It can be done!! It takes a lot of listening to the style you want to create in. I have been listening to video game music since 1987, but I have just started out making music. I aint the best at it, but I try. Remember, major chords are happy, minor are sad. Simple, but an effective information/piece of weaponary....:) Try to get a chord dictionary, and a teacher. I find that my teacher can build my confidence and skills, with his greater knowledge. Kid, one day you will see what I can do at my best, for now, I'm gonna keep practising. Keep in touch! Ronenriku.....:)

You don't need to learn an instrument at all. If I were going to learn an instrument, I'd do it because I love it, not because I want to find out how to compose (at least the instrument you chose).

I've been composing for a long time now and have yet to take up any lessons on instruments.

I think the fastest program to move you into the world of composition is NoteWorthy Composer.

I still use it now and then, and I like to compose a variety from orchestral pieces to metal-rock around the ideas I have created in Noteworthy.

Of course it'll help knowing an instrument. But you will be surprised how far you can get without knowing one. Especially using a program like noteworthy. Once experienced, you can Then explore the other territories, which to me are secondary.

Well, I'm getting cakewalk soon, I'm learning alot without it though.

Hey Loungebane, tell ronenriku about what books to get so he can get righteous(not bad, but good:) ) gangsta at Noteworthy. Also, would you not agree that Melody is also, if not as good? Controversial like UK Hip hop..... But may be true.

:)

In a while guys.

try this site:
http://www.standingstones.com/theorcnr.html
it contains more in-depth theory

Quote: Original post by LongeBane
You don't need to learn an instrument at all. If I were going to learn an instrument, I'd do it because I love it, not because I want to find out how to compose (at least the instrument you chose).

I've been composing for a long time now and have yet to take up any lessons on instruments.

I think the fastest program to move you into the world of composition is NoteWorthy Composer.

I still use it now and then, and I like to compose a variety from orchestral pieces to metal-rock around the ideas I have created in Noteworthy.

Of course it'll help knowing an instrument. But you will be surprised how far you can get without knowing one. Especially using a program like noteworthy. Once experienced, you can Then explore the other territories, which to me are secondary.

I also suggest Noteworthy Composer. It's definetely the easiest, and most intuitive. Then when you become limited with it and have already learned the basics well, you can move onto Sibelius for more articulations.




I started off composing on NWC, all by myself. I knew what music sounded like; I had been hearing it all my life. I just kept experimenting. It took a whole year to get as half as good as I am now. And that's just because I was too naive to realize I needed a teacher! You have the opportunity to learn from a teacher from the very beginning, and learn the formal rules. You can learn it much faster than I did.











So let me sum things up for you:

1) Learn an instrument that you like, and can have fun with. Try to play with others, and improve constantly. This will undoubtedly help out your musical talent in general.

2) Listen to a lot of music so you know how to write, and what is acceptable. It doesn't even always have to be a critical analysis of a song. If you just listen to a lot of music, you'll subconciously pick up the "rules" of the game.

Let's say you got a composing job. You're composing for a big project where quality and originality is of paramount importance. Spend 2 to 4 days of not listening to any music at all. This way, hopefully, this will prevent you from subconciously slipping in other melodies you've heard.

3) Get the software that suits you best. Start out with Noteworthy Composer (noteworthysoftware.com), then move on to Sibelius, and finally to FL Studio or Reason perhaps.

EDIT* step 4) Experiment and learn.




These are pretty much all you need. Am I forgetting anything?



Vince

I got a great suggestion for you. Once you have your midi keyboard, buy Reason 3.0 by a company called Propellerheads. It is the most complete music creation tool out nowadays, and it isn't that hard to learn. Most of the music you can produce it geared towards electronica, dance, hip hop type stuff, but whatever you can think of you can do, and it's all in one. Costs roughly 350 and you need a half deccent computer to run it, but other than that, it's tight. It comes complete with all sorts of samples and loops, soft synths, and effects right there. Have fun, and keep up the euphonium, i'm a tuba player of 16 years and i still love my instrument. Try electric bass, i did and now i have a great fun versatile, usefull instrument too.

Aaron

Thanks guys, I'm using all these tips as I get them. I'm going to learn Electric guitar though.

There's also a book called "Composing Music". You can get it from Amazon or Barnes&Noble. Every exercise asks you to compose music.

Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0226732169/qid=1117677183/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-7270532-9648907?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

It should be noted that Reason has no scoring functionality - you do composition on the old piano roll, but you can, of course, import midi files from a notation program. Also you can't record audio with it.
For learning about music production, there's nothing better than Reason though. It's also a great tool for getting ideas down quickly.