Basic compostion, song writing, ideas, help please.

[nightfiend14]

Ok so I want to start putting together all the different tid-bits of stuff I've been wanting to expand on for awhile. Trouble is I don't really know where to start. I must admit my theory is nowhere close to where I want it to be. I have a book or two that may help but would like to get some imput from you guys.

So where do you guys start when you write some instrumental music? Start with a scale in mind, or chord progression, or some lick ideas? Where do you go next after you have a starting block? These are some burning questions I have had lately.

[crevis]

Choose a scale, then make a prgression you like (with full chords even if youre only going to use powerchords later on) and the phrasing (this stage can make a very interesting song), then right a melody utilizing the scale, chords and the phrasing. You should always write in this order because you have to know exactly whats going on on every level of the progression/groove etc to make the melody. rather than just finding something that sounds cool but youre not sure why.

Hope that helps

[The Euphor]

I go the other way around. Find a chord progression that sounds nice, and "hear" a melody on top of it. I can also use a melody I've got in my head and find chords - but then I only choose chords by ear, never by analyzing the melody. The reason I think this is a better way is because you hear with you ears, you won't sit down and analyze chords and scales and then make up your mind whether or not this song is good.

My opinion, but still valid. By choosing scales and using the "proper" chords there is a huge risk of falling in the theory trap.

Then again. I think theory is a good thing. But it can be a real pain to free yourself from it once you know it. And by all means, it's good to be able to write music the way crevis explains. No waste in any way. There are more than one way...

[waylay00]

Yeah, there is no law that says you can't write a song that isn't 100% theoretically correct. If it sounds good, go for it.

But I guarantee you that I can theoretically explain why I did certain things on songs that I made up by ear. For example, if I happened to make a progression by ear that goes from a G to a C chord, I can later explain to you that this a V to I cadence that naturally sounds good to the ear. Theory is just a general rule of thumb on what generally sounds good in music. That's not to say that there aren't some things that aren't theoretically "correct" that sound good.

[Demogorgos]

Let's see,

I use 2 approaches:

I either "hear" a melody/song in my head and work it out to get it the way I heard it or I stumble onto something while practicing/jamming (on guitar or keyboards) and work it out from there.

In both cases some musical theory is welcome, since it gives some immediate direction as to progressions and scales to use for solos.

I recommend you checkout the diatonic modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolean, Locrian) and learn how they relate to each other.

http://www.foxall.com.au/users/mje/7Modes.htm
http://www.andymilne.dial.pipex.com/Diatonic.shtml

Another tip is Joe Satriani's "Pitch Axis Theory" approach which is related, but allows more variation and alternate use of the modes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_Axis_Theory
http://www.andymilne.dial.pipex.com/index.shtml

Both are widely documented on the web.

The rest is (hard) work, dedication and time. If you get down on these daily, you should be starting to use them in a few weeks.

A good tool to test your ear is:

http://www.good-ear.com/servlet/EarTrainer

Regards,

JP

[nickcoumbe]

http://www.guitarknowledgenet.com/Le...onBuilder.html

Try this for progressions.

Try a book called Chord Chemistry.

I generally just strum until I hear something, otherwise I take a scale I don't know well and just right a song to help myself learn it.

[waylay00]

Originally Posted by nickcoumbe

http://www.guitarknowledgenet.com/Le...onBuilder.html

Try this for progressions.

Try a book called Chord Chemistry.

I generally just strum until I hear something, otherwise I take a scale I don't know well and just right a song to help myself learn it.

Wow, what a neat little tool. Thanks!

[nickcoumbe]

I have been playing with it off and on all week, and it is cool.

[nightfiend14]

thanks guys, lot of good stuff here, I really like that progression builder.

[mi2tom]

I'm just going into composition lately, well I think there's no rules to how to do songs actually but all the above is applicable