Six Note Shenanigans

Okay, so you remember the five note challenge we did a while back? Well I'm proposing a six note challenge this time, generally because you can make a better melody that way and harmonize nicer. Its better, not as good as seven, not as challenging as five of course, and because of the ariviando, yes. So:

Chose any 6 notes C through B, and only use those six notes and create a musical piece of some sort. Can be anything. You can use these six notes in any octave.

Example you could use:

F G Ab Bb C C# (there're six) and you can use middle C or 2nd C or 20th C, whatever. As long as its one of the 6 notes you chose.

I don't need to give more examples. Its pretty clear that you chose 6 notes. Make a piece with only those 6 notes. Don't add in extra notes. If you do, you are disqualified (from the game? huh) Yes, from the game. Just kidding. Anyway follow the rules, and you can use drums.

Hint: It's helpful for you to base your notes around atleast a few chords so you can give your piece variation.

Good luck.

This is an idea used to great fruition in Ligeti's Music Ricercata for solo piano. There are 11 pieces each ranging from just under a minute to about 4 minutes. Each one from the first one uses a growing amount of notes - the first piece uses only 2 pitches, next one only 3, then 4, etc., until piece 11, which uses all 12.

6 is good - I might try my hand at it.

Hm... Christopher Wolff also wrote some pieces using solely 3 pitches, for example, throughout the whole piece.

Well lets do it then! I've got something up my sleeve somewhere.

I'll just submit a pre-written piece (nowhere does it say that I can't):

Folie à Deux

The first part uses only six notes, and the second part uses only the other six notes. Disregard the second part if you must.

That was an easy submission.

EDIT: It now has its own thread.

I've started mine - it's a short piano piece using C, Eb, E, Gb, G and Bb. I use them in groups of two, as a C major chord and an Eb minor chord. It'll be up here soon!

Originally Posted by spherenine

I'll just submit a pre-written piece (nowhere does it say that I can't):

Folie à Deux

The first part uses only six notes, and the second part uses only the other six notes. Disregard the second part if you must.

That was an easy submission.

wow!!! great piece! congrats!

Spherenine - that is one fine piano piece! Sets the bar very high for the rest of us.

Arrrgh! It's harder than it looks

This short rondo is for xylophone, flute and cello. The six notes are C,D,F,A,Bb,B - the triads of Bb major, F major and D minor are possible. The piece is more rhythmical with three separate lines than harmonized.

The mp3 is here