LyMaker

Version 0.3
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A part is a repeatable unit which is defined by certain parameters. It has a specific harmony structure which is based on the specific chord progressions (chord changes) which have to be described in the xml file and are stable for all repetitions. The chord progressions should be based on the key and the scale (mode) of the song.

The partname need not to match with the name(letter) used in structure. The first part, however, is always addressed as A in the structure.

A different tempo for the part can be specified by ptempo. If you switch the tempo in a song, the slower or faster part should somehow stand out. So it may use a harmony, a rhythm or a melody instrument that is distinct from the ones of adjoining parts because it otherwise sounds awkward.

Progressions

The key and scale has to be set for the whole song. It limits the notes you can use if you haven't decided to create a twelve-tone opus. If you have opted for a tonal composition the chords should reflect the chosen scale. Another parameter which influences the mood of the composition is voicing. Voicing1 decides in which order the notes of the chords are used. You can simply write the chords in your favourite voicing inside of the progressions tag. There are two different approaches for a non-standard voicing. The chord notes can be reordered preserving the chord root or using an inversion.

Example: voicing of c major

Standard voicing

Open voicing

First inversion

c-e-g

c-g-e'

e-g-c'

The syntax for the chord progressions is note,note,note[,note][;another chord]|another bar[|yet another bar].

So, the different notes of a chord are separated by a comma. You do not have to care about octaves. The notes are automatically treated in ascending order.. So, the inversion example above, would simply be “e,g,c” without octave marker.

You can specify more than one chord for one bar. Chords are separated by a semicolon. The second chord is used from the second downbeat onwards. The thrid chord is used from the third downbeat onwards. No chord change happens on an upbeat, so if you have only one downbeat (as for 3/4 time) even the second chord is useless. If you have inserted less chords than downbeats then the last of your chords is used till the end of the bar. Examples ( downbeats 1,3 and 5):

Chords/Beats

1

2

3

4

5

6

c,e,g;d,f,a;c,e,g

C

C

Dm

Dm

C

C

c,e,g

C

C

C

C

C

C

c,e,g;d,f,a

C

C

Dm

Dm

Dm

Dm


Bars are separated by the pipe symbol (|). Omit the bar symbol behind the last bar!

The length of a part is determined by the number of the bars within the progressions tag. Parts are normally 8, 12 or 16 bars long. The intro can be shorter.

Typical chord progressions

Intro

I-vi-iii-V (turnaround progression)

(in C) C-Am-Em-G

Bridge

iii7-vi7-ii7-V7 (Sears-Roebuck bridge in minor)

Em7-Em7-Am7-Am7-Dm7-Dm7-G7-G7

Closing cadence

I-IV-V-I

C-F-G-C



1 voicing is the instrumentation and vertical spacing and ordering of the pitches in a chord.

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Published under GPL / 2014 by Acoustic E