Magical Sound Corner [MUSIC]

[IndyGo]

Let me give you the single most solid piece of advice I can think of for anyone just starting off writing original compositions, this is something I screwed up myself so trust me here: you do need to understand basic music theory.

Google is your friend here, there are a million sites that explain this stuff and some really good videos on youtube.
The basic elements you need to experiment with are chord progressions, scales (I recommend the blues scale, because it's cool as hell and really simple), and phrases. Progressions and scales are the most important since phrases you'll probably trip over as you're working anyway.
You won't instantly pick them up but there's nothing wrong with learning as you go, so don't feel like it's cheating to keep webpages open for reference, I've been doing this for like forever and I still watch tutorial videos and keep chord cheat-sheets open when I work.
(admittedly using reference material is also because my memory doesn't work right, I know the stuff but I just need help recalling it sometimes)

If you're working digitally focus on piano and keyboard theory, others don't always apply.

Oh, and listen to music from different genres (even country and rap), particularly older music that formed the basis for consecutive genres, you don't have to enjoy it but it's really helpful to work out what makes it work.
To put it another way, modern technical metal follows different rules and ideas than classical jazz, but you might be surprised that they have a lot more in common than you'd think.

I know that sounds like the most boring thing ever and way too academic, but think of it like you've got a bunch of tools on a table and you don't know what they do, you don't want to grab a screwdriver to hammer in a nail so it makes sense to learn that first.
That said, it's important to make some music while you learn, there's no gentle way to put this but at first it will suck.
I'm not saying people just won't like it or you'll make some mistakes, the music you write at first will just be straight up awful. And that is totally fine.

You have to suck before you can blow (peoples minds)

I think I can get behind these somewhat well, I guess because to be honest I've been aware of scales quite a bit (and perhaps some different types of them here and there- at least I get the actual picture) And goshers ain't my phone full of VG music (I think I have 847)... I think it's also because sometimes I find a midi that doesn't sound exactly the same as the actual song/had their own melodies in certain parts and I managed to revert them into the original composition by ear (I did this with Earthbound's Flying Man and KAM's Peppermint Palace--midis)

Chord progressions seem bit newish but I think it's

I don't find phrases entirely difficult to get into either I guess...

I can only blame using these song editors that let me actually do my own composings (Looks at WarioWare D.I.Y & Samsung-phones)

Thanks for advice tho again-

[Gors]

You're always free to ask for help, even if I don't really know the real names for the techniques and stuff. We'll gladly help you with criticism and other art pointers

I just wish I had the same type of criticism when I started making music

[PatientZero]

I'm always around to give advice when I can spare the time, it's sort of a catch-22 though since I'm (probably?) the most "professional" musician you'll find in these parts, which also means I'm usually pretty busy working on music.

Also I'm not the most observant person ever, so if you did specifically want my advice it's totally fine to just send me a pm to get my attention, and I'll explain how to make a subwoofer kill small animals or whatever it is you wanted to know.

I'm pretty solid on a lot of the more technical aspects, so if any of the complicated music theory or jargon is giving you trouble just let me know and I'll beat them up for you.
(or help to explain it)

[Gors]

thanks a lot, though I was referring to my younger self. If I had this kind of help when I was starting out, maybe I wouldn't have had a lot of problems.

[PatientZero]

I phrased that poorly, it wasn't specifically directed at you (although if you did want any help with super-pro tips I'd be happy to show you the secret handshake) I was being more general, in the sense that I'm pretty happy to help out anyone who could do with pointers.

Especially people just starting out, because wow I remember how much that sucked and how nobody actually explained anything to me properly, so I spent a lot of time learning things that someone could have just told me.
I now know that was because a lot of people like to pretend they know what they're talking about without doing any of the work or having any actual experience, people are weird yo.

[McMaxxis]

My friend from School is an amateur at composing right now, and I want to help him out by having some input from others that aren't me.
Here's something he composed for a story he started. I personally think that takes too long to progress there's also a lot of reverb (in percussion particularly) to which makes it sound too serious. What do you guys think?

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1W3kYFC3fJ4

Critique is appreciated!

[Gors]

first impression:

Sounds like a serious, melancholic music. The music gets too loud in the main part, like, too much strings and choir (?) going on which drowns the tiny lead

also it's kinda monotone in a way, it's mainly just strings. Maybe some triangle, or any ding that could give this song some contrast.

i tend to refer as music like a real drawing. so far, his music is using too many similar colors, tone some of them down in intensity and add nother color to give it a contrast.

[Gors]

[culture]

Hey, it's been awhile as always. Here's some stuff I've been doing recently.
The first two tracks on my profile are my most recent things.

I'm open to criticism and comments etc


This will link to soundcloud.

enjoy

[Gors]

[Sketchasaurus]

[Gors]

I like the music, it's really GB-reminiscing. Though I prefer the second one, the first sounds kinda random with the chords, though it might have been your intention.

[Gors]

http://vocaroo.com/i/s12YXXf8uOxh

[Crappy Blue Luigi]

https://soundcloud.com/crappy-blue/pounding-mmc5
still doing that chiptune thing

[Sevenstitch]

Thats pretty slick

It's no butt fish though


Glad to see you back CBL