[ARCADE] Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers - "Dee Jay Stage" by Fantastic Ike

[Zeta]

Submission Information:
Series: Other
Game: Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
Console: Arcade
Title: Dee Jay Stage
Instrumentation Solo Piano
Arranger: Fantastic Ike

[Fantastic Ike]

For the new year, I thought it'd be fun to submit two variations of the same theme! This is the original one, probably the harder of the two. I think I did a pretty good job of balancing out all the rhythms and notes and making this into a cohesive sheet.

[Bloop]

hey it's finale's default piano sound lol

In m2-13, the L.H. part looks a bit messy with both the piano and synth bass in it, and it's on the hard side to play the groove + melody in the middle part of the song. I went on a deep dive into this rhythm section's groove to see how I would tackle it.

The intro is pretty weird: in m2 and 3 it's close to what you have (leaving out the synth bass part for now):
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But from m4 on, the L.H. rhythm changes, apparently shifting a 16th earlier:
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And the rhythm stays that way until this groove stops at m14.
The synth bass plays this:
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Rhythmically this already pretty much coincides with whatever the R.H. or L.H. is doing. Not to forget, this all plays against a drumbeat that includes some syncopation, but most notably has a strong four on the floor rhythm in the bass drum, to keep everything hooked. The question now is how to mix these 3 different rhythms into something that plays logically and sounds similar to the original. Experimenting a bit, I ended up with this for m2-6:
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m7-13 can then be filled up similarly to m6. I think this might be a bit more intuitive to read and play, while still keeping the sound of the original. I kept the R.H. in m2-5 intact, while mixing the synth bass and low piano part a bit to create one line. The L.H. either plays together with the R.H. chords, or it plays something a 16th note before. I also tried to have a not on (most) downbeats, to anchor the rhythm a bit. In m6, I kept it fairly simple as a condensed version of all rhythms together.
What do you think? Feel free to copy it over if you like it, or make some small changes if you want ^^

[Fantastic Ike]

hey it's finale's default piano sound lol

Right? I thought so.

I figured we still have a ways to go with RH rhythms and chords, but I more or less implemented your suggestions for the LH. Definitely a lot cleaner and I don't think we're sacrificing much. Thanks!

Updated.

[Bloop]

For m6-13, I actually was thinking about leaving out the lower layer in the R.H., as all harmonic and rhythmic information is already in the L.H. It'll make the R.H. a lot easier to play too.

-m1: Maybe you could move the L.H. down an octave for some extra power? (also the first note of m2)
-m6-13: I think the L.H. in beat 4.5 should always be G-C, except in m8 and 12 where it should be a G-Bb
-m9 and 13: The L.H. within beats 1-2 should be Bb major (Bb, D, F), and within beats 3-4 Cm/G (so G, C, Eb)
-m14: I think I hear a F# and An below the R.H. too on beat 4. Also, you could add another An below the L.H. for some extra power.
-m17: Beat 4 in the L.H.should be a Bn power chord, though you could also write it as a Cb power chord (so Cb, Gb, Cb, as well as Gb and Cb in the L.H.), since it's chromatically descending towards Bb.
-m20-21: These measures are a bit weird, haha, I hear some chords differently (see below), but some tips about m20 in general:
--I wouldn't suggest writing too much chords below the C in the middle of the L.H. staff, as it will start to sound blurry.
--The rhythm in beat 2 (16ths on only 2.25 and 2.75) reads a bit easier with a beam going over the rest
--The chord on beat 4 is a impossible to play without pedal, so I'd suggest adding a pedal and not tying over every note.
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[Fantastic Ike]

For m6-13, I actually was thinking about leaving out the lower layer in the R.H., as all harmonic and rhythmic information is already in the L.H. It'll make the R.H. a lot easier to play too.

Can do. Just figured it'd be easier to have an overcomplicated part than have to add chords and countermelodies on the fly.

-m1: Maybe you could move the L.H. down an octave for some extra power? (also the first note of m2)

Yeah that sounds good.

-m6-13: I think the L.H. in beat 4.5 should always be G-C, except in m8 and 12 where it should be a G-Bb

Sure. I was trying to capture how the bass alternates between high and low G each measure but that was the best I came up with.

-m9 and 13: The L.H. within beats 1-2 should be Bb major (Bb, D, F), and within beats 3-4 Cm/G (so G, C, Eb)

Right, sounds good.

