Choose one of the following scales with which to compose a tune:

C	D	E	F	G	A	B	C
D	E	F#	G	A	B	C#	D
F	G	A	Bb	C	D	E	F
G	A	B	C	D	E	F#	G

1. Chant these words to yourself a few times:

I like lots of butter on my toast. (rest)
(US:The underlined words are quarter notes and the others are eighths.
UK: The underlined words are crotchets and the others are quavers.)

2. Make a tune for these words, starting on the blue note of your scale and ending on the green note.

3.Follow this with another phrase  to the same words, this time starting on the green note and finishing on the blue note.

4. Continue with a third phrase to this rhythm:

Yes, I do.     Yes, I do.   (US:"do" is a half note  UK: "do" is a minim)

If you can play the top, underlined, notes of your scale, use these. If not, play the rhythm all on one note - the green one.

5. Finally, round off your tune with a fourth phrase, starting on the green note and finishing on the blue note. 
(it can be the same as the phrase you created at step 3, if you wish) 

6. Replace these words with something better!!!

Suggestion: You could use this pattern for building phrases to create a new tune, from scratch, using words (and therefore, rhythms) of your own choosing.


Be sure to write your tune down, so that you can remember it!

Copyright 2002. Audrey Podmore