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 Arranging Acoustic Music

Although this course is focused on the hammer dulcimer, the harmony theory offered here is applicable to any acoustic instrument.  This is a basic course and does not cover ensemble arranging.  Think of it as a "Just Enough Theory" course and you'll understand the content better.

The course is aimed at students who know some tunes, how to play scales and can find their way around the dulcimer with confidence.   The goal of the course to equip you with the musical tools you need to make original arrangements for the dulcimer.


Live links show what is available.  More to come

In the mean time.......

►  Look for my article on multi-voice arranging at Mel Bay's Dulcimer Sessions.  www.dulcimersessions.com 
         The text will be up about December 1.  The topic is the Chrismas
Carol We Three Kings.
          A sound file accompanies the text.

Look for my detailed article on on multi-voice arranging in Dulcimer Players News.  www.dpnews.com
       That issue will come out early in 2009.  A sound file accompanies the text.

 

 Three Essential Tools for Arranging

Knowledge

           Key 

                      Circle of 5ths Diagram
                      Keys and the circle of 5ths

            Scales
                        Musical scales
                        Frequently used scale      
                        Unusual scales

            Chords
                        Intervals  if you are not familiar with interval nomenclature, visit this link
                       
Chord Basics if you are not familiar with chords, visit this link.
                        Chords on the diatonic scale
                        Chord Voicing
                        Tension Chords
                        Combination Chords
                        Color Chords
chord extensions

            Chord Progressions
                        Chord Progressions in major keys
                        Chord Functions
                        Circle of 5ths and Chord Boxes

            Modes
                        Diatonic Modes, chords and chord selections

            Rhythm
                        Rhythm, The Beat Window and Meter
                        Dysclocksia
                        Polyrhythms

 Skills

            Chord Falls
            Chord Imagine
            WAEF and WIDs
            WIDs integrated with melody
            Up ii down V
            Walking Bass
            Weird Scales
            Metronomic pulse
                     

 Procedure

            Transposition
            Modulation Techniques         
            Fitting Chords to Diatonic Melodies
            Arranging a melody - Ook Pic Waltz
            Choosing Chords Outside the Diatonic Population
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 Tunes

            Bonapoarte Crossing the Rhine
            Bonnie Portmore

            Un Canadian Errant
            Crested Hens
            Dark Island
            Final March of Mary Queen of Scots
            From the Top of the Hill
            Hard Times Come Again No More
            Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
            Kesh Jig
            Ook Pick Waltz
            Si Bheg Si Mhore
            Suo Gan
            In the Bleak Mid-Winter
            Star of the County Down
            The Water Is Wide                 

 Chord Charts
Chord charts for the following tunes:  
Can You Read My Mind? 
Dark as a Dungeon
Dream Dream Dream      
Eleanor Rigby
Mr. Bo Jangles
Music of the Night
Norweigian Wood
Satisfied Mind
Spanish Harlem
Stand By Me
What’ll I Do?
Yesterday
Your Mother Should Know
 

 NoteWorthy Files
            Hard Times Come Again No More
            Suo Gan
            In the Bleak Mid-Winter
            Star of the County Down
            The Water Is Wide     
            Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine
            Shenandoah
            Dark Island 

 

 ABC Files
           Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine          
           Crested Hens 
            Dark Island
            Hard Times Come Again No More
            Ook Pick Waltz
            Star of the County Down
            Suo Gan
            The Water Is Wide