copyright

[pianoplayer51]

Whist doodling around on the piano, I came up with a tune (a simple three line one).  I decided that it sounded so nice, I wrote down the notes.   I am going to write it out properly on a score.   I have never done anything like this before.   Does this mean that if I make copies of this on paper I own the copyright since I wrote it?

[j_menz]

Yep, assuming it is in fact original.  No slur intended, some very fine musicians have, on occasion, thought they were being original when they weren't.

Only one written instance required, incidentally.

[Bob]

You should register it if you want to do anything with it.  I wonder if they check that when it's registered to see if it's already be done before.

[j_menz]

You should register it if you want to do anything with it.  I wonder if they check that when it's registered to see if it's already be done before.

Does the US still require this?  Most other countries don't have any registration - either as a requirement or an option.

[pianoplayer51]

How can it not be my original if I made it up out of my head.   I first composed the treble clef basic tune and then chose the harmony with the bass clef trying out a bunch of different things unti it sounded ok to me, so on that basis, it is all my own creation.

I have just discoved I have a new talent 

[pianoplayer51]

Just out of interest, is there electronic equipment for writing music because writing a score by hand is time consuming.

[outin]

Just out of interest, is there electronic equipment for writing music because writing a score by hand is time consuming.

There's free software available:
https://musescore.org/

[j_menz]

How can it not be my original if I made it up out of my head.   

It sometimes happens that someone else both made it up in their own head and wrote it down, first. Not often, but it has happened. Not saying that this is the case here.  These days, probably safer to run it past one of those web tune identifier thingies if your planning on making squillions out of it.

Just out of interest, is there electronic equipment for writing music because writing a score by hand is time consuming.

There are score writing programs (Musescore, Sibelius and others) that you could use. Some of them are free, or have free versions with limitations.

You can also use midi keyboards to input the notes via your computer in most of them.

[pianoplayer51]

Thanks i downoaded forte software on a 30 day free trial basis.  I am not planning to do this regularly as it is time consuming but it just came to me and I wrote it down.

[Bob]

Does the US still require this?  Most other countries don't have any registration - either as a requirement or an option.

It's the safe way since they still change copyright laws now and then.  The last I heard the US considers it under copyright whenever it was written, as long as it's in a fixed form.  I suppose it might have more weight with other countries then too.  For the price of registering it, if someone was serious, it's probably worth it. 

[Bob]

Here's the example from music classes...

Andrew Lloyd Webber's I Don't Know How to Love Him

t=62

vs.
Mendelssoh's Vilion concerto, e minor, op.64, second movement...

t=821



Ran across these posts when I was hunting for it.  Didn't read them though.
https://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=42436
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/29/1078971/-Thursday-Classical-Music-OPUS-74-Mendelssohn-s-Violin-Concerto-in-E-minor

[gregh]

When you write or record something in the US it is automatically copyrighted with no further effort or expense required on your part. Registering it is sort of like the certified letter--it's a public record that proves when you did it and that you really do own the rights (I was going to say it proves that you really wrote it, but that's not necessarily the case).