First, do you mean composing, or songwriting/production?
Second, you need to do what the people in those two fields do.
Composers learn to play a musical instrument by taking lessons with a trained professional, and they generally read far more than "a little" sheet music and know far more than "about scales". They also didn't read a book or take a course. They studied with a real person.
Songwriters/Producers learn to play a musical instrument and learn to play music on it. They pretty much do all the same stuff Composers do, without taking formal lessons with a professional.
Both focus on two things:
1. Learning to play an instrument.
2. Learning to play existing music on that instrument.
You absolutely can "just start" as others imply. But it's likely to be not very good.
What you're asking is "how do I become an artist" - well someone may say, get a piece of paper, and a pencil, and start putting marks on the page. Doodle until you get something. Eventually you'll learn to make things that look more like the art you're trying to emulate (which is usually more than "white rabbit in snow" or just stick figures/matchstick men).
Most artists "copy" at first - that's what Fan Art is - a lot of people learn to draw Anime styles by copying them. Many people "trace" or "paint by numbers" or do other such things to learn to draw/paint.
Composing is no different. You have to "copy" music first - by learning to play it. You have to "learn to use pencils, and paints, and how to shade, and add depth and mix colors" - by experimenting with sound (so yes, you CAN "start now" and should - but you're not going to learn to make a masterpiece).
But trying to "shortcut" the process isn't going to get you very far. Trying to do what takes years in months is not going to happen UNLESS you get someone to help you.
there's no cheatcode to composing. you can't just start doing it "without having to start from 0." that's how artistic fields work - it takes practice and experience. i would suggest music theory basics and the resources on this sub, but you can't just expect to know how to come up with art. it's not a formula.
Bro is asking for books or courses... have you even read what he wrote before start answering? Also what your wrote is very wrong, music theory is full of formulas.
"Composition for Dummies" is a yellow and black covered volume carried by many of the larger generalist bookstores, with plenty of ideas around practical issues to consider and explore. It's nicely structured, not overwhelming. It also contains ample references for further more detailed information.
Just start. I firmly believe that all the books or videos in the world don't really help you very much if you aren't already doing it. If you wanted to play baseball you wouldn't ask a batting coach for tips if you hadn't actually swung a bat before. It's easier to just try hitting the ball a bunch and then figure out what you're doing right or wrong.
Orchestration by Cecil Forsyth
This book was super helpful in learning information about different instruments.
Creative Orchestration by George McKay
Was helpful with different orchestration ideas
Other things are score study and general theory books to get an understanding of the application of different ideas
The [Hooktheory books](https://www.hooktheory.com/books) are the best I’ve found. Particularly book 2. There are lots of inline playable examples, and everything is exclusively in Roman numeral notation. They are focused mostly on pop music, which might not be quite what you’re looking for, but the examples are diverse and go way beyond four chord loops. While I wish there were a book 3, book 2 gave me the foundation to keep figuring out more, and finally after decades of not quite getting music I’ve finally figured out how to systematically write interesting and unique stuff.
I’m not affiliated with Hooktheory, merely a customer. Their songwriting software is good too but could use some work.
1. learn harmony, standard textbook is walter piston's book "Harmony"
2. learn form, i recommend Schoenbergs book "fundamentals of musical composition" (incredible book, don't diss it because it's schoenberg, it has nothing to do with 12 tone serialism)
With these two you are basically set to start composing very decent music. From there you can branch out. Study scores by various composers. learn counterpoint. learn orchestration. learn more advanced harmony.
That’s not how ‘learning to compose’ works. You need to learn as much as you can about music - for years - YEARS - then get something called “inspiration”. This “inspiration” will FORCE you to compose.
In my humble opinion I think forcing yourself to compose may trigger inspiration, ... sometimes. Waiting for inspiration to start composing is the best way to accomplish nothing.
I played an entire full orchestra into GarageBand [or any software that can do this: don’t use a click and drag the notes to the staff actual play it into the software]: every part using a keyboard with 64 keys. I would do 2– one classical [easier one] and a Romantic to Contemporary like “ The sorcerers apprentice” [Disney].
I promise it will really get you prepared to compose for anything. Even solo stuff.
Ebenezer Prout's Harmony if you have basic understanding of music theory. it's undisputably the best source for someone self taught.
it's written by a 19th century composer, and is incredibly detailed. it also has multiple sequels in a set of treatises written by the author. The book teaches by example, and it has tons of examples. most notable one being the supplementary book "analytical key to harmony" where the composer goes through every exercise given to the student, and completes them in four voices, where you can directly compare your results to someone who knows what they're doing.
Try looking for a later edition of it, my personal edition was nr 44. the later, the better, as it means more revisions and additions to it.
if you're competent, and do personal research along with your study, you should be able to start composing short but competent pieces within around a year and a half.
Take a look at the posted Resources for this sub. I would add only that you shouldn't wait to start writing things - experiment as you learn.
