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~2-8 |
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15 min |
Included in Meet set/collection.
Included in Play in a band set/collection.
This game is a draft/beta version. You can help develop it by editing or discussing in the comments
An easier version of Musical Tetris which can be attempted also by non-musicians.
Setup
Agree on the starting player and the order of other players (circle is the best, then go clockwise).
In the 4/4 bar you imagine 8 empty spots. On full beats and "ands" ("1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and"). This bar will be looped, throughout the game.
Game start
The first player makes a sound (freely chosen) on the first beat. This sound will be repeated in that place until the end of the game. The first player is responsible for setting the tempo of the game.
Gameplay instructions
On your turn, add your own sound (one note freely chosen) at an empty spot in the bar. You will repeat this same sound on the same beat until the end of the game.
If the turn goes back to you (may happen if there are less than 8 players playing), you will need to add another sound to your individual loop, and keep playing both of them, etc.
You don't have to come in right away at the start of your turn. You may let a loop repeat a few times to more easily locate the empty spot in the bar and choose your sound.
Game end
Game ends with a success when all the spots are taken. More often the game ends on a mistake which cascades among all players (and there's no problem with that).
Gamemaster's notes
The attempts at the game are relatively easy, but the full success is surprisingly hard.
Please let everyone try out different spots in the turn (first player, last player, etc.), because it makes a lot of difference.
In this lvl 1 version, the length of the sound doesn't matter. It's the attack that should be on the correct spot and then the sounds from different players may overlap.
Variants
You may try playing with a metronome.
If you have skill and want to make it harder, you can change the meter or add bars. Speedrunning is available too.
For more options you can set a scale or otherwise restrict available sounds for additional challenge.
Example (easier variant)
In the example above, the lower keyboard (with first sounds appearing) serves as a metronome. Drums are the first player in the game.
Designer-composer
This is a variant of a harder game by Marcus Staniec, Musical Tetris
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free-improv on-off (constellations) in-genre algorithm ambient spatial minimal
dance draw (art) gestures guess interpret listen memory kids
composers events narrative random role-play
dimensions speeding-up timed tonal
acapella found (+preparation) keyboard words
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