Some Questions To Ask Before I get Started

[Sonarch]

Alright, I have all the stuff I think I need to start making music. I've got ACID Music Studio 8, a decent usb mic that I can get a pop filter for if I want to do vocals, a bunch of sound loops, and the desire to do it. However, I have some questions before I do, since i'm totally new to all this.
First off, I have no idea how to get the melody going. I have loops, and correct me if i'm wrong, but I feel like you can't just make a song from loops. Like, if I get a melody in my head, how can I transfer than into the program? Is there something like in FL Studio, where you get the sideways piano and click notes in? Do I need something other than ACID for that?
Second, is there anything that is generally frowned upon in music making, besides plagiarism?
Also, when making a song, where do you start? Do you decide what you want it to be about, and write the melody off of that? Do you compose a tune from your head, and build from there? I would like to know some of you guys' music processes, how you would go about making a song and in what order you would do things in.
I think that's all I have for now, and any answers/advice anyone could give me would be appreciated.

[Whitetail]

The latest version of ACID should have a piano roll and VST compatibility, honestly I'm not sure where you find it though since I've never used the program myself.

Using loops for your entire song is rather taboo since you're not really making the content yourself, there's nothing wrong with using loops every know and then for different things but you don't ever want someone to be able to recreate your song with minimal effort if they have the same loop pack you do. It's basically arranging pretty noises but you don't learn much from it, it's far more in your interest to learn how to make the various parts yourself properly - generally Drums you're fine (though I'd still advise learning to make them yourself) but I'd avoid loops for pretty much anything else.

Here's how I see loops: if you're going to use them
Make them your own
Chop them up, cut them around, rearrange them, play with their timbre, their pitch, etc.
Just make it yours, not a part of someone else's song.


There's many many different ways to compose music, and in that manner there's no right or wrong way to do it. But when I do it I mainly just doodle around coming up with an idea for melody or progression or something, sometimes to a theme in mind or others just experimenting to see what I can come up with. Just keep experimenting with ideas and eventually 2 and 2 will come together and your idea will grow. Having real instruments to doodle out random ideas on can really help too.

[Raddons]

Yeah, don't plagiarize, and avoid I-IV-V progressions jk

I know this is different for everyone, but people say you don't need music theory to make good music. You have to keep in mind that everyone is different. Me personally, my knowledge of theory helps me write, but I know people who know no theory and still make good songs. They have that something inside them. They think more as a songwriter than a musician, if that's how you want to put it. Back to the point, we are all different and that means our writing styles are different. Though, I suggest getting a basic grasp of theory before you start.

When I am starting something, I need to be inspired. Usually that involves me fucking around on my guitar (because I am a guitarist ) after a practice session. A song I worked on/finished last week started from a 3 note motif I just belted out after a practice, and it evolved from there. It's not always "is it melody first, or chord progression, or blah blah blah?". It's all about a good idea and embellishing on it. And yes, as Whitetail said, having a real instrument helps.

Although sometimes I get my inspiration from playing around with VST's. I'll come across something cool and say "Oh, _____ will sound cool with this patch", and that's how an idea is born. Once you do it enough and get comfortable with your DAW/resources, you will see ideas coming to you.

[Sonarch]

Okay, thanks. I'm taking guitar as an elective, and it's teaching me some good theory, and I do have some guitars and a uke to mess with.

Also, I felt like songs were not entirely made of loops, but since i'm inexperienced I didn't know for sure. I really want to make my own stuff, but I really don't know how to do that. How can I make everything on my own?
I'll try to find the piano roll for ACID as well, cause I think that would be really useful.

[That_One_Dood]

I have to agree with Cloud, Music Theory is one of the best tools you can have. You don't have to go super deep into but the basics should make a vast difference. Personally I like to mess around on my guitar until I find a good base(not bass) for the song whether it's a chord progression, riff or what have you. after that just start messing around with bass or lead or drums, whatever is more comfortable for you. as for loops. you can make them yourself by recording an instrument. If you have drum loops you can use those but there are some decent drum vst's that are free.
http://freemusicsoftware.org/category/free-vst/drums
Hope this helps a bit let us know if you have anymore questions.

[natsukashi]

Yeah, slapping dblue glitch on a track and calling it IDM/Breakcore is frowned upon. So don't do that. I will personally hunt you down. >:(

[Sonarch]

So the only way I can make my own loops from scratch is to record them?

[Raddons]

Erm, that's one way. Tedious and very unnecessary, but you can do that.

[vladnuke]

The way to start is to think of a general theme (for me, usually bitchtitsponyderp is the theme) then think of a structure (usually neo-classical post progressive funk) , then think of a genre (Stepcore, for example), think about the rules for that genre, then try your best to stylistically break some of those rules, then scream into the mic a little bit (warm up), then write all that down, then go to sleep, then wake up (hardest part) then try to decipher your chicken-scratch handwriting, then throw it all away, improvise, and make a song. Or use it. Up to you, man.

[Sonarch]

Okay, I don't think I get it. What do I need to do, and what do I use to create stuff other than loops? Do I need VSTs?

[natsukashi]

Okay, here is the thing. You don't have to loop your bars if you don't want to. Composed a good 4 bars riff? Good, then compose the next one. Rinse and repeat

[Sonarch]

Alright, I've been screwing around with some instruments, and I think I get it now. Thank you guys for helping me out.

[Captain Ironhelm]

LMMS is a free program that runs pretty close to Fruity Loops, and it's free. Some people like it, some hate it.

[EnnervateIndustries]

I feel like you can't just make a song from loops.

I'm afraid that you are wrong there. Look at some electronic artists (which I won't mention because someone'll yell at me for insulting them) who can make a whole song with just a couple of melodies. Hell, I made a song using only loops, but it kinda sounded like shit, so don't trust me completely on this.

[Sonarch]

The thing that I didn't understand then was that you could use things like midi and VSTs, but I get that now.