Making a start:Give your piece a name that will reflect what you're piece is about or at least have an idea of what it is you want the piece to say? For example choose a name like “Looking back” which is what i will call my piece.
This name should set the tone of the piece, the tempo, weather its major or minor piece. It should be your theme, remember the piano can’t speak, so the more you use your name as inspiration, the better people can relate to your piece. Tell stories with you’re your music. (Some people, especially improvisers, will write a piece then name it)
The piece I’m going to write will be called “Looking back” and is going to be a reflective piece. In this music I am creating a man who is looking through the window on a sunny day, and he watches the children on the park outside playing games, and remembering what it was like to be a child.
Ok next, write the structure of the piece. Structures are important. Remember that “mood pieces” without a strong melody line should try and be short, there’s only so long you can entertain someone with a repetitive mood piece.
I’m going to Structure my piece like so……….. (Remember you can do it as you please)
• Short introduction
• Main melody
• Second melody
• Variation of Introduction leading to chorus
• Chorus x 2
• Variation of main melody
(Variations of melodies or chorus etc are often good, they can make people remember the piece and also repeat parts without making it the same and boring)
• Outro
So now we have an idea or theme for the piece and a structure. It’s now time to choose the key – I would suggest for your first compositions to use the key of C which I will use for this example.
Chord Progression
Now you can choose either the chord progression first or the melody. I’m going to do chords first. Spend time playing around finding chords you like the sound of.
TIP: If you’re struggling with finding a chord sequence, find a song you like and use that sequence or just copy the one below. Alternatively try playing with the circle of 5ths
Chords I have chosen:
Introduction: G7
Melody 1: C // F // G/B // C
Melody 2: Am // F // C
Intro Variation: G7
Chorus x 2: C // Am7 // Dm // G
Melody 1 Variation: C // F // G/B // C
Outro: F // G7 // C
So theres my very simple basic Chord sequence.
LISTEN TOO – FIG 1 attached below, I have played all the chords in this sequence in order.
Remember simple isn’t bad. Some of the best music wasn’t the most fancy and complex pieces.
Melody:
There are many ways of doing this. Some people and I myself often find that humming a tune and the recreate it on the piano can be a good way. But this in my opinion is not the best for someone starting out or someone who has trouble writing melodies. I would suggest just experimenting with different combinations of notes in the scale, pick ones at random and improvise with them till you find something you like. Remember to keep the song title in your mind at all times.
Notes in the C scale – CDEFGABC
Melody 1 - Chords C F G/B C
Melody C E C A A B D G E
LISTEN (FIG 2) - This plays the basic chords and melody
Keep doing this following your structure.
Thickining up and adding variation to your piece.[/b][/u]