the Wisdom of Composition thread

[ouroboros]

insight #1: I am the wrong person to offer wisdom.

insight #2: Finish the song.

[topaz]

now theres a concept

insight #2: Finish the song.

[original flipper]

HI

Not having a very deep understanding of chord's and scales I sometimes get out a musical theory/chord book and teach myself a scale or few chords that I was previously unaware of - this can really help in composition; it's not something I do all the time but every few months or so.

Flipper.

[r_module]

don't waste time looking for suitable samples/instruments/settings. do the refinements later on - first assure your brainbabe is stored somehow.

[opiadream]

good lord
I've just realised I have no real method
not even an experiment I tend to repeat

so much for exceptional music

I've read some good suggestions in here though
so keep em coming

[move3rd]

It comes from being open to the truth.

In my opinion a true artist is always TRUE to him/her self. They are not concerned with what is musically expectable. There music is an expression of their perception of life and their experiences of life. A true artist has something to say.

To many people write music to fit with what is considered 'cool' in whatever genre of music they make. Instead of expressing themselves they make music to gain credit within a section of society. I believe these people are victims of fashion. They have nothing to say, they have no desire to truly express themselves.

In my opinion, to be a true artist you must master the ability to express your deepest thoughts and feelings. If you are able to see past what society places in front of your eyes/ears you will have something to express.

Just my $0.02

[wrench45us]

here are some tips I received on the Sonar forum

-- clearly punctuate the end of verses
-- change textures on the chorus (inform the listener there's something new)

-- use rhythm flourishes at the end of melodic phrases
-- establish dialog/exchange between non-rhythm parts

-- dynamic tension
build it till it breaks (nice one, eh?)
-- by rhythm, volume, added elements, cutoff sweeps, whatever

i find the best thing I can do is listen a lot
over and over

and occasionally
-- work through some fake book progressions
-- run through exercises/aufgabe in Rikky Rooksby's 'Songwriter's Sourcebook'

what were those Brian Eno notecards called?

[ouroboros]

what were those Brian Eno notecards called?

oblique strategies?

[jtxx000]

here's a little trick i just tried:
take an acousticy drum loop (a slow simple one)... add a delay, pan the delayed part to one side, then add a gate (like mgTriggerGate) after it. I got some pretty nifty sounding results with it.

[xoxos]

balance with equal parts decomposition and you PIMPIIIN

[donkey tugger]

more curnk vicar?

[bucket]

I like to rub my weiner vigorously while looking at nude pictures of attractive women.

But, as far as music composition goes, I think it's a good idea to start off with a lyrical/thematic idea so you have a specific mood/vibe in place to guide the nuts n' bolts of composition.

THEN I KARATE CHOP THE GIRAFFE UNTIL HE SUFFERS FROM PANCREATITIS, G DAWG.

[putte]

copy, paste, cut, apply plugin, bounce, pitch, replace, slice, apply plugin, loop, insert new instrument, stretch, apply plugin, tweak parameters, copy, paste, bounce .. and have fun while doing all this.

putte

[putte]

THEN I KARATE CHOP THE GIRAFFE UNTIL HE SUFFERS FROM PANCREATITIS, G DAWG.

BEN!!

[donkey tugger]

THEN I KARATE CHOP THE GIRAFFE UNTIL HE SUFFERS FROM PANCREATITIS, G DAWG.