How do you write music?

[maikeru]

It would be a pleasant thought if I could write music, or at least work it out and record it, but I hear snippets in my mind when I'm playing the piano. Most of my music time is spent playing music I have not composed...

[Monomer]

I would really love to write music, but I can't seem to come up with something original. Just as I begin to work out some chords, another song I know gets into my head and it's an effort to get it out. So like maikeru I end up mostly playing other people's songs.

[Tarantism]

its the improvized solos in jazz that makes it so good. not nessesarily the main tune or melody.

personally i see prog rock as being jazz but with a different, more rock-and-roll oriented style of beat to it and also odd time signitures. frequent key changes and extensive improvised soloing are jazz techniques. so is collective improvisation, which prog rock artists and "jam bands" use sometimes during "sessions".

just an opinion, i suppose.

[Tormod]

Well I wouldn't call prog rock "jazz" but for sure you can borrow elements from one to the other. I am a fan of both and also like to play both.

[Tarantism]

haha oops thats what i meant i guess that wansn't clear. sorry

[freeztar]

Well, I missed the deadline for the contest, so no prog-rock from me.
I had something started, but it seemed so contrived. I was placing meter changes and key shifts just to be adding them, which is not creative at all. In frustration, I gave up on it.
Mind you, I'm not giving up on prog-rock entirely as I love some prog, but it's just not working for me right now. I really need to get a better handle on shifting to and from different meters.

So I suppose this post is on-topic because it illustrates how I improperly wrote some "music".



TO Monomer and Maikeru:
One thing that helps me create original music is to start with something simple, a three chord progression for instance. This allows me to build upon this structure. Dismiss any notions of sounding like something else, or try to intentionally change a chord so that you don't sound like a song that is swimming in your head. Once you get past the hump, it will be a lot less intimidating.
Starting a new song is always my least favorite part.

[InfiniteNow]

It seems there are a few very cool ways to do this collaboratively and with a computer. Check it out.


Fresh Brainz: Bubblegum Sequencer

Bubblegum Sequencer

Move aside ABI and 454, here comes a new class of sequencers with more balls than your whimpering machines.

They will beat you, hands down.

YouTube - The Bubblegum Sequencer - Making Music...

Doesn't colour you impressed?

Then check out its latest incarnation made by a bunch of kids over the weekend using a desktop PC and an unlimited number of beer bottles.

YouTube - BeatMachine - Amateur

[Finrod]

When the mood comes to me (rarely!) I sit down and set my stall out with with manuscript paper, 4B pencil (much better than 2B), sharpener, eraser, set square (for bar lines) and Roland keyboard. The last time I felt inspired I started work on my own set of variations on the theme 'by Haydn' [it's doubtful that Haydn composed it] that Brahms used, and wrote down quite a number of bars that didn't get erased the next morning (as usually happens).

But like William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast when he got to Praise ye the god of gold I've run into a brick wall and don't know whether to go up or down or left or right.

I've tried using the computer to aid composition on numerous occasions but have never been successful. It just doesn't work for me.

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Finrod

I've tried using the computer to aid composition on numerous occasions but have never been successful. It just doesn't work for me.

Well, definitely go with what works. For me, I'm the opposite. After using computers for composition, I couldn't imagine going back to pencil and paper.