How do you start composing?

**Bynary Fission** · 01-23-2008, 06:25 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

Listen to other's music while in a contemplative, thoughtful mood. I am currently beginning to compose my own songs, and when I get my new computer today or tomorrow, I shall begin the physical process of composing. My inspiration comes from listening to other's music about 66% of the time. The other 33% comes out of nowhere, instantly and suddenly. But that's me. For you, I'd advise to do it. I'm listening to Beethoven Virus, and I'm already getting images, videos, and inspiration from it. Try it. Works for me.

~Bynary Fission

**Nightfirecat** · 01-23-2008, 06:38 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

I actually don't know either... I've tried composing, but between not knowing what to put in, and my inability to learn FL studios, I can't get anything to work >.<

I'd advise what bynary fission suggested. Listen to other music (some melodic trance or classical would probably work pretty well), and pick out the melodies, then try adding on to them or changing them, etc.

**customstuff** · 01-23-2008, 06:41 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

Put in a bunch of random notes into a melody and then listening to it. Then, changing the notes a bit, and keep doing that until it's a cool melody. I usually start off simple and build up into this sweet drum stuff and then break that down into a cooler version of the first part.

**Pyroshock** · 01-23-2008, 07:06 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

I think I usually start out with the drums, then work out a progression.

**tha Guardians** · 01-23-2008, 07:10 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

Mess around and look for different melodies, chords, basslines, etc., that you like.
Once you've found them, put them all in the same time signature and key signature. Change the notes to what sounds right. It helps if you have a keyboard with a record function, so you can listen to one part of a song while playing another.

**Starshot** · 01-23-2008, 07:53 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

I have more or less three ways:

1. Start with percussion, then go crazy pounding on the keyboard attempting to come out with a melody.
2. Start out with a standard one note bassline, then create a melody line around it, then go back and mod the bassline.
3. Start with the melody jammed in my head because I didn't get the chance to put it down on FL Studio till then, then add supporting things to it and other things like that.

Or I'll do none of the above and start with some completely and totally new method.

PS-whenever I get musician's block, I remix stuff.

**Cyanite** · 01-23-2008, 08:24 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

Whenever I need inspiration I listen to TranceDevotee's music that he has uploaded on Youtube until I hear something I really like. Velvet Sun by Majera was my inspiration for my newest song

Whenever I hear something I like, I generally try to emulate it. Not stylistically, but more in the area of the emotions it portrays.

Or, sometimes I'll just open FL and pound out something in a few hours, and some of my best music was done that way. I don't know what triggers that.

**Starshot** · 01-23-2008, 09:27 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

I have a habit of sitting down at my computer and not leaving until the track is finished.

Remember "Love?"

I didn't move for 5 hours.

**Verruckter** · 01-23-2008, 09:36 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

I strike a chord and then try to feel the next one. Eventually I'll end up with something cool or just plain cheesy.

**Arcsynth** · 01-23-2008, 09:41 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

Remember: Inspiration doesn't spark work, work sparks inspiration.

I like that quote.

**sleeplessdragn** · 01-23-2008, 10:16 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

Nothing is more inspiring than the inspiration that results from experiencing reality in absurd ways.

**TK_Breed** · 01-24-2008, 12:21 AM

Re: How do you start composing?

study musical theory and learn an instrument like piano really well. that way things can flow from your brain a lot easier and brainstorming becomes an instant success. without theory your basically just poking around at random keys on the piano to try to find a melody. a greatly written song has a bass that compliments and flows with the melody. you need theory. a good beginners tip,which is what i use sometimes because im no expert at all, is to develope your own scale, then all the chords and combinations of keys work together as long as they are on that scale.

**lord_carbo** · 01-24-2008, 01:08 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

Rarely do I start with a melody. I usually use four part Bach-style harmonization and fool around with cadences and progressions and see what I get. This is especially good for finding a melody for modal music. And finding melodies for modal music is nice because modal music is easy to "bend and twist," as I call it.

Sometimes I derive melodies from harmonizing the bass.

Once I wrote a song, and a few days later I took the melody and used it as the bass of another song.

Most of my music just comes out by chance. I find it too hard to come with good ideas intentionally at the rate I make music; however once you get something going, it's really easy to add to it.

**nubbin149** · 01-24-2008, 09:24 PM

Re: How do you start composing?

Something i like to do is start with a nice pad and play out a simple chord progression .
from there i'll start to feel the song itself and hear the song in my head as it begins to unfold.

I then figure out what i want and learn how to do it.

**SpookG** · 01-25-2008, 01:38 AM

Re: How do you start composing?

I always started with an idea, not so much musically but emotionally, of what I wanted to convey and use that as the ultimate goal for the song to achieve.

I am not sure how well that may work for others, but knowing the root of what I intended made figuring out specifics like what kind of melody or rhythm I would want a hundred times easier.

How do you start composing?

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