How should I get started?

[StarShire]

Hello everypony!

Thanks to this fandom I have become interested in making music. I'm pretty much a complete beginner and I don't really know where to start. So far I have been learning/reviewing music theory, researching online, watching tutorials, and of course reading through some of the threads here in this forum.

I used to play the violin before (not too bad I guess) so I know how to read music and such. But, while I'm studying about theory such as scales, chords, and intervals, I have a hard time understanding how to put the theory into practice and make even the simplest music while experimenting. It's kind of giving me a headache. I'm wondering how to create a melody, how to build a basic structure to help me build a complex song, how to get ideas, how to create a beat, which keys/scales I should use, which instruments or synths I should use etc... (lol I am all over the place, aren't I? )

I don't know which genre I want to learn but if I have to choose it's probably going to be something electronic, whatever OdysseyEurobeat/Ponybeat, iamnotacleverpony and other popular brony composers make...

I currently have Garageband on my computer and FL Studio 10 (demo) on another and probably will be using mostly Garageband and switch to FL Studio once I get a new computer. I'm not willing to spend any money just yet in case I find out that composing music isn't my thing (although I understand that giving up halfway isn't good). I'm going to just treat this as a hobby since I probably can't become a professional.

Could anypony help give me a direction where to go?

Thanks!

[Captain Ironhelm]

I'm pretty much exactly like you... like almost exactly.

I would highly recommend LMMS (Linux Multimedia Studio) if you don't want to spend on a DAW yet. Circuitfry's tutorial on youtube covers most of LMMS. For it to work, you gotta link it to your soundcard, though. I can show you how to do it if you are interested. If you're liking another DAW, that's great, too.

Researching like you have is how you will gain your knowledge on how things work.

How I make music is I get the barebones of the melody down, and then I back it up with everything else. As for beat, try something that you find groovy, or copy something somebody else did that would fit your song.

Which keys and scales, instruments, and synths you use are completely up to you as the music creator. Generally you'll use a single key for a song. Ask yourself what sounds you feel should go in. Your goal is to make other people feel what you want them to. When first learning, learn 1 thing at a time. Trying to do everything at once will cause you to do nothing all at once.

Ideas for what you make: What inspires you? When you get an idea, write it down for later. What do you feel? What's groovy? What's cool? What's whatever? What part of the MLP show do you think should be put into a song? etc. Brainstorm.

Don't expect your 1st songs to be exactly what you had in mind. It can take people several years before they figure out their sound.

I'm not professional, and I don't know if I ever will be, but I know I want to make music, and nothing can take that away. I started with a silly MIDI sequencer a few years back, so all this fancy stuff is new to me. I'm awful at tying theory together, and I don't know a lot of things, and I'm a slow learner. But I'm going to learn how, whatever it takes.

Any more specific or generic questions I'll try to help. Can't wait to hear what you make!

[modulusshift]

Ok, Captain Ironhelm here gave me the perfect advice for what I wanted to know. I'll back up everything he said personally. Thank you, Captain.

[Sonarch]

I feel like i'm in the same boat. I have most of the tools I need, but I have no idea how to use them. I've been experimenting, and I think I really just need to get down a simple song or two, just to practice. Once I feel more familiar with everything, I'd like to make something and post it here, and see what others think and ask for critique. I spend a lot of time looking things up and thinking of ideas for things to put in songs, and I still haven't actually made anything. I want to go at it the way I would approach a school paper, where I need to have something there before I can start editing and fixing things. That may or may not be a problem for anyone else, but my plan is to just start making things and worry about having them be good afterwards.

[Quix]

That may or may not be a problem for anyone else, but my plan is to just start making things and worry about having them be good afterwards.

I think that might work well for me!

I usually end up fiddling around with no clear idea of what to make, and when I get a melody down, I try to add to it for an hour or so. Then, I give up, and a few hours later I come back, and realize that what I made sounds like shit. I can't seem to find 'inspiration' for songs. I've never had any type of idea for what I want a song to sound like, other than the genre that I would like it to represent (which ends up sounding completely different). Most catchy parts or cool effects of the few songs I've made were pure chance of me fooling around with a synth or making a random note sequence.

Oh well, I guess I've just got to keep on keeping on. I've only been making music for under a month, so I guess I'm better off than some people!

[soup2504]

Don't try to make songs right at the start. Spend time getting used to your DAW, learning the basics, and just toy around with it seriously (because messing around won't help you). You don't need to look up fancy tutorials on the basics of your DAW, in fact, I found those to confuse me greatly. Try to learn about it by yourself, it will pay off later.