Dismal Pipe Organ: A How-To

If you've ever wanted to write an organ piece or song that sounded dismal as if it came from the grave you've come to the right music theory page!

First, which keys shall we use for the main part of the song and which for the bass? In this case, the same keys again. Use only the red (and green) keys in the picture above per octave. Use the green key for ending your phrases if it feels like to do otherwise would leave them unresolved. Also use the green key with the red keys as part of the normal areas of your dreadful song.

As for playing style: I suggest playing delibrately and sometimes moving abit faster and slower in diffrent parts of the song. Also acompyment using choir adds alot.

Pirate Music Theory Act 2

For an even lower dirge of a song, a song that evokes toil and great difficulty on the seas (or under them) we may want to use only the 3 red (and green in this picture) keys per octave for both the main melody and the bass.

Which brings me to my next point. Where do we stop each phrase/sentance of music so each small part in the piece sounds complete. Why the green key ofcourse. The green key in the above image will complete any sentance using these three keys. Try it out.

Now, finally for this post, somethings we must do to keep this sound sounding as a dirge from the deep: repeating notes. Yes repete notes sound fine using these three keys and add to the dismal aura of the music if used every so often to drive home a point (like the period at the end of a sentance).

I hope these tips were helpful to you!

Pirate Music Theory

Have you ever wanted to play your keyboard and summon a sound that evoked thoughts of tragic sea voyages? Perhaps after seeing pirates of the carrabean 2 or 3 you would have (think: Mr Davy Jones and his pipe organ).

Well, here is how to get an erry, erring, haunting, and sad song out of your midi keyboard:

For the main part/melody of the song use only the red keys in the picture above for the most part (you can sometimes use one black key here and there for effect). For the bass just use the blue keys (IE: any black key in the lower registers).

Play somewhat slow and delibratly for the most part. At times fail to syncronize the sounding of the melody with the bass (have it off kilter).