I have this problem. I come up with many nice pieces of music but I don't know how to take them further from what they are.

Most of the music I play is pretty much by sight and ear. I have books on scales and stuff, but everytime I pick them up I get bored and side tracked.

What I'd like to know is how to build on my music? Is this where theory comes in to play and do you have any good book/video recommendations?

I would like to know which chords compliment one another and how they relate to scales.

Thanks,
FS

Easy answer, take lessons from someone that knows a lot of theory. My Bass teacher was fantastic for this. I would come in with a peice I was working on and he would show me ideas on how to expand on it. I could take or leave whatever I wanted.

Hardwork answer, start learning a lot of songs with the constanst question of, "How did the composer come up with this bass line?"

Hardwork answer, start learning a lot of songs with the constanst question of, "How did the composer come up with this bass line?"

that's what i do. it's definately much harder than just getting a teacher.

I have this problem. I come up with many nice pieces of music but I don't know how to take them further from what they are.

Most of the music I play is pretty much by sight and ear. I have books on scales and stuff, but everytime I pick them up I get bored and side tracked.

What I'd like to know is how to build on my music? Is this where theory comes in to play and do you have any good book/video recommendations?

I would like to know which chords compliment one another and how they relate to scales.

Thanks,
FS
I spent alot of time doing harmonizations of scales etc and ripping apart chord progessions and honestly I havent ever written a song and thought about scales and theory. Maybe because I usualy use alternate tunings or whatever but I find a nice chord and just use my ear, play around and improvise and then when I get something I like Ill write it down. Honestly the whole point of writing music is at least partially to provide entertainment to the audience and sometimes when you approach a song thinking about theory and paper it ends up being to much for an audience, obviously there are many exceptions to this.

Take private composition with a good music teacher!

Also try composing songs with other people, that's a good way to get introduced to new ideas!

I have this problem. I come up with many nice pieces of music but I don't know how to take them further from what they are.

Most of the music I play is pretty much by sight and ear. I have books on scales and stuff, but everytime I pick them up I get bored and side tracked.

What I'd like to know is how to build on my music? Is this where theory comes in to play and do you have any good book/video recommendations?

I would like to know which chords compliment one another and how they relate to scales.

Thanks,
FS


well first off, stop looking for advice on compositioning, it wont get you very far

second, if you only play by sight and by ear...wait a minute, how else would you play...by smell?
haha, sorry

okay, well, your going to want to know the basic chords, major minor diminished dominant augmented..., then your going to want to learn all of the scales that go along with these chords, major minor diminished dominant augmented...then your going to want to play with these for a bit to find which fit together best. that isnt really something that can be taught, if you like the sound of a diminished chord resolving to a minor chord or something like that, then thats how you should write the song

second, if you only play by sight and by ear...wait a minute, how else would you play...by smell?

:D