the Wisdom of Composition thread

[smart]

Wisdom does not come from age or experience. It comes from being open to the truth.

Agent Mulder couldn't have said it better

[BONES]

Strange, no-one has yet mentioned the benefits of the liberal application of distortion to as many parts as possible.

[jtxx000]

good point, cyanide2 is the first thing I go to for sound mangleing

[kilroy]

A wise composer does not waste valuable time with what worked brilliantly before.

[visa tapani]

Admist all these "be true to your heart, don't copy..." cliches I'd like to point out that even relatively direct copying/imitating is often very educational and inspiring.

Also, try to listen to the music that influences you and that you value with an analytical ear. You might gain a lot of interesting insight into the compositional choices made you wouldn't get by "casual" listening.

Note that every part about composition will not necessarily be fun. Ocassionally it will offer great benefit to submit yourself to vigorous studying of some particular aspect. This requires determination.

And finally, I'd like to second the observation that finishing pieces is vital. Even if this requires you to compromise some of your "artistical vision". You can later expand from what you made, but it's important to keep on building structures and coherent entities...

[xoxos]

Admist all these "be true to your heart, don't copy..." cliches... ...it's important to keep on building structures and coherent entities...

you crack me up, man.

are you female?

[visa tapani]

No.

[nool]

draw inspiration from one particular idea, pick a sample, instru, synth, vst, effect, whatever, something new to try...

pick a key and genre, adjust your bpm...

drink alot of coffee...

take breaks to stretch...

and hit the gas as hard as you can

[hao nao]

adjusting the accident is how I proceed

despite the melodies and songmaking and orchestration in my head

[kaden]

Just tell the damned story.


K

[shamann]

I only really have two tricks.

1) Write lots, then whittle. Especially with midi score. Lots of notes, then eliminate as many as you can.
2) Drop everything by one full octave. If working with audio file, pitch shift down without retaining file length. Just slow it down.

[tee boy]

I have several methods of writing, all of which reap very different rewards:

- Sometimes i write through improvisation with the guitar. I simply load up an approriate drum loop in the sequencer, click record and see what happens. Iv had a pretty broad range of training in guitar, so this can often result in some of my more interesting stuff. Problem is this method is that the instrument (and my playing) does influence the music significantly, so compositions can tend to be a little 'tainted'.

- Often i will start by designing various elements with not particular target in site. For example, I might spend a few hours making a beat, or an ambient breakdown... whatever. I save all of these, and every so often several can be bought together to form a track. I like working in this way since the results can be extremely broad in terms of influences - you know, i might have a crunk beat, with a tarnce lead line, and a german bass...


- If I feel like experimenting with more traditional composition, I'll usually open the sequencer along with Edirol Orchestra. This sounds terrible but it is a useful tool for writing orchestral passages. I find the staff editior a bit fiddly, so i tend to work in the key editor and then check out the score afterwards. Working in the key editor also seems to promote a less 'regemented' approach (for me at least).

[Shane Sanders]

adjusting the accident is how I proceed

So true. I call them the "happy accidents", and sometimes feel amazed at things that end up getting recorded.

[lanark]

I dissent with all that romantic advices as "be truth" and "show your feelings".
That won't make you a better composer. Never. Music don't come from the ether, music is the result of hard work.

So, that's my only advice: WORK

[wrench45us]

when stuck in an office or elevator that plays the most banal music imagineable, focus on the structure and arrangement