Introduction to MIDI Sequencing with Cubase SX

Section 7 - Creating the Synth Bass part for the Chorus

Briefing

If you thought creating the Electric Piano part for the chorus was easy, then you're in for a real treat with the bass part. It's so simple that it's almost trivial.

You already have an 18 bar pattern which you created for the verse. You're going to make a copy of that pattern, drag it to the correct position and then edit it to match the chord changes in the song.

Of course, the chorus is two bars shorter than the verse, so you'll have to use the scissors tool to cut the part down to the correct size.

Step 1 - Setting Up The Track

You're going to use the same track (8) as you did for the verse. That means that there is no setting up required. Just remember which track you're using.

What To Do

Follow these steps. Put a tick next to each one as you finish it:

• In the Arrange window, check that the Left and Right locators are at bars 19 and 35.

Step 2 - Duplicating the Verse and Cutting to Size

Because the verse part is so simple, but has the correct rhythm, you're going to use it as a basis for the chorus.

In this step you're going to create a copy of the verse part, drag it to the correct position and trim it to the correct size.

What To Do

Follow these steps. Put a tick next to each one as you finish it:

• In the Arrange window, drag and copy the part named 'SBVerse' so that the copy begins on bar 19 of the same track.
• Rename the duplicated part to "SBChorus".
• Still in the Arrange window, select the Scissors tool.
• Use the Scissors tool to cut the part at bar 35. Use the position of the Right locator as a guide.
• Select the Eraser tool.
• Use the Eraser tool to delete the odd 2 bar tail left at bars 35 and 36.
• Deselect the Eraser tool so that the mouse has the normal arrow pointer.

Step 3 - Editing the Part to Match the Chords

All that remains is to edit each bar to reflect the chord sequence of the chorus. As with the verse, we'll use just the root note of each chord and we'll set every note in each bar to the same pitch, using the following diagram as a guide:

What To Do

Follow these steps. Put a tick next to each one as you finish it:

• Enter the Score Editor.
• Working as you did with the Synth Bass verse, change each bar in the part so that the pitch of the notes are as shown above.
  Remember to change every note in the bar to the same pitch.
• When you've finished, exit the Score Editor.

Well done! You have now successfully created the Synth Bass part for the chorus.

You're ready to proceed to the next section.