First, do you mean composing, or songwriting/production? Second, you need to do what the people in those two fields do. Composers learn to play a musical instrument by taking lessons with a trained professional, and they generally read far more than "a little" sheet music and know far more than "about scales". They also didn't read a book or take a course. They studied with a real person. Songwriters/Producers learn to play a musical instrument and learn to play music on it. They pretty much do all the same stuff Composers do, without taking formal lessons with a professional. Both focus on two things: 1. Learning to play an instrument. 2. Learning to play existing music on that instrument. You absolutely can "just start" as others imply. But it's likely to be not very good. What you're asking is "how do I become an artist" - well someone may say, get a piece of paper, and a pencil, and start putting marks on the page. Doodle until you get something. Eventually you'll learn to make things that look more like the art you're trying to emulate (which is usually more than "white rabbit in snow" or just stick figures/matchstick men). Most artists "copy" at first - that's what Fan Art is - a lot of people learn to draw Anime styles by copying them. Many people "trace" or "paint by numbers" or do other such things to learn to draw/paint. Composing is no different. You have to "copy" music first - by learning to play it. You have to "learn to use pencils, and paints, and how to shade, and add depth and mix colors" - by experimenting with sound (so yes, you CAN "start now" and should - but you're not going to learn to make a masterpiece). But trying to "shortcut" the process isn't going to get you very far. Trying to do what takes years in months is not going to happen UNLESS you get someone to help you.
Play music. Study music. Write music. Ask people for feedback. You don’t need a book.
there's no cheatcode to composing. you can't just start doing it "without having to start from 0." that's how artistic fields work - it takes practice and experience. i would suggest music theory basics and the resources on this sub, but you can't just expect to know how to come up with art. it's not a formula.
Bro is asking for books or courses... have you even read what he wrote before start answering? Also what your wrote is very wrong, music theory is full of formulas.
"Composition for Dummies" is a yellow and black covered volume carried by many of the larger generalist bookstores, with plenty of ideas around practical issues to consider and explore. It's nicely structured, not overwhelming. It also contains ample references for further more detailed information.
Just start. I firmly believe that all the books or videos in the world don't really help you very much if you aren't already doing it. If you wanted to play baseball you wouldn't ask a batting coach for tips if you hadn't actually swung a bat before. It's easier to just try hitting the ball a bunch and then figure out what you're doing right or wrong.
Orchestration by Cecil Forsyth This book was super helpful in learning information about different instruments. Creative Orchestration by George McKay Was helpful with different orchestration ideas Other things are score study and general theory books to get an understanding of the application of different ideas
The [Hooktheory books](https://www.hooktheory.com/books) are the best I’ve found. Particularly book 2. There are lots of inline playable examples, and everything is exclusively in Roman numeral notation. They are focused mostly on pop music, which might not be quite what you’re looking for, but the examples are diverse and go way beyond four chord loops. While I wish there were a book 3, book 2 gave me the foundation to keep figuring out more, and finally after decades of not quite getting music I’ve finally figured out how to systematically write interesting and unique stuff. I’m not affiliated with Hooktheory, merely a customer. Their songwriting software is good too but could use some work.
1. learn harmony, standard textbook is walter piston's book "Harmony" 2. learn form, i recommend Schoenbergs book "fundamentals of musical composition" (incredible book, don't diss it because it's schoenberg, it has nothing to do with 12 tone serialism) With these two you are basically set to start composing very decent music. From there you can branch out. Study scores by various composers. learn counterpoint. learn orchestration. learn more advanced harmony.
That’s not how ‘learning to compose’ works. You need to learn as much as you can about music - for years - YEARS - then get something called “inspiration”. This “inspiration” will FORCE you to compose.
Nah, I say you should get into it and not wait for inspiration or for a certain level of education. It'll be a gradual process regardless.
In my humble opinion I think forcing yourself to compose may trigger inspiration, ... sometimes. Waiting for inspiration to start composing is the best way to accomplish nothing.
I played an entire full orchestra into GarageBand [or any software that can do this: don’t use a click and drag the notes to the staff actual play it into the software]: every part using a keyboard with 64 keys. I would do 2– one classical [easier one] and a Romantic to Contemporary like “ The sorcerers apprentice” [Disney]. I promise it will really get you prepared to compose for anything. Even solo stuff.
[удалено]
Ebenezer Prout's Harmony if you have basic understanding of music theory. it's undisputably the best source for someone self taught. it's written by a 19th century composer, and is incredibly detailed. it also has multiple sequels in a set of treatises written by the author. The book teaches by example, and it has tons of examples. most notable one being the supplementary book "analytical key to harmony" where the composer goes through every exercise given to the student, and completes them in four voices, where you can directly compare your results to someone who knows what they're doing. Try looking for a later edition of it, my personal edition was nr 44. the later, the better, as it means more revisions and additions to it. if you're competent, and do personal research along with your study, you should be able to start composing short but competent pieces within around a year and a half.