Advice and Help on Composing

[chozartmaninoff]

Ive noticed a few people asking about composing, and help, and where to start so ive written some advice.

This is aimed more at beginning composers who don’t really know where to start but theres some advice on thickening up and varying music also at the end.

I’m going to assume we all have a good level of theory after all to start composing you need to know your way around a piano.

I’m going to write a piece of music as a demonstration and tell you exactly what I’m doing as I do it. Using simple methods I will compose a song. There are some sound samples to show you the stages of the piece I compose and then there is the finished piece attached at the bottom of the post

Once you’ve done yours, it would be nice if you would post it. Also let me know if this was helpful.


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]

The left hand is a great way to thicken up your piece. Where plain bar chords can be nice, sometimes varying the type of left hand accompaniment can make a big difference.

•   Octaves – Can add power when you need it, in dramatic passages, outros or nearly anywhere. Or they can make you right hand more full sounding.

•   Strides. – Take the root of the chord and play it on its own, then play the chord further up. Have a listen to Chopin’s Nocturne Op9 No.2 for a good example of these


•   Alternating and stretching chords - Instead of playing a basic block chord try playing the notes of that chord in different orders (also known as inversions) Then stretch those notes, they don’t need to be in the same octave.


•   Arpeggios are one of my favourite ways to make your music flow beautifully. Spread and play those arpeggios all over the piano and add notes to them to make them really interesting


The right hand has some nice tricks also.

•   Grace notes are nice to use in all situations. 

•   Also harmonise your notes, instead of just a C, add a G to the bottom, or use any notes that go well together, 3rds 5ths 4ths 7ths etc etc.


•   Octaves are a good way to add variation to you melody.

Here is my finished piece using the chords and melody above, also adding some of the thickening methods I explained.

NOTE: This piece took me 5 minuets to write, yours should take  longer, and spend time developing the piece and don’t be afraid to have to start again or make big changes, I’ve started a piece and it ended up completely different to the way it started.

Remember to use a variety of the “Thickening methods” to make a really interesting piece.


Other ideas – Try composing in the style of you favourite composer. It can be fun, but challenging.

Let me know if this was helpfully for anyone and good luck with composing, it is a wonderful thing to do.

Best wishes

[G.W.K]

It is good that you have set a structure for beginners to use as a guide to improvising and composing. You really do think a lot about them, don't you? LOL

I personally just play around until I find something I like and just tie it together like that, which is probably less organised and more time consuming.

Personally, I wasn't keen on your improvisation...wasn't something I would do. But, like everything you play: you always have to expect constructive criticism!

G.W.K

[jabbz]

Isn't tonality a bit done?

[chozartmaninoff]

Isn't tonality a bit done?

The idea wasnt about a peticular style or anything, it was just to give beginners a starting point. I used the chords and notes i did as an easy example, not as a style for them to learn.

[chozartmaninoff]

Personally, I wasn't keen on your improvisation...wasn't something I would do. But, like everything you play: you always have to expect constructive criticism!

G.W.K
[/quote]

Constructive criticism is always good yes
As stated though that isnt my way of improvising or composing, its just music that is easy to follow, i wasnt going to write a sonata or somthing to give people a starting point. Just simple chords. I play around with all kinds of music. Just thought simple stuff would be easier to follow from a learning point of view