Hi guys, I'm doing a composition for my music AS and I'm gonna do a dubstep track, problem is, the exam board certainly don't want anything dark or grimy but more melodic and obviously with loads of complex writing and melodic techniques I havn't really come across any music apart from maybe some subscape that fills those criteria in dubstep, any ideas? Also got any ideas as to how I get a dubstep track to sound awesome yet be really upbeat and quite cheerful? :L
Re: Melodic/musical dubstep :)
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:14 pm
by Zöo Pop
Your avatar says it all man.
Re: Melodic/musical dubstep :)
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:15 pm
by oWLinDaylight
Maybe do more of a dubstep mixtape than a song? Moving between different songs would give you a chance to add more melodic movement. And keeping the same kick and snare pattern should keep it together as one piece nicely.
Study the nature of what makes mellodic dubstep mellodic, the conventions used, yada yaday yada.
Good luck.
Re: Melodic/musical dubstep :)
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 11:44 pm
by kaiori breathe
If it's for music A/s you're probably going to have work to a higher standard than most dubstep does. You'll need key changes, maybe some time signature changes, definitely some tempo changes, a lot of rhythmic variation, and whatever you make will probably need to (to some degree) reflect works you've studied over the year in terms of it's structure of it's musical composition (i.e., by using counter point, call and response, transformations, modulations, chord embellishments, contrary motion, picardy thirds, inversions...etc) - I could be wrong though, things have changed since when I did it I imagine.
Also, you'd be surprised what the exam boards will entertain - my A level composition was a 16 minute (there was no upper limit back when i did it) death metal piece and I got near full marks... As long as you hit the criteria (check your exam boards syllabus) and you can explain what's going on in a track (i.e., don't say: "I just kinda hit notes till things sounded right," do say: "this bass line is built upon the harmonic minor scale which makes it sound dark and brooding...etc") they might be happy to entertain something they're not used to.
If you're writing to a set theme make sure and stick to it. I was lucky when I did it because it was free composition and you could write with a progressive structure rather than having to work to something dull like AABACCDC...etc
As for melodic influences, best bet is probably to not listen to melodic dubstep, but rather listen to melodic composers, like Thomas Newman, Vine Dicola or Vangelis (or somebody you like, these are just ones im drawn to) and the likes and draw influence from them and infuse it with your own tastes in dubstep.
Re: Melodic/musical dubstep :)
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 11:57 pm
by narcissus
jeez--- that's why i stopped taking uni music classes. i can't stand making ART for a GRADE .... i just don't understand it and never will. obviously kaiori is the one to talk on this matter..
but if it were me, i would say just write what you feel, as in... write a composition that sounds good/'sophisticated' and emotional to you, and take it wherever you would a "normal" piece.. then just give it a nice dubstep groove.. and of course switch up the groove throughout to taste.
i'd say make the sounds interesting, definitely.. but don't get carried away on sound design.
Re: Melodic/musical dubstep :)
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:48 am
by Earjax
Thanks guys! I think Kaiori's answered my question pretty well Love that track turnpish posted For AS, you do have to use all these techniques which is annoying :/ And I think narcissus hit it on the nail in that I can't focus on sound design :'( Even though it is my strong point. Cheers!
Re: Melodic/musical dubstep :)
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:42 am
by micron
When i read your post I immediately thought of this track: no key changes but I think it's really melodic and soulful.
I think that making a dubstep track for either A/S or A level would be very difficult purely on the basis that you have so much criteria to meet. While I didn't take music at A level, friends of mine who did made the composition part sound very restrictive in terms of what could or could not be done for it. Also, another thing to think of is that the exam board will likely want you to give them a version of your track in sheet music. This is obviously possible, however likely to be very difficult to do and most likely sound nothing like the track you made if it was played (see here for the sheet music for Zomby's Kaliko - http://rougesfoam.blogspot.com/2009/06/ ... wonky.html).
but more melodic and obviously with loads of complex writing and melodic techniques 
I havn't really come across any music apart from maybe some subscape that fills those criteria in dubstep, any ideas? Also got any ideas as to how I get a dubstep track to sound awesome yet be really upbeat and quite cheerful? :L
Love that track turnpish posted 
For AS, you do have to use all these techniques which is annoying :/ And I think narcissus hit it on the nail in that I can't focus on sound design :'( Even though it is my strong point. Cheers!