key you’re playing in?

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#10

Hi @Harley Ian Choosing which key to play the tune in is often down to the vocalist. But since you are arranging it, it’s down to your preference. Judging by the number and types of questions you are asking I have to assume you don’t know much about music.

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#11

I know some stuff about music, I take music directing lessons and sing in a choir. It’s just banjo tabs are harder for me to tell what keys there in, when it’s not listed, also I’m used to notes on sheet music, not know what notes what are when I got tabs with numbers is tough.

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#12

typing is not on my side today, that last part was supposed to be, not knowing which notes were which, and just having numbers.

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#13

Ok so your musical score allows you to create the melody. Tablature is designed for use with a stringed instruments which do not have linear octaves laid out like a piano. All the notes you need for I’ll fly away you should be able to locate within the first 7 frets.

You said in an earlier post you were arranging the tune BY EAR so why are you messing about with TABs?

FORGET the key for now. Let me choose it. Key of G the easiest to figure out. Find the first note, then the second and work from there

This should help

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#14

thanks Archie this was a big help!

I believe I was playing it in C, now that I know what G sounds like. I can make adjustments.

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#15

When you nail it try these Keys

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