how do you compose?

[CounterpointFTW]

well im self taught so i dont know the formal way of composing. so id like to know how all the TBers go about with composing. it doesnt have to be for just the bassline, solos, genres and it doesnt even have to be restricited to bass.

And another question do people usually go for chord progressions first or do they compose melodies first?

[dustdbass6]

Most of the time, I use chords first on guitar to write songs. But when it comes to writing instrumental music, I will write either a bassline or lead melody and fit other instruments around it. But there is no one way to do it, use whatever comes naturally and follow that. Sometimes lyrics can lead you as well. Whatever works man.

[BassChuck]

Every piece of music will have one aspect of it that is more important than the others. Go with that first. In other words, if the music will be for dancing, you might want to get a good drum beat going and let other things (bass line, melody, lyrics) suggest themselves from the beat. If you are are doing a love song, lyrics probably will come first with the melody and harmony later (overall beat and bass line may not be at all important).

The important thing to remember is that everyone works a little different, so don't try to fit your work plans to anyone else. Also, remember that good music is a natural thing, if you find yourself forcing the issue, take some time off, walk around the block, read a book, and then get back to the music. In time, you will know when a piece is ready to be written.

[CounterpointFTW]

alright, thanks a lot for your input guys.

[ilyash]

Originally Posted by CounterpointFTW

how do you compose?

Please take a look at my program Musical Palette - Melody Composing Tool. The program is based on the composition theory and harmony theory. The site of the program is located here:
http://www.palette-mct.com

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by CounterpointFTW

well im self taught so i dont know the formal way of composing. so id like to know how all the TBers go about with composing. it doesnt have to be for just the bassline, solos, genres and it doesnt even have to be restricited to bass.

And another question do people usually go for chord progressions first or do they compose melodies first?

there are a zillion different ways to approach it... and the best thing you can do is try as many as possible, and when you find something that sounds good to you... keep it

most of what people think of as 'composing' is actually arranging... and arranging is mostly perspiration not inspiration... the hours of time fleshing out your melodic ideas into something that an ensemble can play

just to give a few examples of some of my stuff: http://www.myspace.com/trollpatroluk I make no claims to greatness, but this is how I did these

the tune 'Police 5'... this started with the trumpet melody... the chords were the most obvious ones... I knew I wanted a lazy feel, so I made it simple and non-fussy... the middle section was composed with a very specific concept in mind... it was to create and release rhythmic tension by cramming unusual groups of polyrhythmic notes over the bars of 3/4... the harmonic environment was a slowly half-step descending erm... thing... the bass was entirely composed after the melody... I gave no thought to how hard it would be to play, since I can usually play anything well enough... that's how it should be... composing a tune around a bass line seems, well.. bass-playerish

Bad Patch was just a little bass & drum thing... the drums were written and I fitted the bass around it, except for one section where I fitted the drums around the bass

Morning Super was written around the opening 4 note melody... again, the bass was fitted in pretty much last... I like cartoon music & lots of changes & collage type stuff, so we have lots of contrasting sections and erm.. just stuff that tickles my ear...

so erm... usually melodies first... I don't recommend composing on bass but it clearly works for some people.. bass is the instrument i'm most proficient at, so it makes sense to do it last, since I can use it to glue everything together

i think composition should be about surprising & delighting yourself, not following a computer programme or spreadsheet to work out the 'right' notes

[ryco]

I hear something in my head and figure out the intervals and chord progression, run home and play it on bass. Yes, I write pretty much exclusively on bass, because it's the only instrument I can play proficiently.

Or I'll be practicing and come up with a riff or groove I like and write it down. Will put it to drum machine.

Sometimes words and phrases come first.

Usually can hear the whole instrumentation pretty much.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by CounterpointFTW

well im self taught so i dont know the formal way of composing. so id like to know how all the TBers go about with composing. it doesnt have to be for just the bassline, solos, genres and it doesnt even have to be restricited to bass.

And another question do people usually go for chord progressions first or do they compose melodies first?

The answer to your last question is Yes. Some like to write progressions first then hear a melody coming from the chords. Other write the melody first and then go back and harmonize it. Other do both at same time or even go back and forth between method as they go. It's what works for you and both need to be explored.


Composing is no different than learning to improvise. Improvisation is spontaneous composition. To learn that you transcribe and study solo you like. What notes are being played against what chords, what patterns/motifs are they using, how are they varying those motifs. Then in practice take the basic tools of chord/scales and practice exploring the melodies we can come up with. Take common chord progression and find melodies for them. Take the common theory tools and try to combine them in new ways. All this is what composers are doing expect in general but instead of being spontaneous they are writing ideas down and refining them. Composers write all the time like a musician practices daily. We both play or write a lot of stuff we toss out, but we learn from it good and bad. So key is to just start writing daily try every method you hear about and explore them. Even improv teaches tell musicians to write everyday even if only two bars.

Want a simple starting point. Write a chord progression you like. Now write melodies for the chord, but use only the notes of the chord triad as your melody notes. Limiting yourself that way forces you to be creative either in use of notes or use of rhythm. Use of timbre.

