Challenge a Christmas song with VOCALOID! Creating the melody and chords

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• DTMermilk cocoa
  Former IT engineer. I use a wind synthesizer. I make songs using Vocaloid and CeVIO, and sometimes I invite a vocalist to create songs as well. I originally was a half-baked DTM user who only made backing tracks for instrument practice, but after discovering Vocaloid and following its evolution, I fell deep into it—just a music lover. I use Vocaloid 2 Megpoid, Vocaloid 3 IA, and ONE from CeVIO Creative Studio.

Image of a Christmas song

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com

amaging graceand/or; such as; or (used to list examples)joy to the worldIn the case of hymns like this, it seems that orchestral instruments, the piano, or the organ often provide the accompaniment.

When it comes to popular pop-style Christmas songs, the one you hear without fail every year is Wham!’sLast Christmasand Mariah Carey’sAll i want for christmas is youMaybe the two songs?

In Japan, Tatsuro Yamashita'sChristmas EveAnd Mariya Takeuchi’s “Suteki na Holiday” always plays in the commercials.

What many of these kinds of songs have in common issleigh bellthe sound ofGlockenspielthe presence of instruments that produce high-pitched soundsIt is.

If you keep these points in mind, it seems unlikely you'll stray far from the intended image.

First, make the melody.

This time, I’ll start by thinking from a Christmas-like melody.

Since it’s Christmas, I’d like to keep things upbeat, so I’ll try to come up with a melody with a pop vibe, thinking along the lines of Mariya Takeuchi or Mariah Carey.

Since we have the theme of Christmas, if we could borrow and weave in a few phrases from hymns and the like, it might help people feel, “Ah, it’s Christmas,” don’t you think?

Let's try incorporating the inclusion of such phrases as one of the themes.

Things to be careful about in the melody areKeep it from being too high, and make the phrase mindful of breathing.It is.

Vocaloids don’t have such restrictions, but I think it’s still better to keep in mind songs that they can actually sing.

Keeping the above in mind, I tried creating a melody by experimenting on the keyboard several times.

In the B-melody phraseRudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerI tried incorporating phrases from it.

Does the vibe kind of come across?

Create atmosphere with code

Once the melody is ready, I’ll try playing chords to shape the flow of the song.

CubaseThere’s a handy feature called Code Track, so you can build your progression while using your ears along with the circle-of-fifths display and the list of chords.

This piece is primarily in B major, but there are passages that shift to B minor, so I selected the chords with that in mind.

There are plenty of detailed articles about code flow and fundamentals, so please refer to those.

Reference:Just changing the chords can change how the melody sounds! Basic knowledge of chord progressions

Even just the sound of piano chords somehow creates a certain atmosphere.

First, let's give it a try casually.

This time, I prepared up to just the general feel.

Actually, I ended up coming up with the melody and chords surprisingly smoothly.

From here, to bring out the rhythm and atmospheresleigh bellYou’ll then think about how to fit in elements like sparkling high-pitched sounds.

At first it may seem difficult, but if you go step by step—composing a melody, trying out some chords, and so on—it often goes surprisingly well.

First, don’t overthink it—just try pressing the keys.

Modern DAW software comes with lots of drum patterns and other handy sound materials, so if you make use of them, it's much easier to enjoy than you might think.

transcribing by earWhether it's a cover or an original, please give it a try!