LMMS Help

[allanpike]

I've recently decided to have a shot at creating songs/music and after learning that LMMS is free and how to use it thanks to Circuitfry's tutorial I'm using it for my music creation... but I've hit a problem

I honestly know nothing about how to create a song!

Learning how to use a program is one thing, but I don't seem to be able to find something guiding people though the creation process of a simple song. I mean its all well and good learning how to use the program then just experimenting, but I think it would be a lot easier if there was a video or two guiding people though the steps to make a simple song. Maybe getting a bit more complex with each video...

If there are video's like this, that I would be grateful to be linked to them, if there aren't... well its just a suggestion but I think it would greatly help budding young digital music creators like myself.

[TheDnBGremlin]

Refer to viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1369

Has everything you should need

[allanpike]

... That was the very first thing I checked.

Hell its what informed me about LMMS in the first place!

However, a guide to making a song with LMMS? That isn't there. Hence the reason of this thread.

[TheDnBGremlin]

However, a guide to making a song with LMMS? That isn't there. Hence the reason of this thread.

So what's the problem, exactly?

[allanpike]

Its... well I guess its hard to explain but....

LMMS gives you so many options, so many things to do... and I just don't know where to start. I don't know much about creating a song or music, let alone in a DAW. I mean, sure I have a few ideas for songs/music in my head, but I'm just unsure as to how to put it together...

Maybe there is something in the guide to help me with that but I overlooked it... I don't know, but I feel that DAW's different from most things as you can make songs using just them and I feel that creating a song using them isn't something that one can simply pick up and do... or be told to do. Being told and shown how to formulate a simple song should help...

... That wasn't very helpful was it?

[TheDnBGremlin]

Creating a song can be pretty difficult. Don't expect the first idea to pop into your head, no matter how great it is, to be the easiest. I usually start with synth and lead design to try and get a melody going and work from there.

[allanpike]

Synth and lead design... I have a good idea what you mean, but can you clarify exactly what you mean by that?

[TheDnBGremlin]

Screw around with 3xOSC or whatever LMMS calls it's main synth, I can't remember...

Then track out some notes and see what sounds good! Try and keep it at or under four bars.

[allanpike]

Notes... you mean in the piano roll thing?

And four bars isn't long...

[K3WRO]

Four bars is what most professionals start in dude!

You can make those four, Full notes or half notes the bassline and build the melody on top of it if it sounds right, play around with the piano roll or keybord or whatever and I'm pretty sure somthing will come up in your head!

For example, C, G, A, F

[allanpike]

Doesn't help that all of the notes in the piano roll are C's... C0 to C8 and I have no idea what the proper scale is...

[K3WRO]

Doesn't help that all of the notes in the piano roll are C's... C0 to C8 and I have no idea what the proper scale is...

Have you ever learned the alphabet? Or the piano? It goes from C. D. E. F. G. A. B.(starts over at a new octave)

And the numbers represent octaves, it's like the pitch and all that.

The black keys are like sharps and flats, if it's over the natural note it's a sharp of that note, if it's under, then it's a flat.

http://www.musictheory.net/

You should really check this out

[allanpike]

... Now I feel like an idiot not realizing the scale...

The website does look good... but I don't really have enough time to check it in detail...

For that matter I shouldn't really have enough time for song creation...

[Fimbulin]

One thing I do is when I get some notes put together, I set them all to piano sounds so I can tell if they sound good together.

EASY STEPS TO WRITING SIMPLE MUSIC:
1. Start by making a sweet bassline progression. It should be one note held out every 4 beats for 16 beats total. That's only 4 different notes you'll need for your basic loop.
2. Make your melody notes that are made out of either 4 or 8 notes every 4 beats, or a combination of 4s and 8s. Again, 16 beats total.
3. Check that your notes all match up with and sound right with your bass notes by arranging them together in your DAW.
4. Fiddle around with other notes to create harmonies and stuff.

Not much more to it than that for simple stuff. The more practice you get, the better you get at it, and the more effects and techniques you feel comfortable using!

[allanpike]

Hmmmm... I think I get it. Though just a guess but the length of a beat, can it change or is it always the same length?

[Fimbulin]

That's called tempo, or BPM (beats per minute)

[allanpike]

Makes sense and I've got a good solid start. Got a nice 4 bar beat to start with then I kinda cheated and used brassloop that is 4 bars long...

And now I'm completely and utterly stuck as I can't seem to find anything that will fit what I've got... and I can't simply use two things to make an entire song can I?

... Sorry, I shouldn't moan.

[Fimbulin]

Hmm...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz54Pz92ukA

Think of this as the piano roll editor (haha almost the same thing anyways). Try to recreate parts of it. It will seriously help!

[allanpike]

Thank you very much!

Honestly, I'm surprised as to how much help I'm getting considering I wasn't clear as to how I needed help exactly and a lot of things people say go right over my head.

[TheDnBGremlin]

Yeah, this place is pretty helpful

[Ed Viper]

Boom.



Try this video. I'm not exactly sure of what you're looking for, but hopefully this will help.