📻 Coding Familiar Songs
Keyboard Guide
Let’s Code Simple Songs We Know
Musical Notes (with Octaves)
Sheet music will show notes on clefs like this. The top is the treble clef and the bottom is the bass clef, which is where you will find the lower-sounding notes. This image also shows us the octave these particular notes are in as indicated by the the small numbers.
Octave Chart
Want a bigger variety? On the left we have the bass clef octaves and on the right are the treble clef octaves. This chart can help you identify which notes fall under which octaves.
Note Symbols
Did you know an A sharp (A#) and a B flat (B♭) are the same note? Sharp notes are a half-step higher and flat notes are a half-step lower than the natural note. In the image below, you’ll see that both A# and B♭ are indeed the same key.
Source: blog.flat.io
Jingles You May Know
Looking at this music sheet, we can code these notes into digital tones! A dotted note has a length of itself plus half. For example, the very last note is an eighth note but has a dot next to it. If eighth notes last for 0.50 beats, then a dotted eighth (de) last for 0.50 + 1/2(0.50) = 0.75 beats!
Copy & Paste This Code in Sonic Pi
#VARIABLES e = 0.5 #eighth note s = 0.25 #sixteenth note de = 0.75 #dotted eighth note (e + 1/2e) #TEMPO use_bpm 100 play_pattern_timed [:Eb4, :F4, :G4, :C5, :Bb4, :G4, :F4, :Eb4, :Eb4], [e, e, e, s, e, e, e, s, de]
Another Example
Now that we know how to code notes, octaves, and can recognize notation, can you fill in the missing bars of this song? I’ve filled in the first two bars for you!
Copy & Paste this Code in Sonic Pi
#Blinding Lights #Key Eb major #VARIABLES w = 4 #whole note h = 2 #half note q = 1 #quarter note dq = 1.5 #dotted quarter note sq = 4.5 #sustained quarter note (for this song) e = 0.5 #eighth note de = 0.75 #dotted eighth note se = 1 #sustained eighth note (for this song) s = 0.25 #sixteenth note ds = 0.375 #dotted sixteenth note #TEMPO use_bpm 168 #CODE play_pattern_timed [:F5, :F5, :Eb5], [h, dq, e] play_pattern_timed [:F5, :G5, :C5, :Eb5], [e, q, se, dq] play_pattern_timed [],[] play_pattern_timed [],[] play_pattern_timed [],[] play_pattern_timed [],[]
Notes That Sound Good Together
Want to create your own sound? Using the notes in these chords will create a wonderful, melodious tune. Try different combinations!
Copy & Paste This Code into Sonic Pi
# What song is this? Do you recognize it? play :F sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :As sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :D5 sleep 0.5 play :D5 sleep 0.5 play :C5 sleep 1 play :F sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :As sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :C5 sleep 0.5 play :C5 sleep 0.5 play :As sleep 0.16 play :A sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.8 play :F sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :As sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :Bb4 sleep 0.7 play :C5 sleep 0.4 play :A sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :F sleep 0.5 play :F sleep 0.16 play :C5 sleep 0.5 play :As sleep 1 play :F sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :As sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :D5 sleep 0.5 play :D5 sleep 0.5 play :C5 sleep 1 play :F sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :As sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :F5 sleep 0.6 play :A sleep 0.5 play :As sleep 0.16 play :A sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.8 play :F sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :As sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :As sleep 0.5 play :C5 sleep 0.5 play :A sleep 0.16 play :G sleep 0.16 play :F sleep 0.8 play :F sleep 0.2 play :C5 sleep 0.4 play :As
Now It’s Your Turn!
Using what we know so far, code a few lines of a fun song. Google can help you find the notes you’re looking for. Use the charts above to figure out which octaves your notes are in!