-m14: I think I hear a F# and An below the R.H. too on beat 4. Also, you could add another An below the L.H. for some extra power.

Done.

-m17: Beat 4 in the L.H.should be a Bn power chord, though you could also write it as a Cb power chord (so Cb, Gb, Cb, as well as Gb and Cb in the L.H.), since it's chromatically descending towards Bb.

I heard it this way at first, guess I changed my mind somewhere along the line. Fixed.

-m20-21: These measures are a bit weird, haha, I hear some chords differently (see below), but some tips about m20 in general:

Right. This was the section I was worried about. Initially transcribing it, it sounded great, but had to crunch up some chords to make it fit on one hand.

--The chord on beat 4 is a impossible to play without pedal, so I'd suggest adding a pedal and not tying over every note.

I knew that. Just wasn't sure how best to put it down, thanks. I'm not in love with that sixteenth figure in the last measure but otherwise I think we should be good.

Updated.

[Bloop]

Sure. I was trying to capture how the bass alternates between high and low G each measure but that was the best I came up with.

Ahh I see, if you want, you could also just move up any G's that are in a higher octave ^^ My preference would probably be keeping it as is to have a consistent L.H. figure, but either way works!

A few tiny things left to mention:
-You don't need the courtesy accidental in m9 and 13 beat 1.5, since the Bb is already there less than a beat before it.
-Make sure to add the beam back in m20 beat 2.25-2.75 in the L.H., similarly to how it is in the R.H.

[Fantastic Ike]

Ahh I see, if you want, you could also just move up any G's that are in a higher octave ^^ My preference would probably be keeping it as is to have a consistent L.H. figure, but either way works

No worries. I'll keep it consistent. Updated

[Bloop]

Awesome, I'll approve!

[Fantastic Ike]

Awesome, thanks!

[Kricketune54]

Generally seems like this is in a pretty good place I like the way m7-13's LH pulls down the piano part. Just a few here and there comments

• There's not an indication currently of what the performer should do for the percussion notes, what are you envisioning there? Could have a clap or slap direction a bit to the left and underneath where they are in m1.
   - Another thought on m1 is it's not really a true full measure right? Could make this a pickup starting on current beat 2.5. I have not changed measure numbers in my feedback tho just fyi will leave this change up to you
• From a part perspective m3 beat 1 the G is really a part of the RH
• m5 RH missing a beam between 1.0 and 1.75
• m5 RH hearing the Gn down an octave on 1.0. Also I'm hearing beats 1-2 a little different in the LH. Like so (screenshot)
• m20 given the lower RH layer rest is hidden on a couple beats, I would lower the 16th rests to normal height. Refer to Bloop's second post screenshot

[Fantastic Ike]

Another thought on m1 is it's not really a true full measure right? Could make this a pickup starting on current beat 2.5. I have not changed measure numbers in my feedback tho just fyi will leave this change up to you

I'm not opposed to this. I'm just not sure how to have a pickup measure that lasts 2.5 beats. Can only select certain quavers in Finale it seems.

Also, random. But how do you feel about making m21 b2.25 a dotted eighth instead of the repeated E? Still not 100% satisfied with how the pedal section sounds and I think that might help.

All the other changes should be taken care of.

[Kricketune54]

I'm not opposed to this. I'm just not sure how to have a pickup measure that lasts 2.5 beats. Can only select certain quavers in Finale it seems.

I guess the easiest way would be to make the pickup a 3/4 bar, and you could hide the 8th rest on 1.0 before the taps in the RH. Play with the space a little from there so the bar doesn't look weird with an empty space (shrink measure space to the left)

Also, random. But how do you feel about making m21 b2.25 a dotted eighth instead of the repeated E? Still not 100% satisfied with how the pedal section sounds and I think that might help.

I personally don't think it's necessary, restriking the Eb isn't that difficult and I didn't feel like it was different from the original.

Few things I spotted tonight: when you have a tie that is the to the right of whole notes in a separate layer, you can flip those ties to their normal orientation. Applies to m15-19 LH (m16, m19 beat 1.75-2.0 are good to go tho)

[Fantastic Ike]

Hmm, okay. Updated.

[Kricketune54]

To clarify, beat 2.5-3.0 should be flipped for those measures as well.