I have realized lately, that I have an immense passion for VGMusic. My life is filled with memories of music from greats like Koji Kondo, Nobuo Uematsu, Yasunori Mitsuda, Motoi Sakuraba, and Noriyuki Iwadare. I feel as though I have a very strong sense for this type of music, and perhaps, like musicians in other genres, I should start creating my own music by building off the style of my idols... There's just one problem, I don't know where to start... I have so much passion for this music I love, but I do not what to do with it. I'm sure I must first understand music before I start, I must learn to grasp the basic idea behind the structure of a song, and from there I must expand and create what my heart tells me to. I would really appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction... maybe refer some good books, or give me a few pointers on how to start. I've checked out the tutorials on the site here, and so far, they seem pretty good. I guess i'll read them over a few times...

I suggest using a step-sequencing program such as FL Studio to create your loops with. It's pretty easy to learn, more than powerful enough to handle VG soundtracks, has VST and DXi support, and isn't all that expensive (comparitively). If you're really serious about it, I would also suggest getting a decent MIDI keyboard/controller. One with lots of programmable knobs and sliders are always a plus :)

If you decide to go this route, PM me and I could give you a few pointers on how to put it together.

Um, there are no cut and dry rules to composition. Here's what I'd recommend:

1. Learn basic music theory

2. Find a medium in which to compose

3. Write a song

4. Share it with people, get feedback, use feedback to improve on next work

5. Go back to #3 (x indefinitely)

Thanks for the replies guys.

Well Delstar, I would say I am pretty serious about this, and I am willing to pay alot of money in order to buy the best materials to learn and create great music.

I have no money at the moment, but I am fortunate enough to recieve a check for about $60,000 next month, as the result of an on going trial since an accident during my childhood. If there was an instrument I would be most looking forward to learning to play, it is the keyboard!

So I can definitely buy an MIDI keyboard come next month, and I would like the best possible for my situation. Until then, I guess I should work on learning music theory, as you point out arglebargle.

Do you guys have any suggestions on what you think would be the best book to buy on Music Theory or sites I can go to in order to make the best of my time until I get a keyboard? Also, what brands should I look into for keyboards?

Thanks.

^_^

Do you live near a community college? Go speak to their fine arts department. Find out if they have an introductory course to rudiments of music, beginning music theory, or at the least introductory piano class.

Whatever they charge per credit hour, it will be worth it. Guaranteed. I've been performing in symphonic bands, jazz bands and collegiate marching bands for over 10 years, and I am just now getting around to a basic music theory class.

Would you believe I learned things in the first two weeks that I never picked up in all my years of performance and tutelage? Private lessons will teach you much about your instrument, but in my experience, the setting of teacher/student is most conducive to learning. BUt that could just be me. Everything becomes clearer when a teacher tells it, no matter how many times I read it already.

Well, once you get into the "What equipment should I buy?" thing, be prepared for hours and hours of grueling, exhaustive research. No, seriously, when you're talking about a big investment like a keyboard, you'd better research it thoroughly to make sure you don't end up with something you don't really like. We can recommend you stuff, but our opinions aren't the same as yours, so ultimately, you have to do the research and decide for yourself.

You're looking for a keyboard with lots of different sounds? You plan on creating full songs with the keyboard? Several top-end models to check out are the Yamaha Motif, Korg Triton, and Roland Fantom... the Big 3, really, of keyboard workstations. Literally tons and tons of cheaper models by various manufacturers, I couldn't possible list them all here.

Do you actually want to play the keyboard, or just write (sequence) songs with it?

There are software alternatives to a hardware keyboard, too. Keep that in mind.

Hope this helps somewhat.

Thanks for the help!

The Yamaha Motif, Korg Triton, and Roland Fantom...

I'll check them all out, and decide which I think will suit me best. As for what I intend to do, well, honestly, I intend to do everything!

I will be playing it as a hobby and also using it to sequence songs, I guess I should pick the best all around keyboard. I do look forward to learning to play the best of Koji Kondo's and Nobuo Uematsu's sheet music... I should gain a bunch of experience in the process, which I can use to create my own music.

Well, if you're looking to do "everything", yeah, a synth workstation wouldn't be a bad bet.

Also, for composing and sequencing songs, you would be well served to connect your board to your compy and use a software sequencer, rather than try to use the built-in ones that come with synth workstations. Trying to do a full production using a keyboard's built-in sequencer can be... difficult.

I think there's a number of ways you can approach learning how to create video game music, and since I'm a beginner myself I'm probably not in a good position to give you advice as to which one is the best one to take. But I can tell you what I'm doing to learn how to make video game music.

I already have some background playing an instrument, so I've got some of the basics already. It wouldn't hurt to learn how to play something at the same time. I'm trying relearn the keyboard (I've had a couple of years of piano experience way back when I was kid, but I'm rusty and my hands are a lot bigger these days;now I can play a whole octave with one hand [smile]), and that's probably best because eventually I can get a MIDI cable to attach it to my computer. Next best would probably be guitar, I think, as you can play chords with that as well.

Some music theory would also be useful. I bought myself a copy of The Complete's Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, and that's been great to start with. It's for the absolute beginner, so it should be understandable to someone with no music experience. It does assume that you have an instrument though.

At the moment, I'm trying to learn how to compose with ModPlug Tracker, a free sequencing program. It's by no means the most powerful software composing program out there, but it is free, and you can make music with it.

Hope that's of some help. Good luck!

Quote: Original post by WindYoshi
Thanks for the help!

The Yamaha Motif, Korg Triton, and Roland Fantom...

I'll check them all out, and decide which I think will suit me best. As for what I intend to do, well, honestly, I intend to do everything!

I will be playing it as a hobby and also using it to sequence songs, I guess I should pick the best all around keyboard. I do look forward to learning to play the best of Koji Kondo's and Nobuo Uematsu's sheet music... I should gain a bunch of experience in the process, which I can use to create my own music.

A VERY good idea. :) Try transcribing the pieces of your favorite musical mentors and use that knowledge to formulate your own style. It is in doing so where you will find your own voice. I think it might be a good idea to learn to listen to yourself and your musical ideas before you learn theory. Just a thought, If you learn theory first, music can become a question of limitation rather than exploration.
However, Since you are new to music, you should learn the basic structures of music so you can play them back but its nothing that you can't learn if you have the patience and the commitment.

http://musictheory.net/

This is a pretty darn good place to learn the basic structure of functional harmony.

Good luck! :)