Hi all, I;m currently at school and (I really hate saying this cause it makes me sound like I'm gloating) I'm a fairly accomplished musician considering how long I've been learning (at least that's what my teachers say). I've always loved playing music, but then I thought I want to compose my own; and then one of my music teachers told me that I'd be good at composition. Only thing is, I wouldn't have a clue how to get started. I'm a systematical, complicated, math person, so I can't just play something and essentially "jam" and come up with tunes that sound okay; this is because, I have a terrible ear <_<. I need to know the actually mechanics and structure of music to learn how to compose it (well, something that sounds nice anyway). I was wondering if anyone could suggest a book or something or maybe a website detailing how to compose music and the structure and mechanics of how it works, eg. like what notes make this type of cord and this series of notes arranged like this makes a happy feel and so on. Anyone know where I could find something like this; and if anyone if willing to teach me I'll be all for it, but for your sakes', I'd think a pre-written document would be a lot easier on both of us (this doesn't mean I'm not open to it though, so go right ahead if you're offering). Cheers, and hope you guys can help a young musician.

Learning music theory will be nothing but learning theory. To compose something will require much passion, a good ear, and perspiration. A good basic theory book to start with would probably be "A Creative Approach to Music Fundamentals" by William Duckworth. Basically, to have a good background in theory, you should first understand the purpose of pulse, meter, measures, note values, rests. Learn all your staffs, noteheads, and clefs. Be able to pick out keys on a keyboard and the intervals between each key.

Learn and memorize all your major and minor scales and be able to recognize what key you're in. Learn about the intervals of notes such as perfect, major, minor, diminished, and augmented. Once you understand these concepts, you can move onto triads and what intervals make up a major, minor, augmented, and diminished triad and be able to write write triads in different positions. Also be able to label triads, write them in all the keys, and be able to recognize what a triad is in all the keys. From there, you can learn about seventh chords and chord extensions, then move onto chord progressions and learn about tendency tones, dominant and tonic relationship, cadences, and some simple chord progressions.

During all of this, you should be doing some ear training. That is, have someone play intervals on a piano and you just by listening to the two notes played, can tell the intervals of those two pitches.

From there, you should have enough musical background to start to dabble in music composition. You most likely won't produce anything truly worth while for months or even years. It depends on how passionate you are about writing music and how critically you listen to other composer's compositions to understand better how you can improve yourself. Never accept anything but what you hear in your head. Don't throw notes in music notation software and hope for the best.

That would be a good start. ^_^

Sometimes I have a passage of music in my head, but before I get a chance to write it down, it's gone. I find it very annoying that I can't seem to accurately put down what I hear in my head on paper (or in the software) only because it seem to fade very quickly. Is there any method to preserve that phrase of music longer in memory? I tried to start humming the line immediately after I think of it, but it doesn't seem to help too much either...

Don't throw notes in music notation software and hope for the best.

That is something very IMPORTANT. Do not dare to do that!

What I would recommend is analysis and exploring. Analysis by ear or by looking at scores of a diversity of composers. See how they worked their melodies, harmonies, the structures, counterpoint, textures, instrumentation, etc. Experiment also, you may discover things by experimenting, and incorporate them in your music.

Sometimes I have a passage of music in my head, but before I get a chance to write it down, it's gone. I find it very annoying that I can't seem to accurately put down what I hear in my head on paper (or in the software) only because it seem to fade very quickly. Is there any method to preserve that phrase of music longer in memory? I tried to start humming the line immediately after I think of it, but it doesn't seem to help too much either...

No. Sucks doesn't it. :P

Ah, I have the same problem of not being able to remember music, but sometimes if I just keep playing the music in my head (lol) I might be able to remember it.

If your school has a music theory class, take it. I know my compositions have gotten a little better ever since I decided to take it...if your school doesen't have theory, musictheory.net is a great alternative. :P

Yeah, this one time I had a whole orchestral piece going in my head for like 5 minutes, and then it was just gone...

I wonder if it's worth it learning a little harmony and counterpoint...

I wonder if it's worth it learning a little harmony and counterpoint...

It doesn't hurt.

It doesn't hurt.

Except for it's kinda hard and takes a lot of time.. @___@;; Time is something I don't have a lot of.

If you want to learn something hard enough, you'll find time to put that work ethic into play.

Thanks all for your help, I think the best thing for me to do would be take my schools music theory class (would have taken it this year, but after choosing to do 3 year 11 subjects in year 10, another one would really mess up my time table). Big thanks to PorscheGTIII, I will definitely think about doing what you said, thanks for taking the time to write all that out, and thanks to Nyu001 as well, I think experimenting might be the best thing for now learn by experience, what notations make this kind of sound etc. Then finding out why and so on. Again thanks all, at least I won't be bored over the rest of my holidays now :lol:

That is something very IMPORTANT. Do not dare to do that!


Hahaha, but that's how I started, and I never looked back since :P.

In all honesty though, that's what you kind of have to do when you try to translated the music in your head into actuality. Of course, music theory will certainly help you with that, though it may color the results somewhat differently.