Up to now we've been studying music fundamentals for all scales, all keys, all time signatures, all rhythms, and some chords. It's time to stop looking at general cases and move to a specific case. In the process you'll discover that a few simple principles can create a song.
The basic elements of a song can be divided into these categories:
8 measure Question and Answer Form (QA)
Question and answer phrases (4 measures each)
ABA form
A section 2x QA
B section 2x QA
A and B sections are relative minor / relative major
A is e minor
B is G major
Melody and accompaniment texture
Single line melody in treble clef
Block style chords in bass claff
3 4 time
Right hand melody - no notes shorter than an eighth note
Left hand chords - block style dotted half notes. One chord per measure.
i / I and V chords only
RH single line melody
All notes must be root, third or fifth of the chord
Revised by John Ellinger, Spring 2012.