How did you get better at composing

[soultensionbenjamin]

I am learning just by watching DVDs but share how you guys became better composers it would benefit a bunch

[vladnuke]

Music theory. Gotta learn what goes where.

[colortwelve]

Well, I think I managed to improve a bit when Vladnuke (<3) got me a midi keyboard, which I started using to improv a lot of my chord progressions, but I've always had the same sucky method for coming up with melodies - take the melody from a song you like, and switch around notes and durations until it's entirely different.

Also, going into any song with an idea of how the structure is going to go makes life easier

[LunchBagMusic]

practicepracticepracticepracticepracticepracticepracticepracticepracticepracticepracticepracticepractice

[MorteMcAdaver]

Taking criticism from trusted friends and contacts, being my own worst critic/constantly trying to impress myself, and listening to and absorbing a wide variety of music.

[K3WRO]

Honestly, I've never learned Music theory, I've only listened to music and find what's so special about it, imitated it, add elements from other songs I listen to, and rearrange it in my own way.

And just like anything else, you've gotta practice, or your not going to get better at it.

[ThatRobChap]

Theory, practice and listening to a hell of a lot of music.

[Kopachris]

Reading.

[Dr_Dissonance]

Listening to other people's works VIGOROUSLY!

Don't just listen and go "Well this sounds nice", really listen! If you hear something you particularly like, look up the piece and find out what's going on there.
I learnt a lot of my orchestration skillz from listening to other works!

[Mingus]

Formal training, theory, and listening to A LOT of music. =P

I'd say a good thing to do to help you compose better is to strengthen up in ear training. Once you get a good ear, it will be a lot easier to get ideas onto paper (or computer). And to tag along with what Dr Dissonance said, try to find out what goes on in a piece or song you like. Analyze, analyze, analyze. =]

[Habanc]

Getting better or learning how to become better? In my opinion, they're different.

Because after awhile, tutorials, listening to other music, and studying on music theory doesn't make you necessarily better. It gives you the materials you need to become better. It's really up to you to learn how to use those materials correctly and implement them to become better.

Becoming better, for myself, has just happened in a plateau fashion. Go up in skill -> Gather new information/analyses as skill remains relatively constant -> The pieces click together -> Go up in skill -> Repeat.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

Here's a good way to practice composition:

1. Focus on composition. Don't get carried away in sound design. Trust me, I spend way too much time on sound design.

2. Start hitting keys and see what comes out. Just go for whatever sounds good.

3. Once you have something that sounds ok to your ears, bring in the music theory. Shape whatever melody/chord progression/whatever you just wrote to a scale that you are comfortable with. Any scale works if you can understand the theory in it.

4. Tweak it rhythmically. Straigh 8th notes can be boring, so you may want to mix it up a bit. This does not mean you have to use odd time signatures, just more interesting syncopation. Try placing the most musically stable intervals (like the 5th interval) on offbeats, or use triplets for part of it. Whatever sounds good to you.

However, don't overcomplicate the melody and/or chords too much. That's what soloing is for.

5. Repeat the process to create the chord progression or melody for other instruments.

6. I usually like to start off with drums first when making electronic music. You don't have to do it this way though. I only do it to procrastinate on the more intricate parts of composition.

7. The best way to make your composition feel whole is to put all of the components together at a similar time frame. This is pretty hard for one single person to do, so collaboration is a good thing.

8. Your ear is the all powerful. It doesn't matter how much theory you know; if the melody sounds like shit, it sounds like shit. Don't rely soley on theory, use your ears.

9. Theory is still very important though. If you don't know what you're doing, you will have an oversimplistic melody that you cannot recreate in original ways for other instruments.

10. Tutorials only go so far. They are helpful, but you will need to practice hands on. So here's my proposition: every time you watch a tutorial, do exactly what the person in the tutorial is teaching immediately after watching the tutorial, or while watching it.

11. During composition, get a second opinion on what you are composing. This is vitally important to composing for any genre.

This seems to work for just about any genre. Let me know if I missed anything important. I'm pretty sure you already knew this crap, but needed reassurance before following through with it. I'm the same way.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

About the sound design thing... You could create the best sounding house supersaw lead ever heard in the history of mankind... And nobody would give a shit unless it sounded good in the song. Composition>Sound design. Sadly, I spend too much time on sound design.

[eClypse]

About the sound design thing... You could create the best sounding house supersaw lead ever heard in the history of mankind... And nobody would give a shit unless it sounded good in the song. Composition>Sound design. Sadly, I spend too much time on sound design.

I know that feeling bro...

b2t: How did I got better at composing?

- Time and hard work. Seriously, all the knowledge comes in time, just don't think you are the best producer after a few days. Take feedback serious, it doesn't mean somebody hates you, if he honestly says to you that your track sucks, and which elements of it.

- Music Theory is a good point, but not necessary, many famous producer never heard anything about music theory, they just got the "feeling" of which notes fit together and which notes together make a special chord.

- Look at the arrangement of one of your favourite track, try to rebuild it (and don't expect that it sounds as good as the track )

- Just play around your (MIDI)-Keyboard, when it sounds good, try to build on it. I always play chords on my Keyboard, and build up my song around it :3, the bassline, some plucky or bell-sounds....

- The last point hasn't much to do with "how to get better at composing" but is still important: NEVER GIVE UP!

sorry for my english :/

[SpyPie]

Whats 'Composing' ?

[Lavender_Harmony]

I didn't give up. My education definitely helped, going to university was great, but the fact I didn't dwell on pointless shit like this, that I just got on with it and did the best I could, getting better each time, and I still am.

Stop worrying about your abilities, express yourself the best way you can, and in time you'll improve. If you spend all your time worrying like this all you'll do is upset yourself, be frustrated and give up.

[CommandSpry]

Dr D

[SpyPie]

I didn't give up. My education definitely helped, going to university was great, but the fact I didn't dwell on pointless shit like this, that I just got on with it and did the best I could, getting better each time, and I still am.

Stop worrying about your abilities, express yourself the best way you can, and in time you'll improve. If you spend all your time worrying like this all you'll do is upset yourself, be frustrated and give up.

Thanks, Lav.

Last night I was contemplating and weeping over the fact that my brain was telling me I wasn't good at anything ;_;

[Thyrai]

It's all about practise. Theory is indeed an important tool - but music existed long before the theory ever did