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Steps to composing music

Started by September 03, 2005 08:43 AM
17 comments, last by Couchfiend 19 years, 2 months ago
Quote: Original post by Trapper Zoid
(used to play trombone when I was at school).


Trombone all the way! It's also one of the instruments I play*, great instrument - do you still play? Brass is very get for that type of music though, so I'd say it would be a good choice.

If you actually play one or more instruments that'll definately be an advantage to you, and it's definately a good idea to practice transcribing things; it'll make it easier for you to turn that idea in your head into notes.

*A selection of the ones I own:
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- Jason Astle-Adams

That guitar is so tiny.
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Quote: Original post by Trapper Zoid
Actually, I'm not too bad at matching chords to melodies; for simple pop and rock pieces some combo of the I, IV and V chords usually works.


Hmm, you're not going to be able to build much tension around I, IV, and V, because they're fairly neutral and predictable. As an exercise you might look into putting some other chords in there, or at least some suspended chords when in transition from one to the next.

Quote: I think I need to start a bit simpler anyway; I was only picking a climactic piece to begin with because I like to jump in at the deep end. I think I need to work on my listening skills, and develop the ability to transcribe the songs that I hear or hum into notation.


Yeah. I was just saying in another thread that I can hear a tune in my head and know how to play it on the guitar without having a guitar nearby, and that is an extension of listening skill, developing an appreciation for different harmonic and melodic intervals generally.
Quote: Original post by Kazgoroth
Trombone all the way! It's also one of the instruments I play*, great instrument - do you still play?


Not anymore; my sister wanted to learn as well just after I left school, so I gave my trombone to her. I think she's given up though, so I might claim it back some day. But the trombone isn't really a friendly instrument to practice in high density accomondation [smile]. I'll stick to my electronic keyboard which works with headphones.

Quote: Original post by Kylotan
Hmm, you're not going to be able to build much tension around I, IV, and V, because they're fairly neutral and predictable. As an exercise you might look into putting some other chords in there, or at least some suspended chords when in transition from one to the next.


That's true, but I'm only beginning at the moment, and I haven't figured out a good way to string together more complex chord progression yet. Using simple chords such as I, IV, V and vi (and sometimes ii) as a starting point usually helps me get something down that sounds okay, and lets me build a simple melody. Then I can throw in a few more complex chord variants that are mutations of those chords. That process probably limits me to a certain subset of songs, but I've got to start somewhere. I'm still not good at building chord progressions that are based on a minor key, however.
sit down at a piano and play chord progressions. play a
i III IV
progression.

buy a chord wheel, and play the prgressions and the modulations. if you don't know what it sounds like, you can't get an idea of how you want to use it.

Play the chord progressions.
Quote: Original post by Couchfiend
That guitar is so tiny.


Do you mean the shoddier of the 2 classical guitars, or are you talking about the one that's actually an unusually shaped mandolin (in the centre). [wink]

- Jason Astle-Adams

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Quote: Original post by Kazgoroth
Do you mean the shoddier of the 2 classical guitars, or are you talking about the one that's actually an unusually shaped mandolin (in the centre). [wink]


Is that an electric mandolin, or is it just shaped like one?

By the way, that's a nice bass trombone. Is it copper coloured, or is that a trick of the light? I only had a tenor trombone (and it was pretty beat up when I got my hands on it).
Quote: Original post by Trapper Zoid
Quote: Original post by Kazgoroth
Do you mean the shoddier of the 2 classical guitars, or are you talking about the one that's actually an unusually shaped mandolin (in the centre). [wink]


Is that an electric mandolin, or is it just shaped like one?


It's semi-acoustic, and draws a lot of attention due to the unusual shape. That shiny thing just past the end of the fretboard and before the bridge is the pickup, and the f-holes allow for a reasonably good acoustic sound.

Quote:
By the way, that's a nice bass trombone. Is it copper coloured, or is that a trick of the light? I only had a tenor trombone (and it was pretty beat up when I got my hands on it).


It is indeed more copper coloured than most I've seen, and I've kept it in very good condition. It's actually a Bb/F tenor though, not a bass; most people tend to think that, I think because trigger-tenors are somewhat rarer than basses.

- Jason Astle-Adams

Hah, wow, yeah im talkin bout the mandolin. Looks like one of those mini-electric guitars.

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