Build-A-Beat

Workshop

“Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon

Song: Shut Up and Dance
Artist: Walk the Moon
Album: Talking is Hard
Released: 2014
Genre: Alternative
 First Part of Chorus
“Don’t you dare look back, just keep your eyes on me”

RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Second Part of Chorus
“I said you’re holding back, she said shut up and dance with me.”

RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Everyone Plays “Kick”
RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Everyone Plays “Snare”
RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Everyone Plays “Hi-Hat”
First Part of Chorus (measures 1-4)
RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Everyone Plays “Hi-Hat”
Second Part of Chorus (measures 5-8)
RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Group 1: Kick
RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Group 2: Add Snare
RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Group 3: Add Hi-Hat
First Part of Chorus (measures 1-4)
RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Group 3: Add Hi-Hat
Second Part of Chorus (measures 5-8)
RH on Left Shoulder (Hi-Hat)

LH on Right Thigh (Snare)

Right Foot (Kick)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 Try 2 parts at once, or all 3!
Hi-hat part is measures 1-4 of chorus!

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Let’s jam out with Walk the
Moon…
Setting up our project… iPad or computer, your choice!

1) Open GarageBand and click File - New

2) Choose “Empty Project” and “Software Instrument”
3) Select the SoCal Drum Kit
4) Click on the picture of the drum kit and click
Command + D 2 times. This will create 3 drum tracks.
5) Turn the Metronome on
6) Set parameters for project
Tempo: 127
Key: Db major
Time Signature: 4/4
 Record 8 measures total!
• Make sure to record the kick drum and snare parts 4 times each!
• Make sure to record the hi-hat 4 times like this:
• First part of chorus (measures 1-2)
• Second part of chorus (measures 3-4)
• First part of chorus (measures 5-6)
• Second part of chorus (measures 7-8)
 Sequencing Drums
Chopsticks Fork

A#

C D (Ÿ) – First part

of chorus only)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
A# Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ (Ÿ) Ÿ (Ÿ)
D Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
C Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
 Sequencing the Kick
Chopsticks Fork

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
A#
D
C Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
 Sequencing the Snare
Chopsticks Fork

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
A#
D Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
C
 Sequencing the Hi-Hat
Chopsticks Fork

A#

(Ÿ) – First part

of chorus only)

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
A# Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ (Ÿ) Ÿ (Ÿ)
D
C
Once you are happy with all 3 parts, combine the
tracks!

• Select the regions you recorded and type

Command + J
• You can still change the sound of your drum set
if you wish!
 Bass (Measures 1-2)
Chopsticks Fork

Ab Bb Db Gb

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Gb Ÿ
Db Ÿ
Bb Ÿ
Ab Ÿ
 Bass (Measures 3-4)
Chopsticks Fork

Ab Bb Db Gb

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Gb Ÿ
Db Ÿ
Bb Ÿ Ÿ
Ab Ÿ Ÿ
 Bass (Measures 5-6)
Chopsticks Fork

Ab Bb Db Gb

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Gb Ÿ
Db Ÿ
Bb Ÿ
Ab Ÿ
 Bass (Measures 7-8)
Chopsticks Fork

Ab Bb Db Gb

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Gb Ÿ
Db Ÿ
Bb Ÿ Ÿ
Ab Ÿ Ÿ
 Keys (Measures 1-2)

Bb Db Eb
C F

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Bb Ÿ
C Ÿ
Db Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
Eb Ÿ
F Ÿ Ÿ
 Keys (Measures 3-4)

Bb Db Eb
C F

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Bb Ÿ
C Ÿ Ÿ
Db Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
Eb Ÿ Ÿ
F Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
 Keys (Measures 5-6)

Bb Db Eb
C F

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Bb Ÿ
C Ÿ
Db Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
Eb Ÿ
F Ÿ Ÿ
 Keys (Measures 7-8)

Bb Db Eb
C F

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Bb Ÿ
C Ÿ Ÿ
Db Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
Eb Ÿ Ÿ
F Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
 Create a guitar solo!
1. Once you’re happy with your drum set, bass, and keyboard parts…
2. Add a new instrument – select a guitar sound you like.
3. If using an iPad, change to ‘Notes’ and set scale to Db pentatonic.
4. If using a computer, try soloing using the notes of the Db pentatonic scale – Db, Eb, F, Gb,
and Ab!
5. Record your sweet guitar solo.
6. Remember to save, then ‘Share’ – ‘Export Song to Disk’ so you can keep your mp3
forever!