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"Create Your Own"

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Step 1 – Compile techniques and sounds

Organize a list of the musical techniques and sounds that you will be using to depict a comical and sly mood. This list might consist of pizzicato strings playing the diminished scale, diminished chord arpeggios, light woodwind half-step trills and descending chromatic half-steps. This list should also include instruments of a comical nature such as the xylophone and the vibra slap. Although a sliding trombone makes a funny sound, it is too powerful to sound sneaky. The trick in this exercise is to find the instruments that actually sound as if they are creeping about.

Step 2 - Start with one musical technique

Use one of the above musical techniques briefly and move to another technique. You can start with pizzicato cellos climbing up any diminished scale in a sneaky, tiptoe fashion. As we've previously discussed, this scale is formed by alternating a whole step and a half step, one after the other. Use the diminished scale that rises with a whole step between its first 2 notes. Double the pizzicato cello line with a bassoon and possibly the xylophone.

Step 3 - Commence a different technique

After a bar or two of Step #2's technique, you can choose another device such as the light woodwind half-step trill. The flute in its lower-to-mid register works well for this part. This can be played for a few beats or a few bars. It can even play over the beginning cello pizzicatos. The flute half-step trill adds an element of comical tension and is very effective playing simultaneously with another unrelated part.

Step 4 - Choose another comical device

You might want to use descending chromatic half-steps. The clarinets and/or solo violins work wonderfully here. Pick any note and add a major 3rd on top of it. Hold this chord for a beat, and then descend both notes by a half-step. It is even funnier if the first chord is legato and the second chord staccato. You can do this several times in a row or descend just once. A single triangle hit, either before or after this part, adds a nice color.

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Step 5 - Incorporate diminished chord arpeggios

Another musical device you might want to use is diminished chord arpeggios. Simply pick any diminished chord that comes from your diminished scale. Start with one note and quickly play the other notes in your chord. You can either climb up or down the chord, and you can do so for several octaves. The clarinet and harp make a great match for this part.

Step 6 - Review your composition

Make sure each musical device flows naturally into the next one. Some of them can overlap or play simultaneously with another. Keep the orchestration light and humorous. You could almost limit your instrumental choices to pizzicato strings, solo violins, flute, clarinets, bassoon and xylophone. Other light percussion such as the triangle are always welcome.