Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

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  • Shadowcliff
    FFR Veteran
    • Jan 2008
    • 695
    #1

    Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

    Okay, I'm trying to make a new song, but I just can't seem to think of an original melody. I've tried playing around on the keyboard, thinking during orchestra.... but nothing. Anyone have any tips and pointers to get a beginner composer started?

    EDIT: BTW, I'm using Psycle, if that helps at all...
    Tags: None
    • Megmo
      FFR Veteran
      • Sep 2006
      • 250
      #2
      Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

      I had composer's block in AP music theory a lot. Just make up a generic sentence and then pretend they are lyrics and write a melody to fit the words.

        Comment

        • Shadowcliff
          FFR Veteran
          • Jan 2008
          • 695
          #3
          Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

          I guess that could work for composing techno. I'll try it and examine the results.

            Comment

            • SuperGreenX
              Tangy music sauce maker
              FFR Music Producer
              • Mar 2003
              • 354
              #4
              Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

              Start with a beat and bassline first, melody later. Especially for techno. For beat-based stuff I usually go beats > chords > bass > melody. Focus on the beat for a while and make sure it is awesome before you continue.

              Wonderful Bite - New SGX Album! You can get it for free, yo!

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                • Shadowcliff
                  FFR Veteran
                  • Jan 2008
                  • 695
                  #5
                  Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                  That should help a lot. I'll do that for my next song. And I'm going to PM you with another question.

                    Comment

                    • Verruckter
                      FFR Player
                      • Apr 2004
                      • 2707
                      #6
                      Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                      lol it's not hard to find a melody for techno. Just do like everyone else and "inspire yourself vaguely" from another song.


                      But in all seriousness, just try playing random stuff on your keyboard, like power chords and such. Just find a progression or something and the melody after.
                      Truth lies in loneliness, When hope is long gone by -Blind Guardian, The Soulforged
                      Image removed for size violation.

                        Comment

                        • purebloodtexan
                          FFR Player
                          • Oct 2006
                          • 2845
                          #7
                          Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                          I really don't know. I usually find themes, titles, and melodies at random. When I do finally get something in my head, I usually write it down. It just takes patience and the right moment, really.


                            Comment

                            • Shadowcliff
                              FFR Veteran
                              • Jan 2008
                              • 695
                              #8
                              Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                              Thanks, SGX.
                              The problem is that I cannot find a good VST for drums! I've tried many kinds of drum VSTs, but they were either really crappy or didn't work. Do you know of any drum VST instruments (preferably free)? Please give the link to the download page or a home page of a VSTi site. (Please make sure the VSTi's are in .dll [program extention] format.)

                              Right now I am using VSTi's from DSK Music (http://www.dskmusic.com/blog/) and Angular Momentum (http://www.amvst.com/).

                              (I sent this same thing in a PM to SuperGreenX, but I don't know how long it will take to get a reply.)

                                Comment

                                • Frozen Beat
                                  coLSBMidday, zerg sc2 pro
                                  • Nov 2007
                                  • 1092
                                  #9
                                  Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                                  Just start kitting keys. The train of though will ignite from there...

                                  Feel several different pains, before they're colored pure red
                                  Make a little chance! Start connecting us into to tomorrow, ready and go!
                                  No matter how many times I keep going down, in these unending rounds
                                  I'm gonna keep up! We can create hope, it's our story!

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                                    • Shadowcliff
                                      FFR Veteran
                                      • Jan 2008
                                      • 695
                                      #10
                                      Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                                      So do you know of any good drum VSTi's, Frozen?

                                        Comment

                                        • DarkbearX
                                          Shimose
                                          FFR Simfile Author
                                          FFR Music Producer
                                          • Feb 2006
                                          • 1995
                                          #11
                                          Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                                          I'm not sure if there are any good drum VSTs, because I don't use any.

                                          I use samples that I download. I'm not sure if Psycle supports that but um... you can download a lot of percussion samples and packs here:

                                          Sample Packs, Acapellas, Loops, Midi Files
                                          http://www.vipzone-samples.com/

                                          Dj[BB]'s Breakbeat Paradise - Enter
                                          http://www.breakbeat-paradise.com/


                                          Both are legal. There are probably more sites / better packs with samples out there to download, but those should get you started.
                                          im gay
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                                            • Shadowcliff
                                              FFR Veteran
                                              • Jan 2008
                                              • 695
                                              #12
                                              Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                                              I remember you putting those on my profile a while back. I don't know how to work with samples yet because I'm used to using VSTs with the sounds already built in. If you would like to, you can PM a short tutorial to me on how to use samples.

                                                Comment

                                                • DarkbearX
                                                  Shimose
                                                  FFR Simfile Author
                                                  FFR Music Producer
                                                  • Feb 2006
                                                  • 1995
                                                  #13
                                                  Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                                                  Like I said, I'm not too sure how it'd work in Psycle )=. But you 'should' be able to just import them somehow.
                                                  im gay
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                                                    • who_cares973
                                                      FFR Player
                                                      • Aug 2006
                                                      • 15407
                                                      #14
                                                      Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                                                      i usually just mess around with my keyboard for a good hour

                                                        Comment

                                                        • iPatcH
                                                          Swamp Lemons Rule
                                                          FFR Simfile Author
                                                          FFR Music Producer
                                                          • Dec 2004
                                                          • 3370
                                                          #15
                                                          Re: Uhhh... Musicians.. block?

                                                          My favorite way to get percussion is from sampling old funk and soul tracks. You could even mic yourself playing different parts of an actual drum kit and splice them as needed (which I think is really fun to do). If you like vintage drum machines consider Nepheton and Drumazon.

                                                          As for melodies, yeah, pretty much what SGX said works best for me.

                                                          Also avoid the amen break like the plague.
                                                          put on a donk on it

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