...for song lyrics that a character sings in the web comic El Goonish Shive (http://www.egscomics.com/d/20060417.html). The lyrics are ©2006 by Dan Shive. (Note: the MIDI does not include the first repeat, which is sung mezzo-forte.)

This is my first composition since a couple that I did in second or third grade music class. Let me know what you think.

Edwin, never thought you'd post one of your songs =) Thanks for sharing.

Interesting idea, using lyrics from a web comic. However, I was uncomfortable with the short pause between each line. Yes, it makes it easier to follow along, but it impedes with the music's flow. Also, I wasn't comfortable with the accompaniment 'doubling' the melody. When they're this synchronized together, the music doesn't go anywhere.

(Please don't think of my comments as being harsh!)

Edwin, never thought you'd post one of your songs =) Thanks for sharing.

Interesting idea, using lyrics from a web comic.

He invited readers to put music to them and I'm not one to resist a challenge...


However, I was uncomfortable with the short pause between each line. Yes, it makes it easier to follow along, but it impedes with the music's flow. Also, I wasn't comfortable with the accompaniment 'doubling' the melody. When they're this synchronized together, the music doesn't go anywhere.

It's one of my many limitations as a "composer" that I can't do harmony. Perhaps I'll learn if I ever get the chance to write more music. If you'd like, I can send you the sheet music and you could write a proper harmony.


(Please don't think of my comments as being harsh!)

I prefer honesty anyway, even when it hurts.

It's better to have no harmony than bad harmony. However, when your theme/motif is as simple as this one, the entire music will depend on your harmonization.

Two types of music. Ones like this is what I consider a accompaniment based music, meaning the development, the zest, the tranquility, atmosphere all depend on the harmonization. If you say you are bad at harmonizing, I don't suggest this type of music.

The other is the melody based, meaning the melody with be forever changing so harmony can come in simple. The melody itself is enough to capture people's attention so even simple chords will do as its accompaniment. You will need a melody that's usually 4-8bars long at least but it can go as far as 16 if you want it to. Anything greater than 16 will begin to sound random though so becareful.

Your music, lets just say I could not finish listening to it because I just couldn't...that is just the truth.

Actually, when I said the accompaniment 'doubling' the melody, I was referring more to the rhythm. For instance, your chords occured at the same time as the melody. Perhaps you could try varying it, such as using triplets, or holding a chord here, or arpeggios, etc.

the beginning actually kind of reminded me of a twisted version of "It's A Small World." o.o is that a bad thing? and i agree with KK, i couldnt finish the song, either... =/ but taken into consideration that it was a first piece, its a nice try...

Well, i manage to finish the song. There is nothing wrong with this piece, the vocal melody and piano accompaniment sounds fine to me. Just that the melody is a single phrase being repeated over too many times, it will just get to bore the listeners. When say "you are like a rose to me" to a girl too many times at one shot, she will get sick of it. So add more phrases to ur music so it will become like a love letter instead.