[Inflin]

I was trained formally, but when composing the first thing I do is forget everything I learned about harmony, write all my ideas down, then refine them using the proper knowledge. I can't really explain it very well, to be fair.

Also, I'll listen to any song (on the radio or whatever), when writing lyrics. If it's in the same time signature, I can write everything, then apply it to any music I might write later. When starting to write music, I'll usually either quickly program some drums or just play bass to a click, then put guitar, keys, horns, whatever, on top of that rhythm. People always say the drums and bass are the foundation of a song, so thats where I start.

Basically though I just do what I feel most comfortable with doing, and you should too.

[anthowl]

i'm self taught also and i compose all my songs and music in Guitar Pro 5.
it's a tabbing software that deals in tab as well as classical notation and you can listen back to everything you write using basic midi or 'RSE' (reaslistic sound engine, although it's not realistic) but yeah.

[soong]

Try looking for Finale Notepad, a music notating/composing program. It's free, have a go with it. Google it.

[Mutant Corn]

I get a drum-beat going on either my SHS-10(shh! It was free..) or in a drum-machine program on my computer. To that, I play either power chords on a guitar in dropped tuning to set the chord changes progression. Then, I put down the individual parts...usually rhythm guitar, bass, then lead. Mic'ing the drumset up is last, if I do it at all...I have to have my brother for that.

[pasta4lnch]

I think it was trevor rabin who said there are 2 ways to write a song. your way and the wrong way . . .

me personally I get inspired by a "thing" and that "thing" could be anything from a chord progression to a kick drum sample I stumbled upon and everything else just kind of develops.

I'm used to writing under the gun so I just have a place I go (internally) to create.

I had a teacher in college once that was giving us tips on writing under the gun - he told us to write out a scale (any scale or string of 10 notes) and attach numbers to them 0-9 and use your phone number as the melody. . . and if it sucks to call someone else

[GianGian]

It starts with a riff or chords or whatever sounds good to start a song. After I wrote all the sections on bass and have an idea of what they are going to be on the other instruments, I make the vocals melody, if there wil be vocals and then I make the song structure, which is the hardest part. Almost always I come up with the drum part and the guitar part as I am recording. I record every instrument myself.

[Martin Bormann]

Originally Posted by I Suck At Bass

Try looking for Finale Notepad, a music notating/composing program. It's free, have a go with it. Google it.

Notepad is so restricted, it's not worth the effort. The full version of Finale is worth the investment. Sibelius is another one to look at getting. They each have their own advantages and flaws.

[Martin Bormann]

Originally Posted by CounterpointFTW

well im self taught so i dont know the formal way of composing. so id like to know how all the TBers go about with composing. it doesnt have to be for just the bassline, solos, genres and it doesnt even have to be restricited to bass.

And another question do people usually go for chord progressions first or do they compose melodies first?

Here is the thing, it might not be popular, but you should work on composing via all sorts of approaches. Finding a motif and going from there, a full melodic line, figuring the form you want to have then throwing the chords in there and going from there, writing just phrases and piecing them together later, etc. Key is not to get fixed on doing one way. We all have our favourite method. Mine is to write tons of periods and later on paste them together. But I still do other methods as well.

[mutedeity]

I think when it comes to composing you have to realise that it's more than just putting a chord progression and a melody together. There are numerous ways to compose, and there is really no right or wrong way. One thing to keep in mind though, is that the more you know about theory and how the elements you are working with work, the more options you have.

In the bigger picture you have to look at things like songform, theme, thematic variations, counterpoint, antecedence and consequence, voice leading, and any number of other compositional elements. All of these things come with experience and practice, like any other aspect of music. The best way to get good at composing is to do as much of it as you can and learn what works for you.

[tyggis]

I compose on a piano. And always melodi first.

[Martin Bormann]

Originally Posted by mutedeity

I think when it comes to composing you have to realise that it's more than just putting a chord progression and a melody together. There are numerous ways to compose, and there is really no right or wrong way. One thing to keep in mind though, is that the more you know about theory and how the elements you are working with work, the more options you have.

In the bigger picture you have to look at things like songform, theme, thematic variations, counterpoint, antecedence and consequence, voice leading, and any number of other compositional elements. All of these things come with experience and practice, like any other aspect of music. The best way to get good at composing is to do as much of it as you can and learn what works for you.

I was specifically looking at my main composing method a day or so ago. I treat every single note that is to be played (or not played) as a specific voice. And thus when creating tension and resolution, I'm not just thinking "G7 resolves to C" I'm thinking "In the guitar part, The G in the in the middle voice can be held to be the 5th of the C in the next chord and the G in the bass position can leap up to the tonic. The F in the top voice, we'll ease that down by using a passing tone before the chord switch so that it can ease in to C" Just as an example. For me, I do that after I come up with motif I want to use. As far as form goes, I always keep that as a "last thought" mostly because you can modify everything to fit with whichever form you desire.

As far as being good at composing, I think practicing on aspects you know you're weak at is probably the best way to improve. Also ear-training will improve composition. And most "rock" and "metal" musicians are horribly impaired with their